1 week for all FAR studying… thoughts?

Now would be a good time to find religion if you haven't already.

You can do it….you only need a 75!

I think it's possible IF you are already pretty familiar with the material (aka you remember most of it from your college classes)… I'm a “cram” studier, so I feel your pain – I passed BEC on 5 days of studying and REG with only 7… long-term study plans never seem to pan out for me… (which is probably why I've been struggling so much with FAR).

I'm not familiar with CPA Excel, but with Becker we had a few pages of “notes” for each chapter that outlined all the content. If you have something similar with your study materials, I would do a quick read through, and any area that you feel confused/fuzzy on, take some time to read through the materials and take notes on the key take-aways. Once you have at least a cursory knowledge of all the material, just drill MCQ until your test.

It's been my experience that the key trouble areas for FAR seem to be leases, pensions, bonds, and governmental/NP accounting, so I'd focus your time/resources on those areas (that doesn't mean you should neglect the other areas, however).

Hopefully it works out for you, but I know that cramming for FAR just hasn't worked for me. If you had the ability to reschedule to Q1 of 2012, I would.

@valueofnothing – I am waiting on my FAR score today with about 10 days of full study for that exam. So we will see. I think doing that (or in your case, doing it in a week) is definitely difficult but doable. I had budgeted one chapter per day and really only got through an entire chapter in a day about twice, maybe 3 times. I did ALL of the questions except the supplemental. I figured if I had time after I got through the chapters and lectures of Becker then I would go back and do the supplmental questions. That never happened. I ran out of time. I did do all the simulations though, I think they are VERY important, although I got NOTHING like my Becker simulations ont he actual exam. Going into the exam, I did not feel ready and I did not know everything, however, the questions really were not that bad. I expected way worse. Walking in, I thought I was definitely going to fail and walking out I felt like it was a pass so I am just waiting, and we will see soon enough.

@David1985 – I studied BEC in 5.5 days. It was crazy. I did the BEC exam a week after FAR and had never opened the Becker BEC book. I concentrated on FAR because I thought I would need the most time there. BOY, was I wrong!! IMHO, I think BEC was harder to study for than FAR. I kept forgetting FAR info but with BEC some of it seemed foreign and all the equations mostly concetrated into just 2 chapters, it seemed very difficult to get through, as well as overwhelming. Chapters 3 and 5 just about KILLED me!! My very last day, I went through the entire book and memorized all formulas the best I could. That helped tremendously!! I also read EVERY single line in that book on my own. I barely slept but I couldn't anyway because I was freaking out about the formulas and everything else. In my exam, there were MANY theoretical questions and many of them were from the info I read on my own just by reading each line. Most of it was NOT emphasized or covered by becker but I remembered just from reading. I was glad I read. My questions overall were not that bad. I felt horrible going into the exam, even worse than I felt about FAR and I felt good walking out!! So I am also waiting on BEC score. One thing Becker emphasizes and I will agree with is KNOW NPV and KNOW the very last variance mnemonic at the end of chapter 5….I think its SAD PURES DADS DADS…..know by heart….at least I am glad I knew it for my exam….:) Good luck!!!

Hang in there. You can do it!!

@ December2011

I actually love chapters 3 and 5. I am pretty good at it. What's killing me is chapter 1.

I know I am taking big chance but I have nothing to lose at this point. All i need is 75. So I thought I might as well try it in November. If i pass great if not January is around the corner.

Patience is not one of the virtues I have mastered it yet 🙂

Best of luck to all of you!