[Fr0nt0ffice]

What’s up everyone. I am scheduled to take the FAR section of the CPA. I decided to take the hardest part first to hopefully get it out of the way. I’m using Wiley CPAexcel, which I really like so far. I’ve been recording my study hours, and as of last Sunday, I hit 160 hours of study for the FAR section (which is about what is recommended, if not more).

Problem is, I’m only 33% done with the material and I have 8 days left to finish the remaining 66%. As you guys can imagine, I’m cramming like a madman right now, try to go as fast as I can through the material, but it’s just too much and I’ve been moving too slow. I haven’t even taken one look at Govt. and Not-for-profit stuff, which I’ve heard is a big part of the FAR section.

Do you guys think I should reschedule my exam for the next testing window, starting January? I really wanted to take advantage of not working and finish FAR Dec 7, then study a good full month for REG, and take that part early January, before I start a working a full time internship. But the way its looking, its gonna be nearly impossible to cram almost 70% of FAR material in a week when it took me 2.5 months to reach 33%.

What do you guys should I do? Should I just take it on Dec 7 to get an idea of what the exam is like, then go at it again on January 100% prepared? (but then I’ll be wasting $200) Or should I just reschedule right now for early January, and give myself more time to prepare? (btw, I plan on sleeping 5 hours a night and studying nearly every waking hour from now until Dec 7 if I do plan to take it then)

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

Future CPA

[emichelle2321]

Reschedule it for sure. If you haven't even seen 70% of the material yet I doubt you will be able to get through it all in time and thus you won't even have time to review. If money wasn't an issue I would say take it and see what it's like but if I were you I would reschedule for sure. Govt and NFP are really important sections and take awhile to nail down as it is.

AUD - 81
BEC - 81
FAR - 84
REG - 83

Done!!!!!

[Sweet<3 soon to be CPA]

@ Front0ffice-

I think you should take it. You invested this time into it thus far and it will give you familiarity of the exam. You also stated that you plan to study here on in until the exam and that will maintain the info fresh in your mind. I feel the longer ago I started studying that is the stuff I am forgetting (I started FAR in Sept). You still have a shot at passing. I never saw 100% of the MCQs for any of the other three parts and managed a pass. That being said if u skip this window, take it in Jan and fail. you will then have to take it again in the Q2. Where if you take it this quarter you have a better shot of knowing your problem areas in the testing environment and if fail give it another shot in the Q1!!!

BEC - Passed

REG - Passed

AUD - Passed

FAR - Passed

[msquared17]

I agree that you should take it now. You can take it again in Q1 if you have to. I'm taking it on 12/7 even though I don't feel prepared. Luckily we only have a few weeks to wait for scores. Good luck!

[Ana]

if you can afford to spend the money now and in jan then I say take it. be mindful of what the exam tests and how the sims are. don't get overwhelmed with not knowing the answers since you haven't seen all of the material but stay focused and use it as a recon mission to see what the exam is like.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 64, 77
FAR - 73, 73, 73, 82
Ethics: 74, 84, 98
Finally done after 23 months.

[Jen-J]

I'd reschedule. I'm concerned though that it took you 160 hours over 2 1/2 months to get through 33% of the material. If you get into a high quality study mode, you could be ready to take FAR by some time in January (probably not early in the month). You'll have to study more hours per week though.

AUD: 87

BEC: 90

FAR: 93

REG: 84

CPA license issued September 2018

[Paydirt123]

Reschedule: you put all this time in to prepare, you owe it to yourself to go in fully prepared

AUD - 84
BEC - 80
FAR - 80
REG - 85

Took the long way, but I got there

[Wannafree]

OP , as other's suggested take the exam if money is not the issue.You have nothing to lose except $200.Go through the blueprint documents items and see if you can cram from there.I mean if you know a particular item then you cram in 10 days.

WannaB

[CPADream]

I would say take it. I got a 74 on my first REG try without going through 50% of Becker lecture. However, I got a 73 next time after finished all chapters. You never know what the AICPA people are thinking.

AUD - 81
BEC - 76
FAR - 77
REG - 86

Someday.....the dream will end

[kay]

Looks like it's a split vote, but I'll put my two sense in anyways. You've only seen 30% of the material depending on how long ago you graduated/ how well you retained the information from college, your likely to see multiple questions over topics you barely remember. I know for me a horrible failure right out the gate killed my confidence. In 2012 I took FAR under prepared and underestimating the exam and failed miserably.
I'd retake Q1. Spend 4 weeks getting through the material, spend 2 weeks reviewing. This will mean going faster through everything but I think spending too much going through everything can cause you to forget things.
My far study strategy was to cover the material multiple times rather then spend a lot of time in each go, so I spent 9 weeks total, the first 3 I watched all the videos, the next 4 I read the book, and did all the MCQS, and finally I spent 2 weeks reviewing by doing all the Sims, rewriting my Ninja notes, and working MCQs all mixed together. I won't know if I passed till score release but I will say I had at least a familiarity with ever topic I came across.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 91
FAR - 77
REG - 78

You'll never succeed if you never try.

[Paydirt123]

You also risk losing Time, time is money. Two options: 1) take the test unprepared & hope for the best, probably fail,and commit yourself to rescheduling exam and going back to the drawing board to study another month or two; 2) reschedule for next month & give yourself a little extra time to polish off the finer details. It goes without saying which option has a better chance at success

AUD - 84
BEC - 80
FAR - 80
REG - 85

Took the long way, but I got there

[CS]

@ Frontoffice

I'd recommend taking the test. Nothing beats experience, and I feel that the actual hands on experience of going to the center, sitting down, and feeling the pressure of time etc. will be invaluable, especially since you'll have a chance to retest next window if needed anyway.

You did mention you have spent 160 hours studying so far, but hit 33 % of the material? If I'm interpreting that correctly, it seems like you're spending too much time on the topics. What's your study method like? I used Wiley also, and it's incredibly comprehensive (sometimes overly so), so don't stress too much on lessons which they indicate aren't highly tested.

 

 

[SchruteBeet]

I'd reschedule if I were in your place. Granted you're losing $200 but there's no way one can get through all of that material in seven days – working fulltime or not. Unless of course this is your second attempt and you're familiar with the material. The 18-month clock hasn't started ticking for you so you don't have anything to lose in terms of time. Take your time in prepping for this exam and don't rush through it. For FAR, I'd recommend at least leaving a week for final review.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 83
REG - 78

Ethics - 97

"If it were easy, everyone would do it."

"Hard work, perseverance, faith, blessings."

[Anonymous]

I am not a fan of taking it for the sake of “just seeing how you do” having not seen 70% of the material you will surely fail…I would push it back and prepare to pass not to retake it.

[TommyTheCat]

ya i think reschedule is a good idea. Sure getting some exam experience under your belt can be nice but if you are going in set up to fail its not going to be that motivating to get a low score when it comes to getting back on the horse next q.

just give it the time it needs and do it right. and probably need to pick up the pace on the studying, the exam can fly by so getting in the move quickly habit is good.

AUD - 85
BEC - 89
FAR - 91
REG - 97

[Tncincy]

Reschedule, you have time to get the studying done you need. Do not procrastinate though. Keep going at it. I had cpaexcel and it was just too much for me so I switched to ninja. (get the ninja test bank if you don't have it). This process is too long, hard and strenuous to see how the test look, or experience taking the test is really not important right now. Don't waste your money, if you need to study, then study. Failing doesn't feel good, and it is a really big momentum thief. Don't let it happen since you still have time to do something about it. It is your money and this is not a contest. Study if you need more study time. 🙂

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

[Author]

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