[IwannabeaCPA2017]

Just another ranting post LOL. I wonder if I will ever pass this BEAST. Reflecting on my exam there really isn’t much more I could have done differently. Aside from some calculation errors (couldn’t memorize the formula) and some other small nuisances.. I feel like this exam isn’t even possible to me. My 3rd time taking it and I still don’t know how I did (SIMS felt like hell)

For those that have gotten in the 60’s and passed what method were used? I ended up doing around 900 Ninja MCQ and all Becker MCQ (certain topic 2x) and SIMS 2x.

BEC- PASS (Expiring in DEC 2017)

REG- PASS (Expiring Feb 2018)

AUD- PASS (Expiring Oct 2018)

FAR- 65, 60, 59, 77!!! -GOD BLESS

If I can do it, anyone can do it!

 

[Trele6]

A small tip that might help if you have a hard time remembering formulas. As soon as I sat down at the computer at prometric I would take my scratch card and start writing out all the formulas in my head. You get about 10 minutes to log in etc before the test starts so i would take about 3-4 of it getting everything could down on that scratch pad. It was a relief to get it out of my head and on paper so I could clear my mind and reference it later on.

Maybe this will help you if you have to take again.

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

[Iceman6]

I failed my first time with a 64, second time I passed with 78. As painful as it sounds, I read the NINJA book like two or three times and took my own notes on things I had difficulties with. On top of reading the NINJA notes every day for the chapter I was on. What put me over the hump I think was just doing a ton more MCQ to get a feel of my weak areas. Did close to 6,000 MCQs between both tests. NFP and GOVT were my strong points and I got a decent amount of questions on those on my exam so I answered them quickly to give myself time on the more difficult MCQs. Time management and a little luck play a huge factor into passing the beast

Good Luck

AUD - 79
BEC - 77
FAR - 78
REG - 80

After 4 long years, I'm done.

[Anonymous]

REG is worse than FAR. I've been studying my ass off since July for FAR only to have to reschedule it in Q4 due to the hurricane 🙁

But it's all about knowing how the financial statements work which means understanding GAAP/IFRS. It's a very mechanical process, like understanding all the parts of a car and how they interact with each other and operate.

REG on the other hand is full of arbitrary randomness.

[Tncincy]

@Iwanabecpa When are you testing again? I'm working on far also, I have not passed a section yet, I have regrouped and am trying to get it done. Maybe a different study plan will help or posting some questions in the study group.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[kiwi9990]

It took me 4 (55,67,70,77) tries for FAR and I felt like I needed to cry after each time I took it. I never felt like I was prepared for it even after studying months. My suggestion is going over everything again, don't skip on sections that you think you remember enough from in the past. I would break topics down and made sure I understood the content and the why the correct answers were correct on MCQ. Know the simple calculations just as well as the more complex ones. I looked over the SIMS, but didn't spend a ton of time on them since it seems like on test day they are so out there compared to practice ones. Ninja MCQ and the Ninja book helped me get from the 70 to 77. I personally know how hard FAR is, I felt like you did. I never thought I would pass it, but I didn't give up and I passed! You will do the same, just try to be positive!! When you do pass it, it makes those other scores hurt way less!! Good luck!!

B 73,71,77
A 68,71,72
R 64,71,80
F 55,67,70,77

[IwannabeaCPA2017]

Hey Tncincy, I'm retaking sometime in November hopefully. I don't wanna stretch out too long. @Kiwi, I know this question sounds dumb but is it possible to pass with 75 after getting 59? I really need this pass otherwise my score for BEC is dropping and I really don't want to retake anything during busy season in Jan 2018.. I will do whatever it takes this time to pass and be done forever!

BEC- PASS (Expiring in DEC 2017)

REG- PASS (Expiring Feb 2018)

AUD- PASS (Expiring Oct 2018)

FAR- 65, 60, 59, 77!!! -GOD BLESS

If I can do it, anyone can do it!

 

[jenniferleigh36]

It is possible! I used Becker and Roger Cram on my third round. I loved the Roger Cram videos, mostly because his energy is so high up, it will bring you up as well. The last week before the exam, I read the whole Roger book and took notes on each topic. Really helped reinforce the material.

1st time (Feb 2016) – 55
2nd time (Jan 2017) – 62
3rd time (Sept 2017) – 82

Where did all these grey hairs and wrinkles come from? Oh yeah, this exam.

[IwannabeaCPA2017]

Thanks Jennifer! That is some amazing boost. Could you also tell me what scores you were getting on the MCQ etc if you don't mind? I should have known it would be a fail since I was trending in the 60's most of the times the day before exam. I Don't think I will have the extra money for Roger Cram but I already have becker and Ninja MCQ and will fully utilize those this time for real! I'm just afraid I will end up getting a 74.

BEC- PASS (Expiring in DEC 2017)

REG- PASS (Expiring Feb 2018)

AUD- PASS (Expiring Oct 2018)

FAR- 65, 60, 59, 77!!! -GOD BLESS

If I can do it, anyone can do it!

 

[Defo]

I went from a 55 to 78. For me it just amounted to putting more effort in the second time around. I doubled the amount of MCQ's and made sure not to skip/gloss over any sections.

What has been your final review strategy? You're already putting in alot of time with the MCQ, so maybe retention of the material is an issue? Spend the final week retaking notes of the entire book

AUD - 83
BEC - 84
FAR - 78
REG - 92

AICPA

[mtaylo24]

For me here is what I did to finally pass on my 5th attempt (disclaimer, already had a year of taking this beast, so its not going to work for everyone), I had to hail mary it since I had a failing score on Aug 17, sat again Sept 8.

Phase 1 (learning)

Weeks 1 and 2 I went through Gleim's testbank and did a random 20 per study unit. Wouldn't move to the next SU until I hit an 80. Gleim has 20 SUs, Some days I could get through 5 SUs, but I can remember being stuck on NFP (SU 20) for 2 whole days.

I also bought videos from Hock International (this was the only new thing I added for my 5th attempt). I got through those in weeks 1 & 2, playing on 2x speed. They are great, he includes slides in each video, unfortunately I didn't see where you can actually review the slides, only can access them through the videos. Can be used on an iphone, ipad, or cpu and they align with the blueprint, which aligns with Ninja. I highly recommend and he has a few demos if you are interested.

Phase 2 (review)

(last week and a half) Jump in the Ninja bank and hit adaptive learning button only. You have to do 35% of the questions to get to the adaptive phase. Around 600 questions, I got to the point where I was seeing way too many repeats in the assessment phase, so I jumped in custom and did 20 new questions in each category until the bar hit adaptive learning (35%), then I went back to just hitting the adaptive button. That is how the software is designed, I always used to do custom and get through all of the new questions, then missed last time seen, to get to review phase, but that's not how they want you to use the software. You are basically hacking the software as the trending will go to 100% once you answer all the questions right lol. I think I was trending 72 and average was 69, but the last day, the adaptive learning kicked in and I was getting some pretty savage questions, so my trending went down to 69.

I tried to get through the HOCK videos again, but only got through half, then I only watched trouble topics (sales leaseback, deferred taxes, etc.). I didn't do much reading, but I flipped through a few slides of focus notes and flipped through some flashcards. Sometimes if I was on the go, I would do Gleim MCQs on my phone because they are mobile friendly.

Sims – 2 nights before the test I ran through the Gleim sim bank for topics I would expect to show up based on my last 4 attempts, then I took the AICPA exam the night before. If you are a MCQ only ninja, please at least take the AICPA exam, they offer an example for each type of sim. I had a sim on the actual that if it wasn't the same, it was for sure closer than close.

The actual exam, I knew before that I had to move fast and I set out a plan and stuck to it.

MCQ1 – 45 min
MCQ2 – 45 Min
Sim 1 – I budgeted 30, but finished in 20
Sim 2 – I budgeted 60, but I think I finished sooner
Sim 3 – I budgeted 60, ran out of time because I needed to review. Last two sims were pretty terrible.

I knew I passed, but didn't want to be cocky. I should have passed the last window but could not find the research question, but I nailed it this time. I honestly thought my score would be a little higher, but hey I'll take a 77.

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)

[jenniferleigh36]

NOTES NOTES AND MORE NOTES!!! Seriously, hand written notes were the difference in the two fails and my final pass. Both fails were watching lectures, doing all MC, and doing all SIMS. That still wasn't enough. My preferred method is hand written notes, not typed. Hand written take a little longer but that means you have more time to really think about what you are writing.

It's possible. You got it. Keep breathing and keep studying. You'll knock it out the next time.

Where did all these grey hairs and wrinkles come from? Oh yeah, this exam.

[SuckItUp]

Forget the NINJA (am I allowed to say that on this site?)

Becker gives you EVERYTHING needed to pass FAR.

Best advice you will ever hear:

DIVE into that FAR book. Go through page by page and make your own notes. It takes a long time but only then will you TRULY understand the accounting and how everything works.

You have to UNDERSTAND the accounting, not just memorize MC. Be able to make journal entries. Be able to fully understand and draw up a T account. Etc.

[McCanon24]

I just passed FAR this past quarter using Becker as my main study material, but I also used the NINJA Audio to help supplement my learning. If you have a decent commute to work in the morning then you can't go wrong with the NINJA Audio. I listened to the audio content 5 times over the month leading up to the exam and I was able to answer more MCQ's on exam day from the audio tapes than from what I had learned with Becker. It was a great decision. I'm not sure I would have passed FAR otherwise. I highly recommend it, although I believe that I saw you can no longer purchase just the NINJA audio by itself, so you will now have to consider buying the package that it comes with instead.

AUD - 85
BEC - 79
FAR - 82
REG - 82

Done with the CPA Exam!!!

[Roseanne87]

I've taken FAR 4 times and just got the magic score of 75! With that being said, the first time I took it I got a 63, then 74….. then another 74 and finally a 75. The first two times I used Roger then switched to becker near the end of studying for my 3rd attempt. After receiving the 74 last month I crammed for 2 weeks and retook it on September 10th. This was after not seeing the material since May. I feel like the Becker material cut out all the fluff you didn't need to know and got right to the point with FAR and I contribute that to my passing score finally.

Audit- 2/28/2014 UGH 73--8/2/2014 85!!!!

[IwannabeaCPA2017]

Thanks all! I guess reading the book is the general consensus (I was being lazy my last attempt since I have read it twice)- forgot it had been 6 months since so it was my fault, setting myself for failure. I dont know if writing the notes are that much helpful but since Ihave ninja notes Ill prob try that after going through becker MCQ and add in some Ninja MCQ/SIMS.

I guess my motivation is much higher now, not only is it my last one but also a potential drop for one section. As others have said I really need to understand the JE and how things work and thats probably my biggest downfall. @roseanne, Congrats!! I just hope i will never see that 74! I CANT and I WILL NOT!

@Mtaylo, once again congrats my friend!! Just need to suck it up these next 2 months and be free forever.

BEC- PASS (Expiring in DEC 2017)

REG- PASS (Expiring Feb 2018)

AUD- PASS (Expiring Oct 2018)

FAR- 65, 60, 59, 77!!! -GOD BLESS

If I can do it, anyone can do it!

 

[Author]

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