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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 396 total)
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  • in reply to: 0-3: Words of Encouragement / Study Advice #656794
    Tux
    Member

    THendry –

    I understand your dilemma about whether to abandon AUD now and switch to FAR, or keep going with AUD.

    It depends how you feel about FAR….

    My biggest concern is that you pass AUD which starts the 18 month clock, but FAR eats up too much of your time and you don't finish all the sections by the deadline. Then you have to take AUD again anyway.

    So, with that said – it's your call

    Determine if you have a decent foundation on FAR, so that it's really more of a review vs. learning everything from scratch (like it was for me).

    If that's the case, go forward with AUD. Hopefully, you can then work on FAR and complete it within 3 months or so..

    If you don't feel comfortable with FAR at all, right now, and you think it will take you a while to learn it (if did for me), then you don't want to pass AUD now cuz the 18 month clock starts.

    Granted, lots of people pass FAR plus 2 others inside the 18 month window, but I personally would not have been able to do it.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: 0-3: Words of Encouragement / Study Advice #656770
    Tux
    Member

    I suggest – don't jump around to different test sections.

    Study one topic and stay with it till you pass.

    If you want to study a different topic while waiting for scores from your previous exam, that's fine, but go right back to the first section if you don't pass.

    This will keep all the info fresh in your mind, so you don't have to start learning from scratch each time.

    The info will build in your mind, instead of starting over.

    Sounds like you're already on track for AUD in April, but I would suggest sticking with FAR until you get past it.

    FAR is a HUGE amount of information. If you pass something else first, FAR will eat up a lot of time in your 18 month window.

    REG is a lot of info too, so for me, personally, I didn't want to squeeze both of those within the 18 months just in case I had to retake some, as well.

    It's a balancing act to manage learning everything while also moving forward within the 18 month deadline – oh, and we gotta be passing along the way too. Small detail. Ha!!

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: REG SIMS Game Plan #656403
    Tux
    Member

    Even if the Cornell link is not the full version, go ahead and practice with the most full version that you can find.

    Maybe you can go to the local library to practice for a while, if they have the full version.

    Yes, a condensed version of the IRC is not much help for practicing – like the one in Wiley test bank is not helpful at all.

    On the exam, if you can't find the research question, don't leave it blank.

    Just enter something – anything that may be somewhat relevant.

    At least put “IRC” in the first box and put “a” in the last box.

    Find something to put in the middle box.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: Next Section to Take #656291
    Tux
    Member

    I recommend AUD next, but it took me 2 1/2 months studying full time to learn it.

    If you can do it faster, that's great.

    I know many people save BEC for last, but I did it 3rd, and REG 4th.

    Glad I did it that way.

    BEC is less info than REG, so getting it out of the way, gave me some extra time for REG while being careful of the 18 month deadline.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: Far Experience- just walked out. #656302
    Tux
    Member

    To ridiqls –

    I know everyone has a different approach, but because you can see how much info is in FAR, I recommend that you work on it first because the 18 month window does not start until you pass the first test.

    It took me the longest time to learn FAR, and I did it first, so I'm very glad that time did not eat up my 18 month window.

    I could not have flown through FAR the way I did with the others.

    WAYYY too much information.

    that's just my 2 cents.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: Failed Reg Retake – Becker Expired #656423
    Tux
    Member

    Even if you have to pay to renew Becker, then it may be worth it, if you know that you like it.

    Renewal is nothing like the original price – like $200 per section which I know is a lot of money, but this whole process is expensive, so it's all relative.

    But, supplementing with new questions would be helpful too, so you may consider Ninja MCQ with or without Becker.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: BEC – re take – out of materials #656474
    Tux
    Member

    Gosh – well you definitely need study materials.

    Can you borrow the money or put it on a credit card?

    As far as I know, Ninja MCQ is the least expensive option out there and it gets good reviews (I've never used it)

    What have you used so far?

    Usually, when you renew/extend a program it's much less expensive than buying something completely new (although probably still not as low as $47 Ninja MCQ)

    Also, you can search youtube for videos on various topics. Those are free.

    Can you find someone who has already taken the exams and use their books?

    Start asking around to everyone you know – ask if they know someone who has taken the exams recently. Ask if you can use their books.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: Give up on BEC, FAR #656283
    Tux
    Member

    dgilbreath –

    I'm a visual learner too.

    For some topics, I type notes into a Word doc and print it out.

    You can create tables and charts in Word, so it's in a visual format that helps you remember.

    For BEC, I created a page in Excel for the variance analysis. I strongly suggest learning this topic very well for BEC.

    If I could attach my excel document here on Variances, I would post it for your use, but it looks like there is no way to attach it.

    Regarding supplementing your material, I have watched several Roger CPA videos online. They were helpful in how he explains things vs. Becker.

    You may consider purchasing his program?

    OR, just search Youtube for topics that you don't understand. There are some great videos on Youtube that really helped me.

    Especially for FAR, the YouTube channel – oruaccounting – has several great lectures. This instructor explains things very well.

    And, I previously posted the info below in a different conversation on this forum regarding videos for BEC –

    “I watched a good and short video on fixed overhead variance on youtube the day before my exam. It helped to clarify a few points. The same youtube channel also has videos on variable overhead. I did not watch those because I ran out of time.

    I'm posting both here –

    Fixed Overhead video (less than 5 minutes) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM0IroanGYg

    Variable Overhead videos (three videos – 5 min. each) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezmGaRfAEUI&list=PL42DBA1A72E06FB17

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: Well, Butter my butt… #656269
    Tux
    Member

    OK. I just learned that you say this when you hear something surprising.

    So, maybe instead of – Get outta town!

    When you find out that you passed a test that you thought you had failed, you say –

    Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit!

    Ha!!!!

    Too funny.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: Complete Fail…no, not the exam #657011
    Tux
    Member

    Wow, mommyof3 –

    How did you pull that off?

    I'm soooooo impressed. Good for you!

    On one hand, I want to say – don't try that again.

    But, hey, if you can figure out how to take short-cuts like that, more power to you.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: Dear NASBA… #655041
    Tux
    Member

    dhawverm –

    Scores have been posted.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: REG Supplementary material – WTB or Ninja MCQ? #656344
    Tux
    Member

    Bokerbear –

    I don't have experience with Ninja MCQ.

    Like your friend, I have used Becker + WTB for all 4 of my exams and passed.

    I took FAR first, and supplemented with WTB. This was before CPAExcel bought Wiley, and before Ninja MCQ was available.

    Because of my success with FAR, I decided to stay with WTB even after the CPAExcel buyout, and even after Ninja MCQ was released.

    For each of the additional exams, I seriously, seriously considered buying Ninja instead of Wiley because of the good reviews and good price.

    But, each time, I decided I didn't want to change my formula, since I kept passing each exam with the same test bank combination.

    My concern with Becker + Ninja –

    Becker questions are generally harder than Wiley. So, using them together gives you a good combination of “deeper, involved/complex” questions of Becker, with more “surface-level” questions from Wiley.

    Ninja's reputation is that the questions are hard – which is great preparation, but using it with Becker which is already made of the harder questions sounds like it would be more time-consuming because you'll have to spend time understanding even more hard questions.

    I got really concerned about having the time to practice and learn so much at the harder level, since Becker is already time consuming, too.

    Overall, the real exam questions, IMO, are somewhere between Becker and Wiley regarding level of difficulty and complexity. Often, they lean more towards Wiley level of complexity, but Wiley on it's own, I don't believe would be a good-enough preparation.

    So, that's my 2 cents. I realize it's a touch decision because I struggled with the same decision for my last 3 exams.

    With that said, I had already decided that if I didn't pass REG (my last exam taken last month), I was going to add Ninja MCQ to my studies to prepare for taking it the second time. But, thankfully, I passed.

    P.S. If you decide to buy WTB, buy it from Amazon. It's cheaper than directly from Wiley.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: Give up on BEC, FAR #656275
    Tux
    Member

    I know it's hard, but definitely find a way to keep trying.

    You've already proven that you can pass two of them. That's HUGE!!

    Use that as your motivation and encouragement to have faith and know that you can do this. It just requires more time and a few tweaks to your strategy.

    What strategy did you use for the ones you passed? Are you doing anything different for FAR and BEC?

    Are you trying to go too fast?

    Can you find someone who has already passed the exams to tutor you or work with you?

    Be very detailed when you're trying to understand what you know and don't know about each topic.

    Use the heck out of this forum. The people here are amazingly helpful!!

    Can you add additional study time to your week?

    Can you put these charges on your credit card and get by for a while, financially? You might need a new test bank if you're getting familiar with the practice questions.

    I know it's so hard, but stay focused. Regroup your energy and decide that you will get through this.

    Even if you lose credit for AUD, I want you to keep going so you don't lose REG too!

    Here's a video that someone posted in another discussion just a few days ago for motivation….

    I like it a lot –

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q8RpEFa1No

    And, don't say, “I can't pass” – You ARE passing. You passed 2. You can pass the others.

    Figure out what's giving you trouble with the others and spend a lot of time on that.

    For BEC, I recommend understanding variance analysis very well. I got several questions on that one topic.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: I passed!!! I'm done #657765
    Tux
    Member

    I'm finally in the “I'm done” club, too.

    Wow.

    I feel like I just got out of jail.

    (Not that I've ever been there for real, but I assume this is what it feels like)

    Excited and overwhelmed and speechless all at the same time.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

    in reply to: REG SIMS Game Plan #656399
    Tux
    Member

    To – liss_ will_be_a_CA_CPA –

    I have not used these, myself, but …

    it looks like Gleim has a simulations-only software for $100 per section.

    Bisk might have one too.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 396 total)