[Fischer93]

Ok, here’s the deal:

Got my NTS this Monday morning and scheduled FAR for 8am this Sunday (the last day of this testing window)

Studying done as of that point [About 25% total according to Becker]: Moderate MCQs, mild use of lectures and sims on first 7 (out of 10) chapters.

Since Monday I have retouched a couple challenging topics (foreign currency, impairment and goodwill, acquisitions) and blasted through chapters 8 (SCFs and NFP) and 9 (GOV) by completing majority of MCQs (about 80% correct), most of lectures and some sims.

My plan now is to complete chapter 10 (more GOV) today, use Thursday to touch up on big topics (capital leases, bonds, and pensions), Friday morning to take a mock exam, and the rest of Friday and Saturday to go over my weak points.

My background: Graduated this May top of class, generally a quick learner.

Any recommendations or suggestions to add to or tweak my preparations?

Encouragement is also welcomed.

Here we go!

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 94
REG - NINJA in Training

"As you think, so shall you become."

[Trele6]

Looks like a good list you have there, be sure to give NFP and GOV the attention it deserves. Lots of people skim those but they are a good % of the test.

If you know all the things you listed really well I would expect you to pass. Those were the items I focused heavy on and squeezed out a 77 and that was leaving one sim blank.

B - 80 Jun16
A - 74 Aug16, 77 Oct16
R - 87 Nov15
F - 79 Apr16
Ethics - 98 Nov16
Licensed in New Mexico Dec16

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[Fischer93]

Okay, thanks. I've gone through all but the final 2 lessons of GOV and understand most of it. The biggest challenge is mental fatigue and trying to separate the various differences in principles which are similar yet distinct in application. I'm sure cramming makes this more difficult to do than usual as it becomes easy to mix things up after 8-10 hours of it.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 94
REG - NINJA in Training

"As you think, so shall you become."

[Anonymous]

Based on the information given, I think you will not pass.

[Superdude3000]

You could do it, I've seen crazier things on here before about people passing on just days of studying. Obviously there's no way to verify if they're telling the truth but I'm sure some actually did it. I take FAR tomorrow afternoon and at this point feel fairly confident with the material. Managed an 87 and 83 on the Becker mock exams so I'm really hoping my journey ends tomorrow. Best of luck to us both!

REG - 92 (1/17)

BEC - 82 (2/17)

AUD - 89 (5/17)

FAR - 94 (9/17)

Rogers Elite + Becker mcqs/sims for all 4 exams

WA State Ethics Exam - 83, 83, 90 (9/17)

AICPA Ethics Exam - 95 (9/17)

1-year of work - complete (11/18)

Licensed WA State CPA

[M123]

No sense in letting a good test window go away. This could happen.

When you go to the end in Becker and select Progress Tests you can do all subjects. I like to do 30 at a time. Then you can track what areas are weak. A mock exam is fine but I strictly gave up on those – but if this is your first exam – do it their way – then evaluate how it went for next.

If you had more time – I'd say get Ninja and do the MCQ. The notes would be valuable as a 2nd perspective but it sounds like you have the attitude and aptitude so rock it and stick to your current plan.

My personal goal would be 600 MCQ between now and exam – learning from every wrong answer and every right answer for the wrong reason. That's 20 sessions of 30 😉

Give yourself a small window for joy this weekend too – get some starbucks – go to the beach or wherever youngsters like to go these days and let outside air refresh those nasal passages.

Please follow up when you get results back.

AUD - 77
BEC - 81
FAR - 77
REG - 81

REG - 1. Becker only - fail (forgot to study depr - oops); 2. Becker only - Pass
FAR - 1. Becker only - fail; 2. added Ninja Notes and MCQ - Pass
AUD - 1. Becker videos; Ninja Notes, Audio, MCQ, Becker Notes - Pass
BEC - 1. Ninja Notes, Audio, MCQ, Becker Notes - Pass

[Fischer93]

Superdude – Awesome, I have seen similar stories and have been encouraged by them. I've truly been studying nearly non-stop and genuinely believe I'm going to pass.

Good luck on your exam tomorrow! You're scoring so well on the mock exams that I'm sure you'll crush it. Let me know how you do!

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 94
REG - NINJA in Training

"As you think, so shall you become."

[Fischer93]

M123 – Awesome, I'll do some progress tests to assess my weaknesses. That will save a ton of time relative to a mock exam.

I always read that MCQs are the most important study tool, so I'll take your advice and complete at least 600 more before Sunday. I've really been studying almost nonstop. In addition to lectures and some sims I did about 300 MCQs just today.

Taking a little break this weekend is probably a good idea. My exam is Sunday at 8am. Any recommendation on how to spend that morning?

Thanks for your response! I needed some encouraging feedback after 11 hours of governmental accounting… I will absolutely post an update after my exam and once I receive my score on the 19th.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 94
REG - NINJA in Training

"As you think, so shall you become."

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

You can do it. If you happen to take a similar FAR exam that I recently took in Las Vegas, last August 25, 2017, I would recommend that you try to do the following:

– Make sure to read Becker textbook briefly. First to last page. This will help with your SIMs question. Familiarize with JEs and any FS reconciliation.
– Be comfortable with the number crunching. I always struggle in this area. But that's me.
– Make sure to do the AICPA latest released exam questions and AICPA site's Sample Test. Read each explanation even for the incorrect ones.
– For Research Question, familiarize yourself well. Don't spend more than 10-15 mins.
– Also, Becker's SIMs are great review both for MCQs & TBS questions.
– Out of 66 MCQs, 80%+ are calculations.
– Watch your time: 1st/2nd Testlets (45-50 mins max.); 3rd Testlet 20-30 mins max; 4th Testlet (40-50mins max.) & 5th Testlets at least 60-80mins). You need at least 2hrs for the last 2 testlets.

I myself intend to do the above mentioned items for my next FAR exam. Good luck.

AUD - 49
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - 55

Passed: AUD (75%'08/77%'17), REG (76%'09) & BLaw(77%'99); highest on FAR (63%'11/'15) & BEC (63%'11). Credit Hours: USA(PH)-BCom'85(4yr-grandfathered); UBC-(DAP'02/'19); DC-(BBA-Acctg.'22-4th yr)=over 150 hrs credits

[mtaylo24]

Today and tomorrows goal.

Close the books for the year
Close the books for the month
Say bye bye to auditors
Somehow cram in a bunch of mcq, sims, and JEs after work
Sleep for 3-4 hours
Wake up put son on bus
Drive 3 hours to test center while watching videos, doing flashcards and MCQs
Sit for a 4 hours exam
Drive home 3 hours
Crash out for 2 days.

Best of luck to anyone sitting this weekend!

CPA (2017)

REG:  75

BEC:  76

FAR:  77

AUD: 78

 

CMA (2019)

P1: 380

P2: 360

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[momos94]

I take FAR this weekend too :/

[Fischer93]

Earla – Thank you for your advice. I'll take the AICPA Sample Test and go over the released exam questions. Good luck passing on your next exam!!

mtaylo24 – Good luck!!!

Update (for anyone curious): Since completing NFP and GOV, I spent the day going over big topics including bonds, capital leases, pensions, and treasury stock. I'm feeling really good about these now, so confidence is building. I've since been dipping into minor topics I may have overlooked previously. Not entirely sure the direction I'm going to head the last two days, but I'll be studying hard.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 94
REG - NINJA in Training

"As you think, so shall you become."

[Anonymous]

I've been told recently to focus on the Gvt/Not For Profit topics, since they are tested more than people have mentioned.
I'm focusing on the little topics now, like you had mentioned you were doing…. Bank reconciliation, Government Fund Acctg, NFP Permanent/Temporary/Unrestricted Cash, Pensions, and Realized Contingencies/Commitments are on the top of the list. Good Luck!! FAR is far too much information to retain. I'm trying to swallow it all in small chunks!

[Fischer93]

Thanks chasinCPA!

Update: Just took my exam. It went really well. I completed all of the sims and finished with 45 minutes left on the clock. I'm excited to see my score and will update when I receive it.

Following my last post, I spent Friday bouncing around all kinds of (relatively) minor topics and doing a bunch of sims. I went into a lot of the lectures to scan the notes and LEARN anything I was not yet clear on. Saturday morning was more of the same, and then I went over the AICPA practice exam, and released questions (50). I did a refresher on GOV and NFP which were both confusing for me and tried to get some sleep.

Thanks again to those of you who offered advice, encouragement, or shared your own experiences.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 94
REG - NINJA in Training

"As you think, so shall you become."

[Fischer93]

Score is in: 94!!!

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 94
REG - NINJA in Training

"As you think, so shall you become."

[M123]

Glad to see the follow up. Nice job!

AUD - 77
BEC - 81
FAR - 77
REG - 81

REG - 1. Becker only - fail (forgot to study depr - oops); 2. Becker only - Pass
FAR - 1. Becker only - fail; 2. added Ninja Notes and MCQ - Pass
AUD - 1. Becker videos; Ninja Notes, Audio, MCQ, Becker Notes - Pass
BEC - 1. Ninja Notes, Audio, MCQ, Becker Notes - Pass

[Author]

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