We have a lot of "I took __ today threads" so to consolidate, here is the official thread.
Please - Not even a hint of exam disclosure per AICPA rules.
Links to other Exam Experience Threads:
[sticky]
Jeff - another71.com
offlineNINJA
We have a lot of "I took __ today threads" so to consolidate, here is the official thread.
Please - Not even a hint of exam disclosure per AICPA rules.
Links to other Exam Experience Threads:
cpameplease
offlineMember
Took FAR last Friday for the 2nd time. What frustrates me the most is the time limit. I can take 90 MC questions that are paragraphs(5-6 sentences) and 6 sims that require a deeper understanding than what your review material discusses, but give me 6 hours to do it. And let me at least bring a bottle of water into the test with me! Sorry, just venting here......
Compared to the first test, I think I did better on the MC. But, the sims this time around were twice as hard. I can't remember exactly, but I think I left 1 hour 40 minutes for the sims and still left one comletely blank. I am still clueless as how to study for them if your review material doesn't touch upon the detail. Do you just look at a topic in the material and start asking yourself what if questions and then research a possible answer?
I haven't experienced the "I can't believe I passed" moment yet, so here is hoping I will. I have been pretty spot on in knowing when I passed/failed.
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
Ugh where to begin. This will probably result in a long thread but I just got back from Prometric and of course you guys are the first people to talk to. Earlier this morning I was fairly calm, but I started getting really anxious in the car. I arrived at Prometric about an hour early and attempted to review my cards but I just knew I wasn't capable of absorbing anything last minute so I opted to take it earlier than my 11:30 time.
So Testlet #1 was totally doable, if fact even "easy" compared to what I expected. I thought that the material covered a broader ranger of topics than the rest of the exam did and I think I did well which was validated by the onset of Testlet #2. Right from the start of the second testlet, I was hit with two one paragrapher computation questions so I knew right away what people meant about it getting wordier. I don't know how to describe how I felt during this testlet, certain questions I felt really comfortable with and others I just really hated. I began to get bogged down with calculations and seeing any theory related questions was a huge relief. There were also reoccuring themes of questions and less variety. I consciously kept track of time and still felt stressed about staying on top of my timing. Testlet #3 returned to being ok, much like many of you guys had spoken about. I don't know how I did on this one since it was easier than #2 but I also felt the time pressure to leave myself 90 minutes for the simulations so I was much more rushed than I would like to be. Managing time was really hard for me because although I was basically on schedule I felt like my performance wasn't as optimal.
The simulations... god the simulations. As I began flipping through the tabs, my initial reaction was that I was comfortable with about 4 of the topics and the other 3 were from hell. I began with the research tab, and luckily I'm pretty sure I got it right within the first 4 minutes. Next I moved onto my next most comfortable topic, I think I nailed this one too and I hopeeeeee it wasn't a pretest. The next one I felt like 70% on. The rest of them were just ridiculous. The other topic that was presented that I initially felt comfortable on was so convoluted that I had no idea what the hell was going on. The amount of time it took for me to even read them and try to comprehend how to move forward was just unsettling. Each of the rest of the simulations had a full one page and half a scroll downwards of the actual simulation and then an additional page of extra information. I think I just got slaughtered on these, literally massacred. I started getting frazzled and flipping between tabs hoping to find another one I was ok with but nope. All in all, I left nothing blank but a lot of these were uneducated guesses but I worked until the time ran out.
Overall, the MCQ were better than I thought. The simulations were worse than I thought. And I think I failed. However, that being said, part of me isn't as scared of FAR anymore because half of my fear was the anticipation of "What is it going to be like?" Now I know, even though I really don't know how I will prepare to tackle the SIMs.
blessieghee
offlineMember
@mgoloubenko I'm sure you did fine!!!! I'm still super scared, can't believe i'll be taking it this week already! Thanks for the inputs, and I guess I'll go back to studying again! ;(
(sylviadawn)
cpa_someday
offlineMember
@mgoloubenko
i took it today too...your explanation is pretty much my experience too.
the 2nd mc part was the hardest and half the sims were so completely hellish that i was literally about to laugh deliriously with 20 minutes left until 5PM when i could just get out.
after i signed out and went to my car i didnt even know what i was doing. i think i wouldve rammed into the prometric building (accidentally of course) if my dad hadnt sent me a text then and there.
an hour into driving i was just completely numb....until i hit a traffic jam on my way home on the interstate (which like never happens).......i saw 2 ambulance trucks and i just kind of went crazy.
i think i screamed for about 2 minutes about why people are so completely stupid that traffic cant even move.
and then when i got home i just started bawling...and now after a shower i guess i feel better.
its just FAR is so frustrating as a test i dont know how i can ever face all that material again....
i think for the majority i have levelled with myself that i most likely failed. i guess all i can do is pray now.
(forever4)
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
@cpa_someday- Yeah I just sat there and flipped through tabs for a good 5 minutes and then just basically began making things up about the ones I didn't know. I made up my own accounting rules, I believe. When I walked back to my car, I just felt numb as well I wasn't tired, or upset. I just sat in my car not thinking a single thing for about 10 minutes and finally called my dad and finally broke down. Now I just feel nothing. I have no idea how to study for the SIMS though...
jenuno01
offlineMember
@mg Don't worry... I am sure you did just fine... if it makes you feel better, I left one SIM completely blank and still passed FAR! :D I honestly think FAR is the most curved out of the 4 exams.
(jenuno01)
bcrawley
offlineMember
I took FAR for the first time today as well. This was my first section of the CPA exam. I was extremely pessimistic about the test because I could not pass a full length simulated exam on CPA Excel to save my life. It was very frustrating as I have not had a full night's sleep in three months studying for this test. I have a very demanding job that doesn't leave me much time to study until late at night. It is not so much the problem questions that were giving me trouble but the theory. Out of about ten attempts, I only passed one with a 76. I think because I had already accepted defeat, I was very calm during my exam today.
After reading all of the horror stories about FAR on this forum, I think today was my lucky day. My first testlet was borderline easy. My second testlet stepped up the difficulty and I was pretty sure that I missed quite a few. My third testlet was moderately difficult but nothing too bad. I was very surprised that there wasn't a question where I was like "What is this!!??"
The simulations were very long but were all on topics that I was familiar with. Hopefully I got enough partial credit on them to pass. I finished with about five minutes to spare. I am praying very hard that I passed this exam. I know that I will not be so lucky if I have to take it again. Now on to AUD.
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
@ Bcrawley! It sounds like you did great. :)
Eliz
offlineMember
@mgolo, regardless whether you passed or failed (although i am sure you passed), just be thamkful to be moving on to bec. That will be a breeze for you after FAR. I started with bec and am studying far now and would trade anything to go back to bec! Although i should watch what i wish for because my 18 month clock is ticking away. One tip, dont stress the written AT ALL!
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
Unfortunately I think I'm changing my study plan because I have a friend coming into town next week, finals and graduation in May with my parents coming for 10 days so I won't be able to devote the time I'd like to BEC so if anything I'll restudy for FAR in June. At least you have one down, that's more than I can say!
wmalvino
offlineMember
Hey, everyone, I'm a newbie here. Take my FAR next week which I've spent a glorious 200+ hours studying for & AUD a few weeks after. Reading your posts makes me want to prep even more for FAR but I'm not sure how helpful that will be since the SIMs sound nothing like what is in the prep courses. I started out w/ CPA Excel then switched to Wiley.
I'm sure you guys have heard this but it is supposed to be a good sign if your 2nd testlet is harder. They only do that when you've done pretty well on the first. And I know it's a big IF but provided you do very well on your MCQs you can miss more than 1/2 your SIMs and still pass. Also, I've heard from various people that they were sure they bombed a section but ended up passing. So, best of luck to you all! Hopefully I can learn from your testing experiences to be more prepared for mine. Fingers crossed for everyone :)
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
@wmalvino, I hope you're right! My best advice is something that everyone says but just try to manage your time as well as possible because it was something I didn't have problems with when using Becker but the questions on the exam will be new to you and will just take a little longer to work out. That having been said, I though that they were easier than my practice materials- except for the second testlet which was just like ehhhhhhh lol
accntgwarrior
offlineMember
@mgoloubenko your post echos the way things went for me yesterday. Ever since I came out of FAR, the sims have clouded my mind. How do one even ever prepare for those things? I also felt the time crunch doing them. I had about 1hr20m to do SIMs but considering that SIMs are the most verbose and tricky, that time was not enough to think clearly.
I am still numb with the FAR experience. :-(
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
It really was a disaster, I sat in class this morning just thinking about it. I feel confident on the MCQ's and like garbage about the SIMs, how many do you think you got right/finished?
Journey to Fate
offlineMember
@mg: i posted this in the other thread, but i think it got lost in the shuffle...
I had a very similar experience like you did but in AUD. It's been a few days now (took the test on Saturday) and i am finally in full BEC mode. The best advice i recieved from everyone after this last dissapointing exam was to put it behind me, not think about it anymore because we cant change and it put all your focus into the next exam.
How are you preparing for BEC?
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
Hey Journey to Fate, I'm actually changing my study plan because I have a lot coming up this month like finals and graduation and by May I'll already know how I did on FAR so I'll begin the restudying then.
dreambigCPA
offlineMember
yeah i felt i did really well on my first testlet..a real confidence booster but the second and third testlets were alot more difficult. I ended up flagging almost half of them and spent way too much time working them out. I only had an hour left to do the sims. The sims were really long and i felt like i was rushing and didnt fully analyze the questions. i feel really dissapointed to say the least.
Tux
offlineMember
Mgolo -
I hope you passed FAR! Thanks for providing us with your feedback.
Just wondering....
Once you get past FAR, why are you planning to do BEC next? I've heard that it's best to do AUD right after FAR because there is some overlap in those topics. Take advantage of FAR being fresh in your mind.
This is only from other feedback that I've gotten from other sources. I'm not there yet, myself..
Just wanted to mention that to you.
Let us know your results when you get them, and congrats on your graduation!! Very exciting time.
ZRowe24
offlineMember
My first post on here...I took FAR Monday as well. And the same thing happened to me as many of you mentioned already. Multiple choice was not bad. It got more difficult, but I only marked 6-10 per booklet. However, I only left myself an hour for the SIMS. They were extremely difficult. I did not get the last Sim at all. Hope my MC will pull me through but I doubt it.
mazel-tov
offlineMember
so I wish I was under the same circumstances as now I feel like I Definitely failed.... I too took the exam on Wednesday last week and boy was it nerve wracking. although I must admit, as soon as I sat down and put those noise canceling headphones I was in another world. I totally zoned in and went to work. I believe the first booklet was the easiest however I feel like I could not notice them getting any harder. I mean, They were scattered questions and one might say that they were more difficult as they were questions over materials that aren't as simple such as bonds, leases, pensions etc. but having studied upwards of 200 hrs for this beast I felt very comfortable. I would answer and look it over quick but not look too much into changing answers. (i know when I think to much about it, I always end up with my first answer anyway.) that said, questions seemed challenging, guessed on roughly 4-5 per booklet but other than that I was pretty comfortable. Now on to the Sims....Either I was out of my mind and fantasizing that the Sims were extremely easy or I really got all of them wrong thinking I did great. I was left with 2 hrs to tackle them and finished every one of them with 4 minutes to spare. The SIMS were on subjects that I had covered or that I could reasonably work through with little to no problem. I would say that out of all of them, two were difficult but very workable, the others were medium to easy. I walked out of the exam with the biggest headache of my life (weird I hadn't noticed it during the exam). Now I am trying to focus on AUD and it seems impossible thinking that I could have badly failed FAR and am only adding information to my brain taking away necessary room for my potential retake of the BEAST.... I am praying that I at least get a 75.... I don't care about the bragging rights... I just hope I don't have to sit for this exam again.....
dualmatrix
offlineMember
So, I took FAR today and it was just a relief getting the exam over with. Since it was my first exam, I was nervous because I didn't know what to expect.
I don't think I did very well. My 1st testlet was okay. I had a few questions where I didn't quite know and had to make an educated guess. The 2nd testlet was kind of the same difficulty but slightly harder. This really threw me off because that means I didn't do very well in the 1st testlet. I had more concept questions than I expected I would have so it seems like my 2nd testlet was medium-difficulty. Throughout the whole 2nd testlet, I was just thinking I must've done horrible in the 1st one. I tried to get it out of my mind, but I just kept thinking about it. The 3rd testlet got harder, but still manageable. There were more questions where I had the narrow down the answer to 2 possible choices and make an educated guess.
Then came the sims. I had 2 research sims and I'm kind of sure I nailed those. There were two sims I know that I did well, at least 75% on those. I butchered 1 sim. Becker did not go over this topic a lot (only 2 pages). So I'm pretty upset about that. I did okay on the 6th one and I can't remember what the last sim was. I even wrote them down on my scratch paper hoping that I would remember them all, but I can't remember.......
I would say that I have a 35% chance of passing and a 65% chance of failing. I really don't know how well I did for the MC. There were a lot of easy questions I feel I should've remembered. After that test I was pretty drained. As I was paying the parking attendant (btw, $12 is robbery), the person behind me hits the back of my car. There was no damage, but it's been that kind of week for me. I was so tired, I couldn't even get mad at her if I wanted to. But I did go to the mall and get myself some nice t-shirts for cheap lol
Overall, I'm glad I got my 1st test out of the way. I know what to expect now and if I have to take FAR again, it won't be too bad studying for it. Waiting a month for my score will be hell, but I have AUD at the end of May. I'll have that to occupy my mind. Good luck for those who are taking FAR this window. Know your gov't/nfp and know your JE for sims!
(choicpa)
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
Yeah it seems like a lot of people had similar experiences. Today I spent a lot of the day thinking back on my exam and just drifting off in class thinking about it, I still don't know how to feel but I think people change their opinion on a lot of things based on how they score. For example, people who end up passing will say they thought the test was totally manageable even if they were sweating during it lol and people who will fail will still feel like FAR is the virtual equivalent of Everest. Guess it's all a matter of time.
@ Tux, there isn't much reason to my madness but I've heard AUD isn't that difficult to study for even when you're working so I'm leaving it for last. I want to get BEC done because nothing about the topic excites me and Reg I want to get done when I have nothing to do but study. But that being said, I am pushing back my study schedule and will focus on retaking FAR if that's what it comes to. If that's the case then I'll take FAR again July 1st, and BEC in early August. I don't start work until January so hopefully that gives me plenty of time to work towards the CPA but FAR is my absolute priority because I cannot imagine working and studying for it.
(choicpa)
choicpa
offlineMember
I agree with dualmatrix.
Just took mine on 7th of April.
I studied like hell and kept on scoring above 80~85% on Wiley CPA test.
Then on the actual exam, I've encountered way more concept questions that calculations...which kind of threw me off.
The theory questions were very specific and wording was very tricky, so I had a lot of question which I had to take a guess between 2 possible answers.
When it reached 3rd testlet, i was already tired and kind of just wanted to get this thing over with.
Sim...i also had 2 research, and there were some J/E questions which was never covered with Wiley although i did solve every single one of them during the practice.....so i was a bit upset about it as well. (SIM was harder than Wiley in my opinion)
I might have to take a round 2 with FAR, but i have REG scheduled so i'll have to shift my focus elsewhere.
To be honest, I am not sure how to re-study for FAR as when I got back home and re-took Wiley & other CPA software, I again scored in high 80's...i just can't find the theory questions from the actual test... should i just re-read & memorize the whole thing?
I just hope i passed somehow lol.
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
I feel like it's really the luck of the draw, because I had a lot more calculations than theory and I had hoped otherwise! And two research SIMs, ughhh I wish! So lucky haha :)
(toonsinc)
mgoloubenko
offlineMember
I feel like for the SIMs, there are those who have an inherent strength in them meaning that more likely than not they would not even have to look at the study material to know how to handle them on test day. I have friends like that who just KNOW what to do without studying for them and I feel like that's the hardest thing with the simulations because in reality how do you study them when they could be virtually on any topic. It's either something I feel that you're background has made you strong in, or you're just not. The studying part comes in with the MCQ's because that isn't knowledge that everyone knows from doing well in Accounting courses so I'm not sure how to handle it from this point forward.
choicpa
offlineMember
For me, i was well prepared for calculations (although I had to guess on some hard ones during the MCQ), so my experience was better with simulation than bunch of theory questions on MCQ. Well, let's all wait for the official score!
(cparker12)
cyn637
offlineMember
It truly is the luck of the draw which makes me curious as to how they grade the exam. I got a lot of calculations. The first testlet had only a few calculations but nothing major. I'm praying for a miracle :) If I fail I have one last chance to try and pass before I lose Audit. I am really hoping it doesn't come to that....we will see!
You must log in to post.
