FAR Struggle

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #1984490
    krstnam
    Participant

    Question…

    5th try on FAR, 69. I thought I would have at least got a 73.

    I tested two weeks ago, the material is still pretty fresh. Think I could crank out a pass with an extra 50 hours of study? I’m wondering if I should try to finish this before my vacation or not. Just trying to get some thoughts.

    I'm going to be the person who says "I finished even though..." not the person who says "I didn't finish because..."

    B - 77, 76

    A - 57, 64, 72, 76!

    R - 78, 72, 78!!! DONE

    F - 54, 73, 71, 64, 69, 76!

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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  • #1984511
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    No. If you have taken the FAR 5 times, there are things you are obviously missing out on. My guess is that each time you try to brush up on weak topics. You then probably perform better on those topics, but slump on the ones that you were average and above average in. This results in similar scores over and over as you do well on some topics and not as well on others. You need to start from the ground up and study everything. I realize this is a huge pain, but it sounds like what you will need to do. I don't think 50 hours is going to cut it.

    #1984565
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @Krstnam I would go back and review each section since 69 means you know the material but you have not mastered it. You are lacking in couple of areas, have you checked your state board website to see what area you were weaker in? Concentrate on your weaker areas while making sure that you understand the questions that are being asked. I feel like a lot of times the questions we get wrong is due to our interpretation of the question is wrong. For FAR I recommend giving up on everything and studying every moment you can get. Look up test taking strategies that can enhance your memory retention, I personally tried Cornell note taking and that helped me organize each sub chapter for BEC and AUD. I passed both them in Q3 2018 window.

    #1984580
    TREK2018
    Participant

    As a person who used quite a bit of Chandler and Reckeds advice I really recommend what they say.

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 76
    FAR - 77
    REG - 76
    NicolCPA
    #1992074
    krstnam
    Participant

    I'm waiting on my performance report. My state usually waits a week to provide one to me so maybe I'll get it next week.

    The last report showed me stronger in Select Transacations and State/Local Governments and Weaker in the other two areas, weaker in both MCQs and SIMS.
    The one before that had me stronger in State/Local, comparable in Select FS accounts and weaker in the other two areas, with MCQs and SIMs overall weaker. For this last exam, I spent two days refreshing on governmental accounting and spent the rest of my time on everything else.

    I'm starting over from scratch – as soon as stupid Gleim resets my stats, apparently it takes more than three days to do this.

    I'm going to be the person who says "I finished even though..." not the person who says "I didn't finish because..."

    B - 77, 76

    A - 57, 64, 72, 76!

    R - 78, 72, 78!!! DONE

    F - 54, 73, 71, 64, 69, 76!

    #1993526
    PTBP2018
    Participant

    Hi there,
    I passed FAR on the 4th try. It was brutal enough, and I know how it feels to fail this one all too well (60, 60, 71, 83). I used Becker for the first 3 attempts. I was fine using Becker to pass AUD, BEC, and REG, but for FAR, I just couldn't do it. I was burned out and I was going to lose REG if I had failed on my recent last try. I change to Wiley. This was my hail Mary, and it was my last hope. This material made a really big difference for me. I went through all of the material – except the Sims. I skipped those because of the time constraint. I didn't use the book. Instead, I wrote out notes on anything that I needed to drill into my brain. I ended up completely filling five 3-subject notebooks (which I just tossed in the recycle bin a few hours ago – that felt good). It took awhile to get through this material, but once I did, I used PTO to have a solid 4 days to review. During the last 4 days, I used a 6th spiral to take notes on any MC that I missed. Some people say you need a good 2 weeks for review, but you have seen this stuff before, so 4-5 days should be enough. While going through the material, I made a lot of solid connections and had plenty of “ah ha” moments.

    I liked Wiley because like myself, you have taken this exam before all of the 2018 changes. Wiley throws those little changes in your face – “THIS CHANGED – Makes sure you aren't confusing the old rules!!”. Becker glosses right over any changes, and I didn't even realize what was so different. I think that this really messed me up.

    Another thing that I did differently was – I would study outside, at the library, or at a breakfast diner. I used my iPad so that I would not have the ability to use my 2nd screen to surf the net or distract myself (because it's always tempting to check work email or shop online). I found that when I isolated myself, my time was much better spent. My sweet husband bought an adjustable snake arm to attach my iPad to my anti-gravity lawn chair, so that I could lay out in the back yard, watch lecture, and comfortably take notes. Studying outside made me feel like less of a caged bird over this beautiful summer.

    Hang in there. I quit back in 2010 because of FAR. I didn't think I could do it, & I doubted myself more times than I can count. Make each day count. Find little ways to make studying less horrific! You will pass this thing!!

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 84
    FAR - 83
    REG - 75
     

    "Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." --Dale Carnegie

    #1999124
    krstnam
    Participant

    @PTBP2018 – I actually purchased the Wiley software last week while waiting for my Gliem test bank to reset. I'm glad I did. When I studied AUD, I supplemented with Wiley – just for a few areas I just wasn't grasping. I think that maybe Wiley put me over the edge for AUD because I barely passed. I'm hoping that adding Wiley for the oddball items I just don't seem to grasp well will help get me in the pass zone. I'm going to try and do my retake in the beginning of December.

    I'm going to be the person who says "I finished even though..." not the person who says "I didn't finish because..."

    B - 77, 76

    A - 57, 64, 72, 76!

    R - 78, 72, 78!!! DONE

    F - 54, 73, 71, 64, 69, 76!

    #1999184
    suzieemac
    Participant

    If I can pass FAR, you can do it! 69, 57, 68, 78. It cost me AUD and REG. I had to retake AUD not once but twice and now I'm on my second re-take of REG (mind you I passed both AUD and REG on my first go in 2016). I probably spent about 150-200 hours studying for each test. There's this guy on youtube who went back to basics on FAR, it might sound really elementary but I am convinced that he gave me what I needed to finally pass. What I realized was that I was nailing all of the advanced accounting topics, but I was missing out on the basics and I wasn't even seeing the advanced questions on test day because I was too busy screwing up the basic questions. Going back over the basics in a very slow, understandable way helped me wrap it all together. If you're interested you can find his videos if you search under CPA Strength.

    AUD - 75
    BEC - 84
    FAR - 78
    REG - 86
    Suzanne

    "No one cares, work harder."

    AUD - 8/12/16
    REG - 10/7/16
    BEC - 11/18/16
    FAR - TBD

    #300before30 - Pass the CPA exam before my 30th Birthday.

    #1999721
    YouCanDoIt
    Participant

    I agree @chandler and @suziemacc , yes review from the start and also visit the basics as suzie mentioned. I used youtube to watch “Farhat's accounting lectures” on FAR when I would get stuck. He just goes into a lot of detail from the beginning. And if you're looking for a run-down summary, then Bob is SUPER HELPFUL, offers quick clarity and I would suggest for government and nfp (if you use Ninja, then there are helpful ninja plus videos to watch with Bob).

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 79
    FAR - 75
    REG - 80
    Won't know until you try.

    FAR: 76
    REG: Currently studying
    AUD:
    BEC:

    #2000564
    SuperAccountingGod
    Participant

    @suziemacc Do you know which Youtube vid you watched?

    AUD - NINJA in training

    BEC - NINJA IN TRAINING

    FAR - 74

    REG - NINJA IN TRAINING

    #2000612
    Recked
    Participant

    I personally would start from scratch.
    If you don't want to do that I'd recommend resetting your software stats, and then doing every MCQ in your test bank.
    Narrow down your weak areas, restudy those weak areas, and then do every MCQ in the Ninja Test bank, especially the ones your scored less than 80% on in your first test bank.
    Target 3-4k MCQs and that should get your a pass.
    Before I started my studies I talked to a guy that had to take over 20 CPA exam sections, mostly because he kept losing credit because he could not pass FAR.
    3 months in isolation and 4000 MCQs finally got his over his FAR hump. His story was the main reason I did FAR first, and went so hard on it.

    Memento Mori - Kingston NY CPA & EA (SUNY Albany 2002)

    FAR-93 11/9/17 (10wks, 250 hrs, Roger 1800+ MCQs, Gleim TB 600+MCQs, SIMs)
    AUD-88 12/7/17 (3 wks, 85 hrs, Roger 1000 MCQs no SIMs hail mary)
    REG-96 1/18/18 (6 wks, 110 hrs, 1400 MCQs, no SIMs)
    BEC-91 2/16/18 (4wks, 90 hrs, 1240 MCQs)

    #2000759
    Tncincy
    Participant

    I know you are giving advice for Far, but is it that many questions for reg? How do you prevent from memorizing since there are so many questions. I am using the ninja test bank. ( I have to use it thoroughly or I'll stop paying for it ).

    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

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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