[Red315]

Hello all,

I am currently studying for FAR and it has been challenging to say the least. This is my last section (my clock started ticking in December 2011). Luckily I have until June of next year until I lose my first credit!

I am using Becker and passed all my previous sections on the first shot. FAR seems a bit overwhelming to me. I have gotten through half the material and don’t seem to be retaining much when I move to new material. I am bombing my progress tests because of this. Here is my studying method which has worked well with the other sections:

View Lectures and take my own notes on the materials

Study notes

Do all MCQs and Sims

Review flash cards

I am thinking of going back and re-reviewing 1 through 5 before I move on the the second half and see if I can try to solidify my understanding. I am not at the point where at first glance I can figure out calculations off the top of my head.

I am not testing until August 31st so I have little time to revisit. I am also considering using the Wiley test bank for additional sims and MCQ for practice in my two week final review at the end. Thought?

I just want to make sure that I pass the “beast” the first time. I am so ready to be done!

Jeanne Aparicio

B - 75 (11/2011, First Attempt)
A - 88 (2/2012, First Attempt)
R - 89 (5/2012, First Attempt)
F - 79 (8/31/2012 First Attempt)

I AM DONE!!!!!! BECKER IS AWESOME!!!!

Licensed Florida CPA 09/2012

[okcpa1987]

I'm studying for FAR right now as well…and my stratagy has actually been to “rush” thru the whole book (im assuming Becker is being used?) all the lectures, homework and sims. That way I get a very basic shallow understanding of everything they tell me to study. I tend to not retain information as well as i go thru one of the chapters when I have no idea how hard the rest of the book is going to be and I stress about how f-ed I am on this test. Today I actually finished all ten chapters and due to some luck and a little careful planning, I can allow myself a full 7 weeks of intense studying and progress tests which I would hope will lock in a passing grade. Now that I know which chapters are the absolute worst and most challenging chapters, I plan on taking a progress test later today and seeing which chapters I struggle with the most. There are 1500 questions in the Becker MCQ bank. If i can manage to take three progress tests a week at 90 questions a test…i cant imagine what more I could do to pass.

Hope that helps?

REG - 80 (4/19/12)
BEC - 81 (5/31/12)
FAR - 89 (8/27/12)
AUD - 87 (11/12/12)

[Givemesleep]

@red our journey is a carbon copy down to my test date for Far. It will all come together the last month.

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[Mrs 300]

I think doing a review in the middle is a good idea. Repitition and reviewing old material is so important for FAR.

However, I just want to warn you as a buddy for you on this board…the last 1/2 of Becker for FAR is extremely overwhelming. I am telling you this because I think most people are surprised and think that when they get done with Bonds and Leases, that it's the home stretch.

The last 4-5 chapters of the book will make you the 1st 5 chapters look easy. I'm just telling you this so that you can plan for it. This is just my experience and what you know or understand might be different than me. But I just wanted to give you my two cents since I am (unfortunately) a FAR exam veteran.

Good luck to everyone sitting for FAR!

REG - 80 (Becker only)
BEC - 76 (Becker only)
AUD - 71, 76 (Becker only)
FAR - 65, 74, 81! (Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja notes & Audio)

CPA Class of 2012 🙂

[Givemesleep]

This process is very eye opening. I never imagined it would be this hard. It's doable but must be taking very serioulsy like surgery. Take FAR first is my advice to anyone undertaking this journey. BEC is the secret beast too. I found AUD ok with lots of work. Someday I will be Givemesleep, CPA

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[okcpa1987]

I agree with you on taking this test first givemesleep, I wish I had done this instead of REG. At this point, its a lot more of a struggle to get myself to study and to take practice tests then it was when I was studying for my first test.

Mrs. 300 I think the main reason the first 5 or 6 chapters are “easier” is because most of us learned all of this stuff in our principles and intermediate accounting classes in college. Whereas most of us have never learned pension, gov't, or hedge accounting. So its a lot more review or maybe adding a few extra details on stuff most of us had to learn. Unfortunetely for me, its been a good 3 years and plenty of alcohol abusing nights since my accounting classes…

I'd like to think that I have a fairly decent understanding of most of the material in becker, but my biggest problem is all the different methods that are available to account for different situations/conditions. And then to throw IFRS on top of that?? There are some topics where theres like 4-5 different methods!!

Can't wait for this test to be behind me!!

REG - 80 (4/19/12)
BEC - 81 (5/31/12)
FAR - 89 (8/27/12)
AUD - 87 (11/12/12)

[zcyankeefan]

@okcpa I feel your pain. I'm in my final review stage for FAR (I take it this Friday), and I've been finding that I forgot most of the small details that I thought I had drilled into my head a couple of weeks ago. Everyone's been saying that for the final review you should:

1) skim the text

2) do progress tests and MCQ

3) SIMS

4) review personal notes and flashcards

5) look up example questions on the AICPA website and

6) do full-length practice tests (i.e. Becker)

I've only been able to do #'s 1,2, and 4, and I'm finding myself on the verge of a mental breakdown. I can't do ALL of those things, there's only 24 hours in a day!

My father has been trying to make me view things more positively (he took the exam 20+ yrs. ago and failed), so he has a small idea of what I'm going through. But at this point I'm on the verge of giving up…I'm SURE I have to study for this section again.

FAR -> 76
AUD -> 74...Revenge 2/16/13
REG -> 83
BEC -> 75

[Red315]

Thank you everyone for your responses. I figured that that 6 through 10 won't be a breeze, which is why I want to review it now. I am so afraid that by the time I am done with Chapter 10 I will remember nothing! I want to take this exam only once. Thank goodness I have just under a year to pass it!

Jeanne Aparicio

B - 75 (11/2011, First Attempt)
A - 88 (2/2012, First Attempt)
R - 89 (5/2012, First Attempt)
F - 79 (8/31/2012 First Attempt)

I AM DONE!!!!!! BECKER IS AWESOME!!!!

Licensed Florida CPA 09/2012

[junpark]

I just finished lecture 10 and the respective homework. I recently graduated with masters in accounting, where I spent a good portion of one semester learning nothing but derivatives and hedge accounting. I STILL PERFORMED MISERABLY on the homework. I looked at the grade I got in those classes and it somehow did not translate into Becker. Granted, I spent last 2 months watching Becker lectures and studying for AUD, I was hoping I had retained more materials than that. I think I get the overarching concept, but the details are very very frustrating. I hope there aren't many questions about currency exchange hedge or anything like that. I probably will cry like a baby.

[Author]

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