[snow067]

I’ve been through 3 exams now using Becker. With the exception of A-4 (which was freaking brutal), I have never really had a hard time understanding the concepts and applying them to the MCs. But I officially feel defeated by F-5 right now. I’m not even done with all the questions but I got 50’s on the Leases part and I’m getting 50’s on the Bonds Payable part. Did anyone else feel this way? I feel like I didn’t learn anything from the videos. My head is about to EXPLODE!!!!

REG - 80 (5/30/2012)
BEC - 92 (10/20/2012)
AUD - 90 (2/4/2013)
FAR - 80!!(5/30/2013)

And I am outta here!

[Anonymous]

Chapter 5 was awful. Hated every second of it. Thankfully the exam is not an exam solely covering chapter 5. You'll be fine. – I wish I had your scores. 🙂

[OJFWEroiu]

You are not alone. Lots of FAR was very confusing. I was getting similar scores and managed to pass by 1 point. And was also burnt out on studying. The week before the test, I didn't do any mcqs or much reviewing and sort of crammed the day or 2 before.

Just move on to F-6 once you've done about 100 F-5 mcqs or so. Or if you're burnt out on F-5 problems, just move on to F-6. You can review it later.

If you get sick of doing mcqs from any chapter, but don't mind reading the textbook do this: read the major parts from the chapter – the passkeys, the mnemonics, the formulas, and the examples if you have time and are willing. You can do this 3-4+ and it helps imo.

It's completely understandable that you are sick of some sections in FAR. There were many sections I felt the same way; I think leases and bonds payable were one of them.

tl;dr – Move on to F6.

passed

[Tina82]

Read the chapter slow and take notes, I think the way Becker has it is slighty confusing (at least for me). For leases especially I made some charts, ex.

GAAP Operating Lease = Operating Lease for Lessee + Lessor

GAAP Capital Lease = Always capital for Lessee

GAAP Capital Lease = Sales Type = profit to lessor

GAAP Capital Lease = Direct Financing = no profit to lessor = interest income only

I can't draw the charts here but once I broke it down that way and focused on each part it made it much simpler. For the calculations of interest/lease liability etc. I actually redid the entire amortization tables in excel (doesn't take that long) and at first I used that table to solve all the problems. After that it was much easier to answer questions without using the entire table. Same for bonds. Hope this helps.

R - 74;88
A - 84
B - 74;89
F - no study = 67; May 15 = 87 & done

[memmy29]

@OJFWEroiu,

You were getting 50s on MCQs in some sections and still passed? You have no idea what a relief that is to me. I agree, F-4 and F-5 make me want to cry.

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[OJFWEroiu]

@memmy29

Yes. I think in one or two sections I was getting like 55% or something. I was hysterical. Others I was getting like 60-63%. It was so depressing. A few times I would get like 45% when I'd do like 20 mcqs to check my progress. Maddening.

Just remember you are strong in other sections, and nobody's any smarter or less prone to stress & burn out than you. They can't make it so hard that nobody passes the damn thing. If you don't get it, most don't get it either.

Do what's worked for you on the other exams you've passed. And if you get tired or saddened doing mcqs in more difficult sections, just look at the passkeys, mnemonics, formulas, and the examples instead. You will grasp enough to pass.

passed

[memmy29]

@OJFWEroiu,

You have no idea how much I needed all of that…I'm on the verge of losing it! Awesome pep talk.

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[OJFWEroiu]

@memmy29

I know the feeling so much. Glad I could help. This test really humbles a person. One thing I know for sure: if you feel like crap – anxious, stressed, burnt out, going @#$@ nuts – your odds of passing are increased.

I really hope you pass. Good luck.

passed

[Spur]

Well, I'm in this boat too.

I took a week off from work to study before my exam date (Tuesday 5/14) and yesterday I felt like my brain was fried. Now I understand why people come to the edge of sanity while studying for this examination. So, I took the night off and this morning I felt much better. The only problem is I feel like when I'm reviewing the MCQ's and my notes/flashcards that I do not remember how to do the more complicated equations. I feel good about the theory questions, but the computations seem to bog me down.

In any case I wish good luck to all of you who are taking FAR this month. For myself I hope this fourth attempt will be my last, so I can move on to AUD.

FAR - Bad Fail '11, Fail '12, Fail '13, PASS It's a miracle!
AUD - Fail, PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC - PASS!!!!!!!!
REG - PASS!!!!!!!! And I'm done!

[memmy29]

@OJFWEroiu- thanks 🙂

@spur- 4th time's a charm! :::::fingers crossed:::::

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[soweto]

Bonds and leases are a couple of those topics that can be difficult at first, but become kind of easy once they click.

Read the chapter again very slowly and don't move on until you understand. It will be a major boost of confidence when you master them.

[Spur]

@Memmy 29. I'll post again on the 23rd (the expected score release date, I'm in IL and usually they let them out the day before here) with my results. Hope to see you back with a PASS!

FAR - Bad Fail '11, Fail '12, Fail '13, PASS It's a miracle!
AUD - Fail, PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC - PASS!!!!!!!!
REG - PASS!!!!!!!! And I'm done!

[memmy29]

@spur,

Please do! I should get mine by June 10.

AUD - 84
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 75

So glad to be done!

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Sir Winston Churchill

AUD-84, REG-75, BEC-84, FAR-77

Licensed CPA

CIA Exam
Part 1 - Passed
Part 2 - Passed
Part 3 - Passed

[MustPass1988]

Bonds and leases just suck…best way to put it. I hated them when I studied using Rogers. He doesn't explain it very well and moved through it very quickly. What truly helped me was listening to the Yaeger lecture. Yaeger breaks it down so well and makes it really understandable and that's the only reason that it's easy for me now. I would highly recommend trying to get your hands on Yaeger material or see if there are free youtube vidoes or something

AUD: PASSED [81]; Expired, retaking August 23rd
BEC: PASSED [83]; Expired, retaking July 11th
REG: PASSED [83]
FAR: FAILED [64]; Retaking May 23rd

[snow067]

Thanks for the pep talk guys. I'm just going to move on to F-6 and come back around during my final review to try and understand as much as I can.

@Tina82 Thanks for the tip. I'm gonna try that when I re-study F-5.

REG - 80 (5/30/2012)
BEC - 92 (10/20/2012)
AUD - 90 (2/4/2013)
FAR - 80!!(5/30/2013)

And I am outta here!

[Tina82]

@snow [EDITED – I said bonds instead of warrants in the market method] sorry for any confusion!

Let me know if you need anything else; def do the excel thing.

One thing for bonds I always do those with JEs (for issue date), start with Dr. Cash, Cr. Bonds Payable and fill in the blanks based on the question (ie. whether it's only disount or premium and whether there are warrants)

Setting up the JE makes it much simpler. For the amortization cals use the excel table similar for leases. Once you set it up and visualize what the calcs look like it should be easier.

R - 74;88
A - 84
B - 74;89
F - no study = 67; May 15 = 87 & done

[Author]

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