[nickole]

I have a bachelor degree in accounting outside US so I study CPA all by myself. That’s why I didn’t spent too much time to review at first time.

I took first FAR in July. I studied one week to finish the book and video, and then took two weeks to complete all the Becker exercises. The first score is 67 and I’m disappointed but I think may it’s because my review time was too short.

So I decide to take another time, I studied from September to November for 7 weeks. This time, however, was even worse than the first one !! I’m so disappointed and even feel lost. The first time I finished Becker and second time I did exercises of Wiley textbook. I didn’t do the Wiley test bank but I used it to do the simulation test.

Do anyone could help me with this situation? I’m wondering if I should continue to take the third time or I should take another section test such as Audit?

I don’t have too much time to prepare it because I’m graduating soon, does the CPA really help me finding a job?

feel so bad now…

[Anonymous]

Oh and im taking the test for the first time on Saturday, this is my first cpa section, I have no idea what to expect and dont really feel prepared

[nickole]

Hi, CR7

thanks for your reply! Yes, I used Becker for the first time. I finished Becker's textbook and MCQs to prepared at the first time. For the second time, I added Wiley reading but mostly based on Becker. I finished Wiley's MCQs on textbook and simulated several times in Wiley test bank. If I decide to continue, what materials should I use? Any suggestion?

[nickole]

Hi, CR7

thanks for your reply! Yes, I used Becker for the first time. I finished Becker's textbook and MCQs to prepared at the first time. For the second time, I added Wiley reading but mostly based on Becker. I finished Wiley's MCQs on textbook and simulated several times in Wiley test bank. If I decide to continue, what materials should I use? Any suggestion?

[nickole]

Hi, tough_kitty

Do you really think I should switch to Roger review? Because I think Becker's textbook and notes are helpful except some topics are too concise. And for the twice test, I used Becker's textbook all the time. I'm afraid that I already get used to Becker's style.

And one question for Wiley test bank, you said you did Wiley test bank MCQs 3 or 4 times, do you mean that after finished the first time, you did them again and again ? not just the wrong ones? Besides, did you do the test bank online? Because I found there are fewer questions in the software.

If I decide continue, do you have some suggestion on the schedule? My NTS will expire on April and the earliest time I can start to review is December, 15th.

[nickole]

Hi, tough_kitty

Do you really think I should switch to Roger review? Because I think Becker's textbook and notes are helpful except some topics are too concise. And for the twice test, I used Becker's textbook all the time. I'm afraid that I already get used to Becker's style.

And one question for Wiley test bank, you said you did Wiley test bank MCQs 3 or 4 times, do you mean that after finished the first time, you did them again and again ? not just the wrong ones? Besides, did you do the test bank online? Because I found there are fewer questions in the software.

If I decide continue, do you have some suggestion on the schedule? My NTS will expire on April and the earliest time I can start to review is December, 15th.

[nickole]

Hi, CPA 066729

Good luck with your test!! You already prepared for such a long time and just believe yourself and try to finish all the questions!

[nickole]

Hi, CPA 066729

Good luck with your test!! You already prepared for such a long time and just believe yourself and try to finish all the questions!

[nickole]

Hi, study monk

Do you use Becker ?

[nickole]

Hi, study monk

Do you use Becker ?

[MrsBing]

You need to do Becker's questions more than once, I'd recommend 2 or 3 times. Because it was my first exam and I've heard so many horror stories I spent 4 months studying for FAR. This was my study schedule using Becker and Wiley test bank:

Spent a week or approx 15 hours listening to lecture, reading book and completing all Becker questions for that chapter. While reading I took notes, but not many because I had Ninja notes. I also reviewed my notes and Ninja notes before moving to the next chapter. The next week i moved on to the next chapter and repeated this process each week, so 10 chapters in Becker took me 10 weeks or 150 hours. After every few chapters I would do a few 30 question process tests on the previous questions (I didn't always do this but you should to keep the material fresh in your mind). I would also go over my notes and read through flashcards.

After I finished all Becker chapters I spent 2-3 weeks going over each chapter a second time. I would spend 2 days on each chapter. Day 1 re-read the chapter, review notes. Day 2 re-do all Becker MCQ's for that chapter. When this was over I spent my final 2-3 weeks doing almost the entire Wiley test bank. I also did the Becker Final Exams during my final weeks to see where I was at in my progress.

I've done almost this same routine for REG and AUD, just not nearly as many hours put in.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[MrsBing]

You need to do Becker's questions more than once, I'd recommend 2 or 3 times. Because it was my first exam and I've heard so many horror stories I spent 4 months studying for FAR. This was my study schedule using Becker and Wiley test bank:

Spent a week or approx 15 hours listening to lecture, reading book and completing all Becker questions for that chapter. While reading I took notes, but not many because I had Ninja notes. I also reviewed my notes and Ninja notes before moving to the next chapter. The next week i moved on to the next chapter and repeated this process each week, so 10 chapters in Becker took me 10 weeks or 150 hours. After every few chapters I would do a few 30 question process tests on the previous questions (I didn't always do this but you should to keep the material fresh in your mind). I would also go over my notes and read through flashcards.

After I finished all Becker chapters I spent 2-3 weeks going over each chapter a second time. I would spend 2 days on each chapter. Day 1 re-read the chapter, review notes. Day 2 re-do all Becker MCQ's for that chapter. When this was over I spent my final 2-3 weeks doing almost the entire Wiley test bank. I also did the Becker Final Exams during my final weeks to see where I was at in my progress.

I've done almost this same routine for REG and AUD, just not nearly as many hours put in.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Anonymous]

FAR took me about 5 months to really feel comfortable with all of the material.

It actually wasn't until the last 3 weeks or so that everything came together – and before that I was SURE that it never would.

Tons and tons and tons of people have struggled, failed and then passed this exam. You are absolutely no different. The key is to keep plugging – MC, MC, MC, MC, MC, MC, MC over and over and over and over and over until your brain starts to melt out your ears. Then do it all again.

There is no special recipe for this exam – every person is different – but even those who struggle the most CAN PASS if they want it bad enough. And I think that is way more of an accomplishment than the folks who are just “naturally good” at this stuff and pass it all the first time through within a few months.

DO NOT QUIT – Pound a coffee and tell yourself that quitting is not an option. YOU WILL PASS.

[Anonymous]

FAR took me about 5 months to really feel comfortable with all of the material.

It actually wasn't until the last 3 weeks or so that everything came together – and before that I was SURE that it never would.

Tons and tons and tons of people have struggled, failed and then passed this exam. You are absolutely no different. The key is to keep plugging – MC, MC, MC, MC, MC, MC, MC over and over and over and over and over until your brain starts to melt out your ears. Then do it all again.

There is no special recipe for this exam – every person is different – but even those who struggle the most CAN PASS if they want it bad enough. And I think that is way more of an accomplishment than the folks who are just “naturally good” at this stuff and pass it all the first time through within a few months.

DO NOT QUIT – Pound a coffee and tell yourself that quitting is not an option. YOU WILL PASS.

[kevinco]

I think MrsBing's response is similar to mine. I initially started with going through the lectures (I never used the text book, I am not a patient reader) I used Becker. I feel that first getting the concepts from the lectures and then hitting the MCQ at least twice before hitting the exam works for me. I took one section per window which meant I had about 2 months to prepare for each section. I mentioned taking the MCQ twice before the test, I would time the second time on the day before the test. I took the day off before the test and went through 1500 MCQ on average and tried to figure out why I was tricked and got some questions off. But again its different for everyone, some recommend doing no study the day before the exam and getting 8 hrs of sleep, I got 2 hrs of sleep on the day before the test on all sections. The main thing is get the concepts and hit the MCQ at least twice. Hope this helps

Boise State Alumni

05/08/13 FAR Passed - 80
07/09/13 AUD Passed - 96
10/10/13 REG Passed - 75
11/07/13 BEC 77!!! I am DONE!!!!!!!!
12/13/2013 Received my CPA license on my son's 6th birthday in the mail! My son is always a blessing!!

BS - Environmental Science
BBA - Accountancy

Becker Lectures and MCQs. Click on my avatar for my LinkedIn page.

[kevinco]

I think MrsBing's response is similar to mine. I initially started with going through the lectures (I never used the text book, I am not a patient reader) I used Becker. I feel that first getting the concepts from the lectures and then hitting the MCQ at least twice before hitting the exam works for me. I took one section per window which meant I had about 2 months to prepare for each section. I mentioned taking the MCQ twice before the test, I would time the second time on the day before the test. I took the day off before the test and went through 1500 MCQ on average and tried to figure out why I was tricked and got some questions off. But again its different for everyone, some recommend doing no study the day before the exam and getting 8 hrs of sleep, I got 2 hrs of sleep on the day before the test on all sections. The main thing is get the concepts and hit the MCQ at least twice. Hope this helps

Boise State Alumni

05/08/13 FAR Passed - 80
07/09/13 AUD Passed - 96
10/10/13 REG Passed - 75
11/07/13 BEC 77!!! I am DONE!!!!!!!!
12/13/2013 Received my CPA license on my son's 6th birthday in the mail! My son is always a blessing!!

BS - Environmental Science
BBA - Accountancy

Becker Lectures and MCQs. Click on my avatar for my LinkedIn page.

[Author]

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