[DocJ]

Yes, I KNOW anything could show up on the test.

But given how crazy the study materials get on FAR, I still want to narrow down as much as possible. I absolutely refuse to waste a dang second and am willing to risk a few unfamiliar MCQs.

I have Wiley, and they got like 250 lessons on FAR. My plan is to compare them to the AICPA blueprints. For example, Wiley has a couple lessons on Interest Capitalization, but there’s NOTHING about that on the blueprints. So screw it, that’s an hour not worth wasting.

Anyone know any other topics worth skipping?

[Biff Tannen]

Take my advice with a grain of salt (since anything is testable), but if I had to study for FAR again, I’d skip over these: ratios, partnerships, troubled debt restructurings, derivatives and hedging, employee benefit plans. Focus heavily on goodwill, NFP, and governmental accounting. Those are just my 2 cents

AUD - 78
BEC - 84
FAR - 79
REG - 85

“An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends” - Benjamin Franklin

[DocJ]

You know, I think ratios were included in all 4 sections of the study material, but I'm not sure if I've even seen a single ratio question in 4 tests yet 😮

AICPA, your MCQ choices are weeeiiiiird.

[Biff Tannen]

@docj ratios were heavy in audit and i got a few questions over ratios on BEC, but I skipped over ratios for FAR and I was okay. Definitely focus more on consolidations, eliminating entries, and goodwill impairment.

AUD - 78
BEC - 84
FAR - 79
REG - 85

“An investment in knowledge pays the best dividends” - Benjamin Franklin

[AndreA]

I would try to know all the basics and not skip any topic, don't go to deep in derivatives and hedging, pensions, bonds, note payable. I would study well for sure a governmental accounting and for SIMs I would focus on financial reports and leases. I use Wiley.

FAR - 73, 78 (WileyCPAexcel 3,000+ MCQs, 50 SIMs)
AUD - 73, 81 (WileyCPAexcel 3,000+ MCQs, 40 SIMs)
BEC - 71, 71, 74, 84 (WileyCPAexcel 3,000+ MCQs, 10 SIMs)
REG - 84 (WileyCPAexcel 2,000 MCQs, 15 SIMs)

CA Ethics Exam - 94%

NEVER GIVE UP.

[Tncincy]

Far is so wide and so long, it would be easier to skip unnecessary topics. I looked at my ninja notes, if the topic is there, I am studying it. It is so easy to get overwhelmed by the books and stuff that come with the review materials, but there is nothing wrong with narrowing this thing down.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[DJD17]

Skip derivatives/hedging but definitely study foreign currency translations. Leases aren't really needed. Pensions aren't looked at too much but do understand the basics of what make up a pension liability.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 77
REG - NINJA in Training

...

[Puppykoala]

Dont put hope on skipping topics. Hit them all. Take more time. Last thing you want in this journey is waste time and money.

Shoot for the stars!

FAR 88 04/19

REG 95 07/19

BEC 91 11/19

AUD 88 12/19

[AusNat]

I had an entire SIM on hedging/derivatives, one that was entirely NFP, and one that was maybe 30% on interest capitalization. They weren't in incredible depth, but did require familiarity at least. Depending on how recently you had intermediate and advanced (and how much you understood when you did), a read-through to remind yourself may be totally sufficient. Get a really solid understanding of the basics, then for the more complicated, niche stuff… go wide, not deep.

AUD - 94
BEC - 90
FAR - 95
REG - NINJA in Training

Are we there yet?

Waiting impatiently on my last score.

[Anthony]

In before OP gets shotgun blasted on exam day for all the topic OP skipped or even worst skipping a few topics cost OP a few points that would give a 75.

AUD - 82
BEC - 80
FAR - 81
REG - 82

FAR - 74 first attempt

[bigstakk]

I wouldn’t skip anything since different people end up having completely different exam topics. For example, I didn’t really have questions on certain topics, but my coworker had a heavy dose, so nothing is skippable. That’s what makes FAR so difficult -the wide range in topics. That said, I would focus on the new rule changes since those are topics you probably never studied in school unless you just graduated. If you know advanced accounting you can skip some of the stuff that hasn’t really changed like consolidations, equity method, to name a few. Good luck!

AUD - 81
BEC - 87
FAR - 80
REG - 82

______________

Ethics Exam - 90%
Licensed CPA in CA

[Lindsey_p87]

I agree that memorizing ratios for FAR is probably a waste of time, especially since it looks like you've passed BEC and should already be familiar with the most popular ones. I personally don't think there's anything wrong with concentrating 90% of your study time on topics you know are heavily tested. I did this with BEC and FAR and passed by a decent margin (FAR less so, but I didn't review as much as I wanted to). For FAR, Govt and NP are your big MCQ topics to focus on. I also think focusing on topics that have recently changed is a good bet (leases, rev rec, etc.). The only problem with this method is you won't be as confident going in, and you may get unlucky and find a test of mostly topics you didn't touch (unlikely, but still possible).

AUD - 79
BEC - 82
FAR - 79
REG - 86

DONE

FAR - PASSED 11/14
AUD - TBD
BEC - TBD
REG - First take 2/16

[Anonymous]

For me I found pensions incredibly difficult, and impossible to understand. So eventually I just decided to try and memorize the terms, but pass on the actual calculations. It worked out for me, but unfortunately its kind of luck of the draw. If you skipped the section entirely you'll probably get stuck with TBS over it and it'll kill you. But if you're in a crunch skip that section.

BEC 11/18 - 94

AUD 2/19 - 87

REG 5/19 - 85

FAR 7/19 - 92

Licensed CPA in Oklahoma.

[lfranc8]

I would try and understand even the basics. I made a 71, 63 on Far and just took a retake on Jan 3 2020. I have seen and and even had TBS on stuff some people are saying to skip over. Also, knowing the raios did save me on BEC. I think its the luck of the draw honestly. You can get a test and pass or you can get a test and fail. I have seen both!

AUD - 82
BEC - 76
FAR - 81
REG - 82

The darkest hour is always just before the dawn
AUD-77*,72,82
BEC-76
REG-71,74,82
FAR-72,63,81
*-Lost Credit
I did 2.5 year of night school then 2 years taking the exam!

[AusNat]

Just to add to my answer above… One of the best pieces of advice I was given (by a sr manager at my firm) when I was getting overwhelmed about the amount of material on FAR was to read/do enough on each topic so that I felt like I could get at least some points on any TBS topic they threw at me, and could at least eliminate a wrong answer or two on just about any multiple choice (or drop down selection within a TBS). That helped keep me from getting hung up on certain topics at the expense of not covering others at all, and made the breadth of the section less intimidating. And after thinking that way for a few weeks, I think that helped me stay collected during the actual exam when I got some bizarre TBS – I was already in the mindset where I just went “ok, where are the points I think I can get?” and it helped me get started instead of panicking.

AUD - 94
BEC - 90
FAR - 95
REG - NINJA in Training

Are we there yet?

Waiting impatiently on my last score.

[FPP]

First reply is right on the money. My MCQs were almost entirely nonprofits and governmental, and my sims were mostly consolidations and adjustments.

AUD - 83
BEC - 92
FAR - 79
REG - 73

let's get it

[Author]

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