[RandomAlt]

So I am wondering what everyone considers to be the topics of lesser important for the FAR section.

Yes, I know EVERY topic is fair game, but I am using CPAexcel, with 239 topics, and while I have recently improved the speed with which I am moving through them, I am still falling a little more behind my schedule everyday.

For example, my goal was to do 5 topics per day, but I ended up spending the majority of the day on the Equity method section, and only ended up doing 3 topics today.

It is cost-benefit time, and I need to trim some of the fat!

Thanks all

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[J]

FAR has so much information that could potentially appear that it's really impossible to tell you what is important and what is not, especially considering the rules against dissemination of actual test information. 239 topics seems a little extreme, but even in the Wiley book they probably have approximately 25 broad different areas (i.e. if you're counting Module 13 as A/B/C/D/E). There are only 90 MC questions and 7 simulations, so even topics that you feel are really important might only be 2 or 3 MC questions.

I think that it is fair to state that government/not-for-profit is quite important, just based on the fact that it is approximately 20% of the material in the content specification outlines. Beyond that, it really depends on the test. There were some topics that I felt were very important and for which I spent a significant time preparing that might have showed up on just one MC question and other topics that seemed relatively insignificant that showed up everywhere on my test. I will say that it retrospect, I should have spent more time on topics that are generally covered in Advanced Accounting; I thought they were more heavily tested than what I was expecting.

[Tncincy]

@Randomalt,

I went through the same thing. I was using cpaexcel for far and struggled with the volume of topics so I bought the yaeger review because I really needed to get to the point. If money is an issue ( for me it always is) use the wiley products test bank or focus notes) or the ninja notes and audio. It might not cover every topic but I think it covers enough to direct your studies.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[topharry123]

I used CPA Excel and thought that it covered everything in the best possilbe way. The bite sized lessons are great because you can easily stop and start without being right in the middle of something. One thing I will say is that the amount of topics does look overwhelming, but some are larger than others so while you might cover only 3 one day, you will get to some lessons which will only take 10-15 minutes each so you may get through 10-12 in some days; I know I did. As far as content goes, you really need to go through it all. I had lot's of questions on what I thought were smaller topics and some supposedly heavily tested areas appeared only once or not at all. Just be thorough and try and learn something on every section. Don't waste time studying things you already know just because it is an easy break from the tough stuff; keep moving and concentrate on the lessons where you don't know anything or very little about. In all the CPA exams, there has to be a cost-benefit trade off for most of us and the best way to get through it is to study harder on the areas that are new to you and to be confident enough to breeze through a section if you already know the section from experience.

FAR - 95
REG - 93
AUD - 91
BEC - 85

[whitelilies04]

I didn't use CPA Excel so I can't speak to the topics, but I did take FAR 3 times (awesome, I know!) and each test was VERY different. There is so much material that it can't all be covered but there is no rhyme or reason as to what will actually appear on the test.

FAR - passed, 11/12
AUD - passed, 5/13

[Author]

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