[blandrover123]

I took REG around the end of July and just received my score yesterday. I failed with a 71 =(. However, since August 10th, I have been studying for FAR, but not doing to well. I was planning to take FAR the first week of October.

Since I was so close to REG, should I stop studying FAR and restudy reg and take it the beginning of August? Or is 6 weeks to much for a re-take? Or should I continue studying for FAR in hopes that I pass at the beginning of October, then REG after?

Thanks

[kappa1032]

That's a tough one. I'd probably study for your REG retake since you were so damn close to passing and while it's still in your head.

But I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to get FAR out of the way first…that test is a doozie!!

FAR - 81
REG - 74, 87
AUD - 88
BEC - 88

Finally.

“The only guarantee for failure is to stop trying”
― John C. Maxwell

[Anonymous]

I'll speak from experience on FAR (scores: 67, 73, 74) and BEC (Scores: 74, 79)…

Try taking another exam in between your retake but try to take the retake at the end of the testing window so you get 2 exams in one window.

I kept trying SOOOOO hard to pass FAR, that I solely focused on FAR and wasted 2 testing windows on one exam. If I were you, I'd hammer out FAR, retake REG 2-3 weeks after within the same testing window if you can. Your score is so close to passing, so you know what your weak topics are so it's more of a review than anything.

I did this with BEC…Took BEC first, then took AUD, re-took BEC within the same testing window and finally passed with a 79. I'm hoping that after just taking REG and just receiving my passing score of 75 (THANK YOU JESUS!), I will have finally passed FAR that I just took this week after.

I feel like it gives you a chance to re-learn the HW and practice sims rather than just remembering the answers from studying before. It gives you a fair chance to see what you are weak on.

[blandrover123]

Yeah, I am totally lost at what to do! I am scoring 40-50s on every set of 30 mcq I do for FAR and I am not sure a little over a month (while working full time) will get me that passing grade. But who knows…

On the other hand, I feel there is a higher chance I can pass REG in october. So I can at least get one of the 2 beasts out of the way. Then I would have FAR and AUD left.

For REG I was comparable in everything, stronger in MCQ and taxation of entities. I was only weaker in SIMS!

But then the past 3 weeks of semi-studying FAR will go down the drain! ughhhh =(

[Kimboroni]

I think I'm in the same camp as Kappa– switch back to REG and retake that in early October. Since you're not very far into FAR, and don't feel that great about the material so far anyway, it probably makes the most sense to tackle REG again while it's still pretty fresh.

Just be careful about not emphasizing your weak areas so much that your previously strong areas become your weak areas. You also can get a completely different test on the retake. You really have to re-study everything.

Then you should have just enough time to study for and take FAR at the end of the window.

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. 🙂

[blandrover123]

@Kimboroni – You are right. I had that experience before where all my strong subject became weaker and vice versa!

The thing that is killing me on REG is solely the SIMS. I have Becker/Gleim/NINJA and I plan on doing ALL the sims in Gleim and Ninja, as well as random sets of MCQ for all topics. I think by the first week of October I will be in a good position to pass.

Then from there I can either study AUD or FAR. I already have BEC passed and I would like to get FAR/REG/AUD done by December, if possible (I already passed AUD in the 90s, but is has since expired =[ )

I just hope this is the right move…

[Kimboroni]

One thing that I did is print out the main tax forms and take them around with me so I could look at them when I had a spare moment. It helped me get the flow of the forms in my head, especially things like what goes toward AGI and what is deducted out of AGI. And if you don't do your own taxes, take a crack at it for a past year or two– by hand. I also listen to Ninja Audio whenever I'm in the car.

Don't forget to use the AL on all the sims, and leave enough time for the sims.

Your plan sounds like you are trying to take 3 exams in the next window? That sounds tough to me.

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. 🙂

[blandrover123]

Yes, it will definitely be tough. But my BEC expires at the end of December, so I have to try at least, right? If I could pass REG in October and either FAR or AUD in that testing window, then that would be good. I was so close to REG and I already passed AUD once (and enjoyed it studying for it), so AUD should really only take 3-4 weeks.

Once busy starts in January, I will virtually have NO time to study. This is why my parts keep expiring! From January to the end of April there barely any time to study, if any time at all.

If not 3 in that testing window, think I would have a chance at passing at least FAR if I take it right before the Thanksgiving? That is about 7 weeks.

[CPA soon]

It depends how much you retained from REG, if it's an advantage to keep going at REG then do that.. If you feel like you forgot everything you might as well keep studying FAR since you invested 12 days already.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[blandrover123]

I still remember most of REG. I think I will restart with REG rather than relearn it all over again. If I take it the first week of October, that gives me 6 weeks to study (working full-time). Is that overkill for a retake?

[AGI]

Blandrover123:

From what I read in your posts, you mentioned what really kill your score is the sim.

So here is the question:

Do I need to spend 6 weeks studying REG sim?

If you think you need it —> Then study REG

If you think you don't need it —> Then study FAR

Afterward, since you receive a 71 in your last test, that sounds like your MC is already in a good shape. There isn't much room for improvement. And if that's the case, it doesn't matter if you spend 3 days or 6 weeks studying MC, your score won't move much higher….

So in order to be time effective, I would recommend you move on to something else…

---

I can give you my personal story:

Spend 2 test period studying REG, failed with 72 in May.

Spend 1.5 month on AUG, passed with 82. (No previous AUG experience.)

Retaking REG tomorrow after reviewing REG again for one month.

---

I will say FAR in 6 weeks is a little hard, AUG in 6 weeks is totally enough. (If you know what you are doing.)

Unless you have very strong FAR / basic accounting skills, then you can master it in 6 weeks.

If you take the other subject by mid-October (first test score window). Then you have 1.5 month to study for REG and retake it in the end of November.

---

As far as REG sim, I did the NINJA sim for at least 5 time back and forth and just memorize the answers…(the fast solution).

NY - CPA

New York - NYC
Passed CPA Exam (11/2014)
In search for a position in NYC that will fulfills the license requirement.

[Kimboroni]

I don't think 6 weeks is overkill for REG, even if it is a retake, because there is a lot of material, and you want to give yourself the best chance of passing. If you study like you only need 4 points, unfortunately that probably won't get you a pass. Like Jeff says, you have to study like you need 75 more points.

I'd recommend taking REG as soon as possible in October. Then you'd have like 7-8 weeks to study for FAR and take that at the end of November. You're probably going to need to let BEC go in order to get these 2 biggies tackled. If you try to squeeze in a third section that same window, then that makes it highly likely that you won't pass either one (FAR or AUD), which doesn't help the situation. You want to pass REG and FAR and have them done.

Assuming you pass both of those in Q4, then you can retake BEC in very early January before busy season really gets going. You pass that and then take AUD in May.

I know this isn't fast and it makes you retake BEC, but my method for myself has been to take it slow and give myself lots of time for each one (except for AUD, which was my first test, and kind of started on a whim of sorts, but I'm trying to really do it right for the others), with the hope that I will only have to take each test the one time. So far it has worked. So I'm applying my method to your situation. It's not everyone's method, but it's working for me.

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. 🙂

[Anonymous]

I would go with whatever one you find tougher, prob FAR for me. Get the harder one out of the way.

[blandrover123]

Hmm, such a tough decision! I find both REG and FAR tough, but probably FAR a little tougher because I already learned most of REG. Even though I have been through a good portion of FAR, nothing really stuck in my head and I am consistently scoring 40-50 on sets of 30 mcq. I took a 20 mcq reg test real quick and got a 76. This makes me pretty confident that I could pass REG the beginning of October. But not overconfident because this will be my third time taking REG and I gave myself 5 weeks for a retake and still barely missed the mark. This was after 7 months after REG though.

I am just scared that if I take FAR the beginning of October and I don't pass, Then I would forget all of REG and still be stuck with having FAR, REG, and AUD left. That would be a nightmare!

Kimboroni – I like your idea of taking it slow. I would not mind at all if I had BEC or AUD last. My main goal is to get FAR and REG out of the way.

My idea is this – Go back to restudy REG. Then, after REG is hopefully passed, take FAR right before Thanksgiving. IF I did not pass FAR, than I can restudy all of December and take it right at the beginning of January. If I passed FAR, then I can either take AUD or BEC at the beginning of January. I think the reason it is taking me so long to pass (other than long busy seasons) is that I keep bouncing around. I should stick to one section until I pass it….I think

[blandrover123]

Hmm, such a tough decision! I find both REG and FAR tough, but probably FAR a little tougher because I already learned most of REG. Even though I have been through a good portion of FAR, nothing really stuck in my head and I am consistently scoring 40-50 on sets of 30 mcq. I took a 20 mcq reg test real quick and got a 76. This makes me pretty confident that I could pass REG the beginning of October. But not overconfident because this will be my third time taking REG and I gave myself 5 weeks for a retake and still barely missed the mark. This was after 7 months after REG though.

I am just scared that if I take FAR the beginning of October and I don't pass, Then I would forget all of REG and still be stuck with having FAR, REG, and AUD left. That would be a nightmare!

Kimboroni – I like your idea of taking it slow. I would not mind at all if I had BEC or AUD last. My main goal is to get FAR and REG out of the way.

My idea is this – Go back to restudy REG. Then, after REG is hopefully passed, take FAR right before Thanksgiving. IF I did not pass FAR, than I can restudy all of December and take it right at the beginning of January. If I passed FAR, then I can either take AUD or BEC at the beginning of January. I think the reason it is taking me so long to pass (other than long busy seasons) is that I keep bouncing around. I should stick to one section until I pass it….I think

[blandrover123]

Now that I think about it – If I take FAR at the beginning of October, which is still 6 full weeks away, then I could still possibly pass REG and AUD in the rest of October and November? I could study a few weeks for AUD and a few for REG.

If I take REG at the beginning of October, there is a way better chance I can pass that, but a less chance I can pass both AUD and REG by November, so then my BEC would expire. I would still only have around 6-7 weeks for FAR.

I AM SO CONFUSED! I haven't studied all day and I can't sleep because I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO :((((

[Author]

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