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FAR - Go or no go?

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Started 1 year ago by VTHokie13
Latest reply from gabe1475

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VTHokie13

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I am a graduate student with one semester left so I decided instead of working this summer I would just study for and take all four sections of the CPA exam. I used Becker and went over all 4 sections in about 6 weeks and then started taking the exams. I gave myself one extra week before BEC, one extra week before AUD, two extra weeks before REG and two extra weeks before FAR. I felt fine on my BEC, AUD and REG (hardest of the 3 but I felt it was more on the test than on me not being prepared) but now I'm going back over FAR and the practice tests and I've basically been struggling the whole way through. I didn't have a problem like this at all for the first three, so I'm wondering if it is worth it to pay the $30 and reschedule. It would be nice to have all sections out of the way so I don't have to study while I'm at school this semester or after I start work at an audit firm in January but I'm wondering if going into a $220ish dollar test feeling pretty darn unprepared is worth it. I know a lot of people feel unprepared... but did any of you find yourselves feeling completely unprepared as compared to how you felt prepared for the other sections you studied for?

Virginia: Becker Self-Study (Followed the bootcamp schedule)
BEC (7/10/10) 84 REG (7/31/10) 80
AUD (7/17/10) 81 FAR (8/14/10) 76
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Posted 1 year ago #
VTHokie13

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P.S. - I am scheduled to take the exam this Saturday morning.

Virginia: Becker Self-Study (Followed the bootcamp schedule)
BEC (7/10/10) 84 REG (7/31/10) 80
AUD (7/17/10) 81 FAR (8/14/10) 76

Posted 1 year ago #
financeguy

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normally I would advise people not to reschedule, but you only studied for 2 weeks for FAR? Man that is crazy...

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

Posted 1 year ago #
Bobbins

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I went into both REG and FAR feeling unprepared, but managed to pass both. It really is up to you. If you think rescheduling will make you feel better and you can commit to giving the extra effort to prepare, do it. Or you can take a shot and see if you pass.

In my opinion almost everyone feels unprepared/nervous/overwhelmed when taking FAR because it covers such a huge amount of material and we have all heard how hard it can be to get through the exam in the time given. A lot of these same people also end up passing FAR despite their worries.

AUD - 85 (7/24/09) BEC - 90 (8/31/09) REG - 86 (11/16/09) FAR - 82 (05/11/10) *I'm a CPA!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
Bobbins

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I should also add that I rescheduled twice for REG and once for FAR. So maybe you should reschedule.

AUD - 85 (7/24/09) BEC - 90 (8/31/09) REG - 86 (11/16/09) FAR - 82 (05/11/10) *I'm a CPA!!!

Posted 1 year ago #
cpa journey

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Are you thinking of re-scheduling for later in Aug or Oct?

Posted 1 year ago #
VTHokie13

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First off... at the beginning of the summer I studied for all 4 parts (went over all 9 sections of FAR, one per day plus a little extra)... so technically I gave FAR about 4 weeks total.

Second... I am kind of thinking if I do reschedule I would see how my semester work load goes (only 3 classes) and try to study then and take it over thanksgiving break in November.

The 3 weeks for REG, and 2 weeks each for AUD and BEC felt fine for me. I did very well on Becker final exams and felt confident coming out of the exams, but as I say... this time it is just so much information my recall is bringing back a lot of it for the practice final exams. (On the final exam 1 for Becker I got: 45 on MC1, 57 MC2, 76 MC3 and haven't tried the second exam yet.)

Virginia: Becker Self-Study (Followed the bootcamp schedule)
BEC (7/10/10) 84 REG (7/31/10) 80
AUD (7/17/10) 81 FAR (8/14/10) 76

Posted 1 year ago #
christian2823

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VT hokie, can you tell me what were your final exam scores for AUD?

Posted 1 year ago #
VTHokie13

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I was scoring in the mid 80's with one or two sections dropping into the 70's. I don't remember the exact scores for each MC section unfortunately. Sorry.

Virginia: Becker Self-Study (Followed the bootcamp schedule)
BEC (7/10/10) 84 REG (7/31/10) 80
AUD (7/17/10) 81 FAR (8/14/10) 76

Posted 1 year ago #
cpa journey

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VTHokie13

There are advantages in going to test on Sat - even if it is just to see how where your strengths and weaknesses are at this point. You still have one window before the exam changes. It may help you feel more confident in your study approach. What do yo thinnk?

Posted 1 year ago #
VTHokie13

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I'd say if I had to choose now, I'd go ahead and take it. The money lost if I fail would probably outweigh that loss if I somehow passed and never had to worry about it again. You make a good point about finding strengths and weaknesses. Probably best to give it my best try for the next 2 days and go for broke on Saturday.

I think I'm mostly frustrated that this is the only test so far that I definitely feel I could prepare much better for given more time. Hopefully I pass the other three that I've taken already then only have to pay for FAR one more time and have the time to let it all sink in and stick. FAR was the first section I studied at the beginning of the summer so this two weeks of reviewing it just doesn't seem like enough time to recall the amount of information it requires.

Every time my anger over my confusion settles I feel like I at least should go for it now. Thanks for your thoughts!

Virginia: Becker Self-Study (Followed the bootcamp schedule)
BEC (7/10/10) 84 REG (7/31/10) 80
AUD (7/17/10) 81 FAR (8/14/10) 76

Posted 1 year ago #
cpa journey

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VTHokie13

If you think a couple more weeks of intense study would help - see if there are any open test dates towards the end of Aug.

Posted 1 year ago #
VTHokie13

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Unfortunately I leave for school in less than a week and start classes in a week and a half. With all the craziness beginning the semester and such, my best bet will probably be November. If I have to wait until November, I'm starting to think it's best to go for it now.

Virginia: Becker Self-Study (Followed the bootcamp schedule)
BEC (7/10/10) 84 REG (7/31/10) 80
AUD (7/17/10) 81 FAR (8/14/10) 76

Posted 1 year ago #
FL_CPA2010

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I agree with cpa journey, go ahead and take it now. The only thing you have to loss is $200 if you fail, but you have to pay like $75 to reschedule this close anyway (right?). But you just may pass and never have to think about it again :-) I went through the same thing with BEC, but I figured I would just get it over with. I did not pass, but when I got my score report and saw that I did poorly on all the sections, I knew I had to redirect my studying. I thought I had business structures and econ down and was pretty well versed on I.T. - theoperative word being "thought". Good luck :)

REG 79 (Becker); BEC 63 (Becker) 70 (Yaeger); AUD 66 (Becker; 11/30 - Becker); FAR 11/24 (Yaeger/Wiley)

Posted 1 year ago #
Unreal

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Definitely take it now.

If you think you'll benefit from more study time, only postpone it to later this month. My reasoning is, we have this testing window and the next testing window to get this over with. After 2011 changes, we'll have to study for a whole new game.

The monetary factor is almost irrelevant compared to the benefit of passing now (before 2011) and long term monetary gain.

I took Becker Fast Pass over the summer too and have one semester left for my M.S. Any parts I fail this window, I'm just going to study more and attack it harder next window.

FAR 08/02 - 95 || REG 08/11 - 98 || AUD 08/23 - 91 || BEC 08/31 - 90

Posted 1 year ago #
gabe1475

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If you have the time and dont mind spending the $35, why not delay until just before you have to leave for school. You could get valuable study time if you hit your major weak areas.

FAR - 95
AUD - 82
REG - 94
BEC - 84

Posted 1 year ago #

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