[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I am a current Masters of Accounting student who will be working for a Big 4 this Fall. I’ll have around mid-May till mid-August (maybe mid-September if I’m lucky on my start date) to knock out as many of the CPA exams as possible. I can also do some light studying right now, although I can’t be too intense because I have classes to do work for.

I was wondering what the best way to tackle these exams would be. Although it’d be spectacular if I could, I’m thinking it may be hard to get all 4 parts done before I start work, especially since I need to waste time moving in. If possible, I want to knock out the hardest sections while I’m free during the summer. I absolutely do not want to be studying FAR/REG while working busy season hours, so I must, must, must knock those out during the summer.

I’m struggling to decide whether I should take AUD or BEC last. I have a finance background, so I feel as though BEC should be easier for me (especially since I’m generally alright with managerial accounting, econ, finance, etc. and I’d mostly need to learn Info Sys), but a lot of people said that AUD is easier and it’s even easier to do once you start working and get familiar with all the terms. Generally, I perform more poorly on exams that require memorization, but I figure that both BEC and AUD will require me to memorize boat-loads of info, so that’s probably irrelevant.

Any help on this part would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you can recommend whether I should take REG/FAR first given that I hate tax, that would be very helpful as well.

Thanks!

[Kimboroni]

A lot of people recommend taking FAR first and then AUD, since a lot of AUD is based on the accounting that you practice for FAR. But if you know for sure that you'll be working in audit, then you might save that one for after you've been on some audits, as that can help. But it's not necessary– I passed AUD just fine with zero audit experience. How did you feel about your audit classes? It depends a lot on the teacher and if they teach more theoretical or practical.

Probably FAR, then AUD, then REG, then BEC. Save the one that will probably be easiest for you for last, as you may be working when you take that one.

Get a calendar you can make some notes on and write out a plan, keeping non-test months in mind.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

A lot of people recommend taking FAR first and then AUD, since a lot of AUD is based on the accounting that you practice for FAR. But if you know for sure that you'll be working in audit, then you might save that one for after you've been on some audits, as that can help. But it's not necessary– I passed AUD just fine with zero audit experience. How did you feel about your audit classes? It depends a lot on the teacher and if they teach more theoretical or practical.

Probably FAR, then AUD, then REG, then BEC. Save the one that will probably be easiest for you for last, as you may be working when you take that one.

Get a calendar you can make some notes on and write out a plan, keeping non-test months in mind.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

My teacher was more practical, but I didn't really retain anything that we did. Even though I'll pick it up faster, having studied this stuff once, I'll basically need to relearn everything all over again.

[Anonymous]

My teacher was more practical, but I didn't really retain anything that we did. Even though I'll pick it up faster, having studied this stuff once, I'll basically need to relearn everything all over again.

[mla1169]

I'd get intense ASAP and get it out of the way. Sure you've got schoolwork to do but that's the equivalent of studying while working full time. I'd try to knock out at least one exam in the April-May window, two more over the summer and one in the fall.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

I'd get intense ASAP and get it out of the way. Sure you've got schoolwork to do but that's the equivalent of studying while working full time. I'd try to knock out at least one exam in the April-May window, two more over the summer and one in the fall.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[jlough]

I think your plan to knock out FAR and REG this summer is perfect. I know from my experience in B4 that the fall is extremely slow– especially if you are a new hire and aren't heavily involved in much interim/planning work. You may even start as late as October- I had plenty of friends who started then.

The best advice I would give you is to be realistic with yourself in regards to timing. Sure, you COULD knock all four out in that 3-4 month time frame. But if you think other things in life will get in the way this summer, schedule accordingly. It's better to take a bit more time to be prepared and not have to retake exams.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[jlough]

I think your plan to knock out FAR and REG this summer is perfect. I know from my experience in B4 that the fall is extremely slow– especially if you are a new hire and aren't heavily involved in much interim/planning work. You may even start as late as October- I had plenty of friends who started then.

The best advice I would give you is to be realistic with yourself in regards to timing. Sure, you COULD knock all four out in that 3-4 month time frame. But if you think other things in life will get in the way this summer, schedule accordingly. It's better to take a bit more time to be prepared and not have to retake exams.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[Anonymous]

Soudns like I'm getting mixed opinions. I think my plan now is to do REG => FAR => AUD => BEC with the goal being to knock out FAR, REG, and AUD over the summer. Since I have class till may, I'm hoping I can take REG by the end of May (plenty of time to study even if I do 7 hours a week till I graduate with more intense studying once school is out), take the month of June to study for FAR and take that test mid-July, then knock out AUD by the 3rd week of August.

Does this seem reasonable?

[Anonymous]

Soudns like I'm getting mixed opinions. I think my plan now is to do REG => FAR => AUD => BEC with the goal being to knock out FAR, REG, and AUD over the summer. Since I have class till may, I'm hoping I can take REG by the end of May (plenty of time to study even if I do 7 hours a week till I graduate with more intense studying once school is out), take the month of June to study for FAR and take that test mid-July, then knock out AUD by the 3rd week of August.

Does this seem reasonable?

[Anonymous]

If you hate tax (welcome to the club) and are dreading that one the most, I'd say take that one in whatever slot gives you the most time to study for it. It looks like that will be from now until May. In my opinion, there is just as much information in REG as there is in FAR. Probably an unpopular opinion, but that was my experience. Regardless of your choice, hit the ground running and don't look back. MC questions until your eyes fall out. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you hate tax (welcome to the club) and are dreading that one the most, I'd say take that one in whatever slot gives you the most time to study for it. It looks like that will be from now until May. In my opinion, there is just as much information in REG as there is in FAR. Probably an unpopular opinion, but that was my experience. Regardless of your choice, hit the ground running and don't look back. MC questions until your eyes fall out. Good luck!

[Kimboroni]

I think your plan should work if you really commit yourself to it. A lot of people underestimate these tests, which is part of the reason for the low pass rate (plus the fact that they are just really hard tests). So if you really commit yourself in the time you have, that will give you the best shot of passing the first time. So I think it will work. Just keep in mind that this is coming from someone who has only taken one of the tests so far.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

I think your plan should work if you really commit yourself to it. A lot of people underestimate these tests, which is part of the reason for the low pass rate (plus the fact that they are just really hard tests). So if you really commit yourself in the time you have, that will give you the best shot of passing the first time. So I think it will work. Just keep in mind that this is coming from someone who has only taken one of the tests so far.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Author]

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