can you please tell me what did you do for your retake that you increase your score by nearly 20 points higher. i failed FAR many times and every time my score is increasing however its only by like 4 or 5 points.
Hi! I am CPAMommyof3 too. Had to create a second user name.
I increased 2 of my exams by 18 and 20 points. They weren't FAR, but I think the important things to do on a retake are to start from scratch (minus watching lectures–they didn't do much for me) by reading the book and taking notes on the MCQ you get wrong as you go through the book MCQ. If you have the Ninja notes, convert them to Word and add your notes into them for a more detailed note set. If you have Ninja audio listen to it as much as possible to the point where you are talking along with Jeff. After you go through the book start working your online test bank. I do one section at a time and go through ALL the MCQ for that section. I prefer Ninja MCQ to Wiley or Kaplan and it's only $47 for a 3 month access. As you go through the MCQ make notes on which ones you get wrong. I don't think it is a good idea to write out the whole question and answers, but to make note of the concept behind the question/answer because you want to understand the concept, not memorize that specific question. Read all the information links and truly understand why the wrong answers are wrong and why the right answer is right. Before I start each new section I take a short refresher quiz on the prior sections I've covered just so it will stay fresh. That is most important for FAR because of the massive amount of material. Once you are done with all the sections then start figuring out your weak areas. If you use Ninja MCQ this would be the point where you let the “adaptive learning” software quiz you on the topics it chooses because it should pinpoint your weak areas. At this point you need to pound your weak areas until you understand them. If you need to reread the book or go watch a lecture or google for another perspective on that specific topic then do that once you've identified your weak areas. My biggest problem for all of my tests (except my retakes) was that I focused on my strong areas because they boosted my confidence and my weak areas made me feel dumb. That is a big mistake a lot of us make and you need to do the opposite–go after your weak areas hard until it clicks. For FAR I also wrote out JEs for each question that I could even if it wasn't needed for the problem. It really helped me understand how things flowed in the financials and it helped with my SIMS. I also did practice SIMS for FAR. I could never walk into a test without practicing SIMS. It sounds like a lot to do, but I really think if you do that you will pass.
thank you so much from your suggestions, i realized i did so many things wrong. i purchased ninja MC and i used it once b/c i was scoring 90s on all my hw and i got 60-70s in ninja so i was like this is too hard, exam wont be like this and never log on to my ninja mc again so i wasted my money. then i did focus on areas i was strong and ignored my weak areas and it was those topics i was weak at and its heavily tested wtf. i realized i have ninja audio as well but never listened to them. i just realized i have all the resources you mentioned but didnt use it lol i am stupid. i think i am going to do ninja this time. i feel i know every freaking answer for becker. for my retake my mc was comparable, 1 strong, 3 comparable, and 1 weak on specific transactions and events which i havent figure out what topics are incuded in this category and my sims always weak ughhhh
@iwanna–It doesn't make you stupid at all. Having a lot of different materials can be very overwhelming because you don't know what will help and what won't help. I will say that for my first take at REG I only used the Ninja MCQ and I got a 69. I didn't read a book or study flashcards or watch a lecture. I just went through all the questions and read all the links. I don't think 69 is too bad for only using a test bank. The problem was that I needed to read the book to understand the bigger picture. And I needed to focus on my weak areas. You can do it. You have the right tools, just use them this time.
@rana–I got my score this morning via email. I'm in Florida if that makes a difference.
I am. I volunteered and Jeff graciously gave me the power to delete people that have angered me over the last year. Hahaha just kidding. No deleting people I promise. 🙂
Thanks Golfball! And btw I wanted to comment on the score release thread that I am really sorry about audit, but I wasn't sure if you would see it because that thread was moving so fast. Did you see my post about what I did to raise my AUD score 20 points? It may help you. I'm sure you'll kill it in Q1!
I bombed audit awhile back and went back to FAR. bombed with a 55 in the summer and then bombed again with a 62 just now…….. my wife was super encouraging though. “we are celebrating because you raised your score by 7 points” The problem is I still feel like I failed big time again…..
I hope to knock it out before we go to Mexico on the 23rd of Jan
AUD - NINJA in Training BEC - 86 FAR - NINJA in Training REG - NINJA in Training
AUD - 71, 73
BEC - 74, 86
REG - 77*
FAR - 57
*expired
(I have been trying to become a CPA since 2013). only one test down.......
Isn't it strange how connected people can get on an anonymous forum? I had a list of people (and you were on that list) that I was waiting to hear from during the score release because I really wanted to know how they did and to congratulate them or offer support for them if they failed. It's a really nice feeling to know so many people have your back on here even if we are strangers. I got my score right when they came out (around 1:30 a.m.) and still didn't go to sleep so I could stay up and check on everyone on my list. Thanks for thinking about me. It means a lot and makes this process so much more tolerable. 🙂
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