TNcandidate1 - I agree with your last statement. I also believe the the multiple choice questions can make or break or exam. Since those 90 multiple choice questions are worth 70% of your exam, if you do poorly it is extremely difficult to pass.
rahulcpa
offlineMember
Can you believe that I just started to study for FAR and I guess that I won't be able to pass it that easy. I have successfully completed the other three parts without any hassles. However, I think FAR will set me up for failure. Please let me know how to prepare for this section. I really really need help.
StudyingNY
offlineMember
I took FAR the other day for the second time and it was absolutely brutal. I passed the other three in one window and I don't know if I can pass this test. I walked into the exam being more prepared than the other exams and yet I know I was unsuccessful. My suggestion is to study the extremely small details because they will be there. I used Becker which I think is an excellent program but still I left defeated. The simulations were both ridiculous and if I had all day to figure them out I still would not have been able to. The only thing I cannot figure out is why they give more time for audit then for far? Audit is like a walk in the park in comparison. I wish you all the best of luck and just remember to study hard.
StudyingNY
offlineMember
I did all the questions 3 times like Becker suggested and all of the supplemental. I completed all the questions 2 days before the exam and the lowest grade I got was an 84. Unfortunately I don't think you can prepare for sims and both of mine were brutal. Good Luck.
magster
offlineMember
Hello everyone. Been reading the forum for a while but did not post as of today. I am scheduled to take FAR on Fri 12th and studying waht seems like in overtime mode. This will be my first exam. I am currently reviewing the chapters in Becker Home Study and will start on the Final Review Program tomorrow morning. How come I feel like I just cannot retain a darn thing? I used to think I am a somewhat "smart person" but I come to realize that this CPA Exam does not only test your knowledge but your confidence as well. Any last minute tips for me?
magic_8_ball_did_i_pass
offlineMember
magster
i took far first last month on the 9th. i pray to God that all is well. But what i did last minute was start saying formula's over and over and over. I had been writing them all down since chapter one. That way when a question came up, the formula popped right into my head. glance at the sims the night before, so they will stick out in your head. I was truly thankful for that one. Hope this helps!
CanDoIt
offlineMember
Does anyone know how to find a study group in your own area? I took the Becker online review and each section of the exam from May 2009 through November 2009 and didn't pass any of them. I do qualify for the Becker Promise but the only classroom review they offer in my state are on Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm. That doesn't really work when you have a family. Everyone I took classes with in college is at a different place and not taking the exam at this time. I have been trying to study with the same materials since January but I don't feel like I am making enough progress on my own. I have also purchased the Wiley review book for FAR so I don't think lack of good study materials is my issue. Any suggestions are welcome!
glogo2384
offlineMember
FAR GONE BAD:
Hello everyone,
I've gotten through Chapter 5 of Becker FAR Review. All I can say is... it isn't going well. I'm scoring in the 50% on MC and am not absorbing infomation very well... With 2 weeks to go before exam day... I feel like I'm running out of hope/luck (not to mention major anxiety / contributed also from waiting on my REG score)... is there hope? Do I have a chance?
Not sure how everyone elses studies are going... just needed to vent...
and8376
offlineMember
Hi, I am taking FAR next week and am using older materials from a year and half ago. my materials dont cover IFRS. From your experience with taking the exam in the first window this year, has there been much IFRS on the exam??? If so, is it general? Differences between that and GAAP? Any knowledge of resources to help would be very helpful.
Jeff - another71.com
offlineadmin
No IFRS on FAR until 2011...you're safe.
glogo2384
offlineMember
Can'tTakeIt - Sounds like we're on the same pace (more or less). I'm hoping I passed REG, that will give me a big boost (I got a 74 the first time I took REG). Goo luck with BEC.
Are you guys using Becker? I just went through Leases and Bonds and I can honestly say, I'm clueless/hopeless... I make the same mistakes over and over. Off to Chapter 6 tomorrow. I'm hoping to be done with all the lectures by early next week, and then just spend time reviewing and hoping to death I can pull a miracle... If I end up passing REG (we'll prob find out next week) I'll breathe a little easier... if not, my world will crumble.
Jeff - another71.com
offlineadmin
2011 for IFRS...
http://www.another71.com/cpa-exam/cpa-exam-resources/changes/
CantTakeIt
offlineMember
Glogo- Yep!! We are RIGHT there with you! We're both using Becker. I'm skipping around so I still have part of Ch 3 and then Ch 5&6 to finish. My goal is very similar... I want to get through those by early next week and spend the rest of the time reviewing. My friend was battling Ch.5 last night haha.
We have to motivate each other everyday... because FAR is really tearing us down. We randomly text each other to make sure the other one is really studying. Hope are you as well!!! I hope it get easier to study once we're no longer waiting for out other scores :)
glogo2384
offlineMember
Wow, it's always comforting to know you're not alone. I'll keep you posted on how my studies go. I'm going to battle Chapter 6 tomorrow. I would say 5 is the worse I have seen so far. Although 1-4 were hard for me too... this isn't going to be pretty. I just need to get through the lectures by early next week and then hone in on my weaknesses... which will pretty much be everything. Hopefully at some point next week I see a nice 75 for REG or better and you the same for BEC.
CantTakeIt
offlineMember
LOL! I agree... basically everything is a weakness for me. My friend is struggling with Pension right now. I did the lecture last night for Intercompany Transactions... I have an audit client who has to consolidate so I thought it would be easy for me, but NOPE! I was only getting every 5th question right haha.
Yes! Keep us updated on your studying and know we're right there with you studying hard and feeling like NOTHING is sticky haha. I like to think we're smart... but man, FAR is making me feel like I'm mentally slow!
Jeff - another71.com
offlineadmin
Club 75 has 2 hours worth of webinars on Last Minute FAR Tips and SFAS 141R...they come with the free week trial...
http://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-club-75/
glogo2384
offlineMember
Starting Chapter 6 in half hour or so... I knew FAR was gonna be tough, just didn't know it was gonna be this tough... it makes me feel like I should have never taken myself down this road. I don't even recall some of the 'easy' debits and credits... hard to believe I'm an accounting graduate after that statement... I probably should have taken FAR first now that I think about it... what if I pass the other 3 and never pass this one!?!? Oh man, I need my REG score, to help me calm down (assuming I passed - which is still 50-50!). Good luck today!
CantTakeIt
offlineMember
Good luck with Ch 6!!! I will be seeing it Sunday if all goes according to plan. Thanks! I'll post when I get my score :)
LOL Seriously, you sound JUST like me and my friend! Are you sure you're not her?? haha I can't get over it haha. The "easy" deb/cred stuff was getting to me too lol. I think FAR just sucks all the intelligence out of us. I wonder how I do my job when I'm getting 40% on homework!
My plan was to take it last. Her plan (she passed audit/reg but LOST audit BOO) is now to just take FAR until she passes it. She figures if she can't pass FAR, then no use wasting time/money on the other sections. In my opinion, she should just take them all in each window before she loses Reg too. I just know we'll I know we'll all pass FAR eventually!!
Stacy
offlineMember
Glogo and CantTakeIt,
Here is my advice, you guys need to maintain a positive attitude. I am reading your posts and you guys already sound defeated! Break up the information piecemeal. In the past, I would try to read a chapter real quick just to say I completed it but then I wasn't really understanding the concepts and getting a lot of the questions wrong. I took BEC twice and got a 72% each time and I told myself I need to change my study habits and negative frame of mind because the 'old' way wasn't working for me. So in November 2009 I retook BEC and REGS (for the first time) using the below approach and I passed. This is the same approach I am using now to study for FAR which I have to take on the 26-Feb-10.
What works for me is to read the Chapter out loud (as silly as it may sound) this way I don't fall asleep, take notes and then do ALL the questions (including supplemental). I also make use of the Becker mnuemonics and I make up my own to help me learn the material. If you get a question wrong, take time to read the publishers explanations regarding the correct and incorrect answer choices which really helps in understanding and reinforcing the material you just read.
Once you have completed all the questions (including supplemental) for the Chapter....start reading the next Chapter. When you get half way through that Chapter....STOP.....go back and review the questions you got wrong from the previous Chapter and re-read your notes. Repetition is key to learning this material. Once you have finished reviewing those incorrect questions, continue and finish reading the new Chapter, then do those questions, review the incorrect choices for those questions and continue the cycle by reading a new Chapter....this time around you have to review the incorrect questions you did for the previous 2 chapters you completed and continue this cycle. The information will start to stick after a while and because it feels like your doing so much work, when you go to read that 'new' Chapter you will be really focus so that you can minimize the amount of questions you get wrong for that Chapter. I really hope this helps!
You must log in to post.
