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CPA-hopeful
Major Contributor

Joined: 09 Nov 2008
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 254

Posted: 24 Mar 2009 at 11:11 \| IP Logged

justfurfun wrote:

One additional note about the research tab - I usually take a shot at it right after the written communication, but you have to always remember about time management. If you can't get the research question within a few minutes and you have no clue about where to start looking (like my first one on FAR - I had Absolutely No Idea), you have to move on to the rest of the Sim tabs and let the research question go. In my case, I went through and did the Sim tabs, then went back, still had no clue, and so I just moved on to the 2nd Sim.

If you can get the research questions, that is great because it could single-handedly push you up from a 73 or 74 to a 75; but, you don't want to blow your whole 2nd Sim by spending too much time on the research question, and possibly missing easy points on the 2nd Sim. My 2nd Sim research question was MUCH easier to find then the first one.

how do you go about finding it in the sea of information? i blew off both research tabs, but certainly had the time....

__________________
FAR - 74, 74, 75-PASSED
BEC - 74, 74, 68, 75- PASSED
REG - 73, 74, 75- PASSED
ETHICS 95
AUD - 79 PASSED

justfurfun
Contributor

Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 55

Posted: 24 Mar 2009 at 11:15 \| IP Logged

CPA-hopeful wrote:

justfurfun wrote:

One additional note about the research tab - I usually take a shot at it right after the written communication, but you have to always remember about time management. If you can't get the research question within a few minutes and you have no clue about where to start looking (like my first one on FAR - I had Absolutely No Idea), you have to move on to the rest of the Sim tabs and let the research question go. In my case, I went through and did the Sim tabs, then went back, still had no clue, and so I just moved on to the 2nd Sim.

If you can get the research questions, that is great because it could single-handedly push you up from a 73 or 74 to a 75; but, you don't want to blow your whole 2nd Sim by spending too much time on the research question, and possibly missing easy points on the 2nd Sim. My 2nd Sim research question was MUCH easier to find then the first one.

how do you go about finding it in the sea of information? i blew off both research tabs, but certainly had the time....

I use keyword searches based on the question presented, trying to hit on something close to what I need and then I browse around. My REG ones were pretty easy, don't remember the AUD ones, but FAR were difficult. Also, I suppose the more you actually read the pronouncements and stuff, the more likely you are to know where things are within them; however, I stuck with the Wiley text and didn't read them because they seemed too daunting.

__________________
BEC:85 (Nov2007)
AUD:81 (Nov2008)
REG:98 (Aug2008)
FAR:84 (Feb2009)

CPA-2-Be
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: 12 Aug 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 39

Posted: 24 Mar 2009 at 12:37 \| IP Logged

Hello everybody,

This is my first post in the FAR section...

i just got my results today from the last section i took and i passed so the only part left for me to take is FAR and i think i got plenty of time for it. i got 4 testing windows to get it done before my first credit expires. i got a couple questions though...

1-how would you rate the dificulty compared to other section of the exam?

2-is time an issue with this section?

3-how are the simulations?

4-i'm using Becker 2008 materials, would that be enough for this section...

5- do you think that 7 weeks is enough time to study for this section (2-3 hours weekdays, and 8-10 hours on the weekends).

i know some of these questions are subjective but i'm shopping for opinions...

Thanks everyone...

__________________
AUD 7/3 Score on 9/19 80
BEC 10/31 Score on 11/18 79
REG 1/2 Score on 3/24 78
FAR 5/27 Score on 6/22 77

justfurfun
Contributor

Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 55

Posted: 24 Mar 2009 at 13:13 \| IP Logged

CPA-2-Be wrote:

Hello everybody,

This is my first post in the FAR section...

1-how would you rate the dificulty compared to other section of the exam?

2-is time an issue with this section?

3-how are the simulations?

4-i'm using Becker 2008 materials, would that be enough for this section...

5- do you think that 7 weeks is enough time to study for this section (2-3 hours weekdays, and 8-10 hours on the weekends).

i know some of these questions are subjective but i'm shopping for opinions...

Thanks everyone...

Congrats on your other results! In answer to your questions:

1) The thing that makes FAR difficult is the quantity of information covered. Just that fact made it hardest for me.

2) Time was an issue for me. The MCQ's took a lot longer than I had planned. I tried for 1 min/MCQ, but in the end took about 1.7min/MCQ, leaving me short of time for the Sims. Also, the 1st Research Question was impossible for me to find.

3) The Simulations can cover lots of different topics which makes it difficult. I scored "weaker" on the Sims in my score report, so I'm not sure how to tell you to perfect these other than to say do ALL the Sims you can possibly do. In my studying, I didn't have lots of extra time (once I started studying) and so I did only MCQ's.

4) You should be fine with Becker 2008 materials - make sure you do tons of MCQ's and also all the Sims possible. I used solely Wiley 2008 book and that was enough for me.

5) 7 weeks is plenty of time...just make sure to commit to meaningful study every day, and you should be ready before 7 weeks are up.

__________________
BEC:85 (Nov2007)
AUD:81 (Nov2008)
REG:98 (Aug2008)
FAR:84 (Feb2009)

vvs_cpa
Newbie
Newbie

Joined: 20 Jul 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 42

Posted: 24 Mar 2009 at 14:12 \| IP Logged

justfurfun wrote:

vvs_cpa wrote:

justfurfun wrote:

vvs_cpa wrote:

Today i got my diagnostic report. My overall performance in MCQ is stronger (presentation 27%-33% - weaker ,stronger in all the other areas) Simulation and communication weaker .(i know i didn't do well in one simulation and one communication .i left it blank because i didn't have enough time for simulation) Can any one tell me which one i need to concentrate more and how many days i need to spend for this subject . Apart from FAR i have to take AUD .

I just got my diagnostic report as well. I was comparable for Concepts, and stronger for everything else. However, I was weaker for Simulations, comparable for Written Communication, and stronger for Multiple Choice. Even with that I somehow managed an 84.

If you were stronger in most categories, then all you have to do is bring up your weaker in Presentation and make sure you have enough time to do the Written Communication and Simulation. I always start with the Written Communication because it is worth 10 points, and my Wiley book states that as long as it addresses the question presented, the content really doesn't matter - it is more based on grammar, spelling, structure, and tone (make sure you know who your audience is and you speak appropriately to them - eg, don't use special acronyms like GAAP when addressing your client, etc.), so I make sure to knock that one out of the way first.

What was your score anyway?

Re: AUD: I don't know where your weak areas are, but what helped me with AUD was memorizing the various paragraphs for the different opinions and the exceptions. Having those memorized helped me both on the multiple choice and the simulations. I commute 30 minutes each way to work, so I would just repeat the paragraphs word for word starting at the beginning until I got them down. Once I got them down, I would repeat them every morning and night at a minimum until the exam day to make sure I didn't forget them. But the only time I used to memorize them was my commute, so that I could focus on reading and answering MCQ's during my actual study times. Plus, do as many questions as you can - I used the Wiley questions and just did as many as I could.

Thanks for your reply..I got 67 in auditing and 68 in FAR .I took FAR in lat window .In both the subject my weaker area is simulation and communication.

If those were your weaker areas, I would recommend practicing Sims and Written Communication - get the Wiley books and take all of them in test-like conditions, trying your hardest. Then, take notes on the suggested answers and how they differ from yours - try to figure out what you are doing wrong.

For some reason, for AUD and FAR I was "weaker" on the Sims, so I'm not sure how to help you there, but if you focus on the MCQ's, the Written Communications, and the Research Questions, and expect to receive about 50% on the Sims, that should leave you with a possible 91 points to get on the exam in total. I think the breakdown is 70 points for MCQ's, 1 point for each research question (2 points total), 10 points for the written communication (I've heard that only one of the two written comms is graded), and the remaining 18 points for the rest of the Sims tabs.

I've also heard that people have had good luck with the Yaeger Cram courses - so you could look into those. But it really sounds like part of your issue was just time management and the only thing I can suggest their is to get more practice in test-like conditions (library, quiet, using a watch as a timer, etc.). Just remember that if you really dedicate yourself, it is entirely possible to pass both these sections this window - but you need to start moving now and dedicating as much time as possible immediately to studying. Good luck - you can do it!

Did you use wiley? which one do you recommend wiley CD or wiley book for mcq and simulation? I am totally confused whether to take FAR or AUD first .Because i have failed auditing 2 times ,anyhow i am preparing for aud now .Do you think i need to change the material for auditing ?

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