[Anonymous]

Hi all,

So, some of you may have seen that I scored a 74 on my first FAR attempt.

I’m looking for some advice, from those that got a 74 and then successfully passed (@smp, etc). Or even those that just raised their points up after failing the first time.

I think the hardest thing for me is I don’t know what I could have done differently. My first study plan was to watch the Becker lectures, do the MCQs. I did that for F1-F10 and spent about 5 weeks on it. I then spent a full week reworking every Becker MCQ. I spent the last 2 weeks reading and rewriting the NINJA notes and working 90 MCQ progress tests. I ended up reading the full NINJA notes at least 20 times and rewrote them in full twice.

I spent about 3 hours a day with focused study and I just don’t know what I could do differently this time.

I’m thinking of limiting the time from 8 weeks down to 7 or 6 as maybe I gave myself too much time and lost focus. I was thinking of spending one week reading the book and rewatching all of the lectures. Then I would spend about two weeks working through all MCQs. Then I would spend the last weeks just doing progress tests and reading and rewriting the NINJA notes.

Any suggestions on how I can attack this one differently? It’s already cost me 2 months of stress and studying and I’m going to cancel the CMA exams (non refundable so a $800) to focus on just getting this test done.

Thanks for listening and for any advice.

3CPA

[smp73]

@3CPA… It was actually my second fail at REG…but the 74 was by far worse than the first fail…especially since I would have been done. First, I let myself be completely and utterly mad for the weekend after the score release. Fairly certain I did not speak to anyone and consumed a lot of wine. I needed the weekend to absorb the 74 and figure out how I was going to tell my boss.

Then I decided to regroup. I figured since I got a 74 and was oh so close to passing I would approach restudying differently. I got the 74 in March 8th ish and recheduled for April 17. I wanted to give myself the shortest possible time to restudy but sill give myself enough time to restudy everything. Now since you are working on FAR you may want a little more time since it has so much material.

To restudy I adopted the hermit lifestyle. I did nothing outside of work, dog walks, occasional gym trips and studying. I woke up earlier and stayed up later. I listened to the NINJA audio on repeat…every day at work, at the gym while walking the dogs and had it playing in my house. By the time April 17 rolled around I had that memorized. I also re-wrote the NINJA notes at least twice. Then I did every single Wiley TB MC question twice. Some more than that on areas I was weaker on. If I did not know a concept I made fact nuggets (hand written) then the week before the exam I typed them all out and carried my stack of fact nuggets with me where ever I went to re-read those little beauties. In addition to that, if I was really struggling with an area I went back to the Wiley book to re-read the entire topic or I referenced other REG study material I had.

I also bought more MC questions from cpareviewforfree.com and bought additional sims from there too. I proceeded to do all of those. As you can imagine it was hellish, so many MC. I was so mad. I used that anger to fuel the studying. Oh I also had postit notes all over my house and at work with little fact nuggets about areas I was particularly strugging with. I had the NINJA note cards and did them in any spare minute including right before bed. I took every possible opportunity where I could get in a few minutes of studying to do so.

I completely dedicated myself to REG. It was brutal but it paid off especially since I took the exam less than 36 hours after my estranged father died, after planning his funeral and being re-confronted with all the reasons he was estranged. I knew that stuff like the back of my hand and even on very little sleep without a clear head I was able to pass.

I would be happy to “chat” more or give any more advice or encouraging words later but I am out the door for a 5k. Just know you can do this. I know how much the 74, on what should be the last exam sucks, but use that anger/disappointment to fuel your studying and you will get this!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[peetree]

@3cpa What were your scores like? Were you just memorizing answers or were you learning the concepts?

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[Anonymous]

@smp I wish I had taken it later in the testing window so I could reschedule for that close but I have no choice but to wait until October now. I'm debating starting in two weeks and just doing an intense restudy of the whole thing in 6-7 weeks. The downside there is I have 2 more weeks, on top of the past 3 I was waiting for the score, for the info to fade.

Or I can start studying this week and possibly give myself too much time again.

Either way I'm going to study as if I'm starting from scratch. Hopefully with the foundation from my first attempt I'll be able to really drill into more detail on my weaker areas (leases, IFRS, bonds).

@peetree I don't think I was memorizing the MCQs but I guess it is possible that I was doing so without realizing it. I was getting ~70% on progress tests and was specifically aware to try not to memorize and to read the right and wrong answers for each question. This was about the same as I was doing on the REG MCQs in my final review.

I did notice you mentioned you read the Becker book. I stopped that for BEC and REG and maybe I need to introduce that again. I can read the chapter and then rewatch the lectures in the first stage of my review.

I guess I'll get a score report for this test but from what I can tell it's pretty useless since the next test I take will be completely different and I'll be up against the hidden “curve” with a different set of test takers.

Thanks for taking the time to respond @smp and @peetree. It's appreciated.

[zakahracw]

Maybe try the Becker approach this time. It will be a lot different and you may retain more information.

~Z

"Live your Best Life"

[Anonymous]

@zaka Thanks for the reply. I mostly followed the Becker approach the first time through. I did each unit one at a time: watched the lecture, did the MCQs, read through the SIMS. I did that in sequence F1-F10 and starting around F3 I also threw in progress tests as I went along.

In the final review, I reworked every MCQ as part of their plan too. In addition to their plan, I also read and rewrote the NINJA notes and worked most of the Wiley TB questions.

My weekend pity-party is just about over. I'm going to start back up tomorrow and give myself 8 weeks to do the review all over again. Hopefully they'll have an opening in early October so I can sit and this time I WILL pass FAR! 🙂

3CPA

[Anonymous]

@3cpa

I think it is the matter of luck for you. You are just missed the exam by 1 point. You probably need 1 or 2 more MCQ guess correctly to get 75.

Check your weak area in the exam status. And, focus on that area.

Since it is your last exam, I would suggest you to reschedule the exam to later of November. So you will have more time to prepare.

Last thing, don't ever think about giving up.

[Anonymous]

Just cancelled my CMA exams and luckily prometric had an opening on 10/02.

@bb. I pretty much have to take it early October. I'm going down to FL for a wedding in the second week and I'm getting married in November. I don't think there will be too much studying I can do after the first week of October. 🙂

I've started back with F1 and I'm going to do a unit every four days which should leave me with a little under 3 weeks for final review. I feel good in that I have a strong base from my first pass through but I don't want to be too comfortable. We'll see how it goes.

3CPA

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