[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

It took me three days to gather up my spirit and come back to this site again. I took my exam on Oct 1. ( It was my first exam, which was FAR ) I did it so bad that I do not even want to remember that day. I really had mixed feelings through out the exam. When I was doing the multiple choice questions, I felt like CPA exam is not bad at all. I am damn sure that I nailed the multiple choice questions. On the other hand, the sim ruined everything. I was not able to finish up the second sim. I just did the written part. The first sim, I would say that I did average. I am not suggesting that the question or the sim was hard. But the thing is when you do not have enough time and you are seeing that kind of sim for the first time, then believe me you go blank. I had around 80 mins when I started the sims. They were so long by the time I finished the first one I had 20 mins left for the second one. I knew at that point I failed the test and could only finish the written part. I have heard that only one sim gets graded right? If that is the case then it would be like playing a lottery. If they pick up my first sim, then I may have a chance. But nah, I failed it. I can feel it.

Anyways, that is not the reason I am online here today. I just wanted you all to know that Becker does a awesome work for review. I did not had a single MCq’s that I did not had the knowledge of. Please do becker questions sincerely and you all should be fine. Try to grab each and every concept from all the questions. They test you in the same concept but question are obviously different. If you get the concept, any questions cannot play tricks on you. On the other hand, I have nothing to say about the sims. Even thought you know the stuffs, time pressure plays a big role on the real exam. Try to finish the multiple choice questions as fast as you can so that you have plenty of time for sim. I am planning to give my BEC at the end of November. But I am so low at this point, I cannot even think of studing anymore. I prepared for FAR for more then 5 months. Its funny to say this, I failed the exam, but feels like I know most of the exam. Only the time was not enough. I do not know how to fix that. I can review the same thing again and may end up with the same result. I guess, 40 percent is also a luck in the exam. I happened to get both the messed up sims and forget about the written part.

[Anonymous]

Feeling that way leaving FAR or most likely any of the four exams is completely normal. In fact, I bet you actually passed FAR. If you think you did pretty well on the MC and written communication you should be fine, trust me. I pretty much gave up when I got into the simulations. Seriously, I don't remember doing much at all for either simulation besides doing the written memos and research questions and I got an 80.

[Florida_Candidate]

FAR is the most common one that i think people think they fail and don't… I had a similar experience to you and passed with a great grade. You really do never know until you see the score. I know how disheartening it is to have a horrible testing experience. It took me a couple weeks to pick back up after FAR but just know that at this point the best thing you can do is just move on and focus on a different section. I'd suggest AUD, it's a great confidence builder and SO much easier to study than FAR in my opinion. FAR takes so much out of you so it's normal to feel this bad…..

Just hang in there. Take a few days to collect your thoughts and then pick up and move on to the next section 🙂 And even if you DID fail, there are TONS of people who fail the first section they take simply becuase they are not used to the testing environment, time constraints, etc…. just having this testing experience under your belt will help immensely if you have to retake it (or when you take your other parts). You are now an EXPERIENCED test taker.

Until then, close up FAR and move on (as hard as that is to do!)

FAR-91 (7/29)
AUD-99 (8/23)
BEC-90 (10/1)
REG-99 (11/3)

[herbert7890]

I left out of FAR depressed, mostly because one of my sims was nearly impossible to answer (never seen that before) but I did both written comm and the other sim was average. After that exam I went to krispy Kreme (I always go there after every exam) and couldn't stop thinking about that “cruel sim”. My thought ranged from “why does it had to be me” to” I will reapply for october…..”. I ended up with a good score, so maybe you will too!!!

FAR 88 - BEC 86 - AUD 90 - REG 85

[Need CPA Already]

I really hoped you passed. I have heard the same story myself twice on the exam and they passed, imo though it will be close…

As mentioned by Florida, you are now an experienced test taker. I really would consider doing audit next. It really is a confidence builder. Less material and more test time. I walked out of BEC and AUD with less than 15 mins left. I learned that I cannot take similar approaches I did with BEC & AUD w/ REG or FAR (e.g. having the choices down to two answers and being stubborn and spending over 5 minutes on the question). I have heard so many times people walk out of AUD & BEC with plenty of time and the opposite for REG & FAR.

It is a common problem on REG & FAR, people running out of time, thus running out of time on your exam is a problem for people who have passed as well.

8/20 AUD: 90
8/31 BEC: 82
10/6 REG: 83
10/25 FAR: 93

[Anonymous]

Guys,

Thanks a lot for those encouraging words. I am just sadden by the fact that now I have to go over the IFRS and all those stuff after spending more then 5 months for FAR already. I would not mind failing at all if I had another window without any changes. I do not know a damn thing about IFRS and have run out of money to buy new courses. I have to manage it on my own. And also I do really like you guys suggesting me to give AUD next. But I have enrolled in becker classes and have already planed otherwise. My BEC classes are starting soon and I do not even have the books for AUD yet since becker will be sending updated ones for 2011 later this year. So I think its best for me to stick with my original plan and just go with the flow.

Need CPA already: I see that you are giving your FAR pretty soon. I kind of feel that you do have time management issues too. When you do the practice exams, do consider the time factor. Believe me, if you cannot manage time well, then it does not matter even if the know the stuffs very well. Best of luck.

[GreenCPA]

CPAGURU,

I felt the same way when I took my Regulation exam. I thought for sure I had failed. The first simulation I had was horrible. I didn't have a clue on the topic or tabs and my written piece was completely made up. The second one was a little better but I spent so much time on the first I pressed for time. To my surprise I passed with a 75, so hang in there. I don't think anyone walks away thinking they did a great job.

Just curious if you used the Becker Final review for studying for the FARE exam? I'm considering purchasing it because I've heard that it does a good job recapping all of the sections but hate to spend more money.

If anyone has used the final review book, could you please comment.

Best of luck to everyone.

[Anonymous]

Great responses! I have FAR in a week and a half.. 🙂 I always go to Dunkin Donuts before the exam and eat a boston creme donut for good luck! haha.

I have the Final Review product for all sections. So far I sat for BEC and REG and it was really really great for REG. I look forward to using it for FAR within the next couple of days.. but I've heard very good reviews! For example, with REG they walk you through sims and how to complete the tax forms.. it was nice to have someone “hold your hand”. It helps!

[kjwc4b]

cpaguru…i'm feeling like you passed FAR.

I walked out of FAR crying. As you know the testlets are adaptive, and my third one clearly got easier. I nearly had a panic attack. when I got to the sims, I didn't know a single tab. My WC were average I would say…I made up half of what I wrote. I got both research tabs (i think), and was just winging it from there on out. I can't even remember what the sims asked me to do b/c I was in such a funk. Either way, I finished up, knowing I had totally bombed the sims and walked out prepared to retake. I even filled out an application form to mail off the day my score was released.

83. I ripped that retake app up. Don't lose hope. It sounds like you nailed the MC. Those and the writing section alone can give you 80 points. Imagine picking up random points here and there for some of the sims, maybe losing a few for the MC, and I'm imagine you got somewhere in the 80s. Fingers crossed your first sim is chosen to grade (honestly, I thought it didn't matter which of mine got graded b/c I bombed both).

I'd suggest moving on the BEC with even more motivation than you had for FAR. I've walked out of every exam early, BEC with over 30 minutes. Practice multiple choice until you throw up so you learn to read and answer with speed. Best of luck!! and don't linger over FAR. I did the same thing and you may end up being suprised 🙂

BEC 7/9/10: 86
FAR 8/24/10: 83
AUD 10/1/10: 93
REG 11/19/10: 89

[Anonymous]

Everyone who posted in this blog,

I really appreciate your kind words when I was so low after my first FAR exam. I got my score yesterday and was suprised with a score of 82. Thank you all for your support when I needed the most. Now if someone posts something like this ( look at my first post ) then I will be the first one to reply..hehe

[Author]

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