[Jimbo Slice]

Just wondering if you understand what types of questions you need to improve on? For example, is it the simulations, calculation-type problems, conceptual type problems?

I agree with the above post that recommended writing down journal entries. To practice for simulations, I would recommend going through the Becker book and flagging all pages that have journal entries / complex calculations on them and make sure you know those backward / forward. Draw yourself t-accounts, write down journal entries repeatedly until you feel that you’re solid on the topic.

If you’re considering the Wiley book to re-study, I found that a lot of the MC questions are repeats from Becker. Also, they are way more difficult / wordy than anything that you’ll see on the test, but if you can do them, it’s probably a good indication that you understand the stuff conceptually. If you want to get the Wiley book for simulations, focus on the ones that ask for calculations / JEs. I didn’t think that the bubble-filling ones were very useful / similar to the actual test.

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

[Jimbo Slice]

So I found out this morning that I did not pass FAR. I had the feeling (like everyone that walks out of a CPA test) that I failed, but I had the feeling that I was in the borderline area. I thought I did well on the MCQ but unfortunately did NOT finish the simulations (ran out of time).

I am currently studying REG and planning the take the test in Mid-October and leaving 3 weeks to re-study FAR. Now, my real concern is that I feel like I studied so hard (I probably easily put in over 350+ hours) for a low score of (60). I admit that I made all my studying mistakes with FAR as this was the very first test I decided to take, but I'm very discouraged now. I should have seen this coming with my 60-65% avg's on my homework. My questions for all you experienced folks (Peter Olinto is my new best friend), is how would you recommend I re-study the material? Should I consider purchasing the Becker Final Review or supplement my material with anything else (Yaeger, Bisk, etc)?

Thank you guys for reading my post, I'm just so lost right now… every single one of my friends that took FAR in the same testing window pass (8 people). So…depressing and embarrassing…

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

[jamesjohnson11]

Hey I am with you. I studied over 220 hours and got a 72. I knew exiting the testing center I failed. I studied so much but I just couldn't manage to pass. I also took audit and thankfully passed that so right now I am back to studying for FAR.

My studying habits are this, I watch the lectures (Becker) and pause often to take notes and read the book. I then did the questions and then move on to the next section. Sometimes I do well on the homeworks other times I do terrible. I make sure that I know what I did wrong on the questions. In my notes I write down the number of the question I got wrong and the explanation and the reason I got it wrong. I also bought the wiley book for FAR and it gives you over 1300 extra questions and 170 sims. I recommend buying it and I felt that the sims in wiley were better than becker's.

I know I failed but I think my studying habits are pretty good. I just needed to get a little better grasp on the material. For the retake I cleared all the data in Becker. I am currently redoing everything. I am watching the lectures over again, taking notes again and doing the questions. Don't worry about how well you do on the homeworks it is all a learning experience.

A few days before the test I figured I would do the final test becker has. I ended up getting like 50's so I stopped doing them, but I was getting 50's on them and got a 72 so I think becker is a bit harder than the actual test.

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[jimboace88]

Here's my advice….FORGET THE LECTURES. You've watched them once, and to do it again is a waste of time.

My final review for FAR is where I absorbed the most information, and it's probably the reason I passed. It consisted of:

– Going through each chapter and taking detailed notes on any areas I didn't know well

– Re-doing the homework multiple choice

– Re-doing the simulations

– Making quizzes (using Becker) and doing a ton of them

– Taking cumulative progress tests as my final review progressed (i.e. after chapter 2 I'd do chapters 1 and 2, after chapter 3 I'd do chapters 1, 2, and 3, etc.)

– Doing as many final exams on Becker as I could

As you may have noticed, the key is practice, and that's exactly what I did. Going back over the chapters without Tim or Peter rushing you through them is vital because sometimes you need extra time to look at the examples and go through the complex calculations than can be required of you on FAR. Try to memorize as many of the mnemonics that they give you as possible, but don't beat yourself up if you can't–a few of their mnemonics are a real stretch and you'd be better off just memorizing the material in its entirety than trying to remember how they used word play to make it fit when it really doesn't.

Practice, practice, practice–if you ignore all of the rest of my post, just remember that advice.

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[jamesjohnson11]

No offense jimbo but you didn't fail FAR so I don't think you are the best person to be saying what to do when you fail.

For me, after failing I wasn't able to get back into the groove of studying. So by clearing it all and getting into watching the lectures it gave me a new goal; to see all the chapters crossed out. The only way I was able to focus was to have the lectures walk me through the material while I took notes. Sitting down and just going through the material you will keep saying to yourself, “I know this I don't need to study” then you will get frustrated and stop studying.

Another thing I did was go through the entire book and write out every journal entry I found. I am very weak with JE's so this was a very good way for me to study them

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[Jimbo Slice]

Thank you for those responses guys, really helpful.

I forgot to include in the above a question of whether I should focus on taking REG/BEC/AUD and leaving FAR for January? That doesn't seem wise or logical at first glance, but for some reason I find REG to be significantly “easier” than FAR, and I went through R1-R5 sections with consistently high scores on the homework in about 3 weeks…and I might feel more confident in passing those three? Or should I just focus on Reg and getting FAR out of the way in the next testing window (and if I have enough time, cramming for BEC)?

I work part-time now (roughly 25 hours a week) and study whenever time is available. I will begin full-time this upcoming January.

Thanks!

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

[Jimbo Slice]

@James “Another thing I did was go through the entire book and write out every journal entry I found. I am very weak with JE's so this was a very good way for me to study them”

I also found this EXTREMELY helpful. I also write down any MCQ I get wrong. I probably went through two college-ruled notebooks before I took the exam…and I got a 60. Makes me so frustrated.

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

[jamesjohnson11]

For me, I chose to retake FAR right away. I am currently planning on taking FAR in the second week of october and then I have REG scheduled for Nov 29. I just felt like since FAR was somewhat fresh in my mind I would have a better shot. If you wanted you could always take REG in the beginning of Oct and then try to cram FAR in at the end of Nov.

I took FAR before AUD and I gotta say it really helped me out. I saw some far on the aud sims.

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[jamesjohnson11]

I went through six legal pads writing everything. I think maybe you should focus on the material and understanding it rather than worrying about how you do on the homework. I did horrible on pretty much every homework and it didn't really bother me because I knew I was learning from it and seeing all the ways they can ask the questions.

I would def recommend picking up wiley for far. I bought it on amazon for like 40 bucks and it really helped.

Just my two cents. I know how it feels to put in so much time only to see you failed.

R PASS
A PASS
B PASS
F AUGUST

[Peanut]

Hi Jimbo Slice,

I came on just so I could write to you. As you can see from my signature, I have had the pleasure of “restudying.” I know what you mean when you say you studied A LOT. I did too for all of my REG takes. Once you get that passing score you realize exactly what you needed to do the other times and how to apply you time effectively and efficiently. When I received my 60 in REG, it was my second take, the BEST advice someone gave me on this forum was “study it.. like you've never studied before.” That is exactly what I did. Please do NOT dismiss the lectures. We all learn differently but from what I can relate to is I had never gotten anything out of my lectures, except for maybe a cat nap. What I did differently my third time around, and as you can see I had a 20 point score increase, was the following: (And by the way I failed FAR and will be doing exactly this) 1. Clear the history in Becker 2. Re-watch all of the lectures, pause frequently, taking very intense notes. 3.Once you've watched all of the lectures, taken intense notes, you shouldn't need to resort back to the book… Re-worked all MCQs for each chapter, try not to move on to the next chapter until you've completed all MCQs for a particular chapter. 4. Take a few practice tests. 5. Now you probably are feeling confident/comfortable with the Becker material.. BUY WILEY! It will make such a HUGE difference. Work all of the Wiley MCQs, work their SIMs, they're actually pretty good. Last–REWRITE those notes you took!

Hey ya know, everyone learns differently, but this is my personal experience and what helped me 🙂

By the way take REG as scheduled and take FAR after.. I plan to only restudy for 3 weeks.

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[jimboace88]

@Jimbo Slice have you already started studying for another section? If so, I would say finish the one you're studying for and then go back to FAR. Given the vast amount of material, you don't want to take TOO long because then your study process will be unnecessarily lengthened.

FAR 07/27/11 - 87
AUD 10/01/11 - 85
BEC 11/15/11 - 87
REG 01/03/12 - 92

[Peanut]

@Jimbo Slice I just saw that you wrote down, questions that you got wrong, JE's, but no “substance” notes as I would like to call it. Not offending you in any way. The first two times I took REG I took “notes” on just questions I answered incorrectly and what not. I noticed a huge difference taking notes on the actual material as I was watching the lecture… Just saying!

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Jimbo Slice]

@Jimbo, yes I started REG so I'm planning on finishing that and testing before moving on to another section.

@Peanut. I will definitely your advice. It's funny that you never really got anything but a cat nap out of live lectures. For me, this is how I learn best (with live instructors). The hardest way for me to learn is via Self-Study, so studying with Becker was a rude awakening and a tough tough learning curve.

I'll keep my head up and keep praying to the Accounting Gods that both of you guys pass all the remaining tests you guys have left to take. Best of luck!

Thanks again!

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

[Peanut]

@Jimbo Slice, while living in NYC I took the live courses and the instructors were great. But ZzzZZzz when you do self study….

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[pshustler]

Do yourself a favor and get the Wiley Test Bank and FAR Ninja notes from Jeff. Dont rewatch any lectures. Hammer home as many MCQ as you possibly can with Becker, Wiley, and read Ninja notes and highlights from Becker text

Again, dont watch any lectures.

BEC - 86
AUD - 94
REG - 88
FAR - 89

[Jimbo Slice]

@pshustler. Just wondering, what makes you say no to re-viewing the lectures?

FAR - 8/30/11 [60] | 11/23/11 [88]
REG - 10/28/11 [84]
BEC - 1/2/12
AUD - 1/21/12

[Author]

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