[qfolmar]

So after failing all four parts of the CPA exam in 2012, I am ready to give it another shot. I want to switch it up a little this time and tackle the hardest one first, FAR. I am employed full time and I would like a bit of insight from someone who passed FAR working full time. Can you tell me your study methods and what study material you found most helpful?

Thank you!

AUD - 83
BEC - 77
FAR - 79
REG - 82

Anything worth having is worth working for...

FAR-79
REG-82
AUD-83
BEC- August 31st

[Shel_178]

I passed FAR (the 2nd time) while working full-time…that section was the hardest for me! I used Becker study materials and would first watch the video for each chapter and then do the mcq's until I got a 100%. After that I would do the SIMS and the progress test. If I got at least an 80% on the progress test I would move on to the next chapter. I tried to do about 1.5 chapters per week (2-3 hours on weekdays after work and 5-6 hours on each weekend day) and leave two weeks for review. This method gave me a 69 on the exam.

The second time around I went through each chapter and read only (no video) and took notes on the parts that seemed the most important. I then would do the multiple choice until I got 100% and instead of the progress tests I added WTB and would do those periodically on all areas to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. For review I would do 90 mc questions and 5 SIMS on WTB daily and go over my notes. I got an 80 the second time I took the FAR exam so I guess adding the WTB and taking my own notes really helped! Best of luck on FAR…it's a beast!!!

REG - 86
FAR - 80
BEC - 79
AUD - 92...I'm done woohoo!

Licensed CPA since Feb. 2014

[Shel_178]

I passed FAR (the 2nd time) while working full-time…that section was the hardest for me! I used Becker study materials and would first watch the video for each chapter and then do the mcq's until I got a 100%. After that I would do the SIMS and the progress test. If I got at least an 80% on the progress test I would move on to the next chapter. I tried to do about 1.5 chapters per week (2-3 hours on weekdays after work and 5-6 hours on each weekend day) and leave two weeks for review. This method gave me a 69 on the exam.

The second time around I went through each chapter and read only (no video) and took notes on the parts that seemed the most important. I then would do the multiple choice until I got 100% and instead of the progress tests I added WTB and would do those periodically on all areas to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything. For review I would do 90 mc questions and 5 SIMS on WTB daily and go over my notes. I got an 80 the second time I took the FAR exam so I guess adding the WTB and taking my own notes really helped! Best of luck on FAR…it's a beast!!!

REG - 86
FAR - 80
BEC - 79
AUD - 92...I'm done woohoo!

Licensed CPA since Feb. 2014

[qfolmar]

Thank you, Shel_178!!! I've learned that I retain information better by taking notes, so I will definitely incorporate that into my study method. Congratulations on earning your CPA as well!!!

AUD - 83
BEC - 77
FAR - 79
REG - 82

Anything worth having is worth working for...

FAR-79
REG-82
AUD-83
BEC- August 31st

[qfolmar]

Thank you, Shel_178!!! I've learned that I retain information better by taking notes, so I will definitely incorporate that into my study method. Congratulations on earning your CPA as well!!!

AUD - 83
BEC - 77
FAR - 79
REG - 82

Anything worth having is worth working for...

FAR-79
REG-82
AUD-83
BEC- August 31st

[gt5717b]

…on my own. Goin' down the only road I've ever known.”

j/k

I think tackling FAR first is the best strategy. It's (arguably) the toughest exam and it is the basis for most of AUD and some of REG. I worked full time when I took my exams and really I just did most of my studying late at night after the kids went to bed. For me, after watching lectures (Yaeger) and reading through the chapters, I felt that doing MCQs over and over was the key to my success. I made sure I did at least 1,000 MCQs in WTB and used the progress reports to pinpoint what areas I was weakest at and needed improvement. I think if you can get to 80% on all sections of the progress report, you will be sufficiently ready for the exam.

good luck

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[gt5717b]

…on my own. Goin' down the only road I've ever known.”

j/k

I think tackling FAR first is the best strategy. It's (arguably) the toughest exam and it is the basis for most of AUD and some of REG. I worked full time when I took my exams and really I just did most of my studying late at night after the kids went to bed. For me, after watching lectures (Yaeger) and reading through the chapters, I felt that doing MCQs over and over was the key to my success. I made sure I did at least 1,000 MCQs in WTB and used the progress reports to pinpoint what areas I was weakest at and needed improvement. I think if you can get to 80% on all sections of the progress report, you will be sufficiently ready for the exam.

good luck

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[nbad311]

Good luck to you! Passing any sections while working full-time is definitely doable!

I passed FAR last but think it's a good idea to take it first since it's so big and takes a lot of study time. I was working full-time, studied over the course of about 3 months and took it twice – scores of 70 and 75. If you can consistently get in 20 quality hours a week (the more the better in my opinion, no rest for the weary!!! but make sure to sleep when you're tired 🙂 ), then I think you're doing good!

Get in the zone and stay in the zone – FORCE yourself to study weekends even though it sucks soooooooooooo bad. Also make sure you study 1-2 hours a day on weekdays (lunchbreaks, in the evenings). Don't skip a day!! If by some reason you happen to miss a day of studying, MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BECOME 2 DAYS! You don't have to stay up til 2am every day cranking out multiple choice questions, but don't get lazy and take blocks of days off at a time – I think this was very hurtful for me and my retention, and, ultimately my exam scores!

Enough life coaching… as far as my study materials went, I used the Wiley textbook and Gleim's online software. Both I really liked. The textbook was a good way to get away from a computer since I was already at one of those 40 hours a week; park at a Starbucks and sip a latte, computer-free. Almost felt like I was there leisurely reading a book for fun! Wiley has challenging MCQ questions and breaks FAR down into smaller chapters than Becker. Gleim was good for computer time – they had simulations too that can be fully graded, good practice IMO. Lots of MCQs; also has sub-units so it also takes each subject piece-meal so you can concentrate on your weaker areas without spending wasted time on stuff you already know well. Gleim online access was for like, 400+ days too (more than I needed thank goodness!) for something like $280? A good deal if you ask me. The wiley book was like $60. Very affordable compared to some other study materials out there.

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[nbad311]

Good luck to you! Passing any sections while working full-time is definitely doable!

I passed FAR last but think it's a good idea to take it first since it's so big and takes a lot of study time. I was working full-time, studied over the course of about 3 months and took it twice – scores of 70 and 75. If you can consistently get in 20 quality hours a week (the more the better in my opinion, no rest for the weary!!! but make sure to sleep when you're tired 🙂 ), then I think you're doing good!

Get in the zone and stay in the zone – FORCE yourself to study weekends even though it sucks soooooooooooo bad. Also make sure you study 1-2 hours a day on weekdays (lunchbreaks, in the evenings). Don't skip a day!! If by some reason you happen to miss a day of studying, MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BECOME 2 DAYS! You don't have to stay up til 2am every day cranking out multiple choice questions, but don't get lazy and take blocks of days off at a time – I think this was very hurtful for me and my retention, and, ultimately my exam scores!

Enough life coaching… as far as my study materials went, I used the Wiley textbook and Gleim's online software. Both I really liked. The textbook was a good way to get away from a computer since I was already at one of those 40 hours a week; park at a Starbucks and sip a latte, computer-free. Almost felt like I was there leisurely reading a book for fun! Wiley has challenging MCQ questions and breaks FAR down into smaller chapters than Becker. Gleim was good for computer time – they had simulations too that can be fully graded, good practice IMO. Lots of MCQs; also has sub-units so it also takes each subject piece-meal so you can concentrate on your weaker areas without spending wasted time on stuff you already know well. Gleim online access was for like, 400+ days too (more than I needed thank goodness!) for something like $280? A good deal if you ask me. The wiley book was like $60. Very affordable compared to some other study materials out there.

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[evesocal]

I passed the exam while working full-time. The order in which I took the courses was the order the Becker live classes were given in locations I could get to, on weekends. This made FAR my last exam. If I had it to do over again I'd have taken FAR first as it caused me so much anxiety.

So I attended the live classes on weekends for about 2 months. It was not possible for me to keep up with the homework (because of work) but I did what I could, studying mostly on the weekend. I rarely got much done during the week. I get home from work between 7 and 8 at best and I'm just too tired.

The Becker class ended in mid-November. I scheduled FAR for the first week in January, 2013. So for those 7 or so weeks I continued to study the Becker materials, watched lectures, did as many questions as I could. I also bought CPAExcel and for the last 4 weeks before the exam supplemented with that, and it was good to get a different perspective.

I never totally finished any Becker or CPAExcel chapter. I took lots of notes as I learn best by writing things down. I made up my own formulas and wrote them down over and over and over. I practiced what to me seemed like key things – how to compute like-kind exchanges, how to figure the pension benefit – over and over, writing them down.

The volume of material is SO overwhelming that I was really very discouraged. When I sat for the exam I felt lost and was positive I failed. But I passed.

Good luck to you, it's possible! It's a very sucky lifestyle but it's possible.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[evesocal]

I passed the exam while working full-time. The order in which I took the courses was the order the Becker live classes were given in locations I could get to, on weekends. This made FAR my last exam. If I had it to do over again I'd have taken FAR first as it caused me so much anxiety.

So I attended the live classes on weekends for about 2 months. It was not possible for me to keep up with the homework (because of work) but I did what I could, studying mostly on the weekend. I rarely got much done during the week. I get home from work between 7 and 8 at best and I'm just too tired.

The Becker class ended in mid-November. I scheduled FAR for the first week in January, 2013. So for those 7 or so weeks I continued to study the Becker materials, watched lectures, did as many questions as I could. I also bought CPAExcel and for the last 4 weeks before the exam supplemented with that, and it was good to get a different perspective.

I never totally finished any Becker or CPAExcel chapter. I took lots of notes as I learn best by writing things down. I made up my own formulas and wrote them down over and over and over. I practiced what to me seemed like key things – how to compute like-kind exchanges, how to figure the pension benefit – over and over, writing them down.

The volume of material is SO overwhelming that I was really very discouraged. When I sat for the exam I felt lost and was positive I failed. But I passed.

Good luck to you, it's possible! It's a very sucky lifestyle but it's possible.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[Author]

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