[Tono23]

Hello All,

I am in the process of studying for FAR with Gleim test bank and book only after a years hiatus due to personal issues. That being said, I am feeling burnt out and very overwhelmed with all of the material FAR has. How do I combat being burnt out?

Additionally, I feel rushed to study as much as I can, so that I may take the exam in mid to late April. I have been studying since mid-January about 15 hours per week and still have 7 units to go. Which consists mostly of hammering out MCQs and a sprinkle od SIMS. I read the book on a as needed basis; Gleims’ book can be dry. Is it completely necessary to complete ALL of the mcqs and sims? Gleim’s test bank have very wordy and lengthy ?s which take me a while to read and feel super discouraged when I score very low.

I look forward to your replies. Thank you!

[Tono23]

Feeling*

[Anonymous]

Gleims FAR Test Bank is BRUTAL. It is not necessary to follow the smart adapt system to a T as it takes a lot for it determine a study unit to be “complete” and sitting on one unit scoring consistent 60s over and over again is exhausting and discouraging. I also think it's somewhat silly to do as many simulations as it wants you to do. It's certainly good to do simulations and get used to them but you don't need to do 10+ per study unit. I definitely didn't “complete” my BEC materials with gleim per the smart adapt system and was averaging high 60s and I got an 88 on the exam. I usually recommend doing tons and tons of MCQs and making sure you know the material.

[Anonymous]

The people who passed the CPA tests very easy advised me to always take a break every after test. I am the type who’d like to continue studying after the actual test date. I just don’t know. That’s when my momentum is soaring like an eagle. For that same reason I am extremely burnt out for these CPA tests.

In you case, you might need a FULL 2-day or more days of break. Go get away from the city. In my case, after I tested last March 10th, I took a REALLY good break from studying. I watched about 10 movies until the score release (3/20). Your current material might also be a factor why you are so burnt out (and perhaps bored). I’m using Becker, the more I read it, or the more I repeat studying it, the more I see and understand things clearly. Although, I find T. Gearty so annoying in his lectures (highlight this, to the left and right arrow, etc.), I still like the material overall. I skipped all Gearty’s lectures. But in fairness, Gearty’s skills practice sessions are very helpful. P. Olinto is the best teacher of all. Jeff’s NINJA audio is awesome too. I play it during my commute every day. ONLY After I studied my whole review material, listening to Jeff’s audio is just beyond compare.

[Anonymous]

I am using Gleim for FAR. I don't wait for their ‘approval' before moving to next chapter. I look at the MCQ, write out formulas on how to answer them, and practice it. I won't even focus much on SIMS – I will just practice a lot of MCQ from Gleim and memorize formulas, and hope for the best.

[aaronmo]

This says it better than I ever could…

[Julia]

Ur doing great! This process is so brutal! I used to think I was an intelligent person. Not anymore.
I listen to the ocean or rain (sound machine) & classical music. It gives me sense of calm when I'm studying.
I take small breaks & watch 30 min increments of “Flavor of Love.” It makes me laugh & reminds me to chill.

[alloverit]

I passed all four sections on the first attempt using only Gleim AND DID NOT use anything but their MCQs and some SIMs.

Their “system” may work, but I made between an 81-93 without watching any videos and only opened the books a couple of times. I took zero quizzes. I did entirely “study sessions”.

I mastered about 20 new questions form each chapter and then moved to the next and did the same thing. Then I circled back and went CHAPTERS 1-20 AGAIN…making sure to review some of what I had already studied.

The AICPA site gives good SIMS and I located SIMS in Gleim that looked like those.

One final thing I did was to make a list of the most difficult MCQs and revisited them in the week prior to taking the test. As a result, the SIMS never seemed too hard. The one section where the SIMS got me a bit was AUD, but I was probably making about a 95 on the MC portion so even after stumbling several points in the SIM/research area I pulled out an 83.

Gleim has the most resources…and it is designed for those who self-study…so I'm not sure why they even bother with a process.

Anyway, that's my 2.4 cents. Good luck

[aaronmo]

I think it's dangerous to put too much stock in what other people did…or how hard they studied. You have to find what works for you. I could NOT have passed, given my lack of background, and weaknesses with memorization, without working harder/longer than most here. Maybe I would have passed…I don't know…but I wouldn't have felt comfortable, or confident, during the exams, and I have to feel prepped to perform.

We all learn differently. We have different backgrounds. Different strengths. Different weaknesses. Some here are just smarter than you, some less so. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter…you have to do what YOU need to do to eek out a 75.

[Anonymous]

@alloverit

I am using Gleim for FAR.

Is it just me or does it feel like the earlier chapters in the book (3,5,6,7) are harder than the later?

[Anonymous]

@aaronmo,

I agree 100% with what you are saying, I think it is a lot more important to find out the best study method that works for you as opposed to obsessing over how other people do it. It seems to me that the most important part of passing the exams is having mental toughness, and being able to rebound when you fail or when things aren't clicking.

@Von,

I have found the last 6 Gleim FAR SUs to be the most difficult, but that is because I didn't really cover them in my undergrad classes. In contrast, I breezed through bonds, leases, deferred taxes, pensions, equity etc. because I had a great Int. Acct. 2 teacher and I worked my ass off in that class.

I'm working on a general review of all the material right now, and basically every time I review one of SUs 1-14, I go back and run through one of SUs 15-20. This seems to be helping. Each SU also has focus questions and practice journal entries which are helpful for grasping the underlying concepts before diving into MCQs. FYI, I only practice MCQs in study mode.

Once I get through reviewing each SU (probably this weekend) then I will just do: {flashcards >> 20 MCQs in study mode >> one set of 5 sims} for each SU (with more time on my weaker areas) for the next week or so, and then crank through the NINJA MCQS the week prior to taking the exam.

**Also just a general word of support for Gleim, yes the material is difficult and harder to understand than other courses, but that is kind of the point. When you read about the FAR exam experience on here, for most people the universal consensus seems to be that the Gleim MCQs are harder than the actual exam, and the SIMS are pretty close to what you will actually see. I'm not saying the course is perfect, but bashing it because it is hard seems to be kind of silly, it is by design supposed to be. If it doesn't work for you, then just try an easier course.**

[Anonymous]

@benj2017

thanks for your input.

I think i don't like the earlier chapter because there are a lot of calculations with formulas. I literally have pages of formulas written out for those chapters. But later chapters I do not. Also it has been 5 years since I was in school for accounting so I kind of forgot most of it. And working in accounting..especially when you are a staff accountant – you are stuck doing recs most of the time so yeah.

but im pretty much only covered 1-7 well right now – when it comes to practicing the problems. i have to practice other chapters and i don't think I will be ready for my april 16th test date even if i study 6 hours a day til then. i mean i read all chapters, made flashcards/notes and went through problems to make sure i understand them..but did not practice them yet (except 1-7)

[alloverit]

@Von

I don't remember the chapters for FAR. That was my first section and they've changed things up since then. But yes, the first two chapters are fool's gold compared to what follows.

I've since passed the exam and the only section I can still see is REG (for 39 more days even though I no longer need it, lol)

Still for the most part, the questions on the test are going to mostly be from the chapters with the MOST questions…and then drilling down further, the subsections with the most questions.

Know your financial statements and governmental stuff. All that stuff about BEPS and DEPS, etc is a real pain to learn, but that's one of the reasons why so many think FAR is the hardest.

Good luck

[Anonymous]

@alloverit

Yeah when I first started reading about BEPS/DEPS holy hell..but chapters after that topic is not nearly as bad I felt. Although bonds and noncurrent liabilities are a pain for me for some reason. I did read the governmental chapters in Gleim and I feel like it's super confusing and lot of data to remember. But at least there is not too many calculations in governmental accounting.

[Author]

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