[Sean]

I have been studying for FAR since late April. I completed all of my materials in about 2 months, didn’t feel comfortable when I was going to test so I went back through all of the material again, another 2 months. I then took my exam in mid-August and failed with a 73. Between taking my exam and receiving my score I was studying for AUD. I then decided to switch back to FAR after getting such a close score. I bought Roger’s CRAM and studied that. Now my test day is later this week and I still don’t feel confident enough to take FAR (I feel less prepared than before) and I am thinking about rescheduling. I rarely take breaks from studying so I have been focused on the material for about 6 months now. I just don’t know why it isn’t sinking in.

Does anyone have any suggestions for me on the best review techniques for FAR, especially for remembering as much as possible? I feel I am always forgetting information no matter how many times I go through it.

[wombataholic]

If you feel like you're not ready for FAR this week, push it back if you can.

My best tip for passing any section of the exam is to do tons of MCQs and -equally important- take detailed notes on any MCQs/Sims you get wrong/guessed. You need to understand where you went wrong and more importantly understand how to get to the correct answer.

My next best tip is to force feed yourself tons of questions on your weak topics. Bad at dollar value LIFO? Do MCQs on dollar value LIFO until you can't get them wrong.

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[Ag12thman]

@wombataholic – You've provided some great advice and tips ever since you joined the board. Thanks for all that. Can you please describe and/or explain at what point you reviewed the detailed notes on MCQs/Sims gotten wrong/guessed? Or did the mere act of writing those notes just help learn the concepts?

FAR: July 2016

[bhunt815]

I agree with Tank, shorten your study window. I think studying for anything for more than 6 weeks is inefficient for most of us. Just get the big concepts down in the first 3 weeks and spend a couple weeks fine tuning and you will be fine.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[wombataholic]

@Ag12thman – Just writing down (by hand) what I did wrong and how to get to the right answer was enough for me. I recommend writing it in your own words, don't just copy the explanation. If you need to write out journal entries, do it. It doesn't mean that I didn't get a similar question wrong later on (Dollar-value LIFO was the bane of my existence), but I got a better understanding of the material by having to explain it to myself.

In a similar vein, helping out in the study group threads here reinforced what I knew because rote memorization of the material isn't enough to pass the exam. You might be able to do that with some of the material, but only in small doses. Try to get to the point that you can effectively communicate the material to others, either in the study group thread or verbally.

@bhunt815 – What part of Louisiana are you from?

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[bhunt815]

@wombataholic, I live in Mandeville and work in New Orleans.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[wombataholic]

I'm in the Baton Rouge area.

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[Author]

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