[Excel14]

In terms of studying this vast universe known as FAR, I have diligently tried to keep up with my study planner, do all of the MCQ/SIMS, and “attempt” to learn the reasons I err on questions. Having said that, despite everyone not wanting to use the word “memorize” with this information, doesn’t it wind up being just that when crunch time hits? I have made efforts to try and “learn”, but I just don’t see how anyone gets even half of this information to “stick”.

What do they call an accounting person, who only managed a 75 on all four parts of the CPA exam....you got it, CPA!!!

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[Tux]

I understand what you mean, and I guess it's a combination of both – memorization and learning.

Actually, the key is repetition. The more you do MCQ's on a particular topic, you'll get the rules really engrained in your head.

Is that learning or memorization? Kinda memorization, cuz a few weeks after the exam, you'll forget a lot, but …..

Repetition of the various topics and rules will keep everything fresh long enough to get through test day.

The point is that you have to UNDERSTAND why you do things in various situations. Cuz, they can word the questions in so many different ways that if you “memorize” only ONE way to approach a problem, you won't get it.

You need to understand how all the pieces of a particular problem fit together, like what's relevant info in one situation but not another situation. That's what they mean by “learn” it more than “memorize”.

But, yes, there's still a LOT of memorization.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Excel14]

I agree with you to a point. You do need to understand how the “pieces fit together”, but I guess the problem I (and everyone else too, I guess) have is that there are so many rules/approaches to remember, that while I might understand while “in it”, I forget down the road. I know I'm not alone in this, but it sure frustrates the process; especially with all of the study time invested.

What do they call an accounting person, who only managed a 75 on all four parts of the CPA exam....you got it, CPA!!!

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[Anonymous]

There is no need to memorize when things make sense, like equity method for example. When it doesn't or it's not obvious, like i don't know, leaseback, there is nothing left to do but memorize.

[Excel14]

@anjanja:

So you don't think it's possible to understand the concept while involved with it, yet forget it once you're far past it? That's why I say that it seems the only way to get through this exam, is to keep doing MCQ over and over, seeing how they're worded and what is commonly asked. I realize that some knowledge of the material is needed; however, I'm not one that without repetition, can answer questions right now, and expect to remember it all a few months down the road.

What do they call an accounting person, who only managed a 75 on all four parts of the CPA exam....you got it, CPA!!!

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[Kimboroni]

What I did for FAR was avoid spending a bunch of time nailing the concepts the first time through the material. It was weeks before my exam, so I knew I would forget and it would be wasted effort. I read the chapter and did just a few MCQs on each little area, then moved on. If I didn't understand everything, that was fine. A few weeks later, I did a few more MCQs from each little area of that chapter just to keep fresh on the basic concepts. Still didn't nail them yet, though.

It wasn't until my 2 week review period that I really worked on making as much as possible stick. Then I did all of the rest of the book MCQs (or most of them anyway) and also worked in WTB. I took advantage of short term memory then.

I did about 1300 MCQs total, and all the WTB sims, for FAR.

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. 🙂

[lanoner]

I don't know what course you are using, and it probably doesn't matter, but I find it immensely helpful to do Becker twice. It's all a haze the first time through. I couple the program with the ninja notes and audio and it's amazing to me to see all of the pieces sticking together after twice. Then I can concentrate on fact nuggets and topics I don't understand I do a third time.

AUD 83
FAR 80
REG 83
BEC 81

[Excel14]

@lanoner:

I am using CPAexcel for my studies.

What do they call an accounting person, who only managed a 75 on all four parts of the CPA exam....you got it, CPA!!!

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[floacct]

I think it can best be summarized by saying you need to memorize the rules, but learn to apply them in various fact patterns. You can't even begin to apply the rules if you do not have them memorized. And if you have not learned and understood the material you r going to be thrown for a loop on exam day. You will likely see variables u never encountered in a test bank. So basically u need to memorize and learn/understand.

[Excel14]

Surprises are always the norm, when it comes to how they could ask questions; but short of being a genius, I'm not sure how anyone could keep ALL the rules to the different topics taught in their head, come test day. I am not, as I said before, a big proponent of “memorization”; however, doing all of the different types of MCQ in various test banks, gets a person used to how they ask things, AND the variety of ways things could be asked. Sure, get a slight feel for the rules as you go; but drill the points home by doing tons of MCQ, seems to be the answer.

What do they call an accounting person, who only managed a 75 on all four parts of the CPA exam....you got it, CPA!!!

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[Anonymous]

When you learn/understand a topic thoroughly, it is committed to memory, so could be phrased as “memorized”. The memorization that is useless is memorizing a specific list or phrase of words in a specific order without context around it. Doing thousands of MCQs makes you learn aka “memorize” the process etc., but it does so with the context of the various problems in which it is used, rather than sitting down with just the rules. Think of it like learning a language…say you're learning Spanish. You can sit down and memorize “cat” = “gato”, and with a list of memory words, get a certain number of words memorized each week. But when you go to put those into a sentence, you'll still struggle. On the other hand, if you move to a Spanish-speaking region for a few months, then you will learn “gato” and a million other words as well as how to put them together just by being surrounded by people speaking the language. It will be committed to memory, but the information will be much more useful when memorized by seeing and using than when memorized in a list of words.

So, I push for using/understanding (which I personally find is best done with MCQs after completing reading or lectures) because it makes the memory useful, whereas memorizing lists or phrases doesn't tend to be as effective.

I'd say an easily guideline is that word-for-word memory is useless for this exam; practical knowledge of the topics is far more useful. So, if you're trying to memorize word-for-word what your lecture/book/etc. says, you're doing it wrong, but if you're memorizing the concept/application/usefulness, then you're in good shape. Word-for-word memory is for reciting (Gettysburg Address or something like that from highschool); internalizing concepts is what we need for this.

[Excel14]

Definitely not “memorizing” things by your definition; but, I think we may be saying the same thing. To use your Spanish analogy, I think of doing the multiple choice as being exposed to multiple Spanish words, while being in a Spanish speaking area for a while. To carry your analogy further, I guess my issue with all of this material, is that it is similar to people running 100 Spanish words by you real quickly. You may have a handle on many words while they are fresh in your mind, that doesn't mean the words will be there even a week from now. However, if I speak the words over and over again (similar to doing MCQ), I'm bound to remember more than if I just briefly get exposed to an entire Spanish vocabulary.

What do they call an accounting person, who only managed a 75 on all four parts of the CPA exam....you got it, CPA!!!

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[Anonymous]

I agree with you completely @Excel14 – if I seemed to be contradicting, then I came out different than I meant to. My study routine was a single read-through of the textbook then immersing myself in MCQs till exam-day. I didn't intentionally memorize anything, just memorized in passing from use/repetition. My point with the definition is that yes, we do “memorize”, but we shouldn't be sitting down with the goal to memorize (like memorizing a list of 100 words), we should be sitting down with the goal of learning and understanding (like living surrounded by Spanish), and memorization will happen as a byproduct.

[Anonymous]

For MCQs, you memorize fact patterns in the questions asked. If you didn't it would be extremely difficult to decipher the information in the question that will allow you to answer it. This is why SIMs are so difficult IMO. You can be asked a concept that you might know but the information provided is presented in a completely different format that you have never seen before.

[Excel14]

@lilla:

No worries. I wasn't offended by your analogy at all. I agree, the goal is never to memorize. I guess my point was/is, that we seem to end up doing it, with the magnitude of material involved. We're all on this crazy ride together, so it is definitely good to get peoples' views on how to approach this stuff. I appreciate the advice.

@Bobcat:

I couldn't agree more.

Bottom line….I have a month to learn/memorize/cram, before I tackle my first part of the exam undertaken. I better accomplish a whole lot, between now and then. 🙂 Briefly touching each topic and moving on, just scares me to death. Never a big fan of learning that way.

What do they call an accounting person, who only managed a 75 on all four parts of the CPA exam....you got it, CPA!!!

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[Author]

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