Far retake- either this is a really good idea or really bad idea….

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #200826
    JT
    Participant

    I got a 73 on my first FAR attempt. This is my first time failing a test so I’m not sure the best way to prepare for a retake. Getting a 73 I feel like I was pretty close to passing but I DEFINITELY have room for improvement.

    It’s been 3 weeks since my test and I haven’t touched any FAR material. I’m thinking about using the ninja blitz videos to re-familiarize myself with the material and take notes from the blitz videos. I also plan to review my old notes and hit the ninja mcq’s harder then I did before. I got through 3200 questions on my original attempt at FAR but I fell that if I get through 5000 questions (after resetting) this time then I will be very prepared for my retake (planned for late May). I will use my score report and hit those areas that I’m weaker in harder by reading my prep books with detail in those specific areas. If I start sucking in a certain area while ninja’ing, then I will reread the prep book/my old notes while taking new notes. Also, if I see that I’m doing bad in ninja mcq’s on a subject that I performed well on during my first test (let’s say nfp), I will review my prep book/notes for nfp but if I’m doing well on nfp in ninja mcq, then I will not reread/review my prep books for nfp.

    What do you guys think? I’m open to all feedback. My method may sound “lazy” but I honestly feel that ninja MCQ was extremely helpful for me and was the biggest reason I passed my first 2 test. The ninja notes were not helpful for me at all but I found some good use with the ninja book, audio, and my other prep material.

    REG-80-1X
    BEC-80-1X
    FAR-73-1X
    FAR-75-2X
    AUD-September 2016

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #762716
    Knight4CPA
    Participant

    I agree, the BEC Ninja notes were amazing, but I am not gaining as much value from the FAR notes. I think the strategy is spot on. How are you able to reach 5,000 MCQ? Do you rattle them off on your phone?

    AUD: 70, 80✔ (Expires 1/18/2017 - / Ninja MCQ / CPAExcel MCQ)
    REG: 61, 70, 75✔ (Expires 2017 - Ninja MCQ / CPAExcel MCQ)
    BEC: 78✔(Expires 5/17/2017 - Ninja MCQ / Becker Flashcards / NinjaNotes)
    FAR: 57 (just to get trigger time I scheduled 1 week after REG) Retake 5/13/16

    #762717
    Fk
    Participant

    @Dab, use Bisk Far video , they are great.

    #762718
    Jdn9201
    Participant

    I'm sorry you didn't pass in February, especially since it was only by 2 points. I think you have a good plan, but it will be good if you start studying again ASAP so you don't forget the material you learned the first time. Had you not taken 3 weeks off, you could have been ready for an earlier retake but 3 weeks still isn't a ton of time either and I know people need a break. 5,000 MCQ's is impressive, but you may be better off if you slow that down and spend more time on the explanations. I didn't use NINJA – I used Roger for all of my exams. I know I did not reach 1,000 MCQ's, even for FAR. I agree people need the repetition, but if you go too fast, all you are doing is memorizing answers. Good luck on your retake!

    BEC - 88 8/29/15
    REG - 82 11/14/15
    AUD - 83 1/8/16
    FAR - 80 2/29/16

    #762719
    JT
    Participant

    Well, im starting my review now and im planning on taking the test late may. Gives me a little over 10 weeks. If i do 600 questions a week i should easily hit 5000.

    Also, i do them on during my review at home, not on my phone. I wish there was a phone mcq app.

    REG-80-1X
    BEC-80-1X
    FAR-73-1X
    FAR-75-2X
    AUD-September 2016

    #762720
    JT
    Participant

    @jdn

    Thank you for ur response.

    I dont think i'd be going too fast. Giving myself 10 weeks for review should well prepare me for the retake right? What do u think?

    REG-80-1X
    BEC-80-1X
    FAR-73-1X
    FAR-75-2X
    AUD-September 2016

    #762721

    I made a 72 on my first FAR attempt, and passed with an 89 on the 2nd attempt. I re-watched all videos, reworked all Becker MCQ AND SIMS, and finished 1/2 of Ninja MCQ (~180 hours).

    I think the SIMS helped me the most. Journal entries were key…

    FAR 72, 89
    BEC 80
    REG 90
    AUD 79

    #762722
    JT
    Participant

    @pleasedont

    Thank you for your response.

    What do you mean by “finished 1/2 of Ninja MCQ (180 hours)”? How many questions (roughly) did you do? I think FAR has about 1700 questions so 1/2 of them is about 850 questions. I'm not sure how you spent 180 hours on 850 questions so I must be reading it wrong. Also, did you keep your old notes? or did you make new ones? or both?

    Leaving the testing center, I felt good about my performance with the sims but I guess I was wrong. I did weaker in the Sims and I feel that your right, if I improve on the sims I should give myself a better chance at passing. I plan to mix in sims sporadically with my preparation.

    REG-80-1X
    BEC-80-1X
    FAR-73-1X
    FAR-75-2X
    AUD-September 2016

    #762723
    JT
    Participant

    This might sound stupid, but I feel that restudying for 10 weeks for the retake *MIGHT* be a bad idea in that im stretching my preparation over too long of a period. what do you guys think?

    I want to dedicate a lot of time for my restudy to be sure I pass this time.

    REG-80-1X
    BEC-80-1X
    FAR-73-1X
    FAR-75-2X
    AUD-September 2016

    #762724
    kcoops44
    Participant

    I scheduled my retake for 4/12 which was the earliest date available. I got a 74 on FAR but I also had a lot come up just before like surgery etc. I started diving into stuff on 3/9 but have recently started hammering out Ninja MCQ. I aim for 120 MCQ and about 5 Sims a day which would allow me to get through them once in about 13-14 days. Then redo them for the 2 weeks prior the exam. I'm hoping this strategy works. I also plan on rewriting Ninja Notes at some point, hopefully 2-3 times. But if anyone has any suggestions, I'm open to trying your strategies.

    #762725
    JT
    Participant

    @kcoops44

    You are going through the questions as “new questions only”? or are you letting the adaptive learning kick in to see repeats?

    REG-80-1X
    BEC-80-1X
    FAR-73-1X
    FAR-75-2X
    AUD-September 2016

    #762726
    kcoops44
    Participant

    This is my first time seeing Ninja MCQ so I was going to go through all of the multiple choice sections one time. Then I was going to do the adaptive learning. Should I be doing adaptive instead of going section by section?

    #762727
    JT
    Participant

    I have no idea what u should do which is why i asked. It might work. I heard people have success breaking it down like that and moving from subject to subject.

    With my passes with reg and bec i went through the ‘regular way' and went through the adapative learning. Both sections i ended up doing about 4000 questions (i seen all of the questions and answered about 90% of them right atleast once). With my far fail of 73, the questions took more time for me to do and things came up for me (in life) too which prevented me from getting through them like i wanted. I went through about 3200 but didnt see about 600 questions.

    i dont have a great accounting background so i NEED to do a ton of practice questions to get a good grasp of it.

    REG-80-1X
    BEC-80-1X
    FAR-73-1X
    FAR-75-2X
    AUD-September 2016

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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