[HustlinHustlin]

Hey all,

I know this topic has been brought up before in terms of note taking, but I kind of feel lost as to where to start studying for FAR again.

I think by my low scores, it’s obvious I am lacking some conceptual knowledge – so I think it would be a good idea to do something with notes…or whatever.

BUT – here’s the thing. I have notes. I have written out notes in two different forms, typed up those notes, have notes with pictures of questions I got wrong, flashcards, ninja notes….

I started this morning with making flashcards again – but it seems some of this stuff just isn’t right for flash cards because it’s so interrelated …so do I move onto outlining chapters? Do I incorporate ALL the notes I have taken into one master set?

My problem is that I haven’t looked at any of the sets of notes – so I’m not sure if that’s where I should focus. Last time around I only focused on MCQ (which I never scored well on bc I wasn’t really figuring out the big picture).

Anyone have advice on this topic? What was the thing that got you over the FAR hump?

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[Onmyway82]

You really need to figure out what works best for you. I never took notes like some people on here say they do, and I was still able to pass.

The first two times I took FAR I just used Becker, I think for the second try I just added the Becker Final Review. But for my third attempt I added Wiley Test Bank, NINJA Notes and Becker Flashcards. I rewrote the NINJA notes by Becker chapter so they would be in that order and then I just kept reading them over and over. I carried around the flashcards one chapter at a time and just went over them whenever I had some time. And once I had gone through all the Becker material I went into the Wiley test bank. I think for me some of the material that I didn't understand just finally clicked when I was studying for the first time. So just find what you still weren't understanding and try to find a way to have it stick this time, look at it a different way.

Good luck…FAR was my beast too, I know how difficult it can be.

FAR- 70, 68, 90
AUD- 72, 85
REG- 74, 83
BEC- 81
ETHICS- 90

CA CPA
CMA

[ImaCPA168]

You said you're lacking in conceptual knowledge. To me it sounds like you don't really understand the material. Not all of it at least. You have to figure out what areas you don't understand and make sure you learn them. There are some major parts in FAR that you just can't not know… so don't gloss over them. Be honest with yourself. Do you have a good grasp of most of the topics covered in FAR? If not, this is probably your main problem.

If you do understand the material but are still doing poorly on the exams, then the problem might be that you're lacking in practice or your studying approach does not match your study style. You'll have to adjust and tweak here. No one way works for everyone. Good thing for you is you've done it a couple of times so you should be able to learn from your past mistakes. Go back and reassess what part of your studying program is and is not working for you. I used the Another 71 ELL and NINJA plan. It worked for me on FAR.

If you don't really understand the material when going through lectures and the book, MCQs and notes you take while working them alone will not be enough to give you throrough knowledge of the materials. You should probably go through the review course again. Re-watch the lectures and go through the book while watching the lectures. Actively watch, scibble notes, work the examples right along with the lecturer. Key is to make sure you learn and ultimately understand most of the material before you move on to re-writing a clean set of notes and practicing MCQs.

Keep in mind that your notes should be a neat outline of all the topics. Beef up areas where you need more detail/nemonics. Streamline areas that you know well. It should be concise but thorough enough so that you can just read it over and over and refer to it whenever you have questions. Those are effective notes. When you can just bring them with you everywhere and read whenever you have time. If your notes are good and have everything you need, you rarely have to go back to the lectures/books.

Good luck.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Jennifer241]

I have a horrible long-term memory, so to compensate for it I review my notes daily. When I study a topic, get it, then move on only to find that a few short weeks later I have forgotten it.

I had a problem with having too long of notes to review, so make sure you make some summary notes. I myself, print out the NINJA notes, and write key mnemonics on the back, summarize difficult area's. In some sections I have to add another piece of paper to my NINJA notes, and that is alright. Make sure you don't write a book on it though, you need to be able to read them in about 10-25 minutes.

You will get so good at reading your notes that it will feel like you can recite them.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[peetree]

For me, I found that flashcards and obsessively working multiple choice questions was enough to hammer out most of the concepts. I worked roughly 4500 multiple choice questions while studying for FAR.

The only way to make sure all of that material stays in your head is to pound it in there.

Flashcards were an amazing way to study while on the go. I highly recommend the becker app because, well, its already made for you 😀

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[HustlinHustlin]

Thank you guys all for the help.

I think I will start by incorporating the notes on my MCQ with my notes from the book/other sources. Then, I will work on those MCQ (the hardest part for me – they're so exhausting!)

I have a week vacation where I will probably be able to get in some good study time, but might not have internet access for my WTB, so maybe then will be notes review time.

B 71 - 79 EXPIRED
A 69 - 75 EXPIRED
R 65 - 48 - 45
F 56 - 61 - 65 - 64

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Wiley Text and Ninja Notes

"The fish who keeps on swimming is the first to chill upstream" -311

Experience - Done, like WAAAY done.
Still need 30 more credits, in basket weaving (gotta love new CA requirements)

[ImaCPA168]

@ Peetree

Is your handle from The Land Before Time?

Anyway, you did A LOT of MCQs. That's awesome. I probably did 1/4 for the MCQs you did. And no flashcards. But my notes were immaculate. I carried them around with me for weeks and read them at least 6-8 times cover to cover. I've since given them to my friends who love them.

Also, 2 days before the exam, I further condensed my notes (which into a 8.5 x 11 cheat sheet of formulas, nemonics, and things I just had a hard time with. I brought that sheet with me to Prometric and committed everything on that sheet into my short term memory right before stepping into the testing computer room.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[IwannaBaCPA]

I think you need to take a step back and evaluate why you are not retaining the information. You may get caught up in the piles and piles of notes you have, but none of that will help you if you cannot retain/comprehend the information. When you are studying, be sure to think about the topics. Why does this make sense…start connecting the dots that way. Then creating or editing some notes may help you.

Do tons of MCQ and when you get one wrong, write the concept an example in your notes or on a flash card. This will hopefully help you.

Good luck. It is easy to become overwhelmed and feel defeated by this process, but you CAN succeed! Good luck!!

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[peetree]

@ImaCPA168

Yes! … I mean… “YUP YUP YUP”

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[Author]

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