FAR – When to schedule exam?

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  • #186392
    kpb
    Member

    I failed AUD a month ago and now am terribly scared to schedule my next exam until I feel completely ready. However, I am studying for FAR, feels like i’ll never be completely ready. I am only on chapter 5; I usually read the book, watch the lectures, then do the MCQs once. If i have time, i’ll re-do what I got wrong at a later date after going through ALL of the MCQs at least once for said chapter. It takes me about 3 days each chapter, I haven’t started the SIMS yet, I wanted to leave that for REVIEW. I am definitely in the LEARNING process still. When should I schedule my exam for?

    I was thinking of waiting until I finished at least chapter 9. I want to have enough time to review each chapter again at least two to three days PER chapter. My original plan was to take it end of July but I don’t want to rush and fail because I could’ve used an extra week to study.

    Studying 6-9 hours a day, 6 days a week. Any help is greatly appreciated.

    BEC - 81 4/08/14
    FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
    REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
    AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

    Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
    I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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  • #579482
    Mamabear
    Member

    You need to leave a good amount of time for review for FAR. If it takes you 3 dys per chapter and you have 5 chapters left then you should be done on your first pass the first week of July. I like to schedule my exams as close to the cutoff date for a shorter wait time on my score. You could push hard to get through the material and take in before July 20th or give your self the extra 3 weeks and schedule it for August 14th. If you take it on August 14th, you'll only have to wait 7 days for your score. That gives you about 4 weeks for review to go through the MCQ more than once, rewrite your notes, and do all the SIMS. I recommend that date. The amount of material for FAR requires adequate review.

    July 1-20, 2014 Exams

    Official Target Date: Monday, August 4

    NINJAs Say: Friday, August 1

    July 21 – August 15, 2014 Exams

    Official Target Date: Friday, August 22

    NINJAs Say: Thursday, August 21

    August 16-31, 2014 Exams

    Official Target Date: Tuesday, September 9

    NINJAs Say: Monday, September 8

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
    BEC (08/10/13) 80
    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    #579483
    kpb
    Member

    Mamabear, you're an angel. thank you for helping me to see clearly! I may just schedule it for Aug 14th, and allow myself those extra few weeks of study time from July 20-Aug13. Thank you so much, it's hard to sort this out with all this studying.. I appreciate your help 🙂

    BEC - 81 4/08/14
    FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
    REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
    AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

    Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
    I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

    #579484
    Mamabear
    Member

    Trust me. I get it. Glad to help. Good luck on FAR!!

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
    BEC (08/10/13) 80
    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    #579485
    kpb
    Member

    Mahalo =) (thank you)

    BEC - 81 4/08/14
    FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
    REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
    AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

    Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
    I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

    #579486
    kpb
    Member

    Are the actual exam questions for FAR as long as they are in Becker? They take me forever to do the calculation questions….currently on F7. It's going to be hard to do these long questions on the exams under 1.25 mins.

    Anyone know?

    BEC - 81 4/08/14
    FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
    REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
    AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

    Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
    I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

    #579487
    kpb
    Member

    BTW, another question:

    If i schedule my FAR exam for August 14, is it possible that I can re-do AUD by the end of august? How should I go about reviewing AUD? I start working F/T in public September 29… should I just wait to re-take AUD after i've finished REG (study right after FAR instead of doing AUD)

    BEC - 81 4/08/14
    FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
    REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
    AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

    Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
    I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

    #579488
    Kimboroni
    Member

    I am slow on calculations also and did okay at managing my FAR time at 45 min per MCQ testlet so that I had 1:45 left for the SIMs.

    2 weeks sounds a bit short for reviewing AUD, but since you look like a full time studier, maybe you can do it. Or schedule FAR just a few days earlier to give a bit more time for AUD.

    FAR can really help fill in those AUD SIM gaps. Other than that, did you feel pretty comfortable with the AUD material?

    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. 🙂

    #579489
    kpb
    Member

    I know, I may just save to do AUD after studying for REG before I start working fulltime. Yes i study full time for now so i'd like to take advantage of that to study REG.

    I felt comfortable with AUD, yes, some topics I needed to work on though, it was heavily tested on the exam and not so much on the review course. But other than that, i got comparable/stronger on MCQs and weaker on sims.

    How did you review for FAR?

    BEC - 81 4/08/14
    FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
    REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
    AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

    Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
    I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

    #579490
    Kimboroni
    Member

    I scheduled my study period for about 8 weeks and did 1-4 Wiley chapters per week (based on length of chapter) over the first 6 weeks. That was mapped out, and I stuck to the schedule pretty well. I only did a few MCQs in each little area at that point and saved nailing the calculations for later. But I'd go back and review by doing a few more MCQs from each area after a couple of weeks to keep concepts fresh.

    My last 2 weeks was when I reviewed everything and did pretty much the rest of the MCQs in the book. I did all of the SIMs in WTB during that 2 weeks also, plus maybe about 90-100 MCQs in WTB.

    I didn't feel *quite* ready when I went to test on 5/9 and would have liked just a couple more days. But then the whole center was shut down that day due to technical difficulties and I had to reschedule, but the next open slot wasn't until 5/21. So I got way more than a couple of extra days, which I did not use well. That was dumb, but I wasn't motivated! I did about another 50 MCQs in WTB and read Ninja Notes and listened to Ninja Audio, but that was it. Luckily it worked out.

    Edited to add that listening to Ninja Audio was extremely helpful for me– I had it playing nearly every time I drove, for months (since before my 8 week official study period started). I didn't take any notes until I had nailed a lot of the concepts already, which I credit a lot to the Audio, so when I did take notes, it was only maybe 8 pages on the things I was having trouble remembering.

    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. 🙂

    #579491
    kpb
    Member

    Thank you Kimboroni!

    BEC - 81 4/08/14
    FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
    REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
    AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

    Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
    I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

    I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

    #579492
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hey all

    So I just took audit today and have far scheduled for 8/22. Took the basic/intermediate accounting courses in 2012. Didn't do so good in the classes…. Not sure if it was due to I didn't study enough, not understanding the material, working etc. nonetheless, I know I have a lot to learn… Probably starting from scratch! Currently not working so studying is #1 priority. How much time do you guys recommend? Any advice? Currently using only becker.

    #579493
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It's recommended that you put in 150-200 hours to study for FAR. If you can get that in before the end of Aug then go ahead and take it then. You need to leave 2 weeks of solid review before FAR so that would mean that you need to get through all the material in the next 5 weeks. It may be pushing it. Don't stress about how you did in the class. Classes are very different than the CPA exams. You'll study differently. You'll push yourself harder. You'll know that it takes more to get a 75 on the exam than it did to get a passing grade in the class so you'll put the work in to make it happen.

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