[xn25drexel]

Hi. I am taking FAR in 3 weeks. I am taking Becker CPA review course and I already learned Lecture 1-4. I only have 3 more weeks to the test date. I am wondering if anyone study and review 6 Lectures within 3 weeks but still pass the exam. I planned to take 1 week off from work and just study.

I could always reschedule the exam date but I think it could be possible to pass it.

love to hear your feedback on this! 🙂

[Anonymous]

Possible? Yes. Likely? Probably not. Only you know how far you can push yourself. Some factors that will affect it, though:

Is this your first exam? If so, I would urge that you re-schedule, since the likelihood of failing is high and failing your first test makes it easy to lose steam. Not that more time will guarantee a pass, just make it easier! If this isn't your first exam, then what was your study-routine for the other(s), and can you duplicate it or exceed it here?

How many hours of video do you have left? How many hours of the other aspects of your studying (audio, reading book, doing MCQs, taking notes, whatever your routine is)? How many hours are you able to study in the next 3 weeks? Let's say you predict you have 160 hours of studying left to do. If you take off a week, then that's an extra 40 hours at home; around that 40 hours at home and your current 40-hr work week (making an assumption there 😉 ), you need to get another 120 hours of study. That's 30/wk – maybe 2 hours each weekday and 10 each weekend day. Can you do 30/wk around work, and in addition to the 40 the week you're off? If so, then you'd have your 160 hours met. If you can only do 10 a week while working, so a total of 50 a week for hte week you're off, then that's not even half of the hypothetical 160 hours, so pointless. So, I'd figure up how much studying you need to do and figure out if you can do it.

Why is the 3-week mark so important? Do you plan to take another exam in May? If not, I would reschedule and give yourself the extra time, cause no reason to risk failing (more $$$, more time, and not able to pass till at least July) if it's just a $35 (or whatever it is) fee that's motivating the date.

[Anonymous]

Possible? Yes. Likely? Probably not. Only you know how far you can push yourself. Some factors that will affect it, though:

Is this your first exam? If so, I would urge that you re-schedule, since the likelihood of failing is high and failing your first test makes it easy to lose steam. Not that more time will guarantee a pass, just make it easier! If this isn't your first exam, then what was your study-routine for the other(s), and can you duplicate it or exceed it here?

How many hours of video do you have left? How many hours of the other aspects of your studying (audio, reading book, doing MCQs, taking notes, whatever your routine is)? How many hours are you able to study in the next 3 weeks? Let's say you predict you have 160 hours of studying left to do. If you take off a week, then that's an extra 40 hours at home; around that 40 hours at home and your current 40-hr work week (making an assumption there 😉 ), you need to get another 120 hours of study. That's 30/wk – maybe 2 hours each weekday and 10 each weekend day. Can you do 30/wk around work, and in addition to the 40 the week you're off? If so, then you'd have your 160 hours met. If you can only do 10 a week while working, so a total of 50 a week for hte week you're off, then that's not even half of the hypothetical 160 hours, so pointless. So, I'd figure up how much studying you need to do and figure out if you can do it.

Why is the 3-week mark so important? Do you plan to take another exam in May? If not, I would reschedule and give yourself the extra time, cause no reason to risk failing (more $$$, more time, and not able to pass till at least July) if it's just a $35 (or whatever it is) fee that's motivating the date.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. I think it's possible, but unless you have to do it in 3 weeks then I think you should reschedule. If it were AUD or BEC I would say to go for it, but FAR is a whole other can of worms. There is just so much material that to even get through it all, let alone review will take a lot of time, even with taking time off of work. I also agree with the statement that failing your first part could make you lose some motivation. Plus, when I failed a section I wanted to take it again before I moved on to the next section. If you fail you won't be able to take it again until July so you will either throw another test in there and risk losing the knowledge you gained in those 3 weeks or you will keep studying for 2 more months and retake it again. It seems like you are trying to make the first wave of score release, but if I were you I would just go for the second wave and give yourself a good 6 weeks, better likelihood of passing and then move on to the next part and sit for your second one at the beginning of July.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. I think it's possible, but unless you have to do it in 3 weeks then I think you should reschedule. If it were AUD or BEC I would say to go for it, but FAR is a whole other can of worms. There is just so much material that to even get through it all, let alone review will take a lot of time, even with taking time off of work. I also agree with the statement that failing your first part could make you lose some motivation. Plus, when I failed a section I wanted to take it again before I moved on to the next section. If you fail you won't be able to take it again until July so you will either throw another test in there and risk losing the knowledge you gained in those 3 weeks or you will keep studying for 2 more months and retake it again. It seems like you are trying to make the first wave of score release, but if I were you I would just go for the second wave and give yourself a good 6 weeks, better likelihood of passing and then move on to the next part and sit for your second one at the beginning of July.

[xn25drexel]

thank you so much for all of your advices. 🙂

this is my second time taking this test. the first time I took the review course with Philadelphia CPA review class and it was sooooo unorganized. I got a 41. it was bitter. it its true that picking a review course just like marry a person. if you picked a wrong one, it is a waste of time and money. I realized that Becker is a much better review course and I understand the materials better now.

I rescheduled the test to May and I will put more hour to the review now since I have more time.

thank you all so much!!!!!!

[xn25drexel]

thank you so much for all of your advices. 🙂

this is my second time taking this test. the first time I took the review course with Philadelphia CPA review class and it was sooooo unorganized. I got a 41. it was bitter. it its true that picking a review course just like marry a person. if you picked a wrong one, it is a waste of time and money. I realized that Becker is a much better review course and I understand the materials better now.

I rescheduled the test to May and I will put more hour to the review now since I have more time.

thank you all so much!!!!!!

[Kimboroni]

Great move. I think you'll have a lot more chance of success this time! You really need to allow enough time to go through the material thoroughly, plus a solid 2 weeks or so just for review. This extra time should help a lot. Just keep the pressure on still.

I was going to say that if you have very recently taken your intermediate and advanced accounting courses, it could be much more possible to pass on the earlier timeline. That point is moot now, but just for anyone else reading and wondering the same thing, I thought I'd throw that out there.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

Great move. I think you'll have a lot more chance of success this time! You really need to allow enough time to go through the material thoroughly, plus a solid 2 weeks or so just for review. This extra time should help a lot. Just keep the pressure on still.

I was going to say that if you have very recently taken your intermediate and advanced accounting courses, it could be much more possible to pass on the earlier timeline. That point is moot now, but just for anyone else reading and wondering the same thing, I thought I'd throw that out there.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[jgrocha]

@Kimboroni: I noticed that you are using the Wiley Books & WTB as your review material. I'm also using Wiley with the Ninja Audio, Wiley Focus Notes & Ninja Flash Cards to study for FAR. Like xn25drexel my first exam is a few weeks from now, scheduled for 04/15.

I've gone thru the FAR section, listened to the Ninja Audio (religiously), taken notes & have done about 400 mcq's so far. My plan is to go thru all of the FAR mcq's and then review & rewrite my notes. Once completed, I will do one last go around of the WTB prior to my exam.

Since this is my first exam, can you offer up any advice or encouragement for a fellow Wiley user? Thank you.

FAR - 72 - 04/15/14 - (Retake in July)
REG - 08/30/14
BEC - TBD
AUD - TBD

[jgrocha]

@Kimboroni: I noticed that you are using the Wiley Books & WTB as your review material. I'm also using Wiley with the Ninja Audio, Wiley Focus Notes & Ninja Flash Cards to study for FAR. Like xn25drexel my first exam is a few weeks from now, scheduled for 04/15.

I've gone thru the FAR section, listened to the Ninja Audio (religiously), taken notes & have done about 400 mcq's so far. My plan is to go thru all of the FAR mcq's and then review & rewrite my notes. Once completed, I will do one last go around of the WTB prior to my exam.

Since this is my first exam, can you offer up any advice or encouragement for a fellow Wiley user? Thank you.

FAR - 72 - 04/15/14 - (Retake in July)
REG - 08/30/14
BEC - TBD
AUD - TBD

[Kimboroni]

Your prep looks really thorough, so I don't think I can add much. But when you're using WTB, I'd say avoid doing a sample full scale test unless it's just to practice the timing. It's better to focus on small sets of, say, 30 questions.

Also don't put too much stock in the percentages that WTB gives you, as it scores totally different from the actual test. Pay a lot more attention to learning the material (use hints, etc.) than percentages. You don't want to kill your confidence going into the exam by thinking you're not scoring high enough in practice.

A lot of people don't pass simply because they skimped on studying (putting aside the fact that they're just hard tests). I think you have a good plan, and you look like you're on track with it, too. You've got this!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

Your prep looks really thorough, so I don't think I can add much. But when you're using WTB, I'd say avoid doing a sample full scale test unless it's just to practice the timing. It's better to focus on small sets of, say, 30 questions.

Also don't put too much stock in the percentages that WTB gives you, as it scores totally different from the actual test. Pay a lot more attention to learning the material (use hints, etc.) than percentages. You don't want to kill your confidence going into the exam by thinking you're not scoring high enough in practice.

A lot of people don't pass simply because they skimped on studying (putting aside the fact that they're just hard tests). I think you have a good plan, and you look like you're on track with it, too. You've got this!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[jgrocha]

Thanks for the advice. I'm working my way through but constantly feel overwhelmed.

FAR - 72 - 04/15/14 - (Retake in July)
REG - 08/30/14
BEC - TBD
AUD - TBD

[jgrocha]

Thanks for the advice. I'm working my way through but constantly feel overwhelmed.

FAR - 72 - 04/15/14 - (Retake in July)
REG - 08/30/14
BEC - TBD
AUD - TBD

[Anonymous]

Also keep in mind with the WTB that if you get an answer wrong and say “Try Again” and change your answer to the correct answer, it will reflect in the percentages that you got the question right and not take into consideration that you got it wrong the first time. Don't put too much stock in the percentages. You know what your weak areas are and will need to focus on those accordingly, not on what the WTB says your weak areas are if you are prone to changing your answers to view the WTB's explanation for the correct answer, like I do.

[Author]

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