[kdotter]

Hi guys! I’m in a pretty tough position. I have been studying for FAR since the middle of July, so about a month. I’ve pushed my test back a total of 3 times already. It is now set for September 7th, but the review for FAR is sooo tough! I forgot a little bit of what I learned, and I am just not on track. I know people say to review and master For Profit before starting Not for Profit, but I am cramming before my test. The rest of September is a black out month, so I have been throwing around the idea of pushing my test back until the first week of October. I’m just worried that if I do push it back (again) I will be giving myself too much time. But if I keep it at September 7th, I will barely touch F8, F9, F10 or the Mock Exams.

[Karrie]

If I were you, and I wasn’t on a time crunch to finish the exams, I think pushing it back to early October would be ideal. FAR is SO much material and you really shouldn’t skip anything. From what I’ve seen on here, F8 and F9 are govt/not for profit, right? (I use Roger, not becker). Those topics are heavily tested – I rushed through them on my first attempt and that is why I got a 70. If you use your time wisely and consistently study, that would give you a couple more weeks to go through all the material and a couple more weeks for a solid review. One key piece of advice is to not get in the mindset of “oh wow, I have so much extra time now” – because then you’ll just end up with the same problem later. Good luck!

[Missy]

no I don't think there's such a thing as too much time but you have to force yourself to keep fresh on the units you studied weeks earlier.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

I tend to tell people to take it before the end of the quarter so they get their score sooner and can make accommodations if they have to retake in Q4. Unless money is an issue, go for the Hail Mary. But if you're tight on cash, pushing back to the first week of October will give you three-ish extra weeks to review.

[murd]

I agree w/ curlygirl. I would take it. I studyied for a while and did not even touch sections 9 and 10 or Mock Exams(Becker). I never feel fully prepared and concepts from the important sections were starting to fade. I am sure I did not do well on the not for profit/governmental MCQs, but I squeezed by. Luckily had no SIMs related to those topics.

[Karrie]

@curlygirl and @murd make a very good point as well. That is what I'm doing with my REG exam on Sept. 10th. I don't feel like it's really going to be enough time, but my NTS will expire anyway, so I'm going to try and hope for the best. Then I'll know my score by Sept 19th. If I (or you) take it in October, we would have to wait til December 19th for our score. That's something to keep in mind, so it may depend on where you're at in the whole process.

[reallytired]

@curlygirl1213, Totally off topic, but you and I scored the exact same two scores for AUD (68, 78) and the same passing score for FAR (77) and so I am praying I also can copy your BEC score! 😀

B 10/29/16
A 10/1/16
R 9/2/16
F 7/26/16

[Superdude3000]

If you have the cash to retake in Q4 I'd go for it this quarter. Plus if you move your exam back now you'll get hit with a fee from Prometric since you're within 30 days of your scheduled exam now.

[Anonymous]

@reallytired You're gonna be great on BEC! Now if you could also allow me to copy your REG score, that'd be fantastic~

[Pete]

Doesn't pro-metric charge a rescheduling fee? As I recall, this wasn't cheap and would offset the money you save with a fee, especially doing it 3 times. Your probably better off just taking it, then seeing what happens.

B=84 This exam was such a b**** that I thought I failed-don't know how these things work
A=76 Slacker I am, I'll happily take it
R=81 I LOVE taxes
F=80 I don't wanna get banned for an expletive I'm thinking with "yea" proceeding it

[shawn in VA]

its 35$ if its 5 or more days out. within 24 hours you are screwed and lose all monies.

I learned my lesson last year. I would schedule at least 1 month in advance, and then need to reschedule b/c I needed an extra week to study, or family stuff came up. Now I just schedule a few days prior when I know I am 100% ready. I have at least 5 prometric centers within 1.50 hours of my house.

[kdotter]

Thank you guys so much for all your help. I never posted on here before so it was really great getting such quick responses. Although I've never gotten hit with a prometric fee, I think I am just going to take it and pray for the best. I'm a recent graduate and have had governmental classes in college, so I'm hoping that I don't have too much trouble when reviewing those last few sections. Also, @shawninVA I am probably going to start doing what you do; scheduling the tests when I am actually ready because I do not do well under pressure or cramming. 🙂

[Anonymous]

@kdotter Thank you for posting this question! I'm in the same boat for FAR. My exam is scheduled for Sept 7th. I'm chalking up my unpreparedness to my emotional roller-coaster, haha. I got my 1st test score back and passed (AUD with 77)!! Then this week got my 2nd score back and failed (BEC with 67)! Everyone made good points, especially that we get grades back Sept 19th! I did check Prometric's website and to reschedule your test right now, it is a $35 fee. I'm going to bite the bullet, buckle down and take it the 7th as well. Good luck to you!

[kdotter]

@chasinCPA Goodluck! I also just found out I failed BEC with a 64 :(.

[KG]

There definitely is such a thing as too much time. I studied for about three months my first time taking FAR. By the time the final week rolled around and I got into my review, I realized I forgot nearly half the material. I ended up scoring a 58 or something like that. It nearly caused me to throw in the towel completely as it was my first test and it rocked my confidence pretty hard. I ended up passing my second time around and instead of studying for three months I studied more like a month and a half.
If you do end up taking it in September though, I would advise doing your best to get through the whole book even if it just means only being able to write down mnemonics. Then just smash on as many MCQs in each section (taking the weighting into consideration) as humanly possible. Good luck to you!

B-78 (8/12) Passed[Expired]
F-56 (1/12), 75 (1/13) Passed[Expired]
A-74 (5/13) Seriously?!, 78 (8/14) Passed[Expired]
R-59 (8/13), 73 (12/13)<--super bummed
Starting all over again...
R-79 (4/27/16)
B-
F-
A-

[lhenley94]

I spent three and a half months on FAR and have zero regrets because I passed it the first time…. I even pushed it back 2 days like right before the exam because I thought I needed it and TBH I doubt I would have passed If i had not done that. Take all the time you need!

[Author]

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