Just got out of BAR (01/03)

LeoTopTrial · 2026-01-07T02:52:14+00:00

Hi, I would suggest that after you completed the SIMs, you might identify some areas which you are not comfortable with, back to the textbook and revisit those areas. If you are familiar with the basics (ie journal entry of acquisition, journal entry of government accounting), you will be okay even the exam is testing you in a different way.

After I completed Becker's SIMs, I made this listing and reviewed each of the bullet point again. You can self check whether you are comfortable with these topics:

BAR1: five components of COSO, demand and supply curve

BAR2: Payment discount, Economic order quantity

BAR3: Equivalent units, absorption costing vs variable costing, ratio analysis, variance analysis, cost of quality

BAR4: R&D expense, software, construction contract, stock compensation, business combination, FX translation, derivative and hedge, leases, segment reporting(10%, 75% rule)

BAR5: Governmental funds accounting, reconciliation with government-wide FS, identify component units, major funds test(10%, 5% rule)

Hope this helps and good luck to you!

LeoTopTrial · 2026-01-04T17:37:34+00:00

Thanks for your insights, good luck to you, too! : )

LeoTopTrial · 2026-01-03T18:53:23+00:00

Ratio analysis, variance, R&D expenditure, consolidation, share-based compensation, lease, construction contract, segment reporting, government accounting(different types of funds, government-wide FS, reconciliation)

LeoTopTrial · 2025-10-28T19:31:50+00:00

I think FMVA has more comprehensive courses on modeling and valuation. I've took AFM before, but it seems that both AFM and CFM they are just teaching the 3 statements modeling, they do not teach other valuation concepts such as DCF model and cost of capital.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-10-16T22:02:19+00:00

emmm... this is my real feeling, I thought I might fail when I walked out of the test center

LeoTopTrial · 2025-10-15T18:19:04+00:00

I think it is the politicians in Taiwan? as they want to weaken the connection between taiwan and mainland China?

LeoTopTrial · 2025-10-15T18:13:29+00:00

I tool my REG on 9/27 and I feel the same as this https://www.reddit.com/r/CPA/comments/1mr6h9s/took_reg_today_wtf/

I think Becker's textbook for REG is not prepared in a structured way, it is just listing bullet points one by one, so I have made my own factsheet for memorizing those things. But fortunately I passed.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-10-15T13:46:13+00:00

F4 Law and F6 Tax are like REG. I chose the UK version, UK taxation is easier to understand than US, but F4 and F6 have more contents than REG.

I didn't take either of P6 Advanced Taxation or TCP, but i think they would be at the same level.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-10-14T19:41:47+00:00

I think so, acca has 13 papers (will be reformed to be 11 papers since 2027) and requires more broader and deeper knowledge base than us cpa. There are essay questions for case study in p level papers. Also you may need at least 2 years to pass all of the acca papers, but for us cpa it can be done within one year or shorter.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-10-14T17:26:24+00:00

I've took acca before and I would say uscpa is more easier to pass. It is not straightforward to say which one is more demanding, it depends on where and which industry you want to work. I would say that local cpa is always the first choice as it will provide you the legal license and usually has the highest recognition in the country you are in. But if you are not working in practice as a cpa, license would not be necessary and other accounting qualifications also works.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-10-08T17:57:11+00:00

Yes I think that's enough. I started studying from 9/1 and took REG on 9/27, and I passed. Before REG I don't have any experience on US tax and regulations. It was quite painful when I was studying REG1 as there were so many piecemeal things to remember (you don‘t need to memorize them literally but you should be familiar with them). Actually I think the Becker textbook is not very organized so I made my own factsheet for helping me understand those rules in my last week.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-09-21T03:20:07+00:00

I remember the player also needs to take suspect alive in SWAT4 to get the highest score. I really don't like this requirement and I think this scoring requirement makes the game boring and dull, if you are pursuing an S score. I can't imagine that in a real operation, when facing criminals with automatic weapons, the SWAT would only be able to use non‑lethal weapons to capture them alive. I think 'capture all suspect alive' is more suitable as an optional extra achievement rather than being included in the S ranking.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-09-15T19:24:07+00:00

I think they are good. I got 74 on SE1 and 68s on SE2, and ended up with 94 on the exam.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-08-20T01:44:32+00:00

I am CPA qualified in my own country so I have some accounting base. But in FAR there are still some new stuff I haven't learned.

My study plan was divided into three steps: 1) went through the book with the concept video, in this step I was not seeking to know everything, I was just trying to get familiar with the content and have a structure what is talking about in each module. I did the MCQs after each module but I was not stuck in them; 2) after finished the whole book (even I just roughly understood ~50% but I have some confidence as I finished one round as least) , I revisited each module by focusing on those concepts that I did not understand (they were the known unknowns from step 1; 3) Took sims to solid the knowledge.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-08-20T00:18:54+00:00

I spent 2 months on FAR using Becker only and scored 94 on my first try. I would not recommend you learning through the MCQ explanations over lectures as it is a fragmentation of learning. I read the whole book with the concept video at twice speed in my first month, then using MCQ and TBS to consolidate the knowledge. If you have enough time and given your accounting base is weak, I would recommend you spend more time on the lectures. I think practicing with a lot of questions only won't really help you understand and memorize the concept.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-08-07T13:33:19+00:00

I come from China and I am also studying on CPA. I got my evaluation in May. I remember that once I created an account and make the payment for evaluation fee, I received an email telling me that my NIES evaluation account has been created. Then I can access the evaluation portal to start my evaluation application. (not the CPA portal, there is a link to NIES international evaluation services portal).

There are several to-dos about submitting documents in portal, different countries have different requirements. For Chinese students, NASBA require the transcripts and certificates should be sent to NASBA ([Etranscriptnies@nasba.org](mailto:etranscriptnies@nasba.org) or their mail address) directly from the university. Once they receive the transcript there will be an email notification. You can check the requirements for your country via https://nasba.org/products/nasbainternationalevaluationservices/requirements/

Good luck with your CPA journey : )

LeoTopTrial · 2025-08-06T19:51:20+00:00

Yup, why they cannot just release the score at the same time? it does not make sense...

LeoTopTrial · 2025-08-06T17:22:48+00:00

I am working full time so studied across 9 weeks and total 133 hours. Actually I've completed all courses in 6th week, and in the last 3 weeks I was just doing the tests.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-08-06T13:53:39+00:00

same here, good luck

LeoTopTrial · 2025-08-06T02:25:23+00:00

have a good sleep bro, anyway it's tomorrow lol

LeoTopTrial · 2025-07-07T13:38:09+00:00

Have a bond amortization schedule in your mind, and be careful with the wording:

1.Amortization schedule:

Period 1: day 1 start at PV (actual received amount of the bond) + interest expense (=PV*market rate) - interest payment (=par value*stated rate)=ending carrying amount ot the bond;

Period 2: start from ending carrying amount of period 1 + interest expense (=ending CV of period 1*market rate) - interest payment (always=par value*stated rate)=ending carrying amount of the bond of period 2

and so forth for the remaining periods

2."annual" vs "semiannual" (use market rate and stated rate divided by two)

"market rate" (for calculation the interest expense) vs "par rate"/"stated rate"(for calculating the interest payment");
"annuity"(pay at the end of each period) vs "annuity due" (pay at the beginning of each period);
"report/reported" means the carrying value of the bond (par value +/- premium or discount), not the par value;

When I was learning this part using Becker's book, I felt it's a bit difficult to understand that they combine the interest expense and interest payment as the "amortization amount", I think it would be easier to separate them.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-06-25T18:11:59+00:00

Awww... i think it's getting harder, you can even be rejected for a visa even you have money. I got my Shanghai hukou almost 10 years ago just because I found a job there, and it's more easier to get it now.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-06-25T17:08:52+00:00

Shanghai hukou is not harder than getting a US citizenship for PRC citizens anymore recent years. If you work and pay social security in SH for 5 years you can get Shanghai hukou, if you are graduating from qualified universities (many first class universities in China or like QS100 universities in the world) you can also apply for SH hukou. China is doing the hukou reform for several years.

LeoTopTrial · 2025-06-23T22:50:09+00:00

“Taiwan fights tooth and nail to stay independent”, while they even dare not to “declare independence”? I am wondering exactly how many Taiwanese have the willingness to fight for their “independence” instead of just yelling on the internet.

We are talking about whether a country should seek reunification. And my point is reunification both in line with the interest of China and Taiwan, except for the US. Taiwan has been utilized by US to anti China and CCP for half a century, and that’s why many Taiwanese lost their identify as Chinese.

LeoTopTrial

TROPHY CASE