[Oimie]

I don’t know if this is normal, but I feel like I have an insane memory when I do these MCQs. I do the MCQ once, and I will remember it ~93% of the time. I remember it to the point where I do not even need to finish reading the problem and I already know the answer. Or even more insane, sometimes I do not even need to read the problem, I simply look at the choices and remember the question. And yes, I would also remember and understand how to arrive at the answer as well. I once did 100 Nonprofit MCQs in less than an hour and got 96%, and I would’ve been faster if I had not decided to actually read each question and act as if I am doing it from scratch.

But here’s the problem. When I do questions I have never seen before, my average score is usually around 60%. This means that even though I fully understood and remember how to answer a specific MCQs, it has practically no impact when I am given a brand new question on the same topic. Is 60% too low when facing all new questions? I’ve been studying for so long, and felt so confident prior to tackling Ninja MCQs, but I am not so confident anymore. I had assumed that the lowest I could’ve possibly went would be around the 70s and would only increase from there. But it’s been over a week and I am still stuck in the ~60s for all brand new questions.

And now I’m starting to wonder if I will just end up with around a 60% if I take the CPA exam. My first FAR exam is on the 15th and I am thinking about pushing it a week. But I don’t know if there’s a point since studying more MCQs might not even have any impact. The questions are too diverse. I feel like I must master every topic in order to be prepared, cause if I don’t, one little detail will put me in a dilemma.

So has anyone been in a similar situation as me? I am curious to see how it turned out when you took the real exam. Also what was your average score when facing brand new questions?

Also, how do you guys think the NINJA MCQs are compared to real CPA exam questions? Do you find it harder/simpler or about the same?

I have been feeling as if my studies for the past week are giving me diminishing returns. My brain feels so foggy as if it is unwilling to absorb anymore info.

FAR 85 June 2015
AUD 80 Nov 2015
REG 83 Nov 2015
BEC 79 Feb 2016

[Anonymous]

I might not have quite a good as a memory as you do, but I started to memorize answers too.

My biggest recommendation, even on MCQ you have memorized, read the whole question. Read each answer and, in your head, say the following: “I remember that C is correct. The reason C is correct is because of… The reason A,B and D are not correct is because of…”. You mentioned that you're studying for FAR so in this case, if there's a calculation required, do it again. And know why you are using the calculation you are using. Same with journal entries.

It really does help.

[Zuly]

Great advice from angelwatch. I will just add that also practice the J/Es with as many questions as possible. Concentrate on your weak areas and do MCQ sessions of maybe 10-15 qs on just those weak areas and you will notice a pattern to the questions so this should help with tackling new questions.

FAR - (11/01/14) 71 (02/07/15) 79
AUD - (04/30/15) 86
BEC - (07/21/15) 73 (10/01/15) 75
REG - (11/30/15) 55 (05/19/16) 74

[CPA50]

Hiya Oimie,

I have to buy three different test banks because I have a photographic memory and will zip through the questions after seeing them once.

I love the suggestion of slowing down and telling yourself why the other answers are wrong. I'm going to try that today 🙂

Best wishes!

AUD - 80
BEC - 77
FAR - 80
REG - 80

3 years

+ 16 tests

+ 2 expired sections

= DONE FOREVER!

AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
REG 75 (expired) September 7
BEC 72, 77

The adventure continues...

[Martin]

You guys with superb memory skills will do great with Audit.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Oimie]

@Angelwatch: Yeh, I am already doing that 🙂

@Zumo76: I'm switching my plan starting today. I'm going to do the MCQs by topics.

@CPA50: Haha, that moment when you're not sure if you know the answer because you memorized it or because you really know it.

@Martin: Is audit mostly theory questions? I actually don't memorize as well when it comes to information without numbers and calculations.

Thanks for replies guys, but my memory isn't really the point of this thread lol. And I rescheduled my exam to the 28th of this month.

FAR 85 June 2015
AUD 80 Nov 2015
REG 83 Nov 2015
BEC 79 Feb 2016

[Skynet]

I think a of lot of CPA candidates have that problem with the exception certain mornings when they have trouble figuring out who that unknown person next to them in their bed are from the previous night after a long CPA study session at the local bar. *wink wink*

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Oimie]

@Skynet: I'm sorry, I tried but I didn't get the joke haha. Are you currently studying for FAR?

FAR 85 June 2015
AUD 80 Nov 2015
REG 83 Nov 2015
BEC 79 Feb 2016

[Skynet]

^ Studying for both AUD and FAR. AUD in three weeks and FAR in July.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Zyx]

Oimie, I am so glad to see this post. I have this problem too! I did tons of mcq aud and extremely failed aud! After I found out my aud score, I was so confused why I failed even though I thought I understood and remembered the concepts. I changed the way I study by doing like Anglewatch said… I ask myself why the answer is being correct and why others being wrong. I am taking BEC on Monday and I am pretty afraid that it might turn out like aud. One thing I want to share is that I read the question too fast in aud exam and just picked the answer that has words I have seen from studying. I thought it was correct, but actually not. Do not do what I did, it does not work!

AUD - 77
BEC - 81
FAR - 80
REG - 77

zyx

REG: 77 x2
BEC: 81 x3
FAR: 68 retake 10/1
AUD: 8/27

[Oimie]

@Skynet: Studying two at once? What a beast. My brain is fried out from just FAR.

@zyx11: Oh definitely, but the time limit will put pressure on us. 🙁

FAR 85 June 2015
AUD 80 Nov 2015
REG 83 Nov 2015
BEC 79 Feb 2016

[Author]

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