[jasonrobbins]

Hello,

I’m having real issues studying for FAR (which is scheduled for Feb 28th). I just finished F5 in Becker and when I go back through the text, I feel like I don’t even know what I learned. Even though I have 11 weeks left, I feel like I’ve already failed or am on a path to disaster. I don’t have a strong accounting background so I’m learning a lot of this stuff for the first time.

The main issue is that I’m having problems determining how to study. In my past sections, I always wrote out notecards or wrote outlines for the chapters. I can’t do this for FAR because it simply takes up too much time. I can’t write out the NINJA notes yet, because it doesn’t go in the same order as the Becker materials. I do the MCQ in each section but by the time I finish one section like Bonds/Leases, I forget some of the more detailed questions from B1, B2, B3, etc. And I know that I need to do review tests but, when I do that, I think the questions asked might be skipping over important topics that need to be reinforced.

To sum it up, I’m in a huge slump. 🙁 And to make matters worse, my girlfriend is giving me trouble because I’m studying during the holidays (she is going to be moving away soon for her grad school).

My question is: a) should I just start over and begin with F1 or b) take two weeks to review F1-F5 and pick up on F6? If I do the review route, what’s the best way to review? I work full time and I am trying my best to balance work/study as much as I can. I have wrote an outline for F1, F2, and F3…should I continue to do that or just do tons of MCQs? If I do a lot of MCQ, I feel like I’m only learning the information in those questions and not understanding the underlying concepts. But then, when I do MCQs after I outline, I don’t even do that well on the questions!! AHHHH

Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you guys 🙁

AUD- 97 1x
REG- 81 1x
BEC- 79 1x
FAR- 88 1x

DONE!

10/1/12 to 2/28/14

[Anonymous]

i actually think its better to spend less time studying for FAR. i made the mistake of spreading it too much over 4 months and ended up getting a 72, planning to retake in feb

[Anonymous]

jasonrobbins- If I were you, I would continue with F5-F10. Master each chapter and then move on to the next. F2 and F3 were the worst, so don't beat yourself up because you made it over that hump. Once you have made it through each chapter, go back to your weak spots. When I got a multiple choice question wrong and researched why, I thought to myself, “at least I won't get this question wrong on the test.”

I pulled out my intermediate accounting books for the more complicated topics. If something really puzzled me, I googled it or looked it up on YouTube. Becker does a great job, but they really summarize some of the subjects too much.

I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are progressing through your last test and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Keep making progress forward and you will be ready to test in February. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

jasonrobbins- If I were you, I would continue with F5-F10. Master each chapter and then move on to the next. F2 and F3 were the worst, so don't beat yourself up because you made it over that hump. Once you have made it through each chapter, go back to your weak spots. When I got a multiple choice question wrong and researched why, I thought to myself, “at least I won't get this question wrong on the test.”

I pulled out my intermediate accounting books for the more complicated topics. If something really puzzled me, I googled it or looked it up on YouTube. Becker does a great job, but they really summarize some of the subjects too much.

I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are progressing through your last test and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel. Keep making progress forward and you will be ready to test in February. Good luck!

[jasonrobbins]

This is why I love Another71, so many thoughtful and great responses. Thank you!

AUD- 97 1x
REG- 81 1x
BEC- 79 1x
FAR- 88 1x

DONE!

10/1/12 to 2/28/14

[jasonrobbins]

This is why I love Another71, so many thoughtful and great responses. Thank you!

AUD- 97 1x
REG- 81 1x
BEC- 79 1x
FAR- 88 1x

DONE!

10/1/12 to 2/28/14

[StephAV]

I haven't passed FAR so take my advice for what it is. I can totally relate to how you are feeling. I'd recommend that you press on. Get through it all then go back and review and figure out what you need to do a more detailed review of. Some of the chapters feel impossible and really got me down, but if I kept going and then went back and reviewed those it seemed more manageable. I also really like the NINJA notes and audio to help give a quick but helpful overview.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[StephAV]

I haven't passed FAR so take my advice for what it is. I can totally relate to how you are feeling. I'd recommend that you press on. Get through it all then go back and review and figure out what you need to do a more detailed review of. Some of the chapters feel impossible and really got me down, but if I kept going and then went back and reviewed those it seemed more manageable. I also really like the NINJA notes and audio to help give a quick but helpful overview.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[The CPA Kid]

FAR is the worst! It will all be worth it, though!

I just passed last month with an 82 using Becker. When it comes to FAR, really all you need is the MCQs if you are using Becker. I completely skipped all simulations except for a couple research questions to get the hang of them, didn't use the notecards, and only went through the book when I was in class.

That being said, you should do a TON of questions, especially progress tests. The week before the exam I was doing 3-5 30 question progress tests per day. Try to find where your weaknesses are and if you just can't seem to get the hang of it try using Google instead of just rereading the same Becker explanation over and over.

Don't worry about your overall grades too much, I was repping high 50-low 60% on the practice finals just days before the exam, but ended up passing. Just make sure you are learning from your mistakes and you'll do great!

FAR- 82 (December 2013)
BEC- 88 (January 2014)
AUD-94 (January 2014)
REG- 84 (February 2014)

They call me the Kid

[The CPA Kid]

FAR is the worst! It will all be worth it, though!

I just passed last month with an 82 using Becker. When it comes to FAR, really all you need is the MCQs if you are using Becker. I completely skipped all simulations except for a couple research questions to get the hang of them, didn't use the notecards, and only went through the book when I was in class.

That being said, you should do a TON of questions, especially progress tests. The week before the exam I was doing 3-5 30 question progress tests per day. Try to find where your weaknesses are and if you just can't seem to get the hang of it try using Google instead of just rereading the same Becker explanation over and over.

Don't worry about your overall grades too much, I was repping high 50-low 60% on the practice finals just days before the exam, but ended up passing. Just make sure you are learning from your mistakes and you'll do great!

FAR- 82 (December 2013)
BEC- 88 (January 2014)
AUD-94 (January 2014)
REG- 84 (February 2014)

They call me the Kid

[Study Monk]

The CPA Kid thanks for your response. This isn't might post but I was loosing confidence because I was scoring 50 to 60 percent on the Becker homework problems yet I felt like i understood the concepts well. Anyway I have time to get those percentages up. Sounds and feels like Becker problems are designed to be harder than actual exam.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

The CPA Kid thanks for your response. This isn't might post but I was loosing confidence because I was scoring 50 to 60 percent on the Becker homework problems yet I felt like i understood the concepts well. Anyway I have time to get those percentages up. Sounds and feels like Becker problems are designed to be harder than actual exam.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[FindYourBeach]

Whatever you do, DO NOT restart. I passed FAR in November after studying for roughly 6 weeks. I thought about restarting as well, because I was not grasping the topics, but was told to keep plowing through the material. When I began my review (make sure you leave a full two weeks) it all began to make MUCH more sense. I was literally having epiphanies and I am glad I kept getting through the material.

My review strategy for FAR was as follows:

1) Take the first practice exam at the beginning of the two weeks to get a feel for the real thing and understand weak areas

2) Re-write key items from every single page (daunting but worth it) which took about a week

3) Forget re-working the multiple choice in each chapter, instead use the progress tests and do each chapter that way. I believe I tried to do around 70% of the total questions per chapter (i.e. if ch. 1 has 100 questions, set the progress test to 70 mcq)

4) Continue to take notes for each question you miss AND go back and re-read your notes from step 2.

5) Take the second practice exam and understand what you missed

6) Take as many progress tests as possible. In each progress test, cover 5 chapters and 20 mcq per chapter (100 mcqs total).

It sounds like a lot, and it was, but I was able to do this exact strategy while working full-time. You can do it. Don't get yourself down. Keep focusing on understanding the key concepts and you will be all set by exam time.

[FindYourBeach]

Whatever you do, DO NOT restart. I passed FAR in November after studying for roughly 6 weeks. I thought about restarting as well, because I was not grasping the topics, but was told to keep plowing through the material. When I began my review (make sure you leave a full two weeks) it all began to make MUCH more sense. I was literally having epiphanies and I am glad I kept getting through the material.

My review strategy for FAR was as follows:

1) Take the first practice exam at the beginning of the two weeks to get a feel for the real thing and understand weak areas

2) Re-write key items from every single page (daunting but worth it) which took about a week

3) Forget re-working the multiple choice in each chapter, instead use the progress tests and do each chapter that way. I believe I tried to do around 70% of the total questions per chapter (i.e. if ch. 1 has 100 questions, set the progress test to 70 mcq)

4) Continue to take notes for each question you miss AND go back and re-read your notes from step 2.

5) Take the second practice exam and understand what you missed

6) Take as many progress tests as possible. In each progress test, cover 5 chapters and 20 mcq per chapter (100 mcqs total).

It sounds like a lot, and it was, but I was able to do this exact strategy while working full-time. You can do it. Don't get yourself down. Keep focusing on understanding the key concepts and you will be all set by exam time.

[Author]

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