[Lillian]

I need some suggestions. I’m studying FAR using NINJA. I have taken the exam before and failed. While taking the exam, I didn’t think that the questions were difficult but….when I got to the sims with about an hour and 15 minutes left, I literally sat there switching from sim to sim not knowing where to start. I think I did maybe 2 sims and the rest were left blank (which at this juncture, I realize that I should have at least tried to answer some). My question is, now that I am using NINJA materials (the 10 point combo package), I don’t know when to start answering the simulations. I’ve got a little over 30 days left with the software and I am now reading book 2 on the property, plant, and equipment section. Being that I need 75 points to pass as opposed to 17 (I made a 58 on the first attempt), I started at the beginning of the NINJA book and started reading. After each section that I read, I answer the questions pertaining to that section and move on to the next one. Should I be doing the sims for the particular section or save those for last? Any suggestions?

On my way to a CPA

[jessica8926]

I have not used NINJA, I am a Becker user, but they have it set up where you do the SIMs after you finish any lectures and MCQs. I recommend following that path and doing the SIMs when you finish the MCQs and reviewing that section's material. This way it is fresh in your mind and you can continue to add and enhance what you just studied. If you wait until the end its almost like you lost what you studied and have to go all the way back to refresh. Essentially by doing the SIMs right after you finish MCQs you are strengthening the knowledge you already know and or adding to what you dont. That is what I do because if I wait to do the SIMs last I completely forgot everything and therefore bomb on the SIMs. I hope that helps and or makes sense!

AUD - 69, 77
REG - 74, 81
FAR - 75!
BEC - 71, 82

IL candidate!

Finally done (5/24/16)!! Yahooooooo!

[Lillian]

Right, I did the same thing with Becker but by the time I got to the end, I still had to go back and review…but I wasn't studying everyday or looking at the material everyday as I do now, and it took about 2 months to get through the entire book by Becker. In addition, I and had no time left to review before my exam. The issue this time is my software will expire in 34 days. With me following the same schedule as I did with Becker, one…will I have time to get through every thing, two…will I end up having to redo all of the sims any way because I will have forgotten some of the material…I guess redoing sims can't hurt no way…depending on the amount of time that I have left.

On my way to a CPA

[jessica8926]

If you study everyday and all weekend and any free time you have you should have enough time. I was able to go back and redo almost all of my SIMs in the REG section while working 50 hours a week. You just need to be diligent. I am a very slow studier so trust me I am always afraid I wont have enough time, but if you stick to the schedule you should have enough time to do everything and go back. Maybe make a similar schedule that Becker would make for you. I redid the SIMS for practice not because I forgot everything, but yes you will forget some things and at that point you just need to decide and focus on the areas where you are weakest. You cant restudy everything and know everything so I made sure to focus on the areas where I was weakest once I got through everything a first time and then redo those SIMs.

AUD - 69, 77
REG - 74, 81
FAR - 75!
BEC - 71, 82

IL candidate!

Finally done (5/24/16)!! Yahooooooo!

[Vern -No what I mean]

From reading your posts you sound a little discombobulated. I've been there and its hard to know which way is up when there is so much information to study and retain. Try to organize yourself with a detailed study plan that allows you to cover everything and have time for review. Break it down to the hour if necessary so that when the time to study arrives, you know exactly what you will spend the next hour on. Spend time everyday immersed in MCQ's and at least 4 – 6 hours on the weekend on the SIMS. Stick to your plan. This CPA elephant isn't going to be eaten all at once.

If your material is about to expire spend the $47 on the NINJA MCQ's. It's worth the time and effort if you plan to pass the exam.

AUD - 90
FAR - 71, 76
REG - 75
BEC - 76 (bubble sucks)

Becker + Ninja MCQ's

[Lillian]

That's true, $47 for additional time is a small price to pay to make sure that I am ready. I'm finding it difficult to make a study plan because I always end up blowing it. I study slowly in an attempt to make sure that I understand the topic completely but I have to keep reminding myself that I won't master every single concept nor will I understand every detail the first time around. My issue is that I'm trying to be a perfectionist and KNOW all of the material….unrealistic goal? maybe so…..

On my way to a CPA

[Tux]

How much did you practice SIMS when you studied the first time?

Do you know why you seemed to “freeze up” when you got to SIMS on the exam?

I wouldn't normally recommend this if this was your first time studying, but since SIMS gave you the most trouble on the exam, maybe you should start working on sims NOW. Definitely start getting familiar with them as you're going through all the material, so you can be familiar with the various topics and formats that they might present.

But, yes, be prepared to go through them again during your review. I reviewed all topics several times before I actually tested.

Definitely don't rush through FAR. As you know, it's no joke.

Extend your software so you can have more time. Don't rush yourself just because the software is running out. Definitely worth the $47 as compared to another NTS fee.

My approach –

For FAR, I studied the SIMS along the way through each chapter after doing the mcq's. But, afterwards I reviewed everything a lot too, so I still went over everything several times including SIMS.

I did it differently for my other test sections, answering only MCQ's during my first two reviews of each chapter, then saving the SIMS for my final review and still doing each at least twice.

I like getting through all the material, thoroughly, but quickly, so that I can start testing my knowledge by randomizing the questions to include various topics. Jumping around and answering miscellaneous questions holds my interest better than doing a lot of questions on one topic at a time. It also really shows how well you know the material when you're able to jump around, since that's like the real exam.

When you find a topic that you're struggling with, then dedicate some time to that topic, only, and answer a bunch of questions at one time on that one topic. Then move on.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Lillian]

Tux, to be completely honest, I didn't give the sims as much attention as the MCQ the first time. My thought process was to know the material and everything would fall into place. I went back through the book and wrote down the journal entries and studied the mnemonics like crazy and this was because by the time I got to the end of the book the first time, I had about a week or so before my exam. I spent that time doing practice exams, rewriting the NINJA Notes, and rewriting the highlighted material from the text. So, I did the sims, but I only did them once after I completed the questions for the chapter…..not a good idea. Because of the first failure, I really want to donate as much time as I can to the sims which was why I kind of thought that it would be a good idea to go through the entire book first, answer MCQ, then my second time through, hopefully, I will hit the assessment phase and start doing the sims along with the MCQ, continuing this step through to the review phase.

On my way to a CPA

[Author]

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