[NYSCPA]

I just got my score for FAR and it’s a 74 :(. FAR is my last part and Im wondering how should i appoach this going forward. The materials are stil pretty freash in my mind. So should I start studying from the beginning (Lecture, MCQs, Sims) or should I go over my weak areas addressed in the NASBA report?
Any suggestions?? Im used Becker for this exam and planning on using Roger because I pretty much burned through all of the MCQs in Becker

[alloverit]

Ask yourself two questions:

1. Are there areas on the test that I did poorly on that I could make a large improvement in? If so, focus on these areas BUT don't over-focus on them while ignoring everything else.

2. Are there areas that I thought you knew that you surprisingly struggled with on the test? This happens to some candidates when they don't revisit areas after covering them once.

The thing is, there are two ways to improve a score. Focus on areas of weakness AND areas of strength. Most people spend so much time on the first (because it's so obvious) that they end up giving back some points on their areas of strength.

As an analogy for the second part: George W Bush didn't win Ohio by going into urban areas and winning over democrats. He went into areas he was already going to win and increased his margin of victory in an area that was already more responsive to his message. Make sense?

You got this

[Anonymous]

Does the report say you were weaker/comparable in MCQs than the SIMs or vice versa?

If I were you, I would focus on the areas you were having trouble with during your review phase leading up to the exam date. No need to start from the scratch if the FAR concepts are still fresh in your mind.

On the other hand, some will say you should start from the beginning because you are 75 points away, not 1 point.

[NYSCPA]

@Big4BeanCoun- saw my report today, I am stronger on MCQs and Weaker on Sims. As far as sims goes, Im not really sure how to study for that mainly because sims are just extension of MCQs and you deff will have different sims on the real exam. I usually just study MCQs and nail down the concepts and only go over sims once to get an idea.

[Anonymous]

@CPATang – At least you know you're stronger on MCQs so if I were you, I would try to re-assess how I can tackle the SIMs even though it's easier said than done.

I remember you saying that you ran out of time for the SIMs in “Far re-take” thread. Did you mean you didn't have enough time to completely finish the remaining SIMs with blanks or filled with random numbers? Or Did you know what the SIMs were asking, but having problems with approaching them?

[NYSCPA]

I knew what they were asking just having some problems approaching them because i took too much time reading on DRS, so I filled in the blanks with randoms numbers. 74 is such a weird score to get. really don't know if i shoud start all over again or just keep reviewing.

[Anonymous]

@CPATang-I would use Ninja MCQ to focus on the areas where you are weaker (look at conceptual section in the score report to see which area is weaker) and focus on Becker SIMS and Skills Practice. Yes technically SIMS are the extension of the MCQ but if you don't know how to do the SIMS, you don't really fully understand the concepts…. I strongly recommend using “FAR SIMS straight from AICPA blueprint” thread to guide your study of SIMS. It has the Becker SIMS laid out according to the blueprint. Anything marked “analysis” on the blueprint is a fair game for the SIMs. I would look at “application” level skills as well. If you do all of Becker SIMS for chapters 1-8 (do the ones on that thread first, then do others if you have time) and do the Skills practices, especially for cash and cash equivalents, balance sheet, income statement, inventory, PP&E, leases (have to know leases cold!), statement of stockholder's equity…You should be in the position to pass.

[MIsconnie]

I never practiced SIMS, to me there is little utility in doing so. I agree that if you understand the material for MCQs then you are in good shape for SIMS. The most important thing for me on FAR was pacing the exam properly. Each MC testlet should take you no more than 55 mins, I aimed for 45 mins. If you are able to keep this pace you should have about 2.5 hours for simulations. This is important because you need to take your time and be incredibly detail oriented for the SIMS. If you rush through them because you are short on time, you will make silly mistakes. Not to mention rushing also yields panicking which also has terrible results. That is, if you were struggling with time like Big4BeanCounter mentioned.

[NYSCPA]

@anyatver- I just got the ninja monthly subcription today. I will focus on my weaker areas on the MCQs as well as do an over all review for FAR. how long would you recommend to study the materials for the re-take??? initially, I was thinking to take it close to the Q2 score release date but I dont think reviewing materials for 3 months is a good idea

[Anonymous]

I took exactly 6 weeks for my FAR retake but I scored a 69…I also work full time so I studied about 3 hours during weekdays and longer on the weekends…I would say I took a couple of weeks to re-write my notes, a couple of weeks to do Ninja MCQ and a couple of weeks on SIMS and overall review…I think 1 month would be enough for yours? Is this your last section? I would just take it asap and then just wait…I know it sucks….

[NYSCPA]

yea FAR is my last part. I am pretty comfortable with the materials i guess i will a overall review and focus on my weak areas and sims using ninja and Becker, and go for the exam when i feel like im ready.

[ragepsn29]

Make sure you get and understand all easy questions for easy points. I know there are some people who put a lot of effort and time into the hard stuff in FAR and those questions don't show up or they miss the easy questions and points because they focus too much on the hard stuff.

Good luck!

AUD - 65, 72, 70, 74, 81
FAR - 66, 71, 76
REG - 69
BEC - 80

[Author]

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