[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I am studying for FAR and I’m just so frustrated that I felt the need to rant…

I just graduated from college in May and I started studying full time for FAR on June 1st. I was very unproductive on the first week but I want to say I’ve been studying pretty hard starting the second week.

I did fairly well in school (high honors) and studying for this exam is making me have self doubts. I’m using Becker self study – I view the lectures, go back to review the chapter, and go on to do the MCQs. I think the MCQs are the main reason why I feel so depressed because I’m scoring like 50-60% on them… even though I thought I felt pretty comfortable with the materials. it’s very un-motivating (makes me just want to quit) AND THEY TAKE SO LONG TO DO!!

I have FAR in three weeks, and I’m on chapter 5 right now. And I need to go back and study some materials that I ditched in previous chapters… and I didn’t do half of the simulations (I just wanted move on).

I’m just so frustrated with myself, I feel so unproductive and somewhat stupid… I cried a little in my car on the way back home from the library yesterday. This is my first CPA exam I think I underestimated the CPA exams in general…

I know I just have to push myself but it’s hard… Idk what I’m doing wrong, or what I have to do learn & study more effectively. I really don’t want to fail and having to re-study and go through what I’m going through agin.

Thank you for reading, any advice or encouragement or even criticisms are all welcomed. Now it’s time for me to go back and do chapter 5 MCQs… :'(

[cpagal]

Have you thought about maybe postponing your test until August? Your studying beginning June 1st, only gave you 5.5 weeks of study and the consensus is 6-8 for FAR, with some taking 12.

I am also studying FAR for a late august exam with the Gleim materials and the Ninja MCQ. I began studying on the 12th. I am hoping for 9 weeks of studying and 2 weeks to review.

FAR - 08/30/15 - 90
AUD - 11/12/15 - 92
REG - 01/19/16 - 82
BEC - 02/29/16 - 83

Passed all on 1st attempt using GLEIM (full program) and NINJA (MCQ only)!!!

Louisiana Licensed CPA

[Skynet]

I too am studying for FAR but with Gleim. It's takes a lot of time.

However, if you feel you are behind, you can always push the exam back until you feel ready. You always have that options. It's better than being unprepared, blowing the exam, and your exam fee. Give yourself at least a chance to pass by pushing it back.

Don't bite off more than you can chew. Be patient, it all click together soon enough for FAR.

Note that I'm taking it during the last week of July. I have been studying it since January because I was also studying for AUD too at the same time. It will be my last section.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[jonnyp]

I took 4 months to study FAR

Becker Self Study
FAR 5/21/15-- 83
AUD 8/20/15-- 72, 10/8/15-- 68, 2/29/16-- 83
BEC 11/30/15-- 77
REG 1/20/16--81

[mommyof3texans]

I spent 12 weeks on FAR but had some travel, I agree on 6-8 weeks at least for most people. It is a TON of material to get through. Trust me, most of us did not do well the first time through MCQs on FAR. It takes time for it all to come together, just stick with it but if you're on chapter 5, I'd consider pushing out the exam a couple of weeks.

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

All done!!!

[thehip41]

to OP

You are feeling what we all felt. Here is a typical flow for a test (for me anyway)

For REG, I gave myself 6 weeks. I went through all 20 Gleim chapters. On my second pass through the MC, I was getting 60% for an average. Test was a few weeks out. I was freaking out.

I postponed my test for 3 weeks. I ended up studying 9 weeks for REG.

Those last two weeks, I was scoring an average of 90% on MC per 20 questions across multiple MC platforms (Wiley, Nina MC, Gleim)

The key is this: you know you aren't ready now. If you haven't passed any other test (your 18 month window hasn't started); then definitely push it back. Give yourself another month and really study.

No one starts these MC questions getting 85%. It takes a LOT of work.

FAR - 83
AUD - 73 92
BEC - 83
REG - 88

Licensed CPA in the state of Michigan

[iloveaccounting220]

to OP,

I feel the same way as you. FAR is my last one and i am giving myself 8 weeks to study. I am currently on Chapter 2 and it is kicking my a**. I thought the first chapter was hard but for chapter 2, i am getting 50-60's on the HW. It is very frustrating but I think that if you can learn from your mistakes, then you can definitely pass this test. I know that the reason I am scoring so low is also because i am tired of reading the questions. I dont take the proper time to analyze it and sometimes just pick an answer in order to move on. Since you are 3 weeks out from your test, i dont think you have enough time to grasp all the concepts. You need time to go back and review everything and also hone in your weak areas. I say take it in August, it's still the same testing window. Either way, if you take it in July or August, you will have to wait until October if you had to retake. Giving yourself more time to study is probabably the best way to go. You will feel much more confident when you are not rushed. I am on track with my study plan according to the one I created in Becker but I kinda wish I had more room to review, but i am trying to take it by the cutoff date for score release for Aug 25th, the last day is Aug 14th. You should be more than ready to take it by then too since you are on chapter 5.

Good luck to you! Everyone has always said FAR is the beast and now I know why. You arent the only one struggling. Hang in there and practice practice practice!!

BEC - 76 (1/24/15)
REG - 82 (4/13/15)
AUD - 89 (5/31/15)
FAR - 78 (8/16/15)

Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for your posts, I really appreciate it.

When you said 6-8 weeks, were you referring to 6-8 weeks of studying full-time?

I was originally going to take Becker FastPass (But ended up with self-study to save commute time). Considering that the class runs for only 2 weeks and gives you another 2 weeks to basically review & take the exam, I thought 5 weeks will be more than enough to study & review FAR… (hence the reason why I was unproductive on the first week).

Pushing it back is a little complicated because I have audit scheduled on July 31st and REG on August 31 (FAR is currently scheduled on July 9th) but I'm definitely considering pushing back FAR and rescheduling the other exams also.

I'm starting full time in public accounting in late September, and I wanted to be done with at least three exams before I start working (a lot of people recommended this). My original plan was to pass all four parts in July & August (now I know this is not a reality lol) but after I started studying for FAR I just decided to take FAR, audit, REG in the July & August, take 1-2 weeks of vacation in September, and study the rest of September for BEC which is scheduled on October 3th.

But now I'm thinking about taking FAR, audit, and BEC (instead of REG) in the July & August so it's more doable. (I took audit during my last semester of college so it should be pretty fresh in memory) and sacrifice my vacation in September and use that month to study for REG… But Idk, I'm also thinking about just taking two exams in the summer. Like you guys said it is better prepare well the first time rather than rushing through it & blowing the exams.

I hate everyone who said “oh, passing all four parts in the summer (July and August) is highly possible if you're studying full time” or “You should just pass all four parts before you start working” – they all made me underestimate the amount of time & effort you have to put in…

Since they allow you to reschedule your exams 5-30 days prior to your exam for $35, I'm going to study until the end of June to see how much I get done, and reschedule my exams accordingly. I can't wait to be done with the exams… gluck to you all future CPAs!!! and congrats to all of you who went through this craziness and passed the exams!

[cpagal]

I am only studying part time, as I have a full time job, a husband, 2 kids and a dog. I study for as long as I can when I can, but time is scarce without giving up family time (which I am not going to do). I usually get 1 hour before the kids wake up, 1 hour at lunch and 2 hours at night after the kids are in bed. On weekends, I only get 2 hours at night (maybe less). Hopefully what I am doing will get me a passing FAR grade in August.

FAR - 08/30/15 - 90
AUD - 11/12/15 - 92
REG - 01/19/16 - 82
BEC - 02/29/16 - 83

Passed all on 1st attempt using GLEIM (full program) and NINJA (MCQ only)!!!

Louisiana Licensed CPA

[PleaseDontDeleteThanks]

I earned scores slightly above what someone would earn just picking random answers 25%…so don't feel bad at 50-60%. I had a similar post earlier this week about punching walls and yelling at inanimate objects. Recently, I bought a bag of candy and ate a handful after each wrong answer…bad idea.

Trust me man, Becker seems harder than the actual test. I don't know if it's true, but it seems like it.

FAR 72, 89
BEC 80
REG 90
AUD 79

[Ag12thman]

To those of you who are saying to postpone it, how is that possible if you've already got it scheduled with Prometric and your NTS expires shortly thereafter? Just wondering if there is some postponement process I'm not aware of.

@cpagal – I am very much in your same boat. I have all that in the way of family, work, and my study time is very similar to yours. I am also testing in early August and hoping I can get in enough study time to PASS!

FAR: July 2016

[JimmySungChen]

I feel you, I just started studying Financial, I am on F2 right now and My exam is July 24. HOLY CRAP, F2 makes me want to punch something every 5 minutes. The timing issues is driving me crazy and from what I am reading, there are more frustrating chapters to come…

[iloveaccounting220]

StudyGranger – Wowers~~~ you have a tight schedule coming up. If you are studying full time i would say FAR in 3 weeks is doable..but you definitely have to be studying 8+ hours a day. Good luck!!

Ag12 – You can push out your test date. There's an option on Prometric called “reschedule my test”. They may charge you depending on how close you are to your appointment date.

BEC - 76 (1/24/15)
REG - 82 (4/13/15)
AUD - 89 (5/31/15)
FAR - 78 (8/16/15)

Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

[Fat Bunny]

This is how i am feeling right now too… I feel very unproductive.

It feels forever to go over the problem sets, and I hardly get over 70%. Very discouraging.

But I am telling myself to just really understand every question that I got wrong and never make the same mistake again.

REG - 77, 10/18/2014
BEC- 84, 2/26/2015
FAR - 78, 7/16/2015
AUD - 86, 8/27/2015 (Yes!!! I am officially done )

[taxycpa2be]

I'm with all of you. I'm taking FAR in the 2nd week of July and I'm about to start F5. I plan on being done with all of the sections by the end of next week, leaving me with 2 weeks to review. For the review, I plan on doing a chapter per day (except for F8 and F9 which will be 2 days each for review). Will this work? I have NO idea, but I'm gonna try. I only do about half of the hw questions right now because I need to hurry up and move on to the next section… I anticipate on doing ALL of the hw during my final review + optional questions and a few sims.

I'm usually not this ambitious and I'm scared to death of this exam but I have a deadline to meet before mid July… I gotta get FAR out of the way!

Good luck to us all

AUD: Pass (WTB)
BEC: Pass (Ninja/Becker)
REG: Pass (WTB)
FAR: Pass!!! (Becker/WTB/Ninja)

DONE!! 🙂 It's SO nice to be able to finally write this. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

[Skynet]

Yeah, I know. FAR Sucks.

Got to push through anyways since it is my last section. Been studying new materials and doing continuous reviews to keep everything fresh. It's exhausting, but I will be rewarded later on.

AUD - 90
BEC - 78
FAR - 84
REG - 87

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
Phase V : TBD

BEC : 78
REG : 87
FAR : 84
AUD : 90

World Domination Plan

Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
Phase V : TBA

[Author]

Replies