[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

I’m so discouraged. I started studying for FAR a couple of months ago. It’s my last exam. I take it tomorrow and I know from personal experience with this exam that I’m going to fail.

I started with the Becker and Wiley Books as well as purchased the NINJA MCQ’s. I became immediately frustrated with the NINJA MCQ’s due to the inflexibility of the interface – I’m using a 15 inch screen and it’s being split in 3rd’s – I don’t need 1/3 of my screen giving me a link to the FASB section. In most cases, I could not even see the entire question and answer on one screenshot without scrolling. In any case it wasn’t helpful for me (just my personal opinion, not to say that it isn’t a good deal and may work for others) I ended up purchasing the Wiley Test Bank.

Well, for the past two months, I’ve gone through the material endlessly. I’ve done the 5 am, Lunch, Evening study sessions. I’ve taken time off work, I’ve continued to alienate my family. I have done all questions in WTB. I rewrote my notes. Which albeit, was helpful for the other 3 exams, I found it to be a completely useless waste of time for this one due to the volume of information. I think my time could have been better spent doing more MCQ’s. Basically, I’ve done everything a person should do to pass this test. However, when I do my review and select sample random MCQ’s, why does it seem that I have not retained ANY of this information?

Other than having this be a post of me just pissing and moaning. I actually need some advice. The last 3 weeks of my study plan I’ve crammed hard, every section, but why does it not seem to stick? With the amount of material in FAR how does one go about remembering all of it? I’m already planning on re-taking this in January as my BEC credit will expire if I don’t pass by then. So, in short, between now and the middle of January, what would be everybody’s advice in order to get this nightmare over with?

I still plan on getting up early, studying at lunch, studying at night, etc. I just need to come up with some kind of new study plan / formula to remember 400 pages worth of information in a 6 week period, again.

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[jcan9703]

I totally understand how you feel Ron. FAR is by far the hardest section and i too struggled during my review. I usually go through the lectures, read, take notes, and do all the work. I then rework all the mcq a second time as review and that usually does the trick for me. On my second time through FAR, I was incredibly frustrated that I had forgotten so much. I pushed on and supplemented my study with Becker's Final review, something i had not done for the other three parts. If anything, it reduced the stress of trying to figure out what to study in the final days leading up to the exam. It's a quick review of all the most important topics in a quick compact study session. Perhaps something like this might work for you.

AUD - 89 07/02/14 (Becker practice exam: 74, 83)
REG - 92 08/18/14 (Becker practice exam: 75, 84)
BEC - 83 10/03/14 (Becker practice exam: 83, 70)
FAR - 91 11/24/14 (Becker practice exams: 64, 77)
*also utilized Becker Final Review after seeing practice scores for FAR*

[jcan9703]

I totally understand how you feel Ron. FAR is by far the hardest section and i too struggled during my review. I usually go through the lectures, read, take notes, and do all the work. I then rework all the mcq a second time as review and that usually does the trick for me. On my second time through FAR, I was incredibly frustrated that I had forgotten so much. I pushed on and supplemented my study with Becker's Final review, something i had not done for the other three parts. If anything, it reduced the stress of trying to figure out what to study in the final days leading up to the exam. It's a quick review of all the most important topics in a quick compact study session. Perhaps something like this might work for you.

AUD - 89 07/02/14 (Becker practice exam: 74, 83)
REG - 92 08/18/14 (Becker practice exam: 75, 84)
BEC - 83 10/03/14 (Becker practice exam: 83, 70)
FAR - 91 11/24/14 (Becker practice exams: 64, 77)
*also utilized Becker Final Review after seeing practice scores for FAR*

[jeff]

I haven't heard of issues with the MCQ splitting a screen into thirds. It might be the browser. Feel free to email me if you need assistance with it.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[jeff]

I haven't heard of issues with the MCQ splitting a screen into thirds. It might be the browser. Feel free to email me if you need assistance with it.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Anonymous]

I give a lot of people this same advice,

Take today and tomorrow easy. By this point you either know the material or you don't. If you do know the material, all cramming will do at this point is confuse you or cause you to second guess yourself over the material you know. And if you don't know it by now, will cramming will change that?

Do some light studying for sure. Especially over the heavily tested stuff (Government and NFP) and your weak areas. But don't kill yourself the day before. Going into the exam with a clear head is much better than working yourself up, getting super frustrated and entering the exam with the mindset that you've already failed.

[Anonymous]

I give a lot of people this same advice,

Take today and tomorrow easy. By this point you either know the material or you don't. If you do know the material, all cramming will do at this point is confuse you or cause you to second guess yourself over the material you know. And if you don't know it by now, will cramming will change that?

Do some light studying for sure. Especially over the heavily tested stuff (Government and NFP) and your weak areas. But don't kill yourself the day before. Going into the exam with a clear head is much better than working yourself up, getting super frustrated and entering the exam with the mindset that you've already failed.

[hneagle1]

First step —- breathe!!! It sounds like you really really put effort into the studies. I have yet to meet someone who has felt completely (100% comfortable) in a section before the exam. I felt like crap before, during, and after each exam. It is a test of endurance and confidence.

My advice to you is review the topics (review your notes (NINJA notes, if you have them)) and go thru the material, one section at a time. When going thru the sections, review your notes, complete a MCQ quiz (try to consistently score in the 80s), move onto the next section. IMPORTANT: If there are weak sections, take it slower when doing MCQ and reviewing. It is quality, not speed.

FAR - 82 (8/30/14)
AUD - 95 (10/7/14)
REG - 82 (11/7/14)
BEC - 85 (11/26/14) - PEACE OUT!
Roger CPA, WTB, Becker, and Ninja Notes (with added prayer, tears, and hope!)

[hneagle1]

First step —- breathe!!! It sounds like you really really put effort into the studies. I have yet to meet someone who has felt completely (100% comfortable) in a section before the exam. I felt like crap before, during, and after each exam. It is a test of endurance and confidence.

My advice to you is review the topics (review your notes (NINJA notes, if you have them)) and go thru the material, one section at a time. When going thru the sections, review your notes, complete a MCQ quiz (try to consistently score in the 80s), move onto the next section. IMPORTANT: If there are weak sections, take it slower when doing MCQ and reviewing. It is quality, not speed.

FAR - 82 (8/30/14)
AUD - 95 (10/7/14)
REG - 82 (11/7/14)
BEC - 85 (11/26/14) - PEACE OUT!
Roger CPA, WTB, Becker, and Ninja Notes (with added prayer, tears, and hope!)

[Author]

Replies