[alabe]

I had taken FAR in the last window and did not pass. I am sitting for it again on December 8th and have just started restudying. I originally studied with Becker and supplemented with NINJA MCQ. For the retake I have purchased the Rodger Cram Course, as well as Wiley Focus Notes. I plan on going through the cram course as well as working through the MCQ test bank.
Anyone have any study tips that worked for them on a retake?

[Recked]

What was your original score?
And what areas are you lacking in?

If original score is less than 60 you should start from scratch and redo the whole course. Not just the cram.

[alabe]

My original score was a 59, but in all the practice I was averaging a 75% on MCQ and Progress test through Becker. I also got a 72 on the last the mock exam, which is said to be in the range for passing the actual exam.
I plan on going through the Becker book and reading the sections, but not watching the lectures. They are very time consuming.

[alabe]

I understand that a 59 is far from the passing score, but I did spend well over 300 studying for this part. I have retained quite a bit of information. I am hoping that going through it all a second time will just add to the amount of knowledge I need to pass this exam. I don't feel like I completely need to restart, I just feel like I need a solid review to tie all the material together.
So I was just curious as to what others did to restudy who have failed a part of the exam with a pretty low score.

[Pork Flavored Bacon]

As most people say, you don't need x amount of points more from your last failure, you need 75.

A score of 59 is indicative of not understanding more than just a few key concepts.

I know I sound like a jerk but I don't want to sugarcoat this and say “Hey, you almost got it. Just a little more.” Your score is far from that and you probably should go over all the material again even though you probably don't want to do that.

I failed FAR four times and for a couple of those failures I thought the same thing you did.

I wouldn't watch the lectures again but one thing I can suggest is when you go through the multiple choice questions, and the answer is memorized, you should walk yourself through the answer and justify it so you know how it is calculated instead of just marking the answer from memory.

FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

[Anonymous]

I think a score of 59 on the exam with an average in the 70s during prep suggests you memorized the answers and don't have the solid grasp of the concepts. I would start with reading the book and listening to some lectures may not be a bad idea. I found myself listening to lectures multiple times especially when they go over examples to make sure I understood.

[Ana]

each time I got a 73 I started from scratch as much as time would allow, including booking the book and remarking it and listening to questions, redoing mcq etc. just hammering mcq alone won't cut it with the new format. I don't know where I heard it, Becker maybe, but don't think of it like you need 16 more points to pass, but that you need 75. Your last score is the past and won't play a role in this one.

[Anonymous]

I went from a 59 last October to a 77 in May.

The retake experience is not necessarily any different than a first-time experience. In regards to studying, you have to go back and hit everything like you're seeing it the first time. I generally skip the lectures and go right into the notes I've taken before or rewrite my old notes. Then I hit MCQ for days and look at the SIMs and then move to the next chapter.

My advice would be to really understand journal entries, which you probably already know. But I had sheets and sheets of journal entries written out and additional cheat sheets of formulas and walkthroughs (i.e. arriving at gross profit in installment sales, how to calculate bond amortization, etc). Any time I had an MCQ that involved even a single calculation, I wrote it all out in journal entry form so I could see how it would hit the financial statements and / or wrote out the formula and walked myself through it to really make sure I got it.

For FAR, I believe if you nail down the first few chapters (basic concepts, accrual accounting, etc) and the Gov't and Non-profit sections, you'll be more prepared. The earlier chapters are the basis of financial accounting, which are important to know before you dive into bonds, leases, etc. Because there is so much material in FAR, it is better to get a decent understanding of all the topics rather than ignoring something but being really good at something else. FAR is a mile wide and an inch deep, as some have put it.

[alabe]

My study plan is to go through the cram course, go through the entire FAR Becker book and watching lectures on topics that I'm still not grasping, doing MCQ and SIMS for practice, and then doing the Becker Final Review the week before the exam. The only thing different than the first time around is that I'm not watching the lectures.
I also do not think it was all memorizing the topics as I have NINJA MCQ and went through about only 8% of the questions and was still scoring around a 75% average. I understand that a 59 isn't close to passing, but after starting this review course and going through the Becker book I feel like I understand the high level concepts and just need to dig down and study hard enough to know all of the details.
I also think that I am going to think and practice more of the journal entries to hopefully tie all the information in.

[sara]

I am planning on taking FAR in Jan. I have Roger. Do you guys think Roger is enough for me to pass? I also have the NINJA Notes for 2017. Also, should I be worried about the changes in 2018?

[Tncincy]

@alabe: failing a part can be so discouraging, but the key to success is study strategy. There were some good tips provided by the others to help you pass. It's time consuming, it's mind boggling, it's outright annoying to start from scratch. You'd be surprised at the amount of material you simply forgot. The best advice is take the time to study. Dec 8 might not lend enough time to really get to the nitty gritty of far. I guess you have the 8th locked in because when I looked every part of Dec 1-10th is booked (in my area).

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

I am writing FAR/BEC/REG first week of next month (Q4). I limit myself to just two months of studying. It seems like my retention of information is not as easy as I wanted it to be. So far, my routine before I do MCQs & SIMs using Ninja app:

– briefly read my notes from all sources, books & flashcards.
– For MCQs (50% of the exam), I try to do 100-300 MCQs per day, until exam days. Hoping to finish all of MCQs just before I write my exams.
– For Sims (50% of the exam), I try to do as many as I can. If not finish in time, just read them, take notes, keywords, concepts, JEs & calculation format. For sure, I will go over my notes, re-read the book, pay special attention to illustrations & keywords, the day before each exam.

This is my first time since 2008/2009 that I am actually paying attention with all the MCQS that I try to answer. Also, I still do a few mock exams, based on older AICPA newly released MCQS.

Lastly, I would definitely visit AICPA site for sample test a week before my exams. I noticed in the past, Internet in hotels, the connection are not that great. Sometimes, you cannot even login.

Having written all 4 sections last Q1/Q3, newer exams are definitely harder, each time I write them.

Good luck to us.

[Author]

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