Full-time Studying Tips/Advice

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #1674665
    meg1994
    Participant

    I start studying for FAR, my first exam, on Thursday using Becker. What study schedule works best for someone studying full-time that just graduated with an MSA?

    I will start at a firm next September – ideally, I would like to finish all four and have a few weeks to relax.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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  • #1674668
    Tncincy
    Participant

    Welcome to the battle meg1994. Far is a beast don't take it for granted. Study, study, study…….Use your materials thoroughly.

    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

    #1674698
    Andrew808
    Participant

    I used Becker and only studied while working full time, quite the opposite haha. But my #1 piece of advice before studying for any section:

    1) Commit to this 100% NOW. If you plan on passing all 4, you might as well give it your all and make the sacrifices now so that the exam doesn't linger on. I did the opposite of this and regret it. Pass an exam, immediately jump into the other. Your pain and suffering won't last as long as mine has.

    2)MAKE A STUDY PLAN, I can't emphasize this enough, especially since you have a large amount of time on your hands. If you set hard goals for yourself, you will stay focused.

    3)Before diving into the details of Becker (which is excessively detailed), take a little bit of time to look at the big picture of the exam and the topics covered. When I first started studying, I dove right into the material which didn't allow me to see the big picture or overall objective of the information I was studying. And typically that would result in a lost of wasted studying time because I didn't understand how the details applied to the big picture. I've since learned to do preliminary research of the topics covered to understand what's tested on the exam, how it's applied at a high level.

    4) Studying: I learn by rewriting the notes in a way that it made sense to me, and my process included listening to the lectures while reading the text, then going back and writing everything down in a way that I was able to understand. Then proceed to do the MCQ and take notes on what I got wrong. I usually go through the material twice before jumping into any simulations.

    5) Take small breaks every 2 hours or so, this will be helpful. If you can exercise in the morning, do so because you're gonna get sick and tired of studying all damn day. I usually work all day and then study 8pm-2am and repeat, studying 12 hours a day on weekends. With the amount of time you have, you should be able to rip through everything.

    6) If you don't fully understand something or how it fits into the big picture, do your best to understand and then move on. Oftentimes, the pieces of the puzzle come together after you get through all the material and are able to see things from start to finish.

    Hope this helps!

    AUD - 76
    BEC - 75
    FAR - 80
    REG - 77
    scoring > 75 means I studied too hard, right?
    #1674704
    scattershot
    Participant

    if you wanna knock out all 4 sections asap: treat it like a 9-5. Set up at the library or coffeeshop or whatever, away from home and distractions, and put in 8 hours. Clock out at 5 and relax, and don't touch the material again till 9.

    passed the CA bar (first try) with this strategy, and I'll find out in 2 weeks if it worked for FAR as well.

    FAR 12/5/2017 -- 90

    REG 1/19/18 -- 81

    AUD 2/13/18

    BEC 3/9/18

    #1674740
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @scattershot

    How would you compare the CA Bar to the CPA? Just curious bc both are very difficult. Thanks.

    #1674754
    scattershot
    Participant

    I've only taken FAR, but the sheer volume of material needed just for FAR alone is comparable, if not greater, than the entirety of the bar. That said, I'd probably give the slight edge to the bar just because it's a damned marathon — when I took it, it was still a 3 day exam, unlike the nice 4hr chunks that the CPA exam is broken down into.

    FAR 12/5/2017 -- 90

    REG 1/19/18 -- 81

    AUD 2/13/18

    BEC 3/9/18

    #1674757
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @scattershot

    Wow, that’s crazy FAR could have nearly as much material as the Bar! I’m sure passing all 4 sections of the CPA Exam would be more challenging than the Bar. But, the 2 exams test different ways of thinking so it would be heard to compare them. I have heard that the CA and NY Bars are quite a bit harder than other state bars though.

    Goodluck!

    #1843348
    allyferns07
    Participant

    @scattershot
    I dont have any experience in accounting field so far, do you think that would prevent me from getting that 75+ even if I put in 8 hours of study everyday? Im studying full time as well.
    Also which review course are you using?

    #1843963
    alia
    Participant

    @scattershot

    What's your long term career plan with both the CPA and the bar? I am half way through the CPA exams (assuming I have good news on audit this week, lol) and am thinking to do an LLM in taxation instead of MAcc, once I'm done with the CPA. I graduated from law school in Romania and I qualify for an LLM program. I've been working in tax with a mid-tier firm for over a year now, after graduating, and I really like it. I am thinking having both would set me apart, but I am not quite sure if the LLM is worth the extra money and effort though.

    AUD - 94
    BEC - 94
    FAR - 84
    REG - 93
    alia
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