[Anonymous]

After four years, THIS is the exam that matters. The stress, anxiety and pressure are like a black cloud. I sit down to attack FAR and I am just overwhelmed with the amount of material and start to feel hopeless. I’ve never had this before but I have to pass FAR in August and I am definitely feeling it! How do you cope with this and power through? Suggestions, ideas and a hangman’s noose are appreciated.

[littlenumberrobot]

My plan is just to go into ATTACK MODE. Think about this being the last time you will study and just go all out. Say no to everything. Get depressed(jk, not really…..). I'm studying hardcore for 6 weeks. I will sleep when it's all over. I will breathe when it's all over lol. I feel your pain. Good luck!

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[Anonymous]

Just knowing the end was so close and that I may never have to study again was the motivation I needed to buckle down. the feeling of freedom. Im only a couple weeks removed from studying and I am already starting to question how I got through those exams. I will NEVER miss those days

[Anonymous]

^^ What Beavis said

And the fact that a promotion at work was riding on me passing my last exam before the end of May. I didn't want to have to study for my last exam more than once so I just killed it and put in as much time as I could.

[Tncincy]

I just looked at my exam appointment…..I was so tempted to reschedule, July 15th is still the only date open. Can you imagine a test center booked? I scheduled and thought I could reschedule for an earlier date for July but nope it is booked. So July 15th it is. More study time, but I am in turbo mode…..

Like everybody else said, going at this full force, saying no to everything family reunions, picnics, girl time, graduations, weddings, etc…..I am officially an isolated, non-social, cpa exam studier!!!!! I got two exams between now and August 16. I can do this and I'm not taking no for an answer. Please send the score God's my way….

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

[Anonymous]

I work in an office complex and there is a large building that is vacant on the edge of the property with a huge open parking lot that where no one parks. Today I found ONE parking space that is fully shaded in their lot and it is a ghost town at lunch. Across from the parking space is a huge tree with a bench that is completely shaded as well. It's a perfect study spot…fast and easy to get too and quiet! It was so nice to sit there and re-write NINJA notes for an hour during lunch. So peaceful which really helps with the stress and anxiety. I'm beginning to believe again! =)

[IwannaBaCPA]

It is certainly a struggle to stay focused. I give you so much credit for your persistence already!

I was in a very similar boat last year. I had so much riding on that last exam. I had two chances to take REG. One in August and one in October and if I failed both, I was going to lose FAR and BEC. I was also going to lose a $5K bonus for passing in my first year. So much was riding on me passing and after I got a 73 in August, I knew I had to just suck it up and focus. I pushed myself to study and really tried to make sure I was getting something out of every minute I could.

It is challenging BUT I can't begin to explain the AMAZING feeling it is to get that final passing score. It is just the best ever…stay focused, push yourself and you too will know what I am talking about!

Good luck!

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Anonymous]

IwannaBaCPA: Thank you so much for the encouraging words and Congrats on making your bonus!! That's awesome! It's the same for me…one chance in August and one in October and then I lose Auditing. Scares me to death! I really have to pass in August because the pressure in October will be crushing! =)

[IwannaBaCPA]

You can and will do it! I am really rooting for you 🙂

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[J]

As others have mentioned, the thought of just having one last exam to go and then being finished with the CPA should provide you with sufficient motivation to buckle down and get it done. If you're taking the exam in August, that's plenty of time – even for FAR. I was in a similar situation with AUD; not in the sense that I was going to lose credit for another exam, but I felt the pressure to get it done before the changeover to the new clarity standards.

I really had a little over two weeks to prepare; I could not study while waiting for scores for previous sections, and I didn't get REG until May 6. I really took that week off as I had other stuff going on, but started on the weekend and really hit the material hard. I didn't spend a huge amount of hours (probably 50-60), but they were quality hours.

Make a list of everything that want to do or are going to be able to do once you finish the exam, and remind yourself of it everyday. I didn't write things down, but I did have a mental checklist going. Some were significant (i.e. the time to take a nice vacation); others were smaller but still important (i.e. being able to relax in the evening instead of having to wait until the kids went to bed in order to be able to get through some MCQ in the Wiley Test Bank).

You've passed three, and your scores have really improved… you didn't just pass; you got through with a significant margin of error. You know what it takes; the best thing to do with FAR is to break it down into pieces and you should also realize that you've seen (and conquered) some of the concepts in other sections of the exam.

Good luck!

[Author]

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