[Anonymous]

Hi guys,

I’ve been a lurking here for a while and finally deciding to post for some advice on how to proceed for future exams.

I took FAR first time and failed with a 65. While waiting on my score, I had started studying for Audit, and ended up taking it and passing with a 78 so I got one out of the way.

I decided to go back to FAR for the second try, and this time failed it with a 70 🙁

I had started studying BEC and got through the first module last week. Should I give FAR a third try right now and take it again within a month? or should I go with BEC? I’m confused on how to proceed.

I’ve been using Becker only. Signed up for Ninja monthly package yesterday which has all the notes/mcqs/audio etc. Would the whole ninja package be sufficient for the 3rd try if I go that route?

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Not sure how Becker MCQ's are, but I can attest to Ninja's MCQ & audio notes helping me pass FAR.

The good thing with Ninja MCQ is its adaptable and shows you your weak areas and what to work on. I'd hammer the f*** out of MCQ's while FAR is still fresh in your mind and retake (I did over 3000 mcq's and all the sims)

[CPYAYYY]

Becker prepares you really well. Make sure to do the skills practice. Also I used ninja and cpaexamreviewforfree.com to supplement

 

Studying for the CPA exam is easy. Its like riding a bike. Except the bike is on fire. And the ground is on fire. And everything is on fire. Because you're in H-E Double hockey sticks

[Anonymous]

@ali.edhi1 – getting a 65 and 70 on your first and second exam may indicate there is an area or two you are not fully understanding the concepts.

Have you received/checked your performance report from NASBA and seen which content areas you got “weaker” on? I would start from there and improve your weak/trouble areas by going over the materials again to make sure you know them well this time.

Also, how have you been doing on your Becker Progress Tests? During the last 2 weeks before I took my FAR exam (3/2/2018), I did sets of 33 MCQs 7-8 times every single day except for Saturday in addition to sets of 30 MCQs with Ninja 7 times, for a total of 400+ MCQs per day. Note that I personally kept a track of my average scores from Becker Progress Tests on Excel spreadsheet. I usually averaged between 87-91% on these Becker Progress Tests. When my average dropped below 80%, I would look at which topic I had most questions incorrect, and read the respective chapters thoroughly and do more MCQs within those chapters.

As for the Becker mock exams, use them as additional MCQs/SIMs to practice because they don’t recycle the same questions from the Progress Tests. Don’t let the scores discourage you because they are not the best representation of how you will do on the actual exam. I got a 80 and a 65 on the 1st and 2nd mock exams, respectively, and got a 87 on the actual exam.

By the way, I never took my own notes other than what Pete Olinto and Tim Gearty told me to highlight and write on the FAR textbook. I personally think it’s a huge waste of time but then again, it works for a lot of people and it also doesn’t work for a lot of people. Everyone is different. Taking notes may or may not work for you.

It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed while studying for this beast due to a sheer amount of materials you need to cover. Trust your instinct, put in the time to do the MCQs and understand the expanations for both correct/incorrect answers, relax the day before the exam and you will pass.

I hope this helps and let me or other candidates on the forum know if you have any more questions. Now, I got to finish listening to Tim Gearty for AUD!

[Pam]

I'm in the same boat, although you're floating a little better than me! I have passed 3 of the 4… FAR I failed in July 2017 with a 67… I retook in March (after taking Audit and BEC 2x in between) and got a 62 (which in all honesty I'm surprised it wasn't lower).

I have the BECKER book (which is for 3/2017 exams and later) and the all of the ninja material. I'm going to start from square one and just read the book cover to cover, do the questions and re-write notes.

I would stick with FAR b/c it's “fresher” in your brain. I think that was half my issue, by the time I started to restudy FAR for this past exam, I was almost 6 months out of looking at the material with only about 6 weeks to study (and I work full time).

Now I'm waiting on getting my freaking NTS. A process that used to take 2-3 days is telling me through the NASAB it could be 4-9 business days… I can't even get into the account. I just spent 25+ min on the phone for her to email me a link and I have yet to receive that…

[Anonymous]

Becker is a very good review program, but you have to do it all. I used Becker as my primary source, and Ninja to supplement-this technique hasn't failed me. Make sure to check out the “FAR SIMS straight from AICPA blueprint” -another person on here matched the blueprint with Becker SIMS, focus on those and skills practice toward the end. You should be good!

[Pam]

@anyatver do you have the link for FAR SIMS from the blueprint?

[Kim]

I failed FAR twice and passed on my third try. I used ninja for mcqs and Gleim for simulations.
AICPA Blueprint and sample test helped a lot for simulations. The ones marked”Analysis” simulations.

[Author]

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