[Anonymous]

I am taking my first section of the CPA this week- FAR tand I am down to the wire. Last week I was doing really well, but over the weekend I discovered that I don’t remember as much as I was (I was missing questions that I previously answered correctly). My question is, should i go back and hit 5 sections REALLY hard (one each day) or just try to answer as many MC as possible? If I should hit 5 sections really hard, any suggestions on which ones to concentrate on?

And the thought of simulations are causing me major anxiety.

Any advice is appreciated.

[wishful thinking]

I've only taken 1 section (FAR last month), but I've been told that the practice MC questions are the best way to prepare. On Becker, the supplemental questions have helped many people I know pass. Of course, I'm not speaking from experience, but the word is that repetition of the questions will burn them into your memory and help you pass.

I've also heard that the simulations are graded by computer (even the essays). Is this correct? If that's the case, then all that is needed is to form coherent sentences in the proper memo format, while including keywords.

AUD 74, 5/29/11
BEC 84
FAR 82
REG 70, 80

[wedger]

i feel you CPA Someday…I am taking FAR this wednesday, first of four also…i felt I was ready about a week and half ago, then I reviewed and realized there were areas that I was not as solid as I thought I was. I have been fluctuation from thinking I am ready to thinking I need to put this off haha. I think working the sims on Becker really hits home on wether or not you understand a topic. I made a list on my troubled areas within a chapter and hit those MC questions only…

best of luck!!

[Anonymous]

I have don't know my FAR scores yet, but I sat in April for my first section. My advice kind of goes along with “wedger”. Identify the areas that you don't know and go through study materials on them. Spend time understanding why you are missing the MC's… FAR has a lot of calculation and application. Memorizing multiple choice is good for concepts, but if your deficiencies are in “application” you need to understand why you are missing. Ex: I was having a lot of problems in recognizing gains w/ transactions involving no commercial substance. After missing many questions on practice exams, I went back and learned the concepts and rules. I know it paid off on practice problems and def on exam day. Same can be said for pensions, deferred taxes, etc. Also, like “wedger” said, if you have access to simulations… they will test your true knowledge of most important areas. I skimmed through all of them (just reading their written part) the last few days before the exam. Just my two cents.

[Anonymous]

*I don't have, lol

[glutenator]

FAR is my 3rd section. I'm taking it tomorrow and nowhere near ready. I'm just going to take it as “practice”. I will retake it after AUD, which I plan to take in August (doesn't look nearly as daunting a task as FAR). I'm also waiting for REG results, and I passed BEC so far. FAR is definitely the worst of the bunch, so if you pass, you're “out of the woods” as far as getting the worst done (that's just my opinion, others may disagree). Good luck, anyway. I hope you only get a 75. LOL.

I'll Pass Eventually
REG (67, 66), BEC (79), FAR (5/26/10), AUD (August 2010)

[Author]

Replies