[CPA_Focused]

Hi Everyone,

After going through most of the NINJA MCQ I’ve noticed my weak area is with the financial statement items, like inventory etc., and cashflows. I’m less than three weeks away from taking FAR for the first time, I was wondering if it is worth reviewing an “Intermediate Accounting Text Book” for those items. I feel like a lot of study material provide at high level, and maybe I need a more granular level to understanding the concepts?

Should I just do like FARHAT or other youtube videos? or at this stage get the intermediate text?

[Anonymous]

Personally I just used the study materials for the CPA. I felt the CPA materials directly prepared you for the exam, but supplementary studying by the textbook can’t hurt. I just wouldn’t expect the textbook to prepare you for questions on the exam.

[CPA_Focused]

Yeah for sure I don't expect to use a college textbook to pass the exam, just as a supplement.

[vbmer]

I think your time would be better spent going through a supplemental review material rather than going back to your textbook. It would be much more focused and relevant to the exam content. I still have my Kieso Intermediate Accounting book from years ago, but I haven't opened it since finishing the course.

[jeff]

Did you read the ninja book / ninja notes?

[12tang]

You could but I think supplementing with video instruction or ninja would help you. I tried to use my Advanced accounting text and I found that it was WAAAAAY too involved. Had I kept using that, I think I would have ended up wasting time. Work those areas, and not just read about them. Doing, making mistakes, and doing again is where you truly learn.

Using Becker self-study
FAR: (82) 175 hours - 1st attempt
BEC: (XX)
AUD: (69) 45hrs of study - 1st attempt
REG: (XX)

[CPA_Focused]

Thanks @Jeff, I read the Ninja book and notes but when it came to MCQs on that area I was scoring poorly. @12Tang I think you're right maybe I just need to keep learning from the MCQs!

Thanks everyone!

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

Intermediate accounting textbooks are helpful for clarification and understanding of accounting terms and theories. If you're good in these areas, you're set to go. Just make sure to take an extra review for the NPO/Gov't accounting; I am not sure where you took all your accounting training, but US CPA exams have some areas that are completely different from other countries. I am a Canadian US CPA candidate, and I noticed a few accounting policies and standards, specifically with NPO/Governmental Accounting is slightly different, but not as much as REG.

I have used Wiley, Becker, and Ninja; these review materials are fine. They have everything you need as far as MCQs, but I noticed, not as much as SIMs questions you see in the real US CPA examination. This is when knowing your accounting foundation, intermediate and some of your advanced levels help. Also, it helps if you've done a little administrative or research work.

Furthermore, in the real US CPA exam, the precision of time management, expertise in maneuvering the US CPA exam flatform features and tools it provides and understanding what is required in each SIMs scenario help a lot. MCQs are easier to understand, but SIMs are complex. They can be complicated, and most of the time, you don't know exactly what is being asked; this is when the panic during the exam occurs. So, definitely knowing your accounting materials help with this panic mode.

[Author]

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