How many exams do you try to squeeze into a test window?

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  • #188515
    ijustwant76
    Member

    I’ve been trying to do 2 per window. It’s basically become, 2 months of straight studying, followed by a one month break. Do you guys do more or less?

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 25 total)
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  • #600649
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    My first test window was this past one. I finished 3 while enjoying the weekends and vacationing.

    #600650
    ijustwant76
    Member

    @ _Nick_: you must not be working like the rest of us?

    #600651

    I just did two in this last test window while working full time. It can be done, but I'd do a larger one and a smaller one together (I.e. Far + Aud, Reg + Bec). I'm studying for REG now and will take that at the start of Q4 window then giving myself 2-3 weeks to study for BEC.

    It has been miserable coming home from a full time job in Audit and then going to study CPA materials, but I'd rather be miserable for 4-6 months than drag this thing out and keep thinking about it.

    Good luck!

    F - 7/31/14 - PASSED
    A - 8/30/14 - PASSED
    R - 2/12/14 - PASSED
    B - 11/30/14 - PASSED

    #600652
    fiona87
    Member

    I did one each window. November, February, May, July. Doing two in a window with a family (two little kids), a full time job (in public, so also keeping busy season in mind) just wasn't going to be possible.

    FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
    AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
    REG - 77 (5/30/14)
    BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

    MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

    AND DONE! 8/1/14

    #600653
    shankysays
    Member

    @ijustwant76, lol that was my first thought too. To the OP: depends on if you're working full-time or not. If you are, I think it's hard to get 2 in one test window, let alone more. If you're not, I don't see any reason why you can't do 3 or 4 in one window if you plan it out.

    BEC - 72, 82! ✓
    FAR - 80! ✓
    AUD - 70, 92! ✓
    REG - 74, 78! ✓

    Licensed CPA 5/2015

    #600654
    y_u_no_pass
    Participant

    Our accounting society at my school had a rep from CPA Excel come every year. He suggested two per testing window with about a month to study for each. This is what I have done with CPA Excel and it is working out so far. Speaking of I am getting a little nervous for my next exam, FAR. I am already far behind.

    Florida CPA!
    Took final exam 2/25/15.
    Sent in Application 3/12/15.
    Issued License 3/20/15.
    Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

    #600655
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Depends where you are in life. I have a full-time job, part-time job, mortgage, wife, infant…and I wanted to be able to enjoy things like cookouts, sporting events, nights out, etc…I did one per and found that I had an OK work, study, life balance.

    #600656
    mla1169
    Participant

    There is no way I could have passed more than one per window (every failure I had was when I passed one, failed one in the same window.) As others said it depends on what you've got going on, I had a full time job, 2 kids, was taking 2 online classes per semester for grad school and ran a girl scout troop. Minus the kids, grad school, who knows what I might hav been able to pull off.

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #600657
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    It's possible to do two while working full-time. I spent 8 full weeks studying REG, took REG July 3rd, then immediately crammed for BEC and took BEC August 30th. I did actually take 2 days off from work to get extra study-time in for BEC.

    I passed both but have spent literally 0 time not working or studying. Quite exhausting. Now with tax seasons and exam blackout months, its looking like my third exam will be early january and my last exam sometime next summer which is even more crucial for me that I was successfully able to cram 2 exams into this one test period.

    Tax-guy problems :/

    #600658
    rzrbkfaith
    Member

    2 per window. I work full time in public accounting, have 2 kids (which are in after school activities), and volunteer. It is possible to do it all and successfully complete 2 exams each window.

    AUD - 99
    BEC - 97
    REG - 91
    FAR - 1/8/16

    #600659
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I did three this last window. Would not recommend.

    #600660
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I did three this last window. Would not recommend.

    #600661
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I did 3 last window. I WOULD recommend it. I had to travel 2X for work during the window, and still did ok.

    used the dead month to study and take an exam on day 1 of the window, then study 1 month and take exam 2, study 1 month take exam 3

    I think I could have done 4 without travel and no days off from studying, but that would have been too crazy.

    #600662
    thechapman
    Member

    I did 3 this past window as well. However, I have no clue how anyone could do 2 or 3 in one window when working full time

    Passed - 2014

    #600663
    MC Guesser
    Member

    I took 4 this window being that I wasn't working (finishing undergrad in december). Definitely would not have been able to do this with a full time, or even part time job. I essentially sat down for a 9-5 day of studying M-F treating it like a full time job. If you do try to do more than 2 in a window my advice would be to avoid the temptation to treat it like a sprint, and take a marathon approach. Burn out hits you like a ton of bricks if you try doing more than 8 hours a day, and you easily find yourself with diminishing returns and a lack of focus the next day.

    FAR: 7/1/14 (85)
    REG: 7/28/14 (88)
    AUD: 8/22/14 (84)
    BEC: 8/28/14 (83)

    CPAExcel, WileyTB, Ninja Notes and Blitz

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