[sarah24]

Well… for better or worse, it is over.

I was looking over posts here hoping for something to make me feel better. I walked out feeling that for all my preparation and for being hopefully confident that I at least had a good grasp on everything major – my exam was nothing like what I prepared for. Instead of finding confirmation here, I found that most people said FAR was a lot less specific than the details tested in their review course- I found the opposite to be true. I also saw that many people said they didn’t do all that well on the Becker final exams – and still pulled decent passing scores – even some 90s. My first run through most material was 70-95%. I think there was only a topic or two at most where I scored below 70 my first time through. Progress tests were typically 80-90s. I got 82, 83, 81 MCQ and 82 Sims on my first Becker practice test. Then solid 80s on MCQ and 85 Sims on my second practice test. I felt like everything clicked big picture and that all I could do was keep reviewing and trying to store as many little point saving details as possible and hope luck was my on side. If I had seen all of those posts yesterday, I would have felt great going in… but I saw them today. And I did not feel good walking out of the exam…

I don’t know how to describe what my exam was like. It didn’t feel like the testlets got harder (not good), it just felt like so many of the questions were focused on tiny details that I don’t even remember being covered. Normally when I forget something, I at least have that feeling that oh yeah, that, I wish I could remember that detail – but I didn’t. It was like it was stuff that I couldn’t even find now if I scoured my review book. :/ Has anyone else had a similar feeling walking out of the exam?

Not feeling great about the Sims either. Not sure I even understood what the task was for the one. I read the question and was like ?!?!. You want me to do what (with a that’s it? or are we not speaking the same language? kind of feeling). So either way, I feel like I was in trouble there…

End of sob story about FAR. I’m just feeling disappointed and was not expecting to have such a bad gut feeling about how things went. Hopefully I get a pleasant surprise in a month and find out I don’t have to go for round 2 with the beast. In any case, time to put it behind me and move on to AUD.

FAR 7/3/12 - 91
AUD 8/31/12 - 99
BEC 10/12/12 - 94
REG 11/30/12 - ???!!!?

[Anonymous]

Most people feel sucky/defeated walking out of an exam…and that's usually a good sign. Based on your scores on progress tests and final exams, it seems like you were very prepared.

FAR SIMs are ridiculous and most people feel the way you felt. Remember, these tests are curved and FAR has the highest curve. Many people on this board ran out of time and ended up leaving couple sims blank yet passed.

As far as MCQs go, don't stress too much about level of difficulty….that is all assumptions. What is difficult to you may be easy to someone else and what is easy to you may be difficult to someone else. So don't think too much about that.

Once again, I really think you will pass!! So take few days off and then start AUD:) Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Are you sure the second testlet didn't get harder?

If it makes you feel any better, I completely and utterly bombed 5/7 sims and kinda sorta put answers for the other two.

And by bomb, I mean leaving most of it blank and/or putting completely arbitrary numbers. I still managed to pass somehow so don't be too hard on yourself.

[futureCPA…possibly]

I am with you on feeling down. I just took FAR today and everything was a lot different than I expected. The questions were very specific about certain topics as opposed to just the basic concepts. I felt really good going in and just terrible after leaving. Everyone I have talked to has said, “Oh everyone feels bad after FAR.” However, I feel like I did so poorly that if they did pass me, then the value of having your CPA is not worth very much…I have already starting looking at the prometric's website for future testing availability.

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean future. I did so bad on FAR and yet I still passed. Makes you question the validity and significance of the CPA…

in all honesty the only difficult exam is reg.

[forever4]

I agree. I think if i pass reg, my journey of passing the cpa would be almost over. to me reg is soo hard that i start to lose my confidence the more i study :(. BUT I SHALL PASS!

FAR 5/14 88 PASSED!
REG 7/13 74 :((((((((....! I cant believe it!!!! I studied so hard...
REG retake 11/29 -> 89!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC 10/11/12 -> 84!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AUD 10/25/12 -> 95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm DONE! OMG 8 months of hard work.

I SHALL PASS. BECAUSE IT'S ME, SO EVERYTHING WILL BE OK!

[sarah24]

Thanks all. I guess I feel better knowing that FAR makes everyone feel pretty miserable (in the sense that it is normal) and that there is still a chance I will pass. Also thanks for the reminder that not even everyone has a chance to finish and even then, you can pass… I checked every Sim and even quick checked all the MCQ to make sure I had at least answered them all. So there is that.

I'm happy to have a few days off. I deleted the FAR files from my computer and loaded up AUD so I'm ready to go when its back to work/studying Mon. Pulled the book out of the box and shocked by how tiny it seems in comparison. Also added BEC and REG to my study plan for first thing in October and the end of November. If I do pass FAR, it'd be nice to be done before the holidays/new year. Also will be nice entering busy season knowing that I won't have to devote my entire summer to the exam again… just imagining having all that time for travel, fun, friends and relaxing vs. studying is motivation to keep going and not let FAR get me down.

I still don't have my NTS for BEC and REG. It's all kind of tentative – I'm a goal setter/plan ahead type person. Also will depend on FAR – may need to switch things up if a retake is needed. Do you guys think that 5-6 weeks for BEC and 7-8 for REG is enough time? It'd be more or less back to back right on the tail of AUD. REG worries me. I think that it is going to be the hardest – so I don't want to push it and try to cram those both in, if it's just going to mean I fail one or both for not putting in enough time.

FAR 7/3/12 - 91
AUD 8/31/12 - 99
BEC 10/12/12 - 94
REG 11/30/12 - ???!!!?

[qnx688]

I took my first test today(FAR). I am a little worried as well. Making an 87/100 MCQs last night really encouraged me, but the SIMS just were not there. I do not know if I can go back over that book any more lol! If it makes anyone feel better, my car serpentine belt broke causing my car to die, ABS brakes to fail, and power steering to go out as I was traveling 70 down the highway on the way home. I love waiting for tow trucks!

Sarah, your comment made me lol, because no less than an hour ago i pulled out my audit book from the dusty box it was shipped in and noticed how thin it was compared to the financial book. Finally, some good news for the day.

To everyone who took FAR the last few days, hopefully it will work out for the best for all of us!

FAR-7/5/12-88
AUD-8/26/12-94
REG-TBD
BEC-TBD

[Author]

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