[kjwc4b]

Ok, so I’m currently in week two of Beckers FAR review. I’m on F3 and already feeling overwhelmed with the amount of material. I just sat for BEC two weeks ago and remember feeling bogged down, but thinking it was only 5 sections and I had plenty of time to review all the material a second time before I sat. I’m not thinking this is the situation for FAR.

The material itself is medium difficulty thus far. F3 is coming straight out of my reporting 4 class I finished this past semester. However, the abundance of material is overwhelming. And to think, only a third through it all and some topics that I have never even touched (govt, NFP). I’ve read many times where people say to make sure you go back and review every 3 chapters or so. I’ve been told to do numerous progress reports.

My current plan is to do all the lectures and homeworks, then read the chapter making notes. Is it a waste of time to read the whole chapter? Could my time be spent more wisely? I’m not sure what to do when going back through the 3 chapter review…hws? sims? flashcards? all of the above?

I’m just so overwhelmed with the amount of information that I want to find the quickest and simplest way to continue reviewing without wasting much time. I don’t want to lose what I have gained these past two weeks however. HELP!!! haha this is definitely the beast and I am curious how to tackle it most efficiently!!

Good luck to anyone testing this week, this window, ever.

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

[75 CPA]

Americans love short-cuts. Unfortunately, there are no short-cuts for FAR. The material is not difficult. However, the quantity of material is overwhelming. I had difficulty wrapping my arms around all of the material.

[Anonymous]

Shortcuts? I find your stereotyping kind of offensive.

It seems to me that this person is willing to make a commitment to study but they have a restricted amount of time and would like to be as efficient as possible.

I just took FAR for the first time yesterday, it was my first exam. I'm not confident I passed and feel I could have used my time more wisely.

I would go through each chapter and try and get at least some sort of an understanding for everything. If you don't understand something do not skip over it and think you will be able to learn it the second time around.

Be sure to understand the journal entries. Practice the simulations at least once. You most likely won't get anything close to the same sim on the exam but they do a better job of teaching the material than multiple choice questions. I wouldn't bother practicing communication if you are comfortable with your writing. I wish I used that time learning journal entries.

You have to review at least a second time. Too many weeks go by between when you start and finish the Becker material. I would review a second time and spend about a day on each chapter or maybe 3 every two days, them spend 3 days before the test taking practice quizzes that include all 9 chapters. If you get a m/c you don't understand, review the book. The morning of the test I skimmed through the entire book for about an hour and just stopped on anything that I felt like I was unclear on and read the section again.

I generally don't think cramming is a good study technique but you need to cram just before the test just to get a refresher on everything you learned the previous 6-8 weeks.

Hope this helps!

[kjwc4b]

Sorry for not being as clear. I don't necessarily want short-cuts. I want to learn the material in depth and understand all application. I just want to focus my studying on what would be most beneficial, rather than wasting time preparing. Thank you auditor for the tips. I have been reading a lot that journal entries are being heavily tested in the simulations. This is definitely something Becker does not review in depth. It sounds to me like you prepared in every area, wishing time could have been spent elsewhere. However, it seems that you should do well if you focused on each area. After all the exam is a mile long and only an inch deep. Thank you for the help!! Best of luck on your scores…I'll be watching for that passing grade!

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

[Anonymous]

kjwc4b – Hi, I agree that the volume of material in FAR is overwhelming! I am using the same approach I successfully used with the other 3 exams, using Becker. I listen to the lectures, then go back and read and take my own handwritten notes. After that I do the MCQs for the chapter, then move to the next and do the same. With FAR I plan to do progress tests after every 3rd chapter. I also review/read my notes from the previous chapters to keep the topics fresh.

Another thing I find useful is the flashcards. I carry them with my in my purse and use any extra time to review them. 15 minutes or so here and there can add up and reinforce a few topics! This is especially useful when I'm waiting at my kids practices, hockey, gymnastics etc…

I also have Becker's Final Review and hope to have time to cover that as well before my exam.

One final note, is that Club 75 has several videos and Jeff's notes. I have found these to be invaluable when preparing for the exams!

Best of luck!

[limey]

YMMV – The lectures, then the homeworks is not a bad order to start in. The Becker books are quite overwhelming – reading word-for-word can take centuries, and your focus is best on answering MCQs and simulations. Definitely mark-up whatever the live/CD lectures highlight or point out in the verbiage – you can always just those down in a separate Word doc, or make your own flashcards.

I used to do something similar – the CD lectures, then one “study session” where I jotted down in a Word doc, whatever was highlighted in the Becker book during the lecture. Then I made a beeline for the MCQs. Whatever I got wrong or wanted more assurance on, I'd include in my Word doc notes in the corresponding section. Writing my own notes helped reinforce whatever concept or mnemonic I needed to know, and I could customize it (with highlights, colors, bolding, print in 2-column foldable format) and it was a lot slimmer to carry around.

Then I did the MCQs, additional questions, and simulations one more time or so. I'd go to the next chapter, and it'd be the same process again – lectures, Word doc jot-down, do questions and edit my written notes. After a chapter or two, I'd go back and re-do questions. I'd re-read my written notes as a refresher, when there was some random down time (like on public transportation, etc).

Schedule-wise, if you can study in the morning before work, your brain will absorb a lot more information b/c it's rested and alert (and not tired from working all day). I used to travel on public transportation to work, so I'd read my Word doc notes to/from work, from newer and older chapters. After work and dinner, I did maybe 90 minutes or so of lectures, questions or notes.

I really can't pass again!

[joohj1187]

Hey, I've begun doing my final prep for FARE (scheduled 8/5/2010) using becker materials…i know exactly what you mean, there is a TON of material to learn and not enough brain space to accumulate it all. The first time you go through it, just try to get through it and get the major points. DEFINITELY read/skim the chapters at least one more time, you'll feel more comfortable with it.

I feel like I'm overkilling it a little (if that's possible). I've gone to class, viewed the lectures, done all the MCs, and now I'm reading every page and taking my own notes for every section (except f8/9), re-doing every MC and simulation. It's tiresome, but I definitely feel like I am retaining at least 80% of the information. So to answer your question, I don't think it's a waste to re-read the chapter, but that's just how I learn best, might be different for you.

Good luck to all of us taking the exam…

FAR: 8/5/2010 - 89
AUD: 8/24/2010 - 92
REG: 10/11/2010 - 94!!
BEC: 11/30/2010

[Author]

Replies