Considering canceling my exam. Need advice!

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #184857

    My first exam is scheduled for April 15th and I am just starting to review. My first time through all the material I watched the lectures, did about 50% of the MCQ, and skipped about half the sims. This was over the period of about a month and a half. I’m feeling overwhelmed by my lack of retention of the material which is showing through my low scores.

    I feel like I’d be walking into certain failure at this point. Should I just hit the restart button and try out AUD, which I think is my best subject and less overwhelming, then come back to FAR later on down the line?

    Thanks everyone

    FAR 5/1 - 83
    REG 7/7 - 79
    AUD 11/20 - 85
    BEC 8/27 - ALMOST THERE!!

    3 for 3! Study high, get high grades!!

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #543358
    10keyLeah
    Member

    FAR can be overwhelming, and it sounds like you need more time to study. I personally wouldn't advocate jumping around because you will forget some of the info you've already studied for the past 1 1/2 months. Why not move your FAR exam back to the end of April or in May and continue studying for it until you are ready?

    Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

    #543388
    10keyLeah
    Member

    FAR can be overwhelming, and it sounds like you need more time to study. I personally wouldn't advocate jumping around because you will forget some of the info you've already studied for the past 1 1/2 months. Why not move your FAR exam back to the end of April or in May and continue studying for it until you are ready?

    Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

    #543360
    Study Monk
    Member

    I agree with 10 key,

    I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

    "Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

    #543390
    Study Monk
    Member

    I agree with 10 key,

    I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

    "Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

    #543362
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    No retreat, no surrender! That is Spartan law!

    Seriously though, you should just do FAR at the end of the window.

    #543392
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    No retreat, no surrender! That is Spartan law!

    Seriously though, you should just do FAR at the end of the window.

    #543364
    Kimboroni
    Member

    I agree with the others– don't cancel FAR. Just reschedule it to later in the window so you have more time to study.

    I started with AUD and wish I had started with FAR, because it's such a beast and I'd prefer to have passing it be what starts my 18 month clock. But now I'm in this position studying for FAR after passing AUD, and I agree– FAR is overwhelming. But everyone is in that same position, and I don't think anyone can feel 100% going into it.

    Don't pay TOO much attention to the scores on your MCQs. They mean something, but the percentage is not comparable to a CPA exam score. On the real test, you aren't being compared to 100% perfect. Your score is mapped out as compared to what they think a reasonably informed accountant would get. So remember to compare yourself relative to a reasonable score, not perfection.

    What materials and study methods are you using? Maybe you need to adjust those some to fit your learning style better so you can get your retention up. Are you taking notes?

    AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
    FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
    REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
    BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

    Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

    #543394
    Kimboroni
    Member

    I agree with the others– don't cancel FAR. Just reschedule it to later in the window so you have more time to study.

    I started with AUD and wish I had started with FAR, because it's such a beast and I'd prefer to have passing it be what starts my 18 month clock. But now I'm in this position studying for FAR after passing AUD, and I agree– FAR is overwhelming. But everyone is in that same position, and I don't think anyone can feel 100% going into it.

    Don't pay TOO much attention to the scores on your MCQs. They mean something, but the percentage is not comparable to a CPA exam score. On the real test, you aren't being compared to 100% perfect. Your score is mapped out as compared to what they think a reasonably informed accountant would get. So remember to compare yourself relative to a reasonable score, not perfection.

    What materials and study methods are you using? Maybe you need to adjust those some to fit your learning style better so you can get your retention up. Are you taking notes?

    AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
    FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
    REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
    BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

    Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

    #543366
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Stick with FAR. Always do FAR first IMO. Takes the longest time to study. Just push the exam back and calm down. I felt the same way and got an 85 on the exam. It's not big deal. you fail. you retake. not the end of the world.

    #543396
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Stick with FAR. Always do FAR first IMO. Takes the longest time to study. Just push the exam back and calm down. I felt the same way and got an 85 on the exam. It's not big deal. you fail. you retake. not the end of the world.

    #543368
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I was in a similar boat when I started. I was scheduled to take FAR (my first exam) in October and even though I had been studying (I say that lightly) since July I was NOT ready. It took me those months to get my feet on the ground and learn how to change my study habits, studying for the CPA is SO different than college and that threw me off at first.

    Anyway, I rescheduled for middle of November and studied my butt off (effective studying this time) and barely squeeked by with a passing score.

    It's worth rescheduling especially if you are just starting. I echo above, don't jump to AUD 🙂 and really take this time to refine how to best study!

    #543398
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I was in a similar boat when I started. I was scheduled to take FAR (my first exam) in October and even though I had been studying (I say that lightly) since July I was NOT ready. It took me those months to get my feet on the ground and learn how to change my study habits, studying for the CPA is SO different than college and that threw me off at first.

    Anyway, I rescheduled for middle of November and studied my butt off (effective studying this time) and barely squeeked by with a passing score.

    It's worth rescheduling especially if you are just starting. I echo above, don't jump to AUD 🙂 and really take this time to refine how to best study!

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.