Question for Tarheelgirl

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  • #187540
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I saw a few of your posts how you increased over 30 points on FAR in a month (if I am not mistaken) Amazing!

    What was your study plan for this? I am in a similar situation and would love your advice!

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • #588685
    Tarheelgirl
    Member

    Hi etcetera!

    This is what I did.

    I started out rereading my entire Gleim book. I caught concepts that I had missed before and taking few notes on things that I would keep tripping up on, those key fact nuggets. At the end of each chapter in Gleim is 5 Sim problems and MCQs. I completed every single one in the entire book. After that, I started to drill MCQs. I bought the NINJA MCQ (those questions are more similar to the exam than others I have seen). I started doing random questions so I would get questions from all topics. That is how the exam will be so I wanted to be prepared to get thrown from calculating a bond to answering a government/NFP question. After a few days of this you pretty much know what your weak areas are. From there I focused on learning those, bonds, EPS, leases, SCF, etc. Rereading those chapters if neccessary, going to a different test bank to answer questions on those particular topics to get more variety. Also I started making FLASHCARDS. I think this is what really helped me out this time. I probably ended up with 75 flashcards that I went over EVERYDAY. These included, journal entries, government/NFP tidbits, all areas, but they were only from topics I kept getting confused and not understanding completely. Eventually when it came to a bond question I was able to picture or write out the journal entry and get the question correct. In my last few days of studying I just did SIMS (including NINJA Sims) on my weak areas, and random MCQs. Read my fact nugget notes every night.

    From my first exam to my second the questions were completely and totally different, so have an understanding of everything. KNOW GOV/NFP and IFRS. Know how to search the AL. I know I missed my first Research due to not having a good knowledge of how to search through it. So I got the 6 months free access through AICPA and practiced. I know I got the Research question on my last exam right.

    Buckle down and study. I only took one day off the entire month I studied and that was because it was my birthday. I didn't go out on weekends or anything.

    Try a number of different studying habits and you will find out what works best for you. That is what I focused on this time is figuring out how I learn best.

    Good Luck and you can pass!

    FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
    AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
    BEC - 69, 74 Really??
    REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

    #588686
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Thanks so much for replying!

    I am definitely going to implement your suggestions. I am currently taking the month off to study and my exam is on the 28th, so I hope its enough time! I just finished all the becker lectures, but I have a lot of weak areas and I don't feel like I retained much. I plan to follow your guidelines (i have gleim and ninja mcq as well) and hopefully it will be enough to get me that passing grade!

    #588687
    Tarheelgirl
    Member

    It will if you try.

    That is how I was the first time, so many weak areas and didn't retain anything. Just keep going over your weak areas and do the SIMS that you don't want to do. Gleim has really good SIMS. I even did some on their online test bank on areas I wanted more practice in. But also don't forget to go over the stuff you are comfortable about too.

    Another thing, I always felt so guilty taking breaks. I would always get to a point in every study session that would get multiple questions wrong in a row. I knew then it is time for a break, nap, etc. Take a break if you need it. It will help in the end. The Saturday before my exam I was so tired of looking at MCQs, I took a 4-5 hour break/nap. Went back to study for 2 more hours and was killing the MCQs. You have to give your brain time to absorb the information, but that doesn't mean a break everyday, lol.

    Good Luck! Let know your progress and how the exam goes.

    FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
    AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
    BEC - 69, 74 Really??
    REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

    #588688
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I definitely will! Thanks again for your help and good luck on your exams also!!

    #588689
    Tarheelgirl
    Member

    Your welcome and thank you!

    FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
    AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
    BEC - 69, 74 Really??
    REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

    #588690
    Guti
    Participant

    Tarheelgirl, I thank you for sharing your wisdom, and I have a question. What was your best strategy to tackle the research part? I have taken FAR twice and I never find the research answer. After 5 minutes of trying, I get paranoid and would start working on other simulations. I have read here that the research part is not worth much, but I have my doubts about that.

    FAR-84
    AUD-
    REG-
    BEC-

    #588691
    Tarheelgirl
    Member

    @gian- Someone else had a question in a thread about how to look up in the AL. They stated using quotation marks around the phrases you use helps narrow down the choices. I did not know about this until I started practicing and it helps out significantly. Also to use the Search Within to narrow your search even more.

    About the points on the exam, I also have read that. I also have read that they are always pre-test questions. I am not sure about that either. To me anything is fair game on the exam and we have no clue on what is pre-test or how many points something is.

    FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
    AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
    BEC - 69, 74 Really??
    REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

    #588692
    Guti
    Participant

    Tarheelgirl, thanks

    FAR-84
    AUD-
    REG-
    BEC-

    #588694
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hey Tarheelgirl,

    I just have one more quick question.

    So you used the physical textbook and read each chapter, then did the MCQ and SIMS at the end of each chapter? Or did you do the MCQ when Gleim tells you to and the SIMS at the end of each chapter. Once you got through all the chapters (just doing the mcq and sims at the end of the chapters) then you the MCQ hard and made flashcard? Did you do any more SIMS?

    Sorry for so many questions, but I have Gleim and I definitely like your study plan. I just want to be sure!

    Also, this can be done in a month or so while working full-time?

    Thanks!

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