[lguti46]

Hello All!

This is my first time at taking the CPA exams. I just received my NTS for FAR, and am looking to start studying June 1st, for an exam date of Aug 29. I’m getting ready to graduate in three weeks with my masters, taking a few weeks to rest, then picking up June 1st to start knocking this out. My plan is to give myself 3 months to study for each part, devoting 12-15 hours a week to studying. I gave myself more of a time window to have shorter study weeks in an attempt to have a good work, family, study balance. I am using the CPAExcel Premium Course material.

Any advice with regard to best practices or whether you recommend any changes to my plan? Also, I am not the best note taker. Any advise on good note taking specifically as it pertains to the CPA Excel Course format?

Thanks!

FAR - 07/2016
BEC - 10/2016
AUD - 12/2016
REG - 02/2017

[wombataholic]

I've got no advice to offer regarding CPAExcel, but I would suggest studying only 8 weeks per section @20 hours per week. 3 months is a lot of time to forget what you learned early on.

AUD - 91
BEC - 85
FAR - 91
REG - 92

CPA, CFE
Passed all 4 CPA exam sections with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[jessica8926]

I would agree with wombataholic. 3 months is too long to study for one section. Trust me I tried and it was brutal. I would suggest trying to study a little more each week and maybe devote one whole weekend day to studying. That way you still have one weekend day to balance out your social life etc.

AUD - 77
BEC - 82
FAR - 75
REG - 81

Illinois Certified Public Accountant 2016

AUD - 69, 77
REG - 74, 81
FAR - 75!
BEC - 71, 82

IL candidate!

Finally done (5/24/16)!! Yahooooooo!

[ericl2]

I am also using the CPAExcel, and here is what I would recommend. Don't take any notes while doing the lessons. I wouldn't watch the videos either. I would read the text and take the practice tests and move on. I would only watch the videos if I was having a hard time understanding something. During the review phase (After all of the lessons are done) I would practice mcq's like crazy. Any question that I got wrong, I would write down the question and answer and the reason why it was correct. This worked for BEC….I passed first try. I'm studying for REG now. The only thing that I'm doing different is that I purchased the Ninja notes and plan on writing them out twice before I take the exam. You could also use the Focus Notes that come with CPAExcel for this purpose. I'll probably also buy the Ninja Mcq's for additional questions. My study plan is 8 weeks….5 weeks for do the lessons and 3 weeks for review.

[Anonymous]

I have also been using CPAexcel and agree with ericl2. Don't bother watching the videos unless you are having a really difficult time with a specific area. I watched most of the videos for AUD (my first exam) but haven't bothered watching any since. I really just found them to be a waste of time, as are the flashcards (which I opened one box but the other three I've never even taken the plastic wrap off of). Doing lots and lots of multiple choice questions is your best bet. I suggest supplementing CPAexcel's with Ninja MCQs. I used Ninja MCQs for BEC and am now using Ninja MCQs for FAR. I strictly used CPAexcel material for AUD and REG, though, so clearly it's possible to pass with just that. However, I find Ninja's MCQs extremely helpful and would definitely recommend them as well.

[Anonymous]

@ASUalum send me your FAR flashcards 😀 i will gladly take those off your hands

[Jdn9201]

Congrats on being almost done with school! Normally, I'd say 12 weeks is too long but considering this is your first exam and your clock hasn't started yet, I think it's good to give yourself some extra time. You may have a plan, but that plan is going to change depending on how long it actually takes you to get through chapters. You're going to find that some chapters take more, whereas others take less. One downside to longer study windows is you have to spend more time at the end reviewing. I knew how I studied in college, so I felt more comfortable with shorter windows (3-6 weeks) so I didn't have to worry about forgetting earlier material. I don't have much advice for notes, as I didn't take any during any section. I used Roger and his textbooks were good enough for me. Good luck! I'd say for your first one, it's better if you wind up giving yourself too much time rather than not enough. You will have a better idea how much time is good for you after you knock out the first one.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Anonymous]

I agree. I originally planned one section per window but after 6-8 weeks, I was forgetting almost as fast as I was learning.

[lguti46]

Thank you all for all the great advice! I think it's phenomenal to have a support community like this. I think I'm going to go ahead and change to the eight week schedule as suggested. Best of luck for all those still in the process and thank you for all of you who have passed and are still helping those in the struggle.

FAR - 07/2016
BEC - 10/2016
AUD - 12/2016
REG - 02/2017

[Author]

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