[Bear-Bear]

So, I’ve been studying roughly 25 hours a week since the second week of December. I finished the FAR module on Wiley on Monday and have been doing Ninja MCQs every day since then. Things are looking bad, folks. Really bad. Trending 66% on Ninja with some parts as low as 52% (here’s looking at you, Governmental).

There is just SO much material that when I see a question, I’m like “Ok, I definitely remember covering this, but as to the specifics…”.

I don’t know if I should just keep hammering MCQs, or if I should spot review trouble sections from Wiley…or both. I’m completely frazzled and pretty much prepared to fail. 🙁

Any advice? Anyone else manage to pass FAR despite similarly dismal happenings in the week before (Ninja trending, etc.).

[MaLoTu]

Do you have to take the test now? Are you working? Is this your first exam? Are you all the way through the material?

Sorry for all the questions, but I am not 100% on what to advise because you have put in over 200 hours. I don't necessarily thing postponing it is going to help. If it is your first exam, it is normal to feel under prepared. The exam doesn't test the depth that the study materials go into, especially on FAR.

Most people are going to advise you to keep doing MCQ. I agree, but I find that for FAR it may be beneficial to study the sims because it forces you to apply what you learned through the MCQ. You have enough time for final review if you are through the material already.

For GV/NFP focus on knowing the fund types and how the FS are presented.

[Bear-Bear]

Hi MaLoTu,

This is my first exam ever, and I am working full-time. I have finished the Wiley FAR materials earlier in the week,and have been doing MCQ each day since.

[Jdn9201]

I don't think you should push back the exam – it's going to be alot harder to retain the information you learned in December the farther out you go. I'm only giving myself 3 weeks to study for FAR and I've flown through a lot of info, but had to force myself to slow down this week and drill bonds and GVT because I was lost on both. I think doing more MCQ's is only beneficial if you read the answer explanations (so you know WHY an answer is wrong or right) and it's on a topic that you have a fair understanding on. Otherwise, you're just guessing. I don't think you are doing as bad as you think you are. I'm using Roger and my average score on my practice exams have been 5-15 points lower than my actual score on the 3 exams I have passed thus far. I've also read from other people here that the Ninja and Becker questions tend to be harder than the actual questions on the exam. I'm not saying this so you will blow it off, but just to point out you may be closer to a pass than you think.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[mjf227]

I don't think you should push it back. I was trending 76% for FAR and ended up with an 87 on the exam. I felt the same way and thought I had to know all the specifics for each and every section. Keep doing as many MCQs as you can and focus on your weakest areas and you should be good!

[Bear-Bear]

Thanks guys! I hope I pull this off. 🙁

[Anonymous]

I used Wiley as well and now I'm using Ninja MCQ for the review, along with the notes.

My trending score looked like yours a week ago but is now higher and I'm beginning to feel more confident. My exam is on Monday.

[Bear-Bear]

Angie – Did the Government/NFP questions on Ninja kick your butt too? I feel like NONE of them were covered in the Wiley lessons. I'm in the 50s for those two sections.

Good luck on Monday!

[Anonymous]

Yes. But I've been really paying attention to the answers and the additional notes provided and I'm doing a lot better on them. I was in the 50s and I'm now over 75.

Thanks. I was ready to just give up on the exam when I started the review but it's getting better.

[AccountantPinkHair]

I wouldn't be completely worried yet, you can do A LOT in a week! When I took and passed FAR I was trending on Ninja high 60's low 70's and passed with a 78. Exact same thing when I passed Reg. Just don't ignore studying simulations!

AUD - 72, 81
FAR - 71, 78
REG - 60, 78
BEC - 60, 71, 71

IF I FALL, I WILL GET BACK UP. IF I AM BEATEN, I WILL RETURN.

[SGShiver]

Take it from someone who had a little less than that in trending MCQs. I was too afraid to take the exam as it was my first one, I rescheduled twice, and finally just decided to take it to see what would happen. I am not sure of my exam score yet but I can already tell you that was the best decision I could have made as it gave me a new perspective on the exams. The MCQs were not as bad as I thought since NINJA appears to go way more in depth on all topics to get you comfortable with the exam. Since your one week away I would just focus on the topics with the heaviest weight on the exam. Don't worry so much about the little details as you may only have one question on a small topic but the heavy topics you will likely see over and over again. Do journal entries as you work those problems (trust me don't skip that step it is likely to be vital for the SIMS). Other than that relax you have studied for a very long time. I personally don't think adding more days will help you since you don't know what to expect for CPA exams unless you take one.

FAR- 53, next time 5/5/16
B: 7/30/16
A:TBD
R:TBD

[monikernc]

Oops!

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[SGShiver]

lol

FAR- 53, next time 5/5/16
B: 7/30/16
A:TBD
R:TBD

[Bear-Bear]

Quick update…I've been working my @#$ off on these Ninja MCQs. I am now trending 76%. I'm feeling a lot better than I was yesterday morning! Now, to complete another set of 30. 🙂

[cpagal]

You're gonna do great. My advice is to do a lot of SIMS. Sims will give you questions with a lot of parts. Knowing how to do them (cash flows, consolidations, pensions etc) will help you out on smaller questions in the MCQ. Think of cause and effect. If I do x, y will have to happen. I scored a 72 on my final Gleim exam and got a 90 on the real thing. You can do it.

FAR - 08/30/15 - 90
AUD - 11/12/15 - 92
REG - 01/19/16 - 82
BEC - 02/29/16 - 83

Passed all on 1st attempt using GLEIM (full program) and NINJA (MCQ only)!!!

Louisiana Licensed CPA

[Texan_176]

My test is Wed and I am basically in your shoes.

This last week at work was terrible. We were being audited plus my boss was screaming at me Tuesday for something that was beyond my control. If not for this being my last section and my 1 year already put in I would have come close to just being civilized about it and telling HR that I could not continue to work like that so it was their option to make that day my last day or have me close out in 2 weeks. Things calmed down in 2 days and I was given an apology.

Excuses will not buy you any point n the exam but it was a rough week. I as I was dealing with this at work, running on 4 hours of sleep a night because I was reviewing, and under incredible pressure.

I plan to look at the JEs for leases and bonds as well as governmental because that is pure memorization and easy points to pick up. Otherwise, I will just MCQ away as I have been doing all day today. I took the whole week off from work so Thursday I will sleep until noon.

BEC 11/29/14 77 (Roger)
AUD 2/23/15 60 (Roger) 4/13/2015 83 (Roger & Ninja MCQ)
REG 5/30/2015 66 (Roger & Ninja MCQ(7 hours only)) 8/23/2015 78 (Roger & Ninja MCQ)
FAR 11/23/2015 60 (Roger & NINJA MCQ) 2/24/2016 74 (Roger & NINJA MCQ) 5/25/2016 83 (Roger+Roger CRAM & NINJA MCQ/NOTES)
Texas Ethics Exam 92%

Licensed TX CPA Aug 2016

[Author]

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