[Anonymous]

I just started studying FAR for the first time and already I feel like it is sucking the life out of me!!! I just finished the second lecture and started the multiple choice, which is really kicking my butt and I’m losing self-confidence. Any advice on how to study? I usually work through the problem and if it’s wrong figure out why and keep a notebook of “study tips” or little statements that I should remember (ie: Record loss when it happens, defer gains). Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙂

[Anonymous]

BTW, I got the Gleim MCQ's for WINDOWS MOBILE to supplement my Becker materials! And it has EASILY added 10-20 minutes of practicing questions on to my study time a day.

When I am in a cab or waiting for someone to meet me some where or waiting in line some where that I can't pull out my laptop or a textbook I just start doing questions on my phone.

WHY DON'T ALL THE REVIEW COURSES OFFER SOMETHING LIKE THIS YET!

Some of the sections are hard to do with just a phone but any of the theory questions and the ones that require minimal calculation (on my smartphone calculator) are easy to do on the go. I think this will be even better when I am taking the parts that are less calculation driven.

Just wanted let everyone know since every moment counts.

[Anonymous]

Becker covers dollar-value LIFO in Homework reading only, whereas Yaeger covers it extensively… Is it normally tested? Could there be a simulation on it?

[jeff]

Created with Compare Ninja

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Anonymous]

Eh, I was afraid so 🙂

LIFO and inventory in general are my least favorite topics on this exam… had super-bad professor in college in Interm. ACC-1 – got B, couldn't stop crying for 3 days:-)

Thank you, Jeff. I'll try to overcome my disgust with it:))

[jeff]

Dollar value LIFO is kind of a fringe topic…but you need to be strong on LIFO, FIFO, and Weighted Avg for sure.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Anonymous]

Just took a deep breath and dealt with it… it's not that bad once you start doing more MCQ.

thanks for the tips, Jeff

[Anonymous]

I was just about to nod off during my Becker F2 lecture DVD when I hear cheesy disco music and see a flashing picture of Olinto in a leisure suit "Stayin' Alive".

That was just wrong.

[Anonymous]

🙂 I actually loved that one…

[Anonymous]

It will probably help Franchisee's Intangible Assets stick in my mind a little better. LOL!

[Anonymous]

Arrgh, I am rapidly losing steam. I have FAR on Monday and when I went to bed last night I was all geared up to take my first practice final this morning, review the tough areas, practice some sims, and then take the next practice final on Sunday to really pinpoint my weak areas, but I woke up this morning miserable and with no motivation! I'm sure it didn't help that my 20 month old woke up at 5, but I am seriously in a bad mood and I am the least moody person so I don't deal well when I get like this. I need some motivation! Since, after 6 months of this, I am afraid to even mention it to my husband in fear that he will get all annoyed and just make it worse, I figured I would come here and see what you guys to do get that last boost of energy when you feel like you have lost it??

[Anonymous]

kmcauliffe…do not let yourself get down this close in!!!! Believe me, I have taken FAR 3 times now and I am anxiously awaiting this last score so that I know I'm done w/ this exam forever…so I know how you feel! All I can say is, go for a walk, have some coffee, basically just take some time for yourself this morning and wind down…if you need some retail therapy, go get yourself something you want but don't "need" as a treat…I found that can perk your spirits up! Then, tell yourself you're just going to do it. I was at the point that I didn't know what else to do…my average on Becker was a 98% and I failed FAR twice…while others I know that could barley crack 80s were passing without issue. It was a huge blow to my ego and making myself study again and again just about drained everything I had left out of me…but I told myself that I was going to pass this test one way or another and I pulled up my Beckers and got back into it. Unfortunately, our husbands, if they've never done anything like this before, can't TRULY understand what it's like or how this makes you feel! Believe me, we all do here…you have a good 3 days to nail this down…YOU CAN TOTALLY DO THIS!!!

[TampaAccountant]

Hey kmcauliffe, I know what you mean, FAR is horrible, I'm reviewing Govt. this week and it's horrible! But I'm OK cause last weekend I took-off, I was burn-out from Bifurcation, Consolidations and Investments ect.

But what fueled my motivation was plenty of rest and hanging-out with the family for two days (I explained to them how important it was for all of us$!)….which pushed back my exam date by 2 days…but that's a fair trade cause now they're on my side….

[Anonymous]

I totally agree with cpatx. Sometimes you just have to step away and regroup. I was almost in tears yesterday doing the practice multiple choice questions for FAR. I am trying to stick to a schedule, but it is taking so much longer because the problems are so complex. I've had three semesters of financial reporting, but it has been a few years ago so I feel like I am relearning it all over again and it is OVERWHELMING.

The other day, I decided to plan an overnight trip out of town with my husband in a few weeks to take a break. It will give me something to look forward to and take my mind off of it. He also needs a break from it (all my whining about CPA this and that).

Kmcauliffe, it is really hard with a young one, and she/he is too young to realize what a great example you are as a mom trying to accomplish this. I have two young boys and I hope I am getting the message through to them that sacrifice and hard work pays off… and not the message that mommy locks herself in a room with a bag of Chips Ahoy and gets mean when she brings out that Becker book ~ kidding!

[TampaAccountant]

TO ANYONE THAT HAS ALREADY TAKEN FAR:

What do you think should be the exam strategy for the FAR Exam? Should I go very fast during the MCQs to leave enough time for the SIMS?

I took REG and did not give myself enough time for the SIMS; failed with a 74).

I took AUD and went too fast during the MCQs and left myself with too much time for the SIMS (I failed with a 70). I should have gone slower during the MCQs, but was influenced by timing issue with REG….

So what do you think about timing issues for FAR?

(BEC 77, REG 74, AUD 70, FAR 10/30????)

[OnePointAway]

TampaAccountant,

On the REG exam did you leave any of the sims blank? Were you able to completely finish both sims?

[Author]

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