[Vince]

Hey everyone, just introducing myself on the forum. Im happy to find a community that is going through and feel the same way I do. Nothing worst than being asked “whats going on?” telling them Im studying for the CPA exam and the amount of hrs put in, with a response of, “yea I know what you feel, I had to take a marketing/sales exam for work”……. lol anyways, I graduated college with a double major in accounting and finance in May ’09. I was president of both the accounting club and finance club, internship at a cpa firm, and told everyone I was going for my CPA after college. It felt almost like some of the fresh accounting majors looked up at me…. well the time came after graduating and I spent 7 months literally scared of the CPA exam. I traveled, partied, hung out with friends, and relaxed. Finally signed up Dec 18th to NASBA and Becker live with final review. My school was closed for winter break on the 18th so they sent out my transcript on Jan 4 as I started studying FAR Jan 5. I called after 3 weeks passed and they said they are still missing my transcript so I sent in an official copy I had. Waited a little over 2 weeks when my status said “initial educational evaluation, please check back in 3 weeks” this was in the 1st week of Feb and I was planning on taking it the last week of Feb… I was a bit stressed out… on the 15th it said final review, 5-7 days. I checked prometric and spaces were limited….

I have been studying 7 days a week, 9-10am till whenever I get tired, usually around 6-8pm. As of today, I have logged over 314 net hours of study. I took one saturday off in the beginning but other than that the CPA has taken over my life. Yesterday I finally received my NTS and made an appointment with prometric on the 8th. I am soooooo unbelievably grateful the testing window was extended or I would have been a very very pissed off dude.

For the longest time, I was getting 55-63% on the Becker problems and it was really discouraging me. During the live class in Jan, I knew the material before going on to the next chapter. I went back and reviewed after the course was over in the beginning of Feb and I was getting about the same %’s if not slightly higher by a few points. I felt like my memory was shot and I can only retain so much information. I was really upset at myself and feared failing but my friend who is also taking the CPA has been of great support and motivation. I have 11 days till the exam and I hope to finish redoing the hw over again before the date. I can say that this exam has caused me a lot of anxiety and I have had trouble sleeping in the past month. I truly give my hat off to all you people who have kids to take care of, and full time jobs, especially now during tax season for those of you in the field. I am very fortunate to have a loving mother who supports me 100% on this, not so much on the father figure… I could not do it if I was some of you out there and I am thankful for being fortunate to have this opportunity to study and hope to pass the 1st time through. Well thats my story,

Thanks in advance for any responses, feedback, and advice.

FAR (Feb. '10) - 83
REG (Apr. '10) - 88
BEC (May '10) - 79
AUD (Aug '10) - 80

[financeguy]

wow man, you sound really committed. That is a lot of hours and I'm sure you have a lot of knowledge of the material. I would just keep up the studying and not worry about the percent right you get on practice…bottom line is you are taking the test in less than 2 weeks no matter what…it doesn't matter how you are scoring now. Obviously you have done a lot of preparation and come test day it won't be as if you didn't put in the time and effort.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[jmjones4]

FAR is a mile wide and an inch deep. I did Becker Live classes and its completely normal to only get 40-50% of the questions right the first time. Just keep working them until you get them right. Also, if you do the practice final exam dont get bummed out. Its harder than the actual test, and this is true for all 4 parts. And do all the practice sims, I had sims on FAR, Audit and Reg that were REALLY similiar to becker sims. Also, be careful not to over-study. You can get to a point where you studying isnt working because your brain is so tired. I got my FAR score back this morning and made a 79. You can do it.

BEC - 79; FAR-79, AUD-80, REG-80

HOLY CRAP I DID IT!!!!

[Anonymous]

Vince – Since this is your first, I would recommend that you take the Becker Practice Final Exam. It is exactly like the real test. This gives you a feel for how the exam will go. You can practice your time management. I have taken all the exams and FAR is by far no pun intended the most difficult to manage your time from my perspective with REG a close second. If you are not careful and take too long on the multiple choice questions you can jeopardize your whole exam. However, I also believe that the multiple choice questions can make or break your exam since it is 70% of your grade. Just a couple more tips, get to the test center early, I arrive at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours prior, study my weakest area right before I walk in maybe a formula or a single concept that I am having trouble with. On average you have about one and half minutes to answer the multiple choice question. If you truly do not have a clue guess (B or C), move on and forget about. If you dwell on those questions longer than 2 or 3 minutes you jeopardize your whole exam. Last if you are short on time, make sure you do the written communicaton on both simulations since they are worth 10%. For FAR do not short change your studying on Gov't and NFP. Those two areas are worth about 20% of the exam and you will see your fair share. Studying as much as you have, I think you will be fine. Also, The Becker Practice Final Exams seem to more difficult than the real thing at least in my experience that goes with all the exams not just FAR.

Good Luck. I like to say if you put in the effort and I would say you have put in the effort you will be okay.

[shawshankcpa]

I have to say, I am extremely impressed at the dedication to put 314 hours in for the exam…I think you'll do fine my friend.

[Vince]

Thanks for the advice guys. I believe that I turned my fear into an advantage for motivation to study. Its what happened when I took acct 1101 the class all business majors have to take thats not counted toward the cpa. I had a roommate who failed it a year before I took it, got scared coming into it from what he said and made 2nd in the class with a 104.

jmjones – on the over study, I think Im undertanding what you mean. I am half way from redoing all the homework now, and my %'s on some topics have drastically increased up to the 80% and low 90's, but some I am getting just a few, no more than 10% increase, slightly higher percentages mostly ranging in the 70's but as low as 60%. Also getting the same questions I marked wrong, getting some right that I got wrong before, and getting them wrong when I got them right the 1st time.

Lee – Yes I have done the practice exam (progress test) on the passmaster and the CBT final exam. I did it right after the classes were over, made a 59% on both the practice and final exam… Im planning on taking the 2nd 3 days before my exam and touch up on the last 2 days. 1 1/2-2hrs early??? I was planning on being there 45 mins early but yea, id like to do a quick review before going on. On Govt, having never taken a class on it, it was the highest % and easiest for me to get, NFP on the other hand, slightly lower but still good.

You should not study the day before the exam, is that correct??? I have heard that somewhere and I am thinking of having a massage the day before and hanging out with friends.

FAR (Feb. '10) - 83
REG (Apr. '10) - 88
BEC (May '10) - 79
AUD (Aug '10) - 80

[hopefloats]

Vince – given how in depth you are studying, I'd say take a day off before the exam. Really only you can answer that for yourself though. I usually study the night before until about 9 pm or so and then an hour review in the morning before my 8 am test. That's just how I work. I know the material, but some topics (the ones I'm weaker on), I like to have fresh in my head. I passed REG (88) and FAR (86) on my first try doing this – hoping it will work for BEC and AUD coming up next window! Everyone is different, do what you think will bring you the most success.

[vincec]

I also studied my weaker areas the day before but quit around 9. There is a point of diminishing returns, at least for me. I really just concentrated on some tough simulations and MC that last day. Good luck!

BEC - Passed, AUD - Passed, REG - Passed, FAR - Passed, CA Ethics - Passed

[thenarvin]

I've definitely learned that the quality of your study is much more important that the time you spend studying (within reason, of course). I only spent about 80, maybe 90 hours, studying for the FAR exam and passed with a 97. I spent nearly twice as much time studying for audit and passed with a 92.

The difference to me was the time I spent working problems, which was much more effective for me. I would skim the chapters but really focus on the mechanics of the MCs. When you find an area that you are weak in, then go back and read.

Take practice exams frequently before the test because they give you a pretty good idea of how you'll actually test. I wouldn't spend too much time doing simulations. If you know how to answer the MCs (without guessing) then the simulations are just an extension of that understanding. That being said, the simulations are much harder than anything I'd practiced.

I'd study for a bit on the day before the exam, but that's me. Best of luck to you.

FAR - 97 AUD - 95 BEC - 92 REG - 04/07

[Guccimane]

I like to go over certain materials and read over solutions to Sim problems for about 2-3hrs right before exam; but I do not work MCQ's preparing for the exam on test day….I also take a rest for about 45 mins to relax and pray and do a motivational speech

also eat good and I normally drink coffee with food in the mornings before my last minute cram of certain material I feel will be needed to be extra sharp on

I always have trouble sleeping nights of exam but I go to bed early enough and eventually get about 6.5-7 hrs sleep

Good luck!

83 Reg, 76 BEC, 94 Aud, 79 Far

Done ......!

[Vince]

Hey everyone, well I took FAR yesterday…. I got through the 1st testlet in about 30-35 mins, 2nd took a bit longer, and 3rd took a while. I think it was because at first I was going through them quickly so I slowed down. I did not notice a difference in difficulty which I was a bit worried about. But then again, I would do the best I could on the current question, go on to the next and do the same, leaving my thoughts and concerns on the last question and moving on. The sims were both hard as hell and unrelated working tabs… I walked out of there telling myself I did the best I could do…

Had my mom drop me off, finished and walked to the nearest bar, and had a friend pick me up a few hours later. Its amazing how easy it is to get drunk from not drinking for 2 months. Now to relax for a week, then REG…

FAR (Feb. '10) - 83
REG (Apr. '10) - 88
BEC (May '10) - 79
AUD (Aug '10) - 80

[Anonymous]

Congrats. It sounds like you did good on the MC portion and that is most of the fight. I'm working through FAR myself now. How well did the Becker stuff prepare you for FAR?

Good luck on REG. I used Becker for REG and got a 97. With you coming right out of school it should be a breeze along with the study commitment you have shown so far. If you are doing self-study with Becker do the law/ethics stuff first and then move onto the tax topics.

[Anonymous]

Don't read into your FAR score too much; I think most people are surprised at their score relative to how they felt. Getting the first one out of the way is a major relief, so congrats on that. Of course the wait for that first score was the worst part of this whole process, at least for me.

[Vince]

Just got my score in, 83!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAAHHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! although my friend made a 74 🙁 I felt sorry for her but she will make it. Ill be over in the REG section now… lol Thanks everyone for the support and help!!!!

FAR (Feb. '10) - 83
REG (Apr. '10) - 88
BEC (May '10) - 79
AUD (Aug '10) - 80

[Author]

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