[Char143]

I have studied everything there is to study in FAR (except derivatives, which I just will not do- don’t ask), I have gone over every major topic twice. I have two giant poster boards with all my important notes and j/e, I have always been great at journal entries and t accounts, so I just can remember many topics because of that alone. My exam is tomorrow and I am watching some important NINJA plus lectures on topics I can’t seem to remember 100%, I have never studied so hard in my life.

For the last 2 weeks I have studied 7-8 a day 7 days a week (and this last week I have stayed home, kicked everyone out my house and didn’t move for up to 8 hours straight- break to eat only). Every single topic makes sense to me, and I am not confused about anything, BUT I still feel like I don’t know a damn thing. I am getting MCQ’s wrong because I forget to add one number, or I am forgetting which rate to use because I can’t remember the rules like “use implicit rate if known and if lower than borrower’s incremental rate” I can remember it now, but during the exam I think I am going to tell myself “if higher or lower, shit which is it” and then I’ll freak out because not knowing that simple damn rule can change everything. This applies to all the small rules I can’t seem to retain.. Am I just not smart enough for this?

When I take a practice exam or quiz on random topics, I forget which topic I am being asked about, I have anxiety when the question is too long, and I feel like the last 1.5 months was for nothing because I don’t know shit when it comes actually down to it.

I feel like if they just sat down and had a chat with me and asked me everything I know about GAAP, accrual, and financial statements, they would pass me in a minute, BUT for some reason I get so tripped up with multiple choice questions, I always think they are messing with me and even when I think I have the answer I assume they are messing with me and try to find some loop hole when there isn’t one.

I don’t have question here, but I think I’m losing my mind. My friends think I’m actually going crazy.. I think so too.

Have a great day. :/

AUD - 84
BEC - 79
FAR - 78
REG - 79

I'm done! 🙏🏼

 

Licensed CPA

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[cpaMD86]

You've put in the work on the material now you just need to put work in on yourself, mentally. Be confident, slow down a bit, take some time to yourself etc. Don't push yourself too much tonight. I'd do something I enjoy, relax a bit, and briefly review notes. While studying for these exams I make sure to escape and have time for myself…exercising and what not. I know it's easier said then done, but just be confident in yourself…go in there and kick the exams you know what…

AUD - 80
BEC - 80
FAR - 82
REG - 79

Be willing to be inconvenienced for your conviction.

Roger/Ninja MCQ/Ninja Notes

FAR: 9/3

[RE2PECT]

I think you are burning yourself out and should just relax the rest of today. I did something similar when I took REG a couple weeks ago and studied for about 6 hours a day for the week leading up to my exam and my head was totally fried. My limit is usually 4 hours, but I had to cram because my NTS was expiring and I couldn't push it back anymore. You're brain needs a break after a while just like any other part of your body that's being overused.

You already passed AUD and REG so you're more than capable of passing all of them. I actually asked you in another thread a little while ago how you boosted your REG score by 10 points lol.

Just relax and maybe go over some notes. Stay away from mcq's or sims. If you're exam is tomorrow you're most likely not going to be learning more anyway. Get a good night's sleep and go crush it tomorrow!

EDIT: Just saw your response in the other thread. My exam had a lot of blaw and ethics, but they didn't seem to bad. The sims are what did me in. I didn't practice that many and I paid the price.

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

Roger & Ninja

FAR: 75
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, 73, 82
REG: 68, 82

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[mtaylo24]

@CharleneR, This section is rough and such a gamble! I sit on Friday, but for the sake of confidence, I haven't messed with guessing on MCQs since Sunday. I'm all about knowing the facts, or the right approach at this point, so I've been reviewing old questions and notes to get me through. I hope it works out. Good luck tomorrow!

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)

[Ginja_CPA]

Relax for the rest of the day. I am a firm believer in taking a break the day before to allow your mind to reset a bit. If you start to not remember items, you will get freaked out, and start worrying about the exam even more.

It sounds like you've but a ton of time into this and have done what you can! Take a break tonight, go have dinner, get to bed early, and crush the exam!

AUD - 83
BEC - 78
FAR - 80
REG - 80

If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried!

REG: 80 (02/19/16)
AUD: 83 (04/11/16)
BEC: 78 (05/28/16)
FAR: ?

[Char143]

Thank you everyone, I love this forum so much. (Respect, I actually answered your question, even though you probably think I am crazy and don't want my advice anymore lol)

Ginja, did I do enough (besides ignoring derivatives which I will listen to jeff lecture on it in the car ride over to prometric, I can't memorize it no matter how hard I try)?
You passed it, what did you do? How did you study? Did you feel like you knew almost every rule going in and were your practice exam scores close to your real score?

AUD - 84
BEC - 79
FAR - 78
REG - 79

I'm done! 🙏🏼

 

Licensed CPA

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[Ginja_CPA]

Honestly, FAR took me two tries, I failed the first time with a 74, Government was my downfall. I can't remember being asked a single question over derivatives, but every test is different. I memorized as many journal entries as I could, and learned how to use a t-chart if I couldn't remember the journal entry, but had an idea of what to do.

FAR has so much material, that you can't remember everything. The good thing about how much material they have, and the length of the test, they can't test over everything.

I use to always second guess myself when it comes to MCQ, but I learned that normally my first instinct is correct. If I don't have any idea, after a minute I move on and leave that question blank. After I did the entire testlet, I start at the beginning of the ones I left blank and try those again. I also never bother trying to figure out the difficulty of the testlet, as that'll freak me out even more. Take a break between testlet 2 and 3 if you are getting overwhelmed, besides my first test, I always took a break even if I didn't need it.

This isn't your first test, you scored over a 75 on your two passes, you can do this! You don't need a 90 or something insane, you need a 75! If you can just breath when you feel overwhelmed, you can control a lot of the anxiety during the test. The fact is, at this point you know all you're going to remember. If you can write down some information write when you get in there about derivatives, that might be enough to answer the questions.

Good luck tomorrow!

I also never did practice exams, the only reason I would have done them was because I was worried about timing. I never had a problem with time though, so didn't bother.

AUD - 83
BEC - 78
FAR - 80
REG - 80

If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried!

REG: 80 (02/19/16)
AUD: 83 (04/11/16)
BEC: 78 (05/28/16)
FAR: ?

[CPYay]

FAR is a beast. Don't give up. You won't know everything since there's simply too much. My best advice is to go in with confidence… even if you don't feel prepared. Have the mentality that you're prepared enough.

AUD - 92
BEC - 84
FAR - 89
REG - 84

Mailed application! Hoping to be licensed by year-end!

[Anonymous]

Your brain needa time to make connections. It is a living organ. You need to just relax today. Use the FAR outline from the Aicpa and just take light notes to jog the memory. Look over those summary tables from Becker. Seriously just relax. Have some wine, watch a funny movie. Its just an exam

[Anonymous]

Charlene – it seems to me that your biggest problem is getting over the mental roadblock. I felt similarly to you going into FAR. I was putting way too much pressure on myself. I left the test feeling totally defeated, like my studying didn't pay off, and that apparently I wasn't as smart as I thought I was. Not necessarily that I bombed it, but I definitely feel like I did well on it. Don't beat yourself up if you walk out feeling the same way. Just put it behind you and wait for the score release.

Just relax today, don't focus on a score, and go in and do your best. What I found with FAR (and why I think I walked out not feeling that great about it) is that you aren't tested as much on all the little details and petty rules. They want to see if you understand concepts through abstract conceptual questions. If you've studied hard and truly do have a good understanding of GAAP, you'll probably be able to reason through the questions even if you don't remember all the exact rules that apply (if that makes sense).

Don't know if that helped, but I hope it did. Just do your best and let that be enough!

[CPA2BEE]

Charlene you're cute if thats you in the pic! But in response to your post – you know this stuff and clearly have put the time in, all those doubts you have are just the test anxiety doing its thing. I used to get so freakin stressed and worried about the tests and I would swear that I know nothing after putting in more than enough time. The only advice I can give is just clear all those bad thoughts when test day comes and just tell yourself that you're the man and theres nothing you don't know, even if you really don't believe it. Put the time in, go with your gut on test day, and in the end it will all work out 🙂

CA CPA - est. Dec 2016

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Char143]

Thank you everyone, it really does help me to read your comments. I'm in this weird place where everything is either making me cry or laugh… or both at the same time! I just did some yoga, meditated and prayed to Jesus that I am just calm on the exam day.

Allie, seeing how you felt leaving the exam and then seeing your exam score really makes me feel good about my chances.

CPA2Bee, your comment was my favorite I must admit.. lol (it's me and less than half of my sister- she is cropped out because she is just so pretty and according to the law of diminishing return your marginal utility of enjoyment would decrease if you saw her first and then me). 🙂

I feel so much better now, thank you everyone.. Seriously!

AUD - 84
BEC - 79
FAR - 78
REG - 79

I'm done! 🙏🏼

 

Licensed CPA

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[N4]

FAR definitely overwhelms you. You studied so hard up to this point..just relax and perhaps review notes? I felt the same way with far and that i had no chance of passing…slipped through with a 76. Still have no idea how i managed to pass..its a monster. But i did throw my hands up the day before and relaxed for exam day. My tip is to leave enough time for the sims. Good luck!

AUD - 90
BEC - 81
FAR - 76
REG - 88

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.

FAR DONE -Becker

REG DONE -Becker, Ninja Audio/Notes

AUD DONE- Becker

BEC DONE- Becker

 

FAR (5/31) PASS (Best birthday gift ever!)

[Anonymous]

I remember feeling the same way. I felt lost even though I had studied A LOT. Its imposible to remember everything and they do not expect you to. So try to take a break, relax and do not let your mind trick you into thinking that every mcq is going to be apocalyptically difficult (as it happened to me) Btw I was surprised as how much conceptual was my exam and not all the questions were all long and dificult.

It is better to spend these last hours relaxing and building your confidence. You have passed two exams so you are more than capable. Go over your notes and book lightly if you want to, but don't burn yourself out.

[waffle_house]

Study derivatives, you might see it on the exam or even in a SIM.

FAR does suck. I studied 3 months and still got a 72.

AUD - 80
BEC - 75
FAR - 84
REG - 76

Exams started Sep 2014 -Exams done Mar 2017

Texas CPA

I put in work, it was evident

[CPA2BEE]

Haha nice application there @charlene, you have been studying! Just stay positive and let your training take over on exam day. Just pretend like you're going into battle – that helps, right!? In all seriousness though, you've passed other exams so you can pass FAR. You got this!

CA CPA - est. Dec 2016

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Author]

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