[jpowell31]

My brain works better for the theoretical questions (I know, I know – why do I want to be an accountant??) and I’m finding I’m taking so much time on FAR trying to understand ANYthing. Work has really @#$)%ed me over this quarter and my AUD expires in August so I want to attempt to take the exam this window even though I’ll likely fail (I’d fail if I didn’t take it anyway) to try and force myself to learn as much as I can before resitting in the summer (last chance!).

I’ve written extensive notes and am about halfway through the questions, consistently scoring below 50% across the board. In all other exams there was maybe a chapter or two, a topic or 4 that I had to spend a bit more time on and in FAR I feel like my brain refuses to learn any of it except for the basics, which we all already knew before sitting the exam and is 98% likely not to be tested on.

I’m planning to sit May 23rd and will have 2 weeks off of work to study (I have too many job-defining deadlines May 31, so want to leave that last week to just focus on work or I’ll explode studying and not be able to focus, as has been the case since March, if you’re wondering why not give myself an extra week!)

Any tips? I’m not being pessimistic – I just need to be realistic or else I’ll depress myself even more by putting pressure on this exam. At this point I envision reading questions and just taking estimated guesses immediately before panic sets in and I freeze for 4 hours. There has to be a better way…. any topics I should REALLY focus on with under a month to go?

[MustPass1988]

Keep doing MCQs- they're going to be the most helpful. I've found several youtube videos that have helped me with deferred taxes, LIFO, FIFO, weighted average method, capitalization of interest expense, etc. Sometimes you just need to try another method of explanation in order for it to stick. Rewrite journal entries until you have them memorized. Buy Ninja audio and listen to it whenever you're in the car. You'll get it- it just takes awhile. Financial accounting is my weakest area and I'm 4 weeks out from my exam. A lot of this material is a struggle for me too but I just keep hammering away at it and eventually a lightbulb turns on 🙂

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[MustPass1988]

Keep doing MCQs- they're going to be the most helpful. I've found several youtube videos that have helped me with deferred taxes, LIFO, FIFO, weighted average method, capitalization of interest expense, etc. Sometimes you just need to try another method of explanation in order for it to stick. Rewrite journal entries until you have them memorized. Buy Ninja audio and listen to it whenever you're in the car. You'll get it- it just takes awhile. Financial accounting is my weakest area and I'm 4 weeks out from my exam. A lot of this material is a struggle for me too but I just keep hammering away at it and eventually a lightbulb turns on 🙂

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[jpowell31]

Thanks. I decided to focus the way i really need to to learn not thinking about the time restraint. I can't study when I'm anxious or trying to gloss over things. I want to make sure my notes and technique are up to par come round 2 and think of it as though I have 3 or 4 more months to study if i really need it. If there is a curve…you're welcome those sitting FAR in May :). I decided that if I do pass, I'll donate $1,000 to charity. That's helped my attitude since my volunteer work has taken a major hit in studying for these exams.

[jpowell31]

Thanks. I decided to focus the way i really need to to learn not thinking about the time restraint. I can't study when I'm anxious or trying to gloss over things. I want to make sure my notes and technique are up to par come round 2 and think of it as though I have 3 or 4 more months to study if i really need it. If there is a curve…you're welcome those sitting FAR in May :). I decided that if I do pass, I'll donate $1,000 to charity. That's helped my attitude since my volunteer work has taken a major hit in studying for these exams.

[jpowell31]

If i do pass this first time around! Because someone would DEFINITELY be looking out for me if I manage to pull it off!

[jpowell31]

If i do pass this first time around! Because someone would DEFINITELY be looking out for me if I manage to pull it off!

[nicole2035]

As someone else said the multiple choice questions do help. However, you need to at least have a basic understanding for the MC to be helpful. If not you're just gonna continue to try to make sense out of something, and potentially have your logic wrong. What has helped me is always going back and review conceptual framework, principles, etc. because i've found a lot of the questions pertain to that. Either an MC wants you to know a specific calculation, or they want to see if you know the framework.

Also as someone else said, youtube helps a TON. So many topics were made easy for me because of other people going over it on youtube. Anything i don't immediately understand from my book, i won't go over it more than twice before i start searching for a different explanation. I'd rather spend my time going over a 10 min youtube than wasting my time trying to connect dots and make up relationships that probably aren't there

[nicole2035]

As someone else said the multiple choice questions do help. However, you need to at least have a basic understanding for the MC to be helpful. If not you're just gonna continue to try to make sense out of something, and potentially have your logic wrong. What has helped me is always going back and review conceptual framework, principles, etc. because i've found a lot of the questions pertain to that. Either an MC wants you to know a specific calculation, or they want to see if you know the framework.

Also as someone else said, youtube helps a TON. So many topics were made easy for me because of other people going over it on youtube. Anything i don't immediately understand from my book, i won't go over it more than twice before i start searching for a different explanation. I'd rather spend my time going over a 10 min youtube than wasting my time trying to connect dots and make up relationships that probably aren't there

[jpowell31]

I will definitely have the theory and concepts down – that's my jam. That's what I'm interested in learning about. when certain calculations come up and I have no desire to learn it or know I'll never use it that's when it becomes foreign to me every time look at the topic. It's forcing the repetition that helps me learns those concepts and I just don't have enough time left given my situation and knowing my capabilities.

Youtube is a first though – I google everything and not once thought of that! Thanks!

[jpowell31]

I will definitely have the theory and concepts down – that's my jam. That's what I'm interested in learning about. when certain calculations come up and I have no desire to learn it or know I'll never use it that's when it becomes foreign to me every time look at the topic. It's forcing the repetition that helps me learns those concepts and I just don't have enough time left given my situation and knowing my capabilities.

Youtube is a first though – I google everything and not once thought of that! Thanks!

[Author]

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