[IwannabeaCPA2017]

Just another ranting post LOL. I wonder if I will ever pass this BEAST. Reflecting on my exam there really isn’t much more I could have done differently. Aside from some calculation errors (couldn’t memorize the formula) and some other small nuisances.. I feel like this exam isn’t even possible to me. My 3rd time taking it and I still don’t know how I did (SIMS felt like hell)

For those that have gotten in the 60’s and passed what method were used? I ended up doing around 900 Ninja MCQ and all Becker MCQ (certain topic 2x) and SIMS 2x.

[Someday_I_will]

You often get the questions where you know the answers (and formulas too) based on the choices provided. I used the following strategy: when I got the question following my right answer in the same testlet, I would go back to the question I knew was right. This works however only on MCQ, not on SIMS.

REG - 75

[Someday_I_will]

FAR had to be impossible for me. I am naturally more conceptual person, but it turned out to be the easiest exam to get a passing grade. You never know. Don't panic.

REG - 75

[Wannafree]

@Someday_I_will , can you please explain again ? I didn't quite get it.
“You often get the questions where you know the answers (and formulas too) based on the choices provided. I used the following strategy: when I got the question following my right answer in the same testlet, I would go back to the question I knew was right. This works however only on MCQ, not on SIMS.”

[kiwi9990]

I certainly think it is possible to go from 59 to 75. I jumped 12 points from my first to second try. I think Ninja really helped me because I had been studying Becker so much that it just wasn't sinking in and I would get distracted and not retain the info in the videos. I think I started to memorize answers on my Becker questions instead of really understanding why the correct answers were right.

[Anonymous]

@mtaylo24-I have a question on Ninja MCQ-are you saying NOT to utilize the custom tool at all? That's how I usually always use it, until I get through every little section and then I do adaptive in review leading up to my exam. I combine Ninja with Becker so I do random ones in both courses for at least 10 days leading up to the test… Like you said-if you use adaptive, it's too many repeats, and I sometimes feel like they hit me with easy ones… Or is this strategy suggested for retake? I will be taking FAR for the first time (hopefully once and done but you never know!) in mid-November…

[mtaylo24]

^^^^Yes, i believe the software is only supposed to work using the adaptive, surgent uses a similar engine and also has the same suggestion. Phase 1 assessment, the software feeds you questions and it sets up phase 2 (adaptive phase) on how you perform. 35% of the questions get you to adaptive phase, but section 2 alone is 40% of the testbank, which means, you will get to adaptive learning wihout ever seeing sections 3, 4, or 5. The alogrithm feeds you questions based on AICPA weights, so they will assess how you do on each area.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Lentilcounter]

@mtaylo24

I have tried for the last two days to access the AICPA practice exams and it will not load. What browser are you using to access the web page?

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[mtaylo24]

^^^^I normally use Firefox, but I also used it with google chrome on my ipad.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Tncincy]

I'm thinking of ways to make studying convenient so I thought about a tablet or ipad so I can listen to lectures or audio instead of pulling out my laptop every time. Like I would like to study riding but I don't have enough room if I pull out my laptop to do mcq's. My phone is too small to do mcq's. Any reasonably priced suggestions?

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[STP]

Don't give up! Here are my FAR attempts. Grab some popcorn before you read lol. 40, 58, 66, 63, 73, 71, 64, 81. I was using only Roger CPA with no supplement until the 81. I felt like I already knew the information so I looked around for what supplemental material I should add and ended up choosing Ninja MCQs. So the only studying I did for the FAR exam that I passed was do MCQs and SIMS exclusively and rarely glanced back at books(literally looked at the book for reference maybe 5 times max). I took notes of the questions that I got wrong or that I got correctly from guessing and studied those. I completed all the questions twice before the exam. ALL of them. Only studied for about a month. I also didn't do the practice exams because I want as much exposure to all the possible question as I could get. After completing all the questions the first time I reset my progress and went at them again.

[Sweet<3 soon to be CPA]

I was reading through all of the above posts getting more and more nervous….. FAR I saved for last, not expecting to pass all others (some just barely). FAR is SOOOO much info and more formulas (I hate you BEC!)
Then I see STP post and your strategy is currently what I use. I love Roger but my first sit down for any exam was BEC in March and I didn't feel comfortable with the MCQs – the writing I think was the only thing that passed me. REG I used Roger MCQ and gave Ninja MCQ a shot. I found the Ninja soooo helpful that by AUD i didn't even use Roger MCQ anymore! Basically the two overlap but Ninja felt more like the exam – some of Roger MCQ I felt were just there to trick you and not give you an honest representation for exam day. Both these exams I felt soooo at ease with the MCQ portion of the exam.
All exams I lacked studying any SIMS – I don't plan on skipping the SIMS this time.

Best of Luck to All!!

[jcman240]

I copy/paste the Ninja MCQ explanations to my own note doc, the explanations are great and make good notes. Then just focus on SIMS, not MCQs, all SIMS and just 30-60 MCQs per day.. I went from 67 to 76 on FAR that way

[IwannabeaCPA2017]

Thanks JC, I do plan on working more SIMS this time. However, I'm really afraid my score won't jump too high from 59 to 75 is a long shot LMAO. I was stronger on NFP/Govt and weaker everything else. @Willnotquit, do not skip the SIMS!! Thats the only reason I can say that is keeping me from passing. All the SIMS I had on my recent exam had 5-6 documents (emails etc) to review. The moment I saw the SIMS I went “oh shit I aint passing for real.” Worst thing is I can't even move on until I finished the testlet first and I spend prob an hour alone on 3 SIMS. Im praying for some good SIMS next round ( I miss those single SIM questions with no documents). This crap is only getting harder as time goes!

Funny how religious I have become since starting this dang journey! Got a bible and a Cross next to my study desk! LMAO.

[ixlr82day]

I passed FAR in the Sept window and I felt the same as everyone that FAR was impossible. My score jump from 49 to 79 was substantial. When I left the testing center I felt I did well on the Sims but got killed in the MC. Usually MC goes easy then medium/hard. I felt mine went from hard to med hard. Not a good sign. The second time I rewrote the ninja notes and tried to read the textbook more. My trending MC scores were low…I think I averaged in the 50's. I did little MC questions because of that. I know…not the way everyone else does it. I felt the more MC I did the more I doubted myself before the exam. The two weeks before I reviewed Final Review or you could just review SIMS. I reviewed lots of sims over and over to try to understand the question and the logic behind the answers. I rewrote ninja notes twice and got lots of sleep. During the test I tried to allocate most of my time to sims. I did MC quickly. Hope some of this helps.

[Author]

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