FAILED FAR (my very first CPA test) but studied A LOT « CPA Exam Review Forum

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FAILED FAR (my very first CPA test) but studied A LOT

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Started 8 months ago by Jimbo Slice
Latest reply from ddiver

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CPABear

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Just wondering if you understand what types of questions you need to improve on? For example, is it the simulations, calculation-type problems, conceptual type problems?

I agree with the above post that recommended writing down journal entries. To practice for simulations, I would recommend going through the Becker book and flagging all pages that have journal entries / complex calculations on them and make sure you know those backward / forward. Draw yourself t-accounts, write down journal entries repeatedly until you feel that you're solid on the topic.

If you're considering the Wiley book to re-study, I found that a lot of the MC questions are repeats from Becker. Also, they are way more difficult / wordy than anything that you'll see on the test, but if you can do them, it's probably a good indication that you understand the stuff conceptually. If you want to get the Wiley book for simulations, focus on the ones that ask for calculations / JEs. I didn't think that the bubble-filling ones were very useful / similar to the actual test.

FAR - 90 (July 2011)
BEC - 85 (Aug. 2011)
REG - 86 (Oct. 2011)
AUD - 91 (Nov. 2011)

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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So I found out this morning that I did not pass FAR. I had the feeling (like everyone that walks out of a CPA test) that I failed, but I had the feeling that I was in the borderline area. I thought I did well on the MCQ but unfortunately did NOT finish the simulations (ran out of time).

I am currently studying REG and planning the take the test in Mid-October and leaving 3 weeks to re-study FAR. Now, my real concern is that I feel like I studied so hard (I probably easily put in over 350+ hours) for a low score of (60). I admit that I made all my studying mistakes with FAR as this was the very first test I decided to take, but I'm very discouraged now. I should have seen this coming with my 60-65% avg's on my homework. My questions for all you experienced folks (Peter Olinto is my new best friend), is how would you recommend I re-study the material? Should I consider purchasing the Becker Final Review or supplement my material with anything else (Yaeger, Bisk, etc)?

Thank you guys for reading my post, I'm just so lost right now... every single one of my friends that took FAR in the same testing window pass (8 people). So...depressing and embarrassing...

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12
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Posted 8 months ago #
1 (Home Stretch)
jamesjohnson11

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Hey I am with you. I studied over 220 hours and got a 72. I knew exiting the testing center I failed. I studied so much but I just couldn't manage to pass. I also took audit and thankfully passed that so right now I am back to studying for FAR.

My studying habits are this, I watch the lectures (Becker) and pause often to take notes and read the book. I then did the questions and then move on to the next section. Sometimes I do well on the homeworks other times I do terrible. I make sure that I know what I did wrong on the questions. In my notes I write down the number of the question I got wrong and the explanation and the reason I got it wrong. I also bought the wiley book for FAR and it gives you over 1300 extra questions and 170 sims. I recommend buying it and I felt that the sims in wiley were better than becker's.

I know I failed but I think my studying habits are pretty good. I just needed to get a little better grasp on the material. For the retake I cleared all the data in Becker. I am currently redoing everything. I am watching the lectures over again, taking notes again and doing the questions. Don't worry about how well you do on the homeworks it is all a learning experience.

A few days before the test I figured I would do the final test becker has. I ended up getting like 50's so I stopped doing them, but I was getting 50's on them and got a 72 so I think becker is a bit harder than the actual test.

Posted 8 months ago #
jimboace88

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Here's my advice....FORGET THE LECTURES. You've watched them once, and to do it again is a waste of time.

My final review for FAR is where I absorbed the most information, and it's probably the reason I passed. It consisted of:

- Going through each chapter and taking detailed notes on any areas I didn't know well
- Re-doing the homework multiple choice
- Re-doing the simulations
- Making quizzes (using Becker) and doing a ton of them
- Taking cumulative progress tests as my final review progressed (i.e. after chapter 2 I'd do chapters 1 and 2, after chapter 3 I'd do chapters 1, 2, and 3, etc.)
- Doing as many final exams on Becker as I could

As you may have noticed, the key is practice, and that's exactly what I did. Going back over the chapters without Tim or Peter rushing you through them is vital because sometimes you need extra time to look at the examples and go through the complex calculations than can be required of you on FAR. Try to memorize as many of the mnemonics that they give you as possible, but don't beat yourself up if you can't--a few of their mnemonics are a real stretch and you'd be better off just memorizing the material in its entirety than trying to remember how they used word play to make it fit when it really doesn't.

Practice, practice, practice--if you ignore all of the rest of my post, just remember that advice.

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

Posted 8 months ago #
jamesjohnson11

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No offense jimbo but you didn't fail FAR so I don't think you are the best person to be saying what to do when you fail.

For me, after failing I wasn't able to get back into the groove of studying. So by clearing it all and getting into watching the lectures it gave me a new goal; to see all the chapters crossed out. The only way I was able to focus was to have the lectures walk me through the material while I took notes. Sitting down and just going through the material you will keep saying to yourself, "I know this I don't need to study" then you will get frustrated and stop studying.

Another thing I did was go through the entire book and write out every journal entry I found. I am very weak with JE's so this was a very good way for me to study them

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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Thank you for those responses guys, really helpful.

I forgot to include in the above a question of whether I should focus on taking REG/BEC/AUD and leaving FAR for January? That doesn't seem wise or logical at first glance, but for some reason I find REG to be significantly "easier" than FAR, and I went through R1-R5 sections with consistently high scores on the homework in about 3 weeks...and I might feel more confident in passing those three? Or should I just focus on Reg and getting FAR out of the way in the next testing window (and if I have enough time, cramming for BEC)?

I work part-time now (roughly 25 hours a week) and study whenever time is available. I will begin full-time this upcoming January.

Thanks!

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@James "Another thing I did was go through the entire book and write out every journal entry I found. I am very weak with JE's so this was a very good way for me to study them"

I also found this EXTREMELY helpful. I also write down any MCQ I get wrong. I probably went through two college-ruled notebooks before I took the exam...and I got a 60. Makes me so frustrated.

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
jamesjohnson11

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For me, I chose to retake FAR right away. I am currently planning on taking FAR in the second week of october and then I have REG scheduled for Nov 29. I just felt like since FAR was somewhat fresh in my mind I would have a better shot. If you wanted you could always take REG in the beginning of Oct and then try to cram FAR in at the end of Nov.

I took FAR before AUD and I gotta say it really helped me out. I saw some far on the aud sims.

Posted 8 months ago #
jamesjohnson11

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I went through six legal pads writing everything. I think maybe you should focus on the material and understanding it rather than worrying about how you do on the homework. I did horrible on pretty much every homework and it didn't really bother me because I knew I was learning from it and seeing all the ways they can ask the questions.

I would def recommend picking up wiley for far. I bought it on amazon for like 40 bucks and it really helped.

Just my two cents. I know how it feels to put in so much time only to see you failed.

Posted 8 months ago #
Peanut

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Hi Jimbo Slice,

I came on just so I could write to you. As you can see from my signature, I have had the pleasure of "restudying." I know what you mean when you say you studied A LOT. I did too for all of my REG takes. Once you get that passing score you realize exactly what you needed to do the other times and how to apply you time effectively and efficiently. When I received my 60 in REG, it was my second take, the BEST advice someone gave me on this forum was "study it.. like you've never studied before." That is exactly what I did. Please do NOT dismiss the lectures. We all learn differently but from what I can relate to is I had never gotten anything out of my lectures, except for maybe a cat nap. What I did differently my third time around, and as you can see I had a 20 point score increase, was the following: (And by the way I failed FAR and will be doing exactly this) 1. Clear the history in Becker 2. Re-watch all of the lectures, pause frequently, taking very intense notes. 3.Once you've watched all of the lectures, taken intense notes, you shouldn't need to resort back to the book... Re-worked all MCQs for each chapter, try not to move on to the next chapter until you've completed all MCQs for a particular chapter. 4. Take a few practice tests. 5. Now you probably are feeling confident/comfortable with the Becker material.. BUY WILEY! It will make such a HUGE difference. Work all of the Wiley MCQs, work their SIMs, they're actually pretty good. Last--REWRITE those notes you took!

Hey ya know, everyone learns differently, but this is my personal experience and what helped me :)

By the way take REG as scheduled and take FAR after.. I plan to only restudy for 3 weeks.

AUD 59, 72 :( 72 AGAIN :( :(
REG 59, 60, 80
FAR 67, 75
BEC 58, 79

Posted 8 months ago #
jimboace88

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@Jimbo Slice have you already started studying for another section? If so, I would say finish the one you're studying for and then go back to FAR. Given the vast amount of material, you don't want to take TOO long because then your study process will be unnecessarily lengthened.

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

Posted 8 months ago #
Peanut

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@Jimbo Slice I just saw that you wrote down, questions that you got wrong, JE's, but no "substance" notes as I would like to call it. Not offending you in any way. The first two times I took REG I took "notes" on just questions I answered incorrectly and what not. I noticed a huge difference taking notes on the actual material as I was watching the lecture... Just saying!

AUD 59, 72 :( 72 AGAIN :( :(
REG 59, 60, 80
FAR 67, 75
BEC 58, 79

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@Jimbo, yes I started REG so I'm planning on finishing that and testing before moving on to another section.

@Peanut. I will definitely your advice. It's funny that you never really got anything but a cat nap out of live lectures. For me, this is how I learn best (with live instructors). The hardest way for me to learn is via Self-Study, so studying with Becker was a rude awakening and a tough tough learning curve.

I'll keep my head up and keep praying to the Accounting Gods that both of you guys pass all the remaining tests you guys have left to take. Best of luck!

Thanks again!

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
Peanut

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@Jimbo Slice, while living in NYC I took the live courses and the instructors were great. But ZzzZZzz when you do self study....

AUD 59, 72 :( 72 AGAIN :( :(
REG 59, 60, 80
FAR 67, 75
BEC 58, 79

Posted 8 months ago #
pshustler

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Do yourself a favor and get the Wiley Test Bank and FAR Ninja notes from Jeff. Dont rewatch any lectures. Hammer home as many MCQ as you possibly can with Becker, Wiley, and read Ninja notes and highlights from Becker text

Again, dont watch any lectures.

BEC - 86
AUD - 94
REG - 88
FAR - 89

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@pshustler. Just wondering, what makes you say no to re-viewing the lectures?

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@pshustler. Just wondering, what makes you say no to re-viewing the lectures?

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
ddiver

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Jimbo, Thanks for posting, you and I are in the same exact boat. FAR was my first, and I got a 64. Keep your head up man! What I liked about your post is not once did you make an excuse for not passing. In my final weeks of studying for FAR is had to stop looking at some web sights because it was detrimental to me to read posts from people complaining about how they werent prepared and yada yada yada. I have as many excuses as anyone else, but it comes down to how I studied, and the fact that I didnt even look at a SIM until two nights before taking the test and decided to semi-blow off Governmental and NFP is MY FAULT.

So yes, now I am looking at how I schedule everything out. I too am studing for BEC now, and do I blow that off and dive back into FAR and then I start AUD and REG review at the end of October and then I go into tax season starting in Febraury, hell I dont know. Just got to keep your head down, and keep moving forward. And hey Jimbo, be glad you are taking this test before you have a wife, 2 kids (I am assuming) and a full time job.

Right now I am thinking about getting Becker FInal Review because I just feel like I need somethign to get me over the hump on the FAR material. I feel pretty comfortable with everything, I think I just need to see it presented to me in another way. There is no way I could back and watch the Becker videos again and with the Becker questions I have worked on I almost get to where I memorize the answers to them so it does me little good.

I'll keep checking back with you and your post to see how you are approaching things and I will let you know what I do too.

Posted 8 months ago #
ddiver

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Hey Hustler, how did you apply Jeff's notes or study using them? DId you just simply memorize them? I had them, but chose more to focus on multiple choice questions and then write down why I got the answer right or wrong.

Posted 8 months ago #
ddiver

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@phustler What did you like about the Wiley Test bank?

Posted 8 months ago #
pshustler

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I liked Wiley because I thought the questions were more focused on stuff you might see on the exam instead of hammering home basic stuff. The basic stuff is good 1 or 2 times, but Wiley covered a lot more stuff than Becker. Its a great supplement

With Jeff's notes, towards the last couple weeks, I stopped reading Becker Text and just reviewed those every day on top of doing questions. The most important part was doing tons of MCQ

BEC - 86
AUD - 94
REG - 88
FAR - 89

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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Thanks for the input pshustler. How many weeks did you leave for final cumulative review for FAR?

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
jamesjohnson11

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I left 12 days for final review and what I found personally was the last two days I ended up remembering the most. I broke up FAR into day one and day two and I ended up retaining a lot of it. When I did audit I only left myself three days for final review and it ended up working out.

The thing I say is why leave a week/ two weeks for final review when you can be done watching the lectures and doing the material closer to your test date. Currently I feel like the longer the final review period I have the worse it is for me. That's just my personal take on it.

Posted 8 months ago #
jamesjohnson11

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I also think all the people that say not to rewatch the lectures are people that haven't failed a section and had to restudy it. Anyone who has failed knows that the best way to restudy is to watch all the lectures again.

Posted 8 months ago #
CPAMan

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A good lesson I've learned about studying for the CPA exam is that you need to find your OWN way of studying because each person has they own unique way of absorbing this material. One person may need to rewatch lectures over an over in order to pass. But that may not work for another person because maybe he/she was better off focusing on doing more MCQs. Each person learns in a different way.

I've failed FAR way too many times and I kept asking advice from people on how to do well. None worked, hence my 4 previous failed attempts. The same thing happened with AUD which is why I failed that originally. So, I decided to develop my own study method and guess what? I passed FAR and AUD with flying colors.

Then when it came time to study for REG, it was a totally different ballgame for me since it was my first time tackling that beast. I decided to seek some advice and also took the advice from my review course instructor. It was all great advice and I decided to follow them rather than continuing with my own special study methods that I did with FAR and AUD. I got my results and failed with a 64 despite all that hard work I did. Now, all that advice was given to me in good faith so I don't blame anyone for my failure. I'm sure it worked like a charm for those people, but it just wasn't the right study technique for me.

I now know that your OWN study methods is the best way to go. Now finding what study method works for you is the hard part. You need to ask yourself.... am I grasping the concept this way? Do I know enough that I'll be able to answer any question they throw at me on this topic? If someone asked me to explain this to him/her, can I explain it in my own simple terms?

Find out which study method will help you answer "yes" to all those questions, whether it be doing tons of MCQs, taking a lot of notes and then rewriting them, watching the lectures again and again, reading your review book, using flash cards, etc... Only you can figure that out...

FAR: 52, 66, 73, 61, 89
AUD: 47, 87
BEC: 80
REG: 64, 74, 84

DONE!!!!

Posted 8 months ago #
CPAer

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CPA Man...you are the MAN!!!! i love the advice!

Posted 8 months ago #
gottagetmycpa

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thanks CPAman for the advise because I too followed what others said and came out of FAR through the skins of my teeth. I think I understand how I learn now and am praying that it works for my upcoming REG exam. I think I will still seek advice but I will take it with a grain of salt and hope I make the right decision.

FAR 76
REG 76(2x)
BEC FAILED (2x)
AUD FAILED (2x)

"When you don't give up, YOU CANNOT FAIL"

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@ddiver, didn't see your initial post. Sounds like we're almost in the exact same boat minus the kids haha. Keep your head up. I was sulking in embarrassment earlier this morning when I found out that all of my buddies passed FAR (all on their first try) and I was the only one that didn't pass. But then I thought to myself, I have no time to waste and that a 75 wouldn't magically appear if I kept pitying myself. I'm still trudging along with REG which I find to be a lot easier to grasp than the million concepts that FAR shoves down your throat. I'll definitely keep tabs with you mate. Best of luck!

@CPAMan. You are an inspiration to us all. With your tenacity and persistence, you've proved to us that with the correct learning method, we can all pass FAR! I know you'll have CPA after your name soon. Keep going at it! But you got me curious now, what's your method of studying (I promise I'll take it with a grain of salt :-) )

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
Peanut

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CPAMan is 100% right, we all have out own methods of madness that will prepare us for these exams, the hard part is mastering how to find that!

AUD 59, 72 :( 72 AGAIN :( :(
REG 59, 60, 80
FAR 67, 75
BEC 58, 79

Posted 8 months ago #
hilaryh_88

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Jimbo Slice
I am a firm proponent of Yaeger CRAM. That is what I got that finally got me through it!

AUD - 82 Becker
BEC - 75 Becker
REG - 71, 82 Becker
FAR - 66,61,71,74,70 and #6 80!!!! FINALLY DONE!!! 9/20/11
Yaeger and Yaeger CRAM for the final battle!

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@hilaryh. Can you elaborate a bit more? How is Yaegar CRAM different from what you were originally using/used?

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
ddiver

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@JIMBOSLICE, think being embarrased in front of your freinds is rough, try telling your dad who has been a CPA for 40 years, whom you work for, who is expecting you to take over his practice, and tells you the day before you get your score "well for as hard as you were studying, you should pass".

Oh crap, now I sound like those other posters who post to whine about their problems!

Good luck to you man, and remember, its for you and for no one else. Plus I always remember that sometimes the best test takers aren't always the best performers in real life!

Posted 8 months ago #
85CPA

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I totally agree that there is no one right way to study for the CPA exam. Some people find it helpful to take intense notes over lectures. While I was studying for AUD and FAR I took intense notes, but not over lectures... well ok pretty intense over FAR lectures. However, what helped me more than lecture notes was taking intense notes over every MCQ I did in the Wiley book and many I did in Gleim test prep. I took these intense notes whether I got the correct answer or not because even if I got an answer correct on the first try chances are that in a week or so when I looked back at that question I could not remember exactly how I came to the answer. Also, having these notes helped tremendously in my final review.

FAR- 7/25/11 (81)
AUD- 8/29/11 (93)
BEC- 1/4/12 (79)
REG- 5/18/12

Posted 8 months ago #
Megan

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CPAman - I know you've said it before, but what exactly was the difference when it came to FAR? What was your previous method compared to your passing method?

BEC 52, 61, 74, 77
AUD 80
REG 75
FAR 50, 60, 70, 74, 83...DONE!!
..Texas.. Baby #2 born 4/11/11

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@Megan: You were so close to passing! I don't know if you remember but I was predicting an 80 for you a few days back :). I think the underlying message from all the topics/forums I've read is that everyone is different in the way that they learn/retain information and to choose Review materials (Bisk, Yaegar, Becker, etc) based on if it fits with your learning style. In the end, though, learning can be broken down into simple elements of concepts. If you truly understand a concept, you can be asked a million questions in a million different ways on that concept and still get it correct. The problem with FAR that I've noticed is that a) there's a VOLUMINOUS amount of concepts AND b) some of those concepts can be very detailed (i.e Pensions).

What I've also observed from going through the Becker questions for FAR is that Becker attempts to teach you the material by testing you on every single EXCEPTION of a "general rule"/concept. That way, with enough expose to these exceptions, you will ultimately come to know/memorize that single concept they are trying to test you on. Thus, assuming you retain that information, you will do well on the actual exam.

It's funny that Becker makes a guarantee that they will refund your money if you get "over 90% on all the homeworks" and fail the actual exam. I did just that and I received a 60 on FAR, but looking back I attempted to brute force memorize things and not really try and understand what underlying concepts were being asked.

Unforunately I found out all the above during my final days before my actual FAR exam. Moving to REG and knowing the above has made a tremendous difference and on average I'm getting at least 70-75% on the homeworks on my first try.

As for going back and reviewing FAR (after my REG test in mid-October) my strategy is to re-watch the lectures and take intense notes for each section and then work the MCQs for each section (ie - watch F1, do F1 questions, watch F2, do F2 questions), etc and perhaps supplement with Wiley MCQs, which seems to be the general recommend route with Becker's FAR on the 2nd go-around.

Wish you the best of luck. You can do it!

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@ddiver. "always remember that sometimes the best test takers aren't always the best performers in real life."

I like that. It was a tough pill for me to swallow when I found out that all my buddies that are going to working with my at a Big 4 all passed. But I'm sure you have the same, if not more, pressure to pass. Without a doubt, I know we'll both end up getting our CPAs. The path getting there, though, sucks. But I guess everyone has to pay the price. Good luck!

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
Joe36y

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What helped me get through FAR was doing the HW questions. I just looked back at the number of times i did the home work on Becker. I ended up completing the homework for chapter five and six eleven times.

I would suggest mark any homework you get wrong and print out the explanations from Becker or any other homework software. Make a packet for each chapter and review them until you know how to do the problems cold. Honestly i feel like this helped me get a few points that I would have missed if i didn't.

BEC: 82
FAR: 79
AUD: 85
REG: July 10th

Posted 8 months ago #
dhuffman

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Jimbo as someone who has failed FAR and BEC, passed AUD and REG and then lost them when my 18 months expired due to the aforementioned failures I would recommend not moving on until you pass FAR and then whatever other test you feel you would be weak in. It really, really sucks to have to start all over again because of two failed parts.

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@dhuffman. Good point, I actually considered doing REG/BEC/AUD in the next testing window because I felt more confident that I could pass all those sections as opposed to REG/FAR/AUD, but I feel like I would be wasting the 8 weeks I put in for FAR prior to studying REG. I stressed myself out so much during the final two weeks before FAR that surprisingly I recall a lot of the information from Jeff's Ninja FAR notes.

Also, if anyone knows of anyone who failed FAR and passed on a later attempt, please share their methods (both old and new) they used for FAR and what they did differently. I feel like any input of that nature would the subsection of people on Another71 that have failed FAR and attempting to take it again.

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
ddiver

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@Joe36y Great tip on printing out the answers you get wrong. I felt really stupid that I didnt open my Becker disks until 3 days before the test. I thought that what was online was the same as the disks. WRONG. Disks are way more powerful and you have a way to print out in detail the ones you get wrong. My problem though, I have a photographic memory and a knack for remembering stupid things, so if I study the ones I get wrong and then go back to do them again, I always remember which one is the right answer, so I never get a good feel if I have the concept down or not.

Posted 8 months ago #
Megan

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Jimbo - I do remember you saying that! I wish you were right!

BEC 52, 61, 74, 77
AUD 80
REG 75
FAR 50, 60, 70, 74, 83...DONE!!
..Texas.. Baby #2 born 4/11/11

Posted 8 months ago #
ddiver

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@Jimbo, if it was easy everyone would do it. Also, passing this exam is so much like graduating from college. Once you get it done, no one can take it away from you. Right out of college I went to work for a manufacturing company, being a CPA was the fartherst thing from my mind. 12 years later, that company and I had a difference of opinions and we had what I call an amicable divorce. Since I had a job right out of school, I never had a good feeling for what a college degree meant. I got a good feeling for it when I had to job search after being unemployed and in my early 30's, I was instantly seperated from the rest of the pack with experience and a degree. Now, if I had the CPA certificate to go with all of that, regardless if I wanted to be an accountant or not, the doors that open up are exponential. If it takes a year out of your life to study for this thing, big deal. Dividends are huge later. Well my 7 hours of BEC are done for the day, time to go do chores at home. I so look forward to mowing the lawn now!

Posted 8 months ago #
Jimbo Slice

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@ddiver, have you decided how you're going to approach the tests before tax season starts?

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

Posted 8 months ago #
ddiver

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@Jimbo Slice; Well here is my grand plan. I am going to go to work part time for October and November. With this, I am sticking with studying for BEC (which by the way variances are absolutely kicking my arse right now) and am scheduled to take that exam on Wed 10/12. But, a close freind who has had cancer for the last 8 years died last week and I have to travel 4 hours two ways this Saturday to go to her funeral. So, I think I am going to push that back to 10/17. Starting the week of 10/24, I will devote 38-42 hours a week studying for Reg and AUD. Speaking of tax season, I will be working tax season hours during that time as far as family is concerned. That being 13 hour days M-F; 6-8 hours on Sat and 4-6 hours on Sunday. I will take the Becker courses for Reg and Aud then, knock out the requirments, and then come back do it all over again, and then do the same thing again. I take Reg on 11/22 and AUD on 11/29. Then starting 11/30 I will dive back into FAR, and take that the first week of January. If I have re-takes for BEC, AUD or REG, I will tackle that scheduling nightmare when I get there, but probably something around the end of January.

As far as tax season, I have to shove the exam to the side and work. 65 hours plus a week of not just working, but sitting and staring at the computer is killer. Plus I cant miss out on tax season because it is the only time of the year that I can rack up serious OT, my bonus and salary increases are dependent on chargeable hours so I really need those hours during tax season so my chargeables look good. If need be I will just pick it back up after 4/15 and shoot for retakes the end of May.

My plan for Ocotber and November may seem a little un-orthodox, but its what I have to go with becuase I think it will work for me. I do a lot better when I am totally immersed in something. I do not transisition real well between any projects. It goes back to you have to do what works for you. Which out of this whole test is what really ticks me off, I think by the time you figure out how to study for it, you end up passing and then everything you learned about how to study for it goes out the window.

Posted 7 months ago #

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