I've got the FAR blues

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    Topic
  • #162697
    MIA4MYCPA
    Member

    Ok its official FAR is conquering me, not the other way around. I have watched every Becker lecture and am now going back and writing notes and working the homework problems. I just completed F-2 and my scores were so horrendous I won’t even post them. I have decided that I am going to just move on to F-3 notes and homework, however I am going to add in a quiz or two over F-2 every night so that I can continue to strenghen that topic. My reasoning is that if I stay in F-2 for too long I will get way behind on the other sections and derail my whole study plan.

    Does anybody have any thoughts or suggestions? Does this sound like a reasonable approach?

    AUD - Oct 2011 - 79
    BEC - Feb 2012 - 84 (seriously thought I failed this one)
    REG - May 2012 - 84 (hmmm.....do they actually grade the SIMS???)
    FAR - Aug 2012 - 80

    I must be dreaming.... am I really done!!!

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  • #307192

    That was the worst part about FAR. You finish your studies, and then go back for review only to find out you have forgotten everything. The time between F1 and F9 (Becker) is a lot of time. What worked for me during my review was reviewing a chapter, taking quiz, moving to next chapter taking quiz over both chapters, etc. So, by the time I was reviewing F9 I was taking cumulative quizzes over F1-F9. Helps to keep everything fresh. Don't neglect Govt and NP.

    FAR - 84
    AUD - 87
    BEC - 81
    REG - 11/11

    #307193
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @ MIA4MYCPA

    I am in the same boat as you. I finished watching all the lectures in Yaeger, and started Nov. 7 to do the Hw problems + take additional notes on top of the ones I had already taken from the videos. When I started I went through a module and then I worked the mcq's, but halfway through the modules I just started seeing the remaining videos first. It makes more sense for me to do it this way, because it is just too much information, plus I felt I was not retaining the information that well. Now that I started doing the problems and going through the chapters I feel that I am retaining better the information, and it is normally by the third time that I do the MCQ's + Sims + Wiley Testbank (20 multiple choice mini tests) that I get above 80%.

    Below some of the posts I found in this website that I am using as guidance, and that have helped me calm my nerves:

    https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/first-stab-at-far-any-suggestions#post-106287

    “When you miss or guess at a practice MCQ make sure to read thru the answers and fully understand the answer. Don't worry if you don”t get everything down your first time thru, but do ID your weak spots as you go thru the material and make a list so you can be sure you give them extra attention during your review. Read thru your notes or do a few MCQ from prior sections each week to keep the previously studied material relatively fresh in your mind. Use a test bank. It will help get you used to the format you'll see and can help you with your speed. Time management is key on FAR. Set a schedule for the MCQ testlets that allows about 1 1/2 hours for the SIMS. It's better to make your best guess at a few MCQ rather than to rush thru or not finish the SIMS. “

    https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/questions-on-approaching-mcqs#post-74163

    “I don't use Yaeger, but I do have a system for MCQs. I read & study the chapter, taking notes as I go. Then I do the MCQs for the chapter (same day, while the info is still fresh). I make a note on the ones that I guessed on so I know which ones to go over again. I then review the answers, taking notes from the answers. When I go back through the chapter again, I redo the questions that I missed/guessed the first time. The third (and usually last time), I try and answer the questions “cold turkey” to try and simulate an actual exam experience. That also helps me find my problem areas to work on those last few days before the exam. I think using the notes to help you will help you learn the material, but try and only use them if it's a calcuation MCQ and only if you are completely clueless on how to start. Part of the learning process includes struggling through the problem and making mistakes. Most of them time if you make a mistake once (or even twice), you won't make it again.”

    #307194
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Well, I face the same problem! In my case I am using Roger's CPA review and I strongly feel that if I start taking notes I will spent endless time doing so as almost everything is important and cant be missed out !!

    So do you thing that watching the lecture then reading the material and finally doing MCQs and few SIMS is a good strategy of moving forward with FAR or am I missing something ?

    Thanks,

    #307195
    See Pee A
    Member

    MIA4MYCPA: I think your approach is all wrong. There is no way you can try and watch all the lectures before attempting problems. It's simply too much information to grasp at once. In school, do you read the entire book before starting any projects or doing assignments? of course not!

    My study method involved watching a lecture, doing the MCQ's, then moving to the next lecture. Every third lecture I would review the last two. It would be impossible to do it your way. Even one lecture seems like a lot, there is no way I could do all of them and expect to remember a thing. You have to split up the material or you'll never get through it. Good luck.

    BEC 86 (08/30/11)
    FAR 84 (10/13/11)
    REG 88 (11/08/11)
    AUD 86 (11/29/11)

    Exam prep - Becker self-study

    #307196
    MIA4MYCPA
    Member

    @SEE PEE A – I have already watched all of the lectures and highlighted my book. I feel like I at least know every aspect I need to gain in depth knowledge on before taking the exam. I am now in the process of going back and rewatching the lectures AFTER working the mcq for the chapter and really do feel like I can better understand the lecture the second time around.

    AUD - Oct 2011 - 79
    BEC - Feb 2012 - 84 (seriously thought I failed this one)
    REG - May 2012 - 84 (hmmm.....do they actually grade the SIMS???)
    FAR - Aug 2012 - 80

    I must be dreaming.... am I really done!!!

    #307197
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    The mistake a lot of people make with FAR is that they spread out their studies over longer than 2 months. It takes 2 months INTENSE study. You just cannot do it by taking too long – otherwise you start forgetting stuff after a while.

    I think that advice holds true with every section. Don't take longer than 8 weeks for FAR/REG ; 6 weeks for AUD/BEC

    #307198

    I am also using Becker and at the same place as you. F-2 killed me! I did terrible on the MCQ ( especially the first 80 or so on matching). What I am doing is formulating each answer I get wrong into a flash card that I can review. I don't include numbers or anything specific thats asked in a question, but do a conceptual question.

    Its hard to stay encouraged during the tedious F-2, but keep at it!

    B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
    A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
    R 65 - 48 - 45
    F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

    Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

    "The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

    Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
    Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

    #307199
    MIA4MYCPA
    Member

    I am feeling a little better after tackling F-3 homework this weekend. I did ok on the MCQ and I understood the explanations for the question I missed. So there is hope for me!!

    AUD - Oct 2011 - 79
    BEC - Feb 2012 - 84 (seriously thought I failed this one)
    REG - May 2012 - 84 (hmmm.....do they actually grade the SIMS???)
    FAR - Aug 2012 - 80

    I must be dreaming.... am I really done!!!

    #307200
    ledgermaven
    Member

    I think more than two months is doable if you constantly back up and review. I'm taking three months because I can't be ultra intense with family and work schedule till after december. I take FAR in January then I can get more intensive.

    #307201
    T-rex
    Participant

    Like someone else already mentioned, doing progress quizzes is key on FAR. Had I begun doing them from the beginning, I probably wouldn't have needed to go through all of the material 3 times.

    AUD - 95, BEC - 85
    REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
    Used Becker for all sections.
    CA candidate not residing in CA

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