[want2beacpa]

I’m new to the forum, and I have my first exam (FAR) at the end of next week. I felt like I was doing okay going through my CPAExcel review course until I took my first exam sim last night….. 57…… Do you think there is any way I can bring it up to passing in the amount of time I have left, or do I need to reschedule the exam?

[Anonymous]

I don't know about CPAExcel exam versus real exam. Does it give you a breakdown of how you did on each topic? Can you isolate your weak areas? 57% doesn't sound great, but I won't say you can't pass because I don't really know. I'm sure you can tell as you study and go over MCQ what your weak areas are. If there are a lot of them then you may want to reschedule. Are you working? How much time do you have to devote to studying for the next week and a half?

[Anonymous]

I don't know about CPAExcel exam versus real exam. Does it give you a breakdown of how you did on each topic? Can you isolate your weak areas? 57% doesn't sound great, but I won't say you can't pass because I don't really know. I'm sure you can tell as you study and go over MCQ what your weak areas are. If there are a lot of them then you may want to reschedule. Are you working? How much time do you have to devote to studying for the next week and a half?

[want2beacpa]

Yes I work, three jobs, that's part of the problem but it's where I'm at right now so I'm trying to make the best of it. I can devote about 20 hrs a week to studying. Looking at the breakdown of my results, it looks like I need to review about half the material…..

[want2beacpa]

Yes I work, three jobs, that's part of the problem but it's where I'm at right now so I'm trying to make the best of it. I can devote about 20 hrs a week to studying. Looking at the breakdown of my results, it looks like I need to review about half the material…..

[Anonymous]

I think Jeff, the founder of this website, had suggested not to take those final exams for the very same reason: They can demoralize you. Keep working on MCQ's, set of 20-30 and identify your weak areas. With the amount of material FAR pours out, there's no way for us to master everything.

[Anonymous]

I think Jeff, the founder of this website, had suggested not to take those final exams for the very same reason: They can demoralize you. Keep working on MCQ's, set of 20-30 and identify your weak areas. With the amount of material FAR pours out, there's no way for us to master everything.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this helps, but if CPAExcel is anything like Becker…There is a Becker thread where people posts their practice scores and their real exam scores and their real exam scores averaged about 15 points higher than their practice exam scores. Just remember that the review courses tend to be harder with the way the questions are worded and they are a little trickier than the exam. That's been my case on each of my exams and I hope it will be the case for FAR too. You may be better off than you think. Take your weak areas and prioritize them based on the ones you know are heavily tested–government, NFP, Shareholder's Equity, etc. Try to master those this week in addition to retaining the stuff you are already good at. If you want to give yourself a little more time and take at the end of April I think you can reschedule up to 5 days out and it will only cost you $35.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this helps, but if CPAExcel is anything like Becker…There is a Becker thread where people posts their practice scores and their real exam scores and their real exam scores averaged about 15 points higher than their practice exam scores. Just remember that the review courses tend to be harder with the way the questions are worded and they are a little trickier than the exam. That's been my case on each of my exams and I hope it will be the case for FAR too. You may be better off than you think. Take your weak areas and prioritize them based on the ones you know are heavily tested–government, NFP, Shareholder's Equity, etc. Try to master those this week in addition to retaining the stuff you are already good at. If you want to give yourself a little more time and take at the end of April I think you can reschedule up to 5 days out and it will only cost you $35.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the prior posters. Don't take the demoralizing practice exams. Just focus on MCQ's and reviewing notes. If you feel particularly weak in a particular area or two, go back and review.

You've got over a week to hammer out an obscene amount of MCQ's.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the prior posters. Don't take the demoralizing practice exams. Just focus on MCQ's and reviewing notes. If you feel particularly weak in a particular area or two, go back and review.

You've got over a week to hammer out an obscene amount of MCQ's.

[want2beacpa]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. It means more than you know.

[want2beacpa]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone. It means more than you know.

[Tasia]

I would say if you think you can buckle down and drill those weak areas before your exam next week, then go for it. But if you are hesitant and think you could definitely get through those weak areas with an extra week or two of studying, $35 is much less than having to reapply if you fail. But make sure you stay focused if you do reschedule, don't relax just because you have the extra weeks – if you do reschedule, use those extra weeks wisely!

BEC - 78 (8/30/13)
REG - 73 (1/31/14) - 76 (4/7/14)
***GETTING MARRIED 7/19/14***
FAR - after the wedding
AUD - also after the wedding

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

[Tasia]

I would say if you think you can buckle down and drill those weak areas before your exam next week, then go for it. But if you are hesitant and think you could definitely get through those weak areas with an extra week or two of studying, $35 is much less than having to reapply if you fail. But make sure you stay focused if you do reschedule, don't relax just because you have the extra weeks – if you do reschedule, use those extra weeks wisely!

BEC - 78 (8/30/13)
REG - 73 (1/31/14) - 76 (4/7/14)
***GETTING MARRIED 7/19/14***
FAR - after the wedding
AUD - also after the wedding

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

[Guti]

They can test you in anything there heart desires. I wouldn't go to the real exam with less than a cumulative exam score of at least 70. I did not do enough of those cumulative exams and look where I ended up.

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Author]

Replies