[WileyoleYaeger]

So I just received my score notice for the past FAR exam I took. It reassured me that I wasn’t dumb (I surprised myself at how well I knew NFP and Govt.), but there are certain areas I can work on. My question is, for those of you who have failed and then passed portions (or all) of the CPA, how did you use this information? Did you only key onto these issues going into the next go around, or did you spend a bit more time studying these issues than normal?

I want to sit for FAR again before football season starts (priorities) and so I want to go about studying the most effective way possible, and I believe that a better understanding of the exam score notice will only help.

[Anonymous]

I failed my first FAR attempt with a 74. I re-reviewed ALL subjects, with some emphasis on the areas I didn't do as well on the first time. You definitely do not want to only re-review areas that you were weaker on since you will get a completely different set of questions on your next attempt. You need to re-study to get 75 points, not just enough extra points to pass.

[Anonymous]

I failed my first FAR attempt with a 74. I re-reviewed ALL subjects, with some emphasis on the areas I didn't do as well on the first time. You definitely do not want to only re-review areas that you were weaker on since you will get a completely different set of questions on your next attempt. You need to re-study to get 75 points, not just enough extra points to pass.

[Mamabear]

Start from scratch. If you still remember the areas you got stronger in then it should go by quickly for you. You don't want to skip those areas or you'll probably forget them before you sit again.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Mamabear]

Start from scratch. If you still remember the areas you got stronger in then it should go by quickly for you. You don't want to skip those areas or you'll probably forget them before you sit again.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[taxgeek83]

My score report for FAR said I was stronger in Govt/NFP, and when I started studying for my retake, I found I knew little to nothing about Govt, and little about NFP. Point – score reports only compare you to folks in the 75-80 range. You may have been stronger in some areas than them, but it doesn't necessarily mean you were strong in that area overall.

In addition, take a look at the CSOs. The score reports (in my state at least) only list the five big topics. However, each of the topics contains what seems like a thousand subtopics. Every test is different, and you never know what you're going to be tested on. You may have really known the material, or you may have been lucky to have been tested on a few topics you were comfortable with. You can't guarantee you won't see the same things on your next exam.

I'm with Mamabear – if you really know the topic, the review should go well. But don't skip out on reviewing something just because of what your score report says….

[taxgeek83]

My score report for FAR said I was stronger in Govt/NFP, and when I started studying for my retake, I found I knew little to nothing about Govt, and little about NFP. Point – score reports only compare you to folks in the 75-80 range. You may have been stronger in some areas than them, but it doesn't necessarily mean you were strong in that area overall.

In addition, take a look at the CSOs. The score reports (in my state at least) only list the five big topics. However, each of the topics contains what seems like a thousand subtopics. Every test is different, and you never know what you're going to be tested on. You may have really known the material, or you may have been lucky to have been tested on a few topics you were comfortable with. You can't guarantee you won't see the same things on your next exam.

I'm with Mamabear – if you really know the topic, the review should go well. But don't skip out on reviewing something just because of what your score report says….

[Author]

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