[Renz Benton]

I just took FAR and I only used NINJA to study for the exam. I followed the NINJA method and figured a few things out.

1 I read the book and took notes. In retrospect I realize I failed to nail the concepts. It is one thing to grasp the idea of the concept and another to have a deep internal understanding of them. This is key.

2 I did well over 2700 MCQ’s I just hit the MCQ button and did sets of 20 questions. I averaged about 120 per day. After about 2 or 3 weeks I realized I was making slow progress. I did get to expand my general knowledge base during this time but did not fully grasp the concepts. When I was about 15 days out I started selecting the questions not seen option and got through the remainder of the questions I had not seen. When I was 7 days out I realized I knew a little bit about every topic but not enough about them all. I took a look at the detailed reports and started attacking the sections I had the lowest average score in and continued this process until I took the exam.

3 I re-wrote my notes into a more cohesive “studyable” format but this is where I asked the question, Do my notes contain what I need to remember how to answer any question in a particular category? The answer is simple I realized my notes need to connect me with what should have been a complete understanding of a topic.

I did not see anything on the exam that I was not familiar with but (as expected) I was not overconfident in my ability to get the right answers. I also ran out of time and did not answer the last question on the SIMs.

If I have to take this again…

I will not read the book. Instead I will just begin with the MCQ’s from the top down (by section) and prepare my notes while going through the questions. I feel this will put the information in context and help me grasp the material at a deeper level. I will also take a few moments to relate the question to what financial statement/s it will end up on and the JE’s that would be necessary to get there. I will only use the questions not seen option during this initial note taking phase.

After I have a complete set of notes to review I will go back and take the (rest of the) MCQ’s (all sections) by using the missed questions option with the idea being that I get a little exposure to everything and run with this till I hit the review phase. At this point I should know exactly what I need to focus on.

Finally I will improve on my notes and try to master concepts to where it takes me less time to figure things out. At this point I will incorporate SIMs into the study process to get familiar with presenting JE’s….

If I passed then great but if I did not I feel like I have a way to quickly gain a deeper understanding of the concepts.

[mommyof3texans]

You just summed up how I feel going into my exam tomorrow. Sigh

BEC - 02/21/15 - 82
FAR - 05/29/15 - 82
AUD - 07/09/15 - 93
REG - 11/14/15 - 80

All done!!!

[Mole351]

I'm in the same boat – and also taking my test tomorrow. Feel the same way…feel like I'm close on everything (other than maybe some aspects of governmental) but not overly confident on anything. I know the concepts but it's the intricacies that get me. If I knew when I started what I know now I would have approached it differently, but live and learn I guess. Wouldn't have the same approach as above but would do what I think would work for me (get through the videos quickly, do the MC's and then put together a new iteration of notes – probably on index cards with key concepts so I can quickly review), and continue to supplement here and there with MCQ's from chapters already covered to stay fresh.

I spent too much time on the initial review from my program, but in hindsight need at least a month after finishing to go through MCQ's and practice the sim's. Currently I'm averaging/trending at 72% and just got through the last of the questions I hadn't seen. Pretty sure I could bring that up if I started going back through old questions but don't have time. I also didn't have any time to do the sims in the ninja MCQ's.

So yeah – pretty nervous about tomorrow!

FAR - 87 (5/15)
AUD - 93 (8/15)
REG - 86 (2/16)
BEC - 87 (5/16)

[Anonymous]

Also taking FAR tomorrow and only had 6 weeks total study time. I feel like every time I focus a little more on a weaker topic, one that I knew leaves my head entirely. I feel like its gonna come down to whats on my test and what topics the Sims are. Good luck everyone!

[EuroAddict]

GL everyone. My study method so far has been:

A. Watch the Becker video and highlight / write down every thing they say.

B. Go back over what I highlighted / wrote down and write it all down on a blank piece of paper.

C. Study what I wrote down. I look at it in bed while the wife is watching TV.

D. MCQ MCQ MCQ.

E. DON'T FORGET THE SIMS! Yes they are long and make you want to commit hara-kiri.

Lastly, do progress tests. For me at least, I needed to keep seeing the material or else I would forget the simple things.

P.S. Maybe I over studied lol

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Monkey Wrench]

@OP, Renz

With your “if i had to go again” mindset, when you are going thru the questions section by section, and its laid out like

Section A

…..Subset Section A-1

………..Concepts in this one (30 questions)

………..Concepts2 in this one (50 questions)

In your first pass through how many questions do you plan to do set up your notes completely (and I assume plan to not do all that way you can further review later with questions not seen)?

[y_u_no_pass]

I will say this. In my opinion it is better to fully understand a number of the items (hopefully most) and even not have been exposed to some than it is to just have cursory knowledge of all. I used this strategy for all of my exams and it paid off. I truly believe if there is one or two subjects that just aren't clicking for you, that is okay. As long as you fully master most of them.

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

[Renz Benton]

@ Monkey Wrench I will go through all the questions. I have already done this with a few sections like inventory it has 56 questions it took me about 5 hours. Now I have great notes on inventory.

[Author]

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