[Spartans92]

I literally just spent two hours on 40 problems for FAR. Is this even normal? I feel like I take much longer than others when doing the homework and it is harder considering I have a short attention span. Perhaps that is causing the issue. How long does it generally take you guys? This is making me falling behind the schedule that Becker provides.

BEC- PASS

[marqzho]

In the real test, your target time should be 1min 30sec per question.

In my own review, I used around 1 hour for 30 questions, including reading all the explanation and taking note.

REG 90
FAR 95
AUD 98
BEC 84

[Claudia408]

Far concepts are more complex and there are a lot more calculations. I usually only do about 60 new questions a day which can take up to 2 hours too sometimes. And I try to throw in some review questions here and there but I'm pretty very slow trying to understand this stuff.

BEC - 75 (3x)
AUD - 78 (3x)
REG - 67, 66, Aug 1
FAR - 54, Sept 8

[jcbcpa]

On the actual exam, you need to save yourself at least an hour and a half for SIMS so you have time to do them and use the Authoritative Literature as much as possible. And you may want to take a quick 5-10 min break before you start. So you should aim to finish the MCQs in about 2 hours 20 min. That comes out to 1 minute 33 seconds per question on average (as a poster above said). But keep in mind that Becker MCQs are typically longer than most of the questions you'll see on the exam. Although my last FAR exam had some long problems (more so than my first attempt), there were still a decent amount of short calculation, definitional type questions, which can be answered quickly. Becker seems to hammer you with lots of very long questions and very few conceptional questions, whereas your exam should have more conceptional questions as a whole. I wouldn't stress too much about how fast you are doing the questions now, because your goal is to learn how to do the problems. Read the explanations for the answers, especially the ones you get wrong, so you know where you messed up.

AUD - 85 (8/30/2015)
FAR - 73 (10/13/2015), 85 (2/29/2016) (AND DONE!)
BEC - 83 (11/04/2015)
REG - 81 (11/30/2015)

[Spartans92]

Thanks! I should probably set a target time for myself too. Usually I do but when I don't make the target time it frustrates me. I agree Claudia sometime it's all the calculations that takes a long time even if I get the answer right I take like 4 mins to explain the whole concept making sure I get it. This whole process is just stressful. I remember going through Audit questions quickly because there weren't any math. Not even sure if I will finish at this pace on the real exam. It is going to be a NIGHTMARE!

BEC- PASS

[Spartans92]

Thank you Jcbcpa. That helps a lot to know the actual exam is less detailed because if its like becker writing all these JE out just to get one answer I would sure fail. I don't learn well with just memorizing the formula thats becker give so I take much longer time.

BEC- PASS

[RE2PECT]

I made a similar thread not too long ago. I wouldn't worry about speed as much as trying to learn why you got the question wrong. For harder topics like bonds, it would take me over 5 minutes for just one question. Writing out the journal entries does help for certain questions like bond retirements or stock transactions, but you won't have to do them throughout the test so don't worry about it taking too long. You should see enough questions during the real exam that you should be able to answer fairly quick to make up for the longer ones.

I've always been a slow test taker and I started my sims with just under 1:20 left and it was enough time for me to finish. One thing I did which helped was write down 3:15, 2:45, and 1:30 on my scratchpad before the exam so I had an idea how I was doing on time. You want to try and get through the first testlet with about 3:15 left, 2nd with 2:45, and 3rd with 1:30. Another tip I learned from Roger is for computational problems try and read the last sentence first so you know what it's asking for. The longer questions like to put information and numbers that don't mean anything just to confuse you and make you second guess yourself.

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[Kemi22]

Spartans92: I agree with Re2pect – When you are studying to understand you should not worry about speed as much as what you are actually gaining/understanding from the MCQ. I have spent 2 hours on 30 MCQ and I have spent 30 minutes on MCQ – it depends on the type of questions and the topic.

First take your time to learn and forget about the clock, then as you go along – perhaps 2-3 weeks before your exam, start to watch the clock and pick up speed.

2010:
BEC: 74, 71, 74, 75
AUD: 71, 74, 83
REG: 71, 76
FAR: (I quit) 34, 45

2015:
BEC: 79
AUD: 78
REG: 67, 76
FAR: 56 (trial run), 74, 74, 74, 80!
Thank God. Your prayers are always answered! Do not give up. Thank you St. Joseph Cupertino.

[Anonymous]

Yes you want to get to 1:30 per question on the actual test so 45 min per testlet. However I would not worry about time when first studying it is more about understanding the concepts. As time goes by and the concepts are clicking try to improve your time.

I have always been a slow test taker but have finished my first three exams with plenty of time to spare. I was shocked I had so much time after FAR. I think when you are drilling this stuff daily the test material is easy to get thru.

[Spartans92]

Thanks. Yea, I started to pause the clock now when I work the MCQ because it stress me out seeing how long I take on them. I do try to read the last sentence first but I get nervous or what not I lose what the call of the question actually is.

BEC- PASS

[Claudia408]

Spartan – Do you like Becker? Why did you choose Becker? What topic are you currently studying? I'm about 70% through the material in Roger and am on deferred taxes, it's basically a book/tax recon…no wonder I didn't pass REG.

BEC - 75 (3x)
AUD - 78 (3x)
REG - 67, 66, Aug 1
FAR - 54, Sept 8

[Spartans92]

Hey Claudia, honestly no I am not a big fan of becker a lot of the questions I have no clue with like its not even what I covered in the book and lectures. I guess I have to learn to think outside the box and apply concepts but I am those that learn once through an example for the concepts/calculations to make sense. And I did not choose becker it is what my employer offers. I really liked roger too I do youtube whatever he has online to kinda supplement becker for now until I finish then I will add Ninja. Sadly, I am only on inventories still. Still got half way to go I am hoping to be 50% done with the material by this weekend.

BEC- PASS

[Spartans92]

Hey Claudia, honestly no I am not a big fan of becker a lot of the questions I have no clue with like its not even what I covered in the book and lectures. I guess I have to learn to think outside the box and apply concepts but I am those that learn once through an example for the concepts/calculations to make sense. And I did not choose becker it is what my employer offers. I really liked roger too I do youtube whatever he has online to kinda supplement becker for now until I finish then I will add Ninja. Sadly, I am only on inventories still. Still got half way to go I am hoping to be 50% done with the material by this weekend.

BEC- PASS

[Author]

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