[yy612]

I want to know how you did it, and what was your feeling and expectation before & after the test?

REG - PASSED(75)
FAR - PASSED(85)
AUD - PASSED(83)
BEC - PASSED(82)

[wombataholic]

First, I copied Ninja Notes by hand into a notebook, then copied them a second time from the first notebook into a second. During this time, I only did MCQs when I had time left in my study session.

I listened to Ninja Audio until I could speak along with Jeff.

I did 7,783 MCQs and a ton of Sims, with a final average score of 84% and trending score of 100%. For any questions I got wrong, I wrote a detailed explanation of how to get to the correct answer. Study time, not including listening to Ninja Audio: 140 hours over 8 weeks.

I also kept track of my studying on a spreadsheet I created that told me how much I needed to get done each day, along with my average score, trending score and total study time.

4 weeks before the exam I took a practice exam and got a 76. 2 weeks before the exam I took a second one and got a 93. In retrospect, taking practice exams is only beneficial for making sure you are ready to work quickly enough for the real exam.

Before the test, I felt ready. Actually, about 2 weeks before the test I felt ready, but the exam was already scheduled and I wasn't about to pay to move it up. Either way, at exam time I felt like I was as ready as I would ever be. Post-exam, I walked out feeling like I had crushed FAR and ready to move on to AUD.

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[EuroAddict]

Over studied 🙂

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[marqzho]

Over studied 🙂 +1

For every point over 75 is a waste of time unless you aim for that 95.5 superman award

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[wombataholic]

Better to overstudy than understudy. 😉

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[Zuly]

@wombataholic completely agree with you! Congrats on your very high scores. I've never understood people who say overstudying is a waste or any point over a 75 is waste. Personally I wish I had your level of focus to do that many MCQs…that's my downfall for sure…what is your strategy? Thanks!

FAR - (11/01/14) 71 (02/07/15) 79
AUD - (04/30/15) 86
BEC - (07/21/15) 73 (10/01/15) 75
REG - (11/30/15) 55 (05/19/16) 74

[leglock]

For me, FAR was the easiest section only because it is the material I was most exposed to through my college classes. Governmental was something I never really had in college, but my Becker live instructor was a Governmental wizard and took the time to prepare his own materials that he handed out in the review session. This was extremely beneficial. Going into the test, I felt I was very prepared, but still did not feel well about the governmental and NFP. I had some crazy questions during the exam, and even had a power outage at about the 3 hr 15 min mark of which I was unsure that all data was saved. So, when I received my score, I thought I had passed but was surprised I was over a 90.

[wombataholic]

@Zumo My strategy for being able to focus while grinding out MCQs is just to shut off/out anything that could be a distraction during the study session. My phone was turned off. The only browser tab I kept open was Ninja MCQ. When studying at the coffee shop on Saturday mornings, I either used either ear buds or soft ear plugs.

It takes discipline to ignore distractions. I don't naturally have that ability, so I took it out of my hands.

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[Future Rhody CPA]

I used Becker and studied for 12 weeks (about 15 hours per week during the first 10 weeks and 40 hours per week for the final two).

FAR was my first, so I had no idea that I was going to perform as well as I did and had no way to gauge the ideal # of hours to study, but I walked out of the exam with a good feeling. I didn't have a ton of confidence approaching it though.

FAR- 96 (January 2016)
BEC- 94 (January 2016)
REG- 87 (April 2016)
AUD- (July 30th 2016)

[marqzho]

Future Rhody CPA

Looks like you are on track for the 95.5 award.

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[WaivingMyHands_ALOT]

Basically followed Becker. Watched videos, did MCQs. Didn't focus too much on SIMs. Did some review tests the week leading up to exam. Expected to pass, but beyond that wasn't sure (it was my first section). Left exam pretty certain I failed (the only exam I didn't feel confident leaving). Very surprised when I got results.

AUD 99
BEC 96
FAR 94
REG 96

[Anonymous]

“Left exam pretty certain I failed (the only exam I didn't feel confident leaving). Very surprised when I got results. “

With all due, I would suspect the people who get over 90 fall into two groups – those that don't have jobs and can devote 100% full attention to studying and those people who are very bright in their own right and who are also excellent test takers.

If I see a member with a bunch of scores in the 90's and the “oh I think I failed” refrain quite frankly I think it's a disrespectful of people who really have something to worry about. If you have scores like that my bet is you haven't had the experience of failing anything – ever.

[Stilgoin]

@CPA2021 There is nothing disrespectful about thinking you failed a test. Lol Jeez. I personally know people who made over 90 and came out of FAR crying. These exams are very unpredictable.

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[How many letters do you need]

Agreed. I got in the high 80s on FAR and felt 50/50 about it walking out. Didn't feel destroyed but didn't feel like I destroyed it either. I think the hype of these exams in some cases far exceeds the actual exam itself. Makes us question how we feel about it; even when we do well we might think “I know I screwed something up”. The psychological warfare is the first step, you gotta believe walking in that your prep was good enough. In fact, I think once people fail an exam this part gets even harder, the exam gets in your head and I'm fairly sure that's why most people fail more than once. Sure, it could be your studying pattern or materials; but in my mind keeping confidence is by far the hardest part….

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[Nessie]

Awwww…. Don't be such a hater. I agree with stilgoin, the difference with the actual CPA exam is that the examiners make sure the answers are very similar. So you really don't know the outcome with a well designed exam.

Not sure how working while studying for the CPA has anything to do about how someone “feels,” but whatevs.

I'll make sure I report I feel good after my next exam so I don't insult anyone 🙂

P.S. To anyone who can score a 90 and above: You have my utmost respect whether or not you are unemployed and/or are a good test taker.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[Sitting_biker]

Just got a 92 on FAR. Only other score is a 78 on AUD back in March. I did about 3000+ MCQs (2000 on wiley and all of becker MCQ modules plus Several becker mock exams and i did the hardest questions over and over until i knew most of them (but give me a week off and i’d forget 1/2 what i learned) and 60+ sample Becker sims. Despite all that preparation, when i left the exam i was 99% sure i failed. But then i learned that 12 mcqs were pre-test questions (i knew pre-test questions were a thing, but i thought it was inly like 3 or 4 questions). So then i felt 50/50 about my chances. I f-ing hated studying for that test and waiting a month for my score. So much anxiety.

[Author]

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