[Scared-cpa]

I started the final review face with WTB yesterday. I know I haven’t been going at it long, but right now I have done 124 questions with 72 correct (58%). This is 8% of the material covered. Right now I am feeling absolutely defeated and so sad about the whole situation. I thought I was more prepared than this but I guess not. When I answer a question, I either (a) have no idea what the answer is or (b) think I know what it is, but I’m usually wrong.

Does anyone have any suggestions? My exam is on November 14th and I’m beginning to feel like a complete failure, as if all the time and money I’ve put into this was all in vain.

All help is welcomed. I’m sorry for this sob post, but I just feel so awful, I don’t know what to do.

[AScott89]

I don't know if this will be helpful or not, if not I'm sorry. But if I were in your situation I would go to each study unit and do a 20-30 MCQ test to see where my weak areas are. Then I would go over the material for those sections and just do a ton of MCQs for them to try and cram the knowledge in my head. A lot of times I will read through a section but don't get it unless I can see some examples and follow it step-by-step or just work a bunch of MCQs and look at the answer explanations.

I'm sorry you feel so defeated right now. I will tell you that you aren't alone. I get that way a lot as well. FAR just seems to suck all the life out of you.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Scared-cpa]

@AScott89 Thanks for your response, I really appreciate it. I'm going to do that! Hopefully it won't take me too long to do.

What materials have you been using to study? What is your average score in review if you don't mind me asking?

[Anonymous]

I guess the importance of writing your notes while in study phase is to have an easy and fast access and be able get back to the topics that you think and feel you're weak on during the review stage.

[Scared-cpa]

@Amor D I have taken notes while studying and while it seems like I understand the material, when it comes to actually doing questions over it, I don't know how to properly apply it.

[Anonymous]

Keep practicing MCQs and write more notes on each chapter per topic. Repeat.

Study phase is the most painful stage for me because I couldn't get it any faster to read/understand and write important notes to remember. Though I decided to skip the video lectures (since I only hear “highlight this and that” a million times), it's still a slow process. I can't wait to get to the review stage and pound as many MCQs as I can, like a hundred or two or more in a day.

Good luck to all of us! Our hard work, patience, and discipline will pay off in time.

[AScott89]

@scared_cpa you're quite welcome. I am using a combo of the Yaeger course I still have access to, Ninja MCQ and Plus, and the Gleim system. I think I am trending in the high 50's to low 60's in Gleim. The SIMS just kick my butt and bring my overall module score down.

I also have the problem of not being able to apply the stuff from my notes to the MCQs. I'll take notes and watch a problem being worked and go ‘Yeah I understand that' but then I go to do some problems and I will be drawing a blank on how to begin. I think the only solution for that is to just work a bunch of MCQs.

I take FAR on the 28th and I still feel like I haven't had enough time to study even though I've been studying for the re-take since September 10th. I got a 55 last time but I wasn't very prepared going into it.

I think if we work the MCQs and see how the knowledge is applied then that will help. We just gotta do a bunch of them. Just go into your test bank and work some problems. The ones you get wrong that you're really stuck on you could do what I've done before and copy the problem and answer explanation into a word doc and reference it when you're working similar problems.

Hope that helps

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Scared-cpa]

@Amor D I also thought studying was most painful as you're going through everything the first time. I enjoy the final review more just because of the diversity of questions as opposed to a single topic, but it is harder than I anticipated it being.

@AScott89 It's good to know that I'm not the only one dealing with this. It is just such a shock and kick in the butt to me. I did well in my college accounting classes and am doing well in my graduate level accounting course, but this just seems different. It makes me wonder if I should be doing this. I agree with working over and over on the MCQs. I'm trying to repeat any because I don't want to inflate my average score. So far I have done 120 MCQs today and my overall percentage is 60%. Still not good, but better than it was I suppose. WTB says that those who score over 60 on the practice does well on the exam, but I don't know what '60' means. Is that percent, score on a simulated exam or what? Who knows. But I'd like to be averaging AT LEAST 70% by the time testing comes around. I don't know if that is realistic given I have until the 14th?

Who knows. This is my first CPA test ever, so I'm going in blind here. Hopefully even if I don't pass the first time, I can get a general idea on how hard the exam is in relation to test banks and learn the best study strategy for myself.

Good luck on your exam on the 28th! I'm rooting for you and hope you do awesome! (-:

[AScott89]

Good luck to you as well @scared_cpa. Don't worry about your score or what you're ‘trending' at. Just focus on understanding the material. If you understand the material and have practiced the MCQs you'll be fine. And even if you don't pass the first time that's okay. Lots of people need multiple attempts. This is my second attempt at FAR.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Anonymous]

Scared_CPA, are you using WTB only for your MCQs?

You ought to try NINJA MCQs and begin with new questions first until you get to the adaptive learning and final review phases.

[Scared-cpa]

@AScott89 Thanks for your encouragement! I absolutely understand that a lot of people have to try more than once. I guess we are just harder on ourselves than we are on others! I'm trying to read through all answers and get a more thorough understanding of each question and do them slowly to try to stay motivated instead of blasting through and getting them wrong because I misread them.

@Amor D I was originally going to get NTB but at this point, with my exam being a week away, I thought it would be a waste of money or time. I assumed it would be better to use the same test bank to get a more accurate average score. If I don't pass this time, I'm going to get NTB, though.

What would you all say is a good average score on WTB overall when I am mostly through (+50%) through the MCQs?

[bucknell39]

Is WTB, Wiley Test Bank? If so then I wouldn't be worried about what your scoring. Instead focus on understanding WHY you got the problem wrong, not that you got the problem wrong. Does that make sense? You are still learning the material when you are doing problems. Plus, from my experience, Wiley Test Bank questions are harder than the questions on the exam. I used them in 2011 for REG when I first attempted to pass the CPA exam. I was working a ton of problems the night before the exam and I was around 66% correct with my answers. I was about the have a nervous breakdown. I went into the test trusting what I had studies and passed with an 81. Also, since I have been using Ninja MCQ (BEC, FAR & REG) I have yet to trend above 66%, yet I am one exam away from becoming a CPA. Don't psych yourself out and continue studying. Good luck!

[Scared-cpa]

@bucknell39 Thank you for your words of encouragement! I greatly appreciate it!

Yes, I'm referring to Wiley Test Bank when I say WTB. I'm glad you think it's harder than the actual exam! I find that I'm making a lot of just stupid slip ups from forgetting material. I will read the answer and say “Oh yeah, I knew that” but my problem is that I don't learn from it – I will make the same mistake again. Today I'm just gonna fit in as many questions as possible (usually 120-160 per day) and trying to really understand the answer and write down the ones I feel like I need to. I feel like this will be my best bet.

Right now I'm trending between 58 – 61% depending on my most recent session (doing sessions of 10 or 20 depending on how much time I have at that moment in the day). Is this an awful trend to be 8 days out?

Also, should I do any simulations? I did all but 8 of them (I think) during the study phase with CPAexcel which was around 160 total. I feel alright about them, but I don't know if I should study any of them or just focus on MCQs since I'm not doing great on them.

I really do appreciate your words of encouragement! It's nice to see someone who passed (not just skimmed by) with a test bank score similar to mine. That makes me more hopeful (-:

[bucknell39]

I practiced SIMS when I first took REG but I have not since then. Sometimes it will help you conceptualize the material but for me it was a waste of study time. Doing and understanding the MCQ has been enough for me, so far.

[AScott89]

No problem @scared_cpa. We are definitely harder on ourselves than others. I am going over my derivatives module today and hopefully can get it finished tonight. I've watched the videos and am now reading the chapter after doing the focus questions.

I'm also running through the Ninja test bank and going over questions I haven't seen in awhile so I can keep the older stuff somewhat fresh.

BEC-65
AUD-72(8 '14); 68(11 '14)
FAR-
REG-

[Scared-cpa]

@bucknell39 Thanks! I think I found them useful in applying my knowledge when I was studying but I don't know if they would get me off track at this point or not. I've heard that the SIMS in the actual exam and practice SIMS aren't similar except for the format, and to not waste time with them.

@AScott89 Sounds like you have a nice little plan! I'm sure you feel more prepared since you've been through it before and have a better idea of what to expect! I sure hope you pass!!!

[Author]

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