Failed FAR twice — is 300 hours of study actually realistic? — Forums

Jordan L.OP

May 27, 2026

I'm starting to question everything. Failed FAR in January with a 71, studied harder, failed again in April with a 72. I've been using a major review course but honestly I think I've been going through the motions — watching lectures, doing MCQs, but not really retaining anything. My exam is rescheduled for August and I need a completely different approach.

What actually moved the needle for people who struggled with FAR specifically? I've heard mixed things about doing a CPA practice test under timed conditions versus just drilling topics by section. I'm decent on governmental accounting but the consolidations and derivatives stuff is killing me. My score goal is obviously 75 but I'd love to pass with something like an 80 just to feel safe.

Also — how many hours per week are people putting in while working full time? I'm at about 15-16 hours and wondering if that's even enough or if I need to restructure my whole schedule until August.

Ravi S.

May 28, 2026

Honest exam tip that nobody talks about enough: simulate the actual test environment way more than you think you need to. I mean full 4-hour timed sims, no phone, no breaks beyond what you'd get at Prometric. I was scoring 78-82 on practice tests in my living room but kept blanking on test day until I started treating every sim like the real thing. The mental stamina piece is underrated.

Tyler B.

May 28, 2026

FAR took me three tries so I really feel this. What finally worked was ditching the lectures entirely and going straight to a study guide that broke each topic into bite-sized summaries — then hammering practice questions until I could explain WHY each wrong answer was wrong, not just recognize the right one. Derivatives and hedging I basically memorized the mechanics cold. Passed with a 77 on attempt three. Don't give up.

Jessica L.

May 28, 2026

15-16 hours a week is workable but the quality matters more than the hours. I passed FAR studying 12 hours a week for 10 weeks — but every session had a specific goal. Cut the passive re-reading. Active recall only.

Failed FAR twice — is 300 hours of study actually realistic?

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