[Lola23]

Hey, I need advise on this. This software Gleim gave a “congratulation” message when I finised all study unit saying that “the dont identify weak areas” and that I should take the test as soon as I can, in short words. Which I did and ended up with a 71 in the actual exam. Ive been using Gleim for Far and this is the 3rd time that I failed the test. I dont know if to ask for a refund and start with another software (Rodger, Wiley, etc.) or keep Gleim and practicing more and schedule for retake in 01/2018. What will you do?

[Anonymous]

I too failed FAR 3 times with Gleim. I actually felt ready with my last try and went down 9 points. I recently started using Ninja and dominated BEC. I have Sniper for FAR waiting on me after tax season, and I hope to have similar results to BEC.

Gleim seems like too much info, too long winded explanations and too much that isn't tested. They want to cover all bases, but I think I am 1/10 using Gleim.

[carrbearr]

Sorry to hear that… I think when it comes to FAR, the focus is not the amount of problems you work, but how well you understand the materials. I took BEC/FAR back to back this month and had zero time to work on any FAR MCQ/SIM and was able to pushed for a passing score and here's how I did it. I have Wiley CPAexcel and they offer bite-size video classes on their smartphone app. I only had 2.5 weeks to study for FAR so I spent 5-6 hours a day (2 hours in the morning, 3-4 hours before I sleep during work days) listened through their videos. I did my best to follow the video and wrote down key points for each to help myself understand the concept and for easier recap later on. I also wrote down all key JE's in bonds, revenue recogznition, lease, pension, income taxes, equity transactions in a separate note. For all videos that went through calculation examples, I played the video slow and nice twice to make sure I understand ever step through the calculations and JE, took good notes on the vague parts. By the end of all video lectures, I accumulated two fully loaded notepads and have 4 days left until exam day. For the first two days, I went through all my notes twice and went back to videos on the topics I had forgotten or almost forgetting to make sure I reinforce my knowledge on those parts. On 3rd day, I went to AICPA's website and did all the exam tutorial sample questions twice to get used to the SIM format. And, this is important, I went back to the calculations in the video lecture for bonds, equity, lease, pension, income taxes and re-perform all the video example calculations by myself, twice. The day before the exam, again, very important, I went through my notes on government and NFP twice, other notes once, and video example calculations once.

I should also mention that I took the two days before exam day off to cram through FAR final review which allowed me to go through some intense self-review twice.

This is what I had to do with 2.5 weeks left to study for FAR and passed with a 76. I think you have more time to digest the information better, you'll end up with a higher score.

Good luck and hang in there. You can do it.

[Anthony]

How were you doing on the mcq bank? I average 70+ on sims and on 3-4k mcq questions and passed comfortably.

[Yahmon]

I used Gleim for both REG 84 and FAR 79 and passed first time using that study material. I think Gleim is hard and will test your resolve and grit. Pretty much all my topics said I needed to review at the end and I got 76 on my final review. Also on my FAR exam I know for sure two of my SIMS I didn't get the full marks because one I had the accounts but not the right amounts and one which is supposed to balance at the end did lol.

I used Becker before and never understood the material like I do with Gleim. I think it depends on your learning style…for me I need all the details and nuances which I think you get with Gleim.

Maybe you should switch or supplement with another software and see what happens. Good luck!

FAR 8/20/15 - Passed 77
AUD 10/10/15 -
BEC TBD
REG TBD

[mikelee100]

If you are switching, I think Roger's videos are great help.

[nalratoss]

Regarding Gleim Final Review, here's the deal:

The software, or so called adaptive review system, asks you to review materials on a continuous basis.

Let's say you reviewed Subunit 1 and scored well on the MCQ that the system determines your understanding for this topic to be satisfactory. If you come back next week, it will indicate that subunit 1 needs “further review” again.

It assumes that after one week you are gonna forget some stuff.

So the system is designed to ask you to review the same thing over and over again.

If you bombed the Mock Test before the final review, the system will indicate that “Critical: every subunit needs critical review”

I would say at the final stage if you don't have enough time, just focus on areas you feel weak. Ignore the review system evaluation.

The system does help, but it's not perfect.

[Lola23]

Alright, I think Im going to do tones of MCQ during a month and a fewer sims. Ive heard that you get prepared well by doing MCQ since the Sim are a translation of what you've been learning from the right and wrong of the MCQ. Or maybe combine another software. When I pass FAR I think Im going to hang my gloves with Gleim. Its to detail and the explanations are way to long sometimes. Maybe I missing the big picture since Im trying to know everything that it not going even to be tested on the exam.

[mckan514w]

Lola- try Ninja test bank as a supplement. I agree that Gleim goes into a lot of details which for me was helpful but for many a huge deterrent. Ninja's explanations are short and to the point and will give you a new look at questions.

I failed FAR twice and I agree with the poster that said its not necessarily how many MCQs and SIMS you do but how well you understand the material. I found after my second attempt that I knew how to answer the questions but didn't necessarily know how I was getting the answers. Which kept translating to a fail on the actual exam. Take the time to learn the JE's for each problem that is presented- even the ones that dont have numbers. It will really help you when it comes to understanding and when it comes to the SIMS. Good luck… you will get there I promise.

and they ask me why I drink...

FAR- 61-next time I'll ask for lube instead of a calculator
REG-75- Never been so happy to see such a low grade
BEC- 8/11
AUD- 9/2

[Author]

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