[SuperAccountingGod]

I’ve read some different threads on here where some people just start completely over with more emphasis on their weak areas whereas others have found success doing nothing but MCQ. Right now I’ve barely started restudying and am going back to the beginning but I don’t want to waste my time if just doing MCQ is more efficient. Thoughts on the best approach to retake FAR?

[Anonymous]

I would suggest go straight to MCQ, do them all to pinpoint your weak areas and refresh on what you did know. Then start hammering MCQ in your weak area. Also do a cumulative review as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

That really depends when you first took the exam and how much of the FAR materials you have retained since then. If you still remember a lot of the materials from the 1st take, then just hit your weak areas after reviewing your score performance report, then just review the rest of the units. If not, then start from the scratch.

[Anonymous]

I would agree with the above, depends on how much time has passed since your first take. For me, it was about 5 months, so not a lot of it stayed with me (I took BEC in between). I was using Becker. I just re-wrote my notes (and skimmed the textbook while doing so) to freshen up on the material, trying to do one unit a week, and a TON of MC questions. I didn’t re-watch any lectures unless I really had a problem with the topic- this was only one or two times. I also kept doing cumulative progress tests after I finished each unit to make sure I didn’t forget anything.
Also, there’s a post on here with potential SIMs straight from the AICPA FAR blueprint (can someone link-?) I used that to practice some sims and get comfortable with the topics. I went from a 71 to an 88. Basically, I’d focus on nailing MC questions. When you review units/your notes you may be surprised at how much of the material you remember and may only need a refresher.

[Anthony]

I just did nothing except mcq and sim practice for my retake. Don't bother just studying the weak areas because you don't want your strong areas go weak.

[SuperAccountingGod]

For me I took the exam 8/30/18 and got a 67. That told me I still had “significant holes” in my understanding of the concepts. That is why I opted to either start from the very beginning or just keep hammering MCQ since I only got to do around 650 or so by the time I got to my exam.

[cpa1234]

the first time around I studied for 2 months, with some breaks in between when I went on a trip or had some weekend plans. I was taking my own detailed notes while I listened to lectures. After I failed, I scheduled the retake for about 4 weeks later and I went through each module's pre-test. If I scored 75% or higher, I moved on from the topic and maybe looked at my notes once before the retake. If I scored between 65% and 75% I put those notes in my “light review” pile, which I went over twice before the retake. If I scored less than 65% I looked at the topic and decided whether I thought it was truly important or if the likelihood it'll be tested is low, based on my experience with practice exams and the actual exam and posts here on another71. If I felt it wasn't likely to be tested, I moved on. Anything I scored below 65% and felt it was truly important, I put in a heavy review pile. In my heavy review I also put those “big topics” that everyone on another71 says are (and I experienced first time) on the exam. I looked at that heavy review pile many times. I also re-took one of the mock exams. One thing I did on the retake is I definitely triple checked that I was putting blanks and zeros where the instructions said too. Cause I didn't pay as much attention to that the first time cause I didn't know you could lose points on something so stupid. I brought my score up from 60 on the first try to 76 on the second try.

[SuperAccountingGod]

That was my other problem. I was studying for FAR for like 3.5 months. This mainly due to the fact that I started studying before I scheduled my exam because I hadn't started work yet and didn't have money to pay for the exams. And when I looked at my performance report my best sections were in select transactions and state and local governments, but I died on all the earlier stuff. Now I know why Jeff on here recommends studying no more than 2 months for any section, as you tend to forget a lot of things the longer time goes.

[TREK2018]

It's great to be efficient but it's better to be effective. When reviewing I would work ten questions at time and aim for 100% correct, put things in my own words and do every TBS problem I could find. I am not an accountant but I really think people need to focus more on passing rather then saving time. Worked for me, passed four in row by being sure I really knew the material instead of looking for the easier route

[Author]

Replies