ADG.CFE.CISA Newbie
Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Location: United States
Online Status: Offline Posts: 24
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Posted: 26 Dec 2011 at 21:34 | IP Logged
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I got done with CPA this 4Q 2011, and wanted to share an
interesting approach that seemed to work for me,
specially for FAR. This was the 4th time I was taking
FAR. My previous scores were 66,71,71.
My problem was simple:
1. Being an international candidate, I was appearing for
more than 1 section in each of my visits to the US. Hence
the time spent on each section was relatively less.
2. Although I was doing MCQs, simulations and watching
videos before appearing for the test, I was not pulling
it all together a day or two before the exam. I was able
to complete only about 450 questions in the last 2 days
before the exam in May 2011.
So this time around, I decided that in the last couple of
days, I am not going to work out any new MCQs. I had
completed about 1200 from Gleim before reaching US. So
although I had nearly 500 more new questions to do, I
realized that the time I was taking to solve new
questions was 2 to 3 times that of reviewing the solved
questions.
The trick was to go though the solved questions quickly
instead of reviewing questions that I had never
attempted. The reason is, when you open any of the
previous study sections taken, Gliem will show the
question, the answer choices and the selection that you
had previously made (correct or incorrect). Hence it is
easier to get done reviewing more questions this way
because you dont have the mental pressure to get the
answer right. (which leads us to spend more time on each
question)
I completed reviewing about 1000 MCQs in the last couple
of days using this approach and had some time to go over
the notes of Yaeger CPA (Around 55 pages) and repeat some
of the simulations I had already done earlier. This
really helped pull it all together and I felt a lot more
confident walking into the test center.
So to summarize, the message that I wanted to share is
simple. The last 2-3 days is the most crucial. We need to
do MCQs, Simulations and review Notes. Hence it is easier
to review more MCQs/Sims that are already done earlier
rather than learning new stuff in the last minute.
I still get goose bumps thinking about the day I got my
scores (4th November). I first got my AUD score, which
was never a worry as I had passed this previously as well
with an 80.
The stage was set for FAR. If I failed again, then it was
definitely going to be curtains for me with the CPA
exams.
After waiting for about 5 hrs since AUD score, I finally
got my FAR score. 79!... The wait was worth every minute.
It was time to reclaim my life and finally move on to
things other than studies. Good luck to every one...and a
happy new year...in advance.
__________________ Thanks, ADG
AUD 83
FAR 79
BEC 78
REG 75
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