[Anonymous]

FAR was my first test and I knew I was unprepared. I studied a lot but just felt overwhelmed by the information. I’m not sure how to absorb everything and feel like I need a better game plan. Any tips on how to study this monster? I’m using Roger, which has 31 chapters for FAR, and the Wiley test bank.

Thanks!

[ILCPA2014]

Focus first on your weak areas. In my own experience, I do better if I work on mcqs rather than watch lectures. And credit to ninjamcq, I used it during the last 2 weeks of my review and I passed.

AUD Passed 78 (4x) Thank you Lord.
REG Passed 81 (2x) Thank you St Joseph of Cupertino
FAR Passed 77 (3x) Thank you St Joseph of Cupertino. Thank you Lord.
BEC TBD
My CPA journey started in 2013 and it will be finished in April 2016. That's for sure!!
Ethics 91

[sar_rah]

I would make my own ‘final review' study packet as I went along. I wrote out the most important topics in each chapter, as well as my weaknesses, and then I'd print out some important and comprehensive problems on those topics and take detailed notes about how to do that kind of problems and other related useful information regarding the topic. By my final review, I had a binders worth of problems and notes, which helped me really narrow down where to focus! In the final review, spend maybe half your day reviewing material, and then the other half continuously pounding out MCQs. Eventually, everything will stick with enough repetition.

AUD: 98
REG: 91
BEC: 86
FAR: 83

DONE DONE DONE and DONE all on the first try! It IS possible, just keep on studying!

[Anonymous]

Like cb_6185 said, I would definitely make my own final review and organize them by topics. It is a great way to go back and review as a refresher before your exam. Create a separate section for IFRS vs GAAP materials, a separate section for Bonds & Leases, Pensions, Governmental, you get the idea.. and keep filling these notes up as you go. Governmental and non for profit was very new to me so I focused a lot on these areas and I gotta say it was totally worth it.

[TheHoundThatRides]

I used the cram course after the main review though I'm not sure how necessary it was in the end. I'm sure it helped me some. And I also used Ninja Audio so I could think about the info in the car.

Try to get the “main points” of a chapter. Don't worry about the fine details.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[tpeters321]

I failed with 63. I'm going to try again though

FAR: 63, 73
AUD: October 2016
REG: August 2016
BEC: 74 (Ugh!)

[kaydun]

Repetition is key for FAR. Keep doing problems and mark the ones you keep having trouble with, and, most importantly, take the time to understand why your answer is wrong and why the other answer is right. It makes a huge difference so that you're not just memorizing answers.

FAR does seem overwhelming at first, but if you keep reading and reviewing, it does get more manageable. FAR is an exam where you have to understand why you're doing certain calculations, unlike AUD or BEC, where it's basically memorization for the most part.

FAR - 76 Oct 2015 (Becker)
REG - 87 Apr 2016 (Becker + Ninja MCQ) - 3rd time's the charm!
AUD - 82 Feb 2016 (Becker)
BEC - 85 May 2016 (Becker)

[agripper]

I just got my score back FAR exam I failed again with a 71. This third time taking this exam the first I go a 65, 2nd a 65. I just feel like quitting

[marqzho]

I used Roger and Wiley Test Bank for my FAR. Here is what I did:

1. Start watching. Take note for reinforcement. Did all study questions after each chapter.

2. Half way through the lectures, Select a group of chapters and work on the IPQ. 30Q at a time. Keep mixing the lecture and the IPQ. Make sure you read the explanation for all four choices, even though you answer correctly. Post your question in the forum if you don't understand the explanation.

3. After watching all the lecture, you should be half way through the IPQ. Do the rest by group.

4. After finishing all the IPQ, go to Wiley and do MCQ by random chapters, 30Q at a time.Flag important questions! not the question you answer incorrectly, but the one you think is important. Maybe questions in an area you are not familiar with, maybe questions you got correctly but you don't know why, maybe questions you think you will see in the real exam.

5. work all Wiley MCQ and then you should leave a week time for final review

6. Two days to work on the SIMS. Two days to go through Roger's book page by page. One day to re-visit the Flag question in Wiley. One or two day to focus on your weak area

7. You are well prepared and have fun in the exam 🙂

As someone already mentioned: Repetition is the KEY.

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the advice! I really appreciate the tips.

[Author]

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