[MFCPA]

I have FAR this Friday and I am freaking out. The amount of information is ridiculous. Today I am going over governmental accounting and the details for every one of the funds is ridiculous. Yesterday I spent a good part of the day understanding bonds, which may have been a waste of time. I’m not sure if I am studying correctly for FAR or not. I’ve been through everything in Becker and I feel like I haven’t retained any of it.

Does anyone that has taken FAR have any advice for me for the next few days? Should I just try to get a grasp of the big picture? Anything I should make sure I know inside and out? It seems even when I do random questions in Wiley they are so specific.

DONE!

[Anonymous]

You'll be surprised how much information you remember come exam time. Make sure you go over governmental and not-for-profit because I can guarantee you that those will be tested. How are you doing on the becker practice final exams?

[katiekanton]

I just sat for it. I won't say you don't need to know bonds, but if you have a decent understanding of it (not necessarily a complete mastery of every possible question they could ask), I wouldn't spend any more time on it if you aren't comfortable with governmental. Governmental and NFP are historically very heavily tested. I had governmental and NFP accounting my last semester and it was old hat to me.

Please understand I'm trying to tell you as much as possible without violating non-disclosure. I won't tell you the subject of the sim in question, but I had one entire sim that I know was 100% slam dunk and took all of about 45 seconds to do.

Also, read my comments on the “Rules for the CPA thread” #26 about the AICPA released questions, and I have made a few posts in the FAR sticky thread. I wish I could help more. I've edited this post so many times, rearranging sentences to be more ambiguous, that it probably doesn't make any sense any more.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[MFCPA]

@CashEquivalents, I don't do Becker's final exams anymore. I find them to be a waste of time, just my opinion. Thanks for the advice.

@katiekanton, I understand regarding exam disclosure. Thanks for the advice. I'm struggling with FAR, it's just so much information and I'm having trouble remembering it all. I didn't feel this way about Reg or Audit. My multiple choice scores are horrific and I have the exam next Friday.

DONE!

[jenuno01]

@MFCPA I am a great fan of the Becker's final tests… I think you should at least try Test #1, even if you skip the SIMS; it will still be great practice. Good luck!

Class of 2012

[Anonymous]

Here is a list of things I would do…

Know J/E's – make a list of them on your own and review morning of exam

Know formulas – again, make a list on your own and review

Know major areas but don't worry a whole lot about nitty gritty details – with time constraints, it's better to know a little about everything vice one topic inside and out and not the main points of the others

Don't spend a whole lot of time just grinding out MCQ's – this is my opinion only, but I doubt I did more than 700 MCQ's for FAR. I spent more time reviewing and understanding the examples they give in the text of the Wiley book.

When you take the exam, don't try to gauge whether or not your testlets are getting harder. Some people say they can tell, but I thought mine were all the same. This will distract you and not help your confidence level at all.

And most of all, good luck!

[MFCPA]

@apbandj, thanks. I'm taking your advice and I'm starting to have some aha moments. Hopefully I can pull it off on Friday.

DONE!

[Author]

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