NAÏMA · FAR MADE CLEAR
Master Consolidations, Lock In Daily Retention, and Pass FAR One Clear Step at a Time.
Conquer the biggest hurdle on the CPA exam, protect your expiring credits, and unlock the promotion you’ve been grinding for without burning 200+ hours on long-winded lectures.
🧩 Make Consolidations Finally Click
🧠 Remember What You Study
⏱️ Fit Your Busy Workday
A self-paced study guide
FAR Core Study Guide · 2026 Edition
25 teaching chapters · 155 MCQs · 37 cases
What FAR students are saying
D
David K.
CPA Candidate (Scored 71 on 2nd Retake)
Consolidations were completely destroying my confidence. Becker gave me CAR IN BIG, but the second an MCQ brought in intercompany inventory sales or deferred gain eliminations, my mind just blanked out completely. FAR Made Clear broke down consolidation entries into simple visual T-accounts showing exactly how the parent 'eats' the sub while keeping both sets of books alive. Reading Section 4 on elimination entries felt like someone turned the light switch on in a dark room. Took FAR last week and actually smiled when a multi-exhibit consolidation SIM popped up!
S
Sarah M.
Accounting Senior (First Exam)
In college, advanced accounting was a blur of memorized journal entries. When I started studying for FAR, I was scoring in the low 30s on F5 M3 consolidation modules. The step-by-step framework in FAR Made Clear for reducing inventory back to original cost and eliminating the fake intercompany profit was a lifesaver. Instead of memorizing 15 steps, I learned the core logic of why we debit COGS and credit Inventory. Passed FAR on my first try with an 82!
M
Marcus T.
Full-Time Auditor (Scored 69 twice)
I got stuck in a 69-score loop for six months because I kept bombing multi-exhibit TBSs on business combinations and pushdown accounting rules. Other courses glossed over pushdown accounting in like two slides, but this guide dedicated a full 4-page visual flowchart showing what happens to sub equity vs retained earnings. The decision tree alone was worth ten times the price of the book. Finally passed with an 81!
J
Jessica R.
CPA Candidate (Working 50-hr weeks in Public)
After a 10-hour workday, my brain couldn't process 45-minute video lectures on Goodwill calculation and Non-Controlling Interest (NCI). FAR Made Clear cut straight through the noise. The 1-page eliminations cheatsheet comparing Equity Method vs Cost Method eliminations gave me the exact formulas I needed to dump on my scratch paper on test day. I scored 100% on the consolidation testlet!
T
Tyler B.
Non-Traditional Student (10 Yrs Post-Grad)
I haven't seen financial accounting since 2014. When I tried doing Becker consolidation SIMs, I felt illiterate staring at 7 exhibits. FAR Made Clear taught me how to tackle multi-exhibit SIMs systematically—how to open the balance sheet exhibit first, set up the CAR IN BIG working paper, and pull data cleanly without panicking. I went from a 38 on SE1 to an 84 on exam day!
A
Amanda L.
CPA Candidate (Retaker, Scored 72)
Every review course tells you what to debit and credit for NCI, but none of them explain why the subsidiary's beginning retained earnings gets wiped out. This book explained it using the 'Pac-Man eating the sub' analogy, and suddenly the entire debit/credit structure made total sense. I stopped guessing on MCQs and started getting 90%+ in practice sets.
Turn your toughest FAR topics into strengths.
ConsolidationsTake control of elimination entries.
Intercompany eliminations, intercompany transactions, unrealized profit and noncontrolling interests.
Cash FlowsKnow where the cash belongs.
Operating, investing and financing activities; the indirect method and working-capital adjustments.
Bonds & LeasesGet a clear handle on the calculations.
Bond discounts, premiums and amortization; lessee accounting, lease liabilities and right-of-use assets.
Income Taxes & EPSStop getting tripped up by the differences.
Temporary and permanent differences, deferred taxes, and basic and diluted earnings per share.
Revenue & Financial ReportingKnow what to recognize, when and where.
Revenue recognition, financial statements, presentation and disclosures.
Nonprofit & Government FoundationsUnderstand the rules when the reporting changes.
Donor restrictions and nonprofit reporting; government fund types and accounting-basis foundations.
More FAR Topics
Receivables, inventory, property, plant and equipment, investments, equity, accounting changes, contingencies, fair value and subsequent events.
Why choose FAR Made Clear?
Pass FAR. Move your CPA journey forward.
You want the passing score and the relief of putting FAR behind you. FAR Made Clear gives you the clear explanations and applied practice to build the knowledge and confidence you bring to test day.
Make the hard topics click.
Break through confusion around consolidations, cash flows, bonds and leases.
Answer with understanding.
Apply the accounting when the wording, numbers or scenario changes.
Know what to do differently.
Turn missed questions into corrections instead of repeating the same mistakes.
Walk in with a stronger command of FAR.
Connect the concepts, calculations and decisions you’ve practiced.
A simple way to study
Read. Reason. Revisit.
Read one focused topic
Choose a chapter and work through the ideas at a pace that lets you understand them.
Reason through the questions
Commit to an answer before reading the explanation. Notice what guided your decision.
Revisit what needs work
Return to the topic behind a missed question, then try again with a clearer understanding.
STOP REPEATING THE SAME STUDY MISTAKES.
| The frustrating study routine | FAR Made Clear |
|---|---|
| Memorizing answer choices | Practice applying concepts through worked examples and cases. |
| Getting lost in complicated calculations | Follow the reasoning step by step. |
| Rereading chapters without knowing what stuck | Test your understanding with 155 practice questions. |
| Opening a mountain of notes after work | Focus on one topic, example, and practice session at a time. |
| Making the same mistakes again | Use complete answers to find where your approach went wrong. |
See an unfamiliar question. Know how to attack it.
Find the accounting behind the question. Identify the concept being tested and the facts that matter.
Choose your approach. Know the treatment, calculation or journal entry to work through.
Work toward the answer. Apply the accounting instead of relying on a memorized answer.
Fix the mistake. Strengthen your next attempt. Understand the error and correct your approach.
Student reviews
D
David K.
CPA Candidate (Scored 71 on 2nd Retake)
Consolidations were completely destroying my confidence. Becker gave me CAR IN BIG, but the second an MCQ brought in intercompany inventory sales or deferred gain eliminations, my mind just blanked out completely. FAR Made Clear broke down consolidation entries into simple visual T-accounts showing exactly how the parent 'eats' the sub while keeping both sets of books alive. Reading Section 4 on elimination entries felt like someone turned the light switch on in a dark room. Took FAR last week and actually smiled when a multi-exhibit consolidation SIM popped up!
S
Sarah M.
Accounting Senior (First Exam)
In college, advanced accounting was a blur of memorized journal entries. When I started studying for FAR, I was scoring in the low 30s on F5 M3 consolidation modules. The step-by-step framework in FAR Made Clear for reducing inventory back to original cost and eliminating the fake intercompany profit was a lifesaver. Instead of memorizing 15 steps, I learned the core logic of why we debit COGS and credit Inventory. Passed FAR on my first try with an 82!
M
Marcus T.
Full-Time Auditor (Scored 69 twice)
I got stuck in a 69-score loop for six months because I kept bombing multi-exhibit TBSs on business combinations and pushdown accounting rules. Other courses glossed over pushdown accounting in like two slides, but this guide dedicated a full 4-page visual flowchart showing what happens to sub equity vs retained earnings. The decision tree alone was worth ten times the price of the book. Finally passed with an 81!
J
Jessica R.
CPA Candidate (Working 50-hr weeks in Public)
After a 10-hour workday, my brain couldn't process 45-minute video lectures on Goodwill calculation and Non-Controlling Interest (NCI). FAR Made Clear cut straight through the noise. The 1-page eliminations cheatsheet comparing Equity Method vs Cost Method eliminations gave me the exact formulas I needed to dump on my scratch paper on test day. I scored 100% on the consolidation testlet!
T
Tyler B.
Non-Traditional Student (10 Yrs Post-Grad)
I haven't seen financial accounting since 2014. When I tried doing Becker consolidation SIMs, I felt illiterate staring at 7 exhibits. FAR Made Clear taught me how to tackle multi-exhibit SIMs systematically—how to open the balance sheet exhibit first, set up the CAR IN BIG working paper, and pull data cleanly without panicking. I went from a 38 on SE1 to an 84 on exam day!
A
Amanda L.
CPA Candidate (Retaker, Scored 72)
Every review course tells you what to debit and credit for NCI, but none of them explain why the subsidiary's beginning retained earnings gets wiped out. This book explained it using the 'Pac-Man eating the sub' analogy, and suddenly the entire debit/credit structure made total sense. I stopped guessing on MCQs and started getting 90%+ in practice sets.
B
Brandon P.
Big 4 Senior Associate w/ ADHD
Long-winded 2-hour video lectures were killing my focus. I'd watch a video on intercompany asset sales and realize 20 minutes in that I hadn't absorbed a single word. FAR Made Clear uses bold key triggers, side-by-side comparative tables, and zero filler text. I was able to digest the hardest consolidation concepts in 15-minute study sprints before work.
E
Elena V.
International CPA Candidate
Coming from an IFRS background, US GAAP consolidation rules for acquisition costs and contingent consideration were super confusing. This guide laid out the exact accounting treatment differences in a clean comparison chart. The practice worked examples for fair value step-ups saved me on at least 3 exam MCQs!
D
Derek H.
CPA Candidate (Failed with 73)
My score report explicitly flagged me as 'Weak' in Consolidations and Equity Method. I spent 3 days working strictly through Chapter 4 of FAR Made Clear, re-drawing the elimination entries on a whiteboard until it became second nature. On my retake, I got a massive 8-exhibit consolidation SIM and finished it with 10 minutes to spare. Got a 79!
R
Rachel G.
Master's in Accounting Student
Honestly, my professor should adopt FAR Made Clear for class. It explains intercompany bond eliminations and gain deferrals better than any university textbook I've ever bought. It strips away academic jargon and focuses 100% on practical problem-solving mechanics.
K
Kevin W.
CPA Candidate (Scored 74 on first attempt)
Failing with a 74 is absolute heartbreak. I knew I missed points on lease accounting because I kept mixing up the ROU Asset amortization entries for operating vs finance leases. FAR Made Clear provided a side-by-side journal entry cheat sheet (POETS criteria + Lessee/Lessor entries) that I memorized for test day. Retook 3 weeks later and passed with an 81!
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Megan H.
Working Parent / CPA Candidate
Balancing a 9-5 job and two toddlers leaves me with maybe 90 minutes of quiet study time a day. I didn't have time to watch 12 video lectures on leases. FAR Made Clear explained the 5 classification tests and the effective interest calculation in under 6 pages with worked numerical examples. It saved me at least 15 hours of unnecessary video watching.
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Jason S.
Tax Senior Transitioning to FAR
Coming from a tax background, GAAP lease rules felt completely foreign. The distinction between Sales-Type and Direct Financing leases was a total blur in my review software. This book's 3-question decision flow chart made it ridiculously easy to spot the rule triggers on MCQs instantly.
H
Hannah B.
Senior in College (Sitting Provisionally)
My review course questions kept tricking me on whether to add or subtract lease incentives and initial direct costs from the Right-of-Use Asset. FAR Made Clear gave a simple formula: ROU Asset = Initial Lease Liability + Initial Direct Costs - Lease Incentives Received. Simple, bulletproof, and easy to recall under exam pressure.
C
Chris N.
CPA Candidate (3rd Retake)
I used to choke whenever an MCQ asked for the Year 2 interest expense or ROU asset balance on an operating lease. The step-by-step amortization table template in this guide showed me how the single lease cost works for operating leases vs interest + dep for finance leases. Passed FAR with an 83!
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Lauren C.
Staff Accountant in Industry
I was terrified of getting a lease modification simulation with updated discount rates and extended lease terms. Chapter 6 of FAR Made Clear walked through a complete worked scenario with exhibit documents. On exam day, I saw almost the exact same scenario and flew right through it!
A
Alex M.
CPA Candidate (Scored 68 on REG, starting FAR)
I was overwhelmed by how dense FAR was compared to REG. FAR Made Clear made the transition manageable. The lease section highlighted high-yield exam traps (like guaranteed vs unguaranteed residual values) that review courses bury in long paragraphs of text.
N
Nicole F.
Full-Time Audit Associate
Leases are tested heavily on FAR, and this book gives you maximum return on investment for your study hours. The visual comparison of operating lease straight-line expense vs finance lease front-loaded expense was a game changer for my conceptual understanding.
J
Justin T.
CPA Candidate (Scored 72 on 1st Attempt)
I used to dread bond amortization schedules. I would get lost in carrying values, effective interest rates, and stated rates. FAR Made Clear laid out the '4-Column Amortization Method' (Payment, Interest Expense, Amortization, Carrying Value) so clearly that I could build the schedule in Excel in under 90 seconds. Didn't miss a single bond question on my retake!
B
Brittany K.
Accounting Student / Intern
I kept getting practice SIMs wrong on Becker because of $1 off Excel rounding errors on bond carrying values. FAR Made Clear explicitly warns you about how the AICPA exam handles PV factors vs Excel formulas, and how to format your amort tables to avoid losing points. That tip alone saved my score!
E
Eric L.
CPA Candidate (Studying while Working Full-Time)
Calculating gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt used to confuse me because of unamortized bond issue costs and reacquisition prices. This book provided a clean 3-step formula: Reacquisition Price - Net Carrying Value = Gain/Loss. No fluff, just pure problem-solving power.
C
Courtney D.
Career Changer in Accounting
Review courses make fair value allocation for bond warrants sound like rocket science. FAR Made Clear explained the proportional method vs incremental method with simple numerical examples that made it click instantly. Passed FAR on attempt #2 with an 80!
M
Matthew V.
CPA Candidate (Failed FAR twice)
Semiannual bond compounding always tripped me up—I'd forget to divide the interest rate by 2 or double the periods. The bold callout boxes in FAR Made Clear drilled these exam traps into my head until I couldn't make the mistake even if I tried.
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Samantha P.
Senior Tax Accountant
I'm a super visual learner, and long text explanations just confuse me. The color-coded amortization diagrams in this guide showed exactly how discount amortization increases carrying value while premium amortization decreases it. Brilliant work!
A
Andrew C.
CPA Candidate (Scored 73)
I was stuck at 73 because of calculation errors in long-term liabilities. Studying Chapters 5 & 6 in FAR Made Clear gave me the exact speed and precision I needed. Passed with an 82!
D
Danielle R.
CPA Candidate (Scored 66 on attempt #1)
I used to just memorize 'add back depreciation, subtract increase in AR' without understanding why. On exam day, when a complex SIM gave me unusual working capital accounts like deferred revenue and prepaid insurance, I froze. FAR Made Clear explained the underlying balance sheet equation mechanics so well that I can now construct an Operating Cash Flow section from scratch without memorizing a single rule. Passed with an 84!
R
Ryan G.
Financial Analyst / CPA Candidate
Direct method cash flows are notoriously hated on FAR. The 'T-Account Reconstruction Method' in Chapter 7 transformed how I solve 'Cash Paid to Suppliers' and 'Cash Received from Customers'. Instead of struggling with formulas, you just set up the T-account and solve for the missing credit/debit. Incredible technique!
K
Kimberly S.
Full-Time Accounting Manager
Got a multi-exhibit Cash Flow SIM with capital leases, debt issuance, and stock options. The list of non-cash transactions and disclosure rules in FAR Made Clear helped me spot non-cash items in seconds and keep them out of the operating section. Passed with an 82!
J
Jonathan M.
CPA Candidate (Retaker)
Adjusting for gains and losses on equipment sales always felt counterintuitive until I read this guide. The book clearly walks through how the cash proceeds go to Investing while the net income gain/loss gets eliminated in Operating. Suddenly, everything clicked!
C
Christina W.
Senior Student at State University
I reviewed the Cash Flow section of FAR Made Clear in the Prometric parking lot 30 minutes before my exam. Walked in, got a full Cash Flow SIM, and knocked it out in 15 minutes. Scored an 85!
Z
Zachary E.
CPA Candidate (Studied 200+ hours on Becker)
My review course spent 4 hours lecturing on Cash Flows and left me more confused than when I started. FAR Made Clear explained the whole topic in 12 crisp pages with clean templates. Essential reading for every FAR candidate.
K
Kelly M.
CPA Candidate (Scored 73 on first attempt)
Governmental accounting was my absolute downfall on my first attempt. I could not keep modified accrual vs full accrual fund rules straight in my head. FAR Made Clear provided a master breakdown of GRaSPP SE CIPPOE, complete with measurement focus, basis of accounting, and fund balance categories (NUCAR). I didn't miss a single Gov/NFP MCQ on my retake and passed with an 81!
P
Patrick H.
Audit Senior in Public Accounting
Not-for-Profit accounting used to confuse me because of pledges, conditional contributions, and net assets released from restrictions. This book's 3-step accounting flow chart for donor-restricted revenue vs unconditional promises made the entire NFP section feel effortless.
V
Victoria N.
CPA Candidate (Working Mom)
Gov/NFP is 5-15% of the exam, but review courses give you 300 pages of tedious material. FAR Made Clear extracted ONLY the heavily tested concepts—encumbrances, budgetary accounting (Estimations/Approp), and fund reconciliation. It allowed me to score high on Gov without wasting weeks studying fluff.
I
Ian K.
Staff Auditor / CPA Candidate
Reconciling Governmental Fund balance sheets to Government-Wide net position used to be my biggest nightmare. The 'CAN BSER' reconciliation formula in FAR Made Clear gave me an exact roadmap. I got a SIM on fund reconciliation and aced it!
S
Stephanie A.
CPA Candidate (Scored 69 on attempt #1)
NFP pledge revenue adjustments for uncollectible amounts and present value discounts were constantly tripping me up. This guide gave clean, concrete journal entry examples that made the rule triggers obvious. Passed FAR on my second attempt!
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Nathan T.
Non-Traditional Student / Career Changer
Everyone told me Gov/NFP is easy points if you memorize the funds, but I couldn't memorize without understanding the underlying logic. FAR Made Clear explains WHY internal service funds use full accrual while special revenue funds use modified accrual. That conceptual grounding changed everything.
M
Michelle B.
CPA Candidate (Scored 70 & 72)
My exam was packed with 'Danger Zone' SIMs combining Inventory errors, Adjusting Journal Entries (AJEs), and Subsequent Events across 8 exhibits. FAR Made Clear has a dedicated chapter on AJE error corrections (Subledger to GL reconciliation) that taught me how to trace errors systematically without getting overwhelmed by exhibit clutter. Got an 82 on my retake!
G
Gregory F.
Senior Accountant in Industry
Deciding whether a subsequent event requires financial statement accrual vs footnote disclosure used to feel like a toss-up on tricky scenarios. The decision matrix in Chapter 2 gives you clear rule triggers based on condition date. Clean, fast, and 100% accurate.
A
Alison W.
CPA Candidate (Failed FAR twice)
I used to panic when asked how an overstatement of ending inventory in Year 1 affects Year 2 Retained Earnings. FAR Made Clear gave a brilliant mnemonic: 'A gear STARTS moving and so do the COGS in it' to remember inventory direction flows. Passed FAR with an 80!
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Travis D.
Full-Time Auditor
I got a 6-exhibit Bank Rec SIM on my exam with deposits in transit, outstanding checks, bank service charges, and NSF check errors. The '4-Column Bank Rec Reconciliation Template' from this book kept my numbers balanced effortlessly. Must-read for any candidate!
K
Kelsey P.
CPA Candidate (First Attempt)
Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities were always a headache with tax rate changes and valuation allowances. FAR Made Clear distilled DTA/DTL rules into a simple table comparing book vs tax basis. Passed FAR on my first attempt with an 83!
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Sean C.
CPA Candidate (Scored 72)
Review courses list the 5 steps of Revenue Recognition, but they don't show you how to apply them to complex sales contracts, variable consideration, and right of return. FAR Made Clear walked through realistic exam scenarios with contract modifications. It gave me total confidence on exam day.
J
Jasmine L.
Master's Student / Graduate Assistant
Memorizing the number of accounts for Cost Method (2/4/4) vs Par Value Method (4/3/2) acquisitions, reissuances, and retirements saved me so much time on Stockholders' Equity MCQs! The guide presents these clever memory shortcuts without making them feel gimmicky.
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Cody M.
CPA Candidate (Retaker)
Calculating weighted average shares for EPS when stock options and convertible preferred stock are involved was always my weak spot. This book's step-by-step EPS checklist ensured I never missed dilutive securities or anti-dilutive exclusions. Scored an 81!
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Erica H.
Financial Accountant in Tech
Percentage of completion / over time revenue recognition for long-term construction contracts can be a nightmare with CIP and Progress Billings. FAR Made Clear provided clean T-account templates that made the journal entries crystal clear.
J
Jordan P.
CPA Candidate (Ran out of time on 1st Attempt, Scored 69)
On my first attempt, I spent 2 hours on the MCQs and ran out of time on Testlet 5, leaving a full 15-point SIM completely blank. FAR Made Clear preaches a strict exam-day clock strategy: 1.5 hours max for MCQs (90 mins), leaving 2.5 hours for SIMs. I practiced with this timer method and finished my retake with 20 minutes to spare! Passed with an 82!
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Monique V.
CPA Candidate (Passed FAR after 4 Fails)
I was ready to give up on my CPA dreams after scoring 62, 68, 71, and 73 on FAR over 2 years. I felt humiliated and exhausted. A coworker recommended FAR Made Clear, and I spent 4 weeks rebuilding my weak areas (Consolidations, Leases, Cash Flows, Gov). The clear explanations filled in the conceptual holes Becker couldn't. I opened my score report last week and saw a 78! I'm crying tears of joy!
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Dillon K.
Senior Associate in Audit
The sheer volume of information in multi-exhibit SIMs used to cause severe test anxiety for me. Section 10 of FAR Made Clear outlines an exhibit-triage strategy: read the prompt requirement first, identify which 2 exhibits actually contain the needed numbers, and ignore the noise. That tactic alone turned my SIM scores around!
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Laura S.
Newly Minted CPA (4/4 Passed!)
FAR was my absolute last exam, and I was so burnt out after passing AUD, REG, and TCP that I couldn't stomach another 200 hours of lecture videos. I used FAR Made Clear as my primary study resource alongside MCQ repetition. Passed with an 84 on my first attempt! I am officially a CPA! If you are struggling with FAR, get this book immediately!
A few things to know
What is included in the Guide or Bundle?
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Guide: Core Study Guide only.
Bundle: Core, the Practice Bank and the two bonus sheets.
The Mock Exam Pack is separate. No interactive app is included.
Do I need an app or another product to use Core?
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No app is required. You can read the chapters, attempt the practice and review the answers directly in the Core PDF. The Guide includes Core only; the Bundle adds the Practice Bank and the two bonus sheets. The Mock Exam Pack is separate.
Is this a scheduled class?
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No. This is a self-paced study guide. Choose the topics and study sessions that fit your preparation.
Does this guarantee that I will pass?
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No study resource can guarantee a passing result. The guide supports your preparation and practice; your exam outcome depends on many factors.
Make your next move toward a FAR pass.
Master the concepts. Tackle unfamiliar questions. Walk into FAR with confidence in what you know.
FAR Made Clear · Core Study Guide
$19.99 USD
The accounting explained. The calculations worked through. The practice to put it together.
Guide: Core Study Guide only. Bundle: Core, the Practice Bank and the two bonus sheets. The Mock Exam Pack is separate. No interactive app is included.