[Anonymous]

How many sections did you have left on your first day at a Big4 firm?

[Anonymous]

I would expect the most common answer to be “4.”

[Anonymous]

I would expect that answer as well, but when there's a $5000 carrot hanging for employees to pass within the first year, makes me think otherwise. If 99% are done upon arrival, why still have the bonus. Take my final section in a few weeks, start in late September.

[JamesBJames]

What about non-Big 4 firms?

I'm curious about the statistics, too. I feel like a majority of people have at least one out of the way before they start working.

A lot of my friends who start in the fall are actually studying for their last test right now, however. I and a future coworker at Crowe are taking REG at the end of the month, one of my friends at EY is taking FAR, and another friend at a private firm just has AUD left to do.

Is it common for people to start their public accounting job with no tests completed? I think every accounting friend I know has at least tried to take one test in this window.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[Anonymous]

Non-Big 4 don't matter.

[Smashbox20]

I've seen very few have the whole thing knocked out by the time they start. The one exception: people that did their MAcc at Auburn. The program basically teaches the CPA exam the entire second semester (from what I have heard), which is a little silly in my opinion.

Don't freak-out barners, you all have a great program. Just an observation.

FAR: Passed
REG: Passed
BEC: Passed
AUD: Passed

[acamp]

Had 1 left when I started, thanks a lot 73 on AUD! LOL

If you are going straight from school (grad May?) to start in the fall, finishing two sections is a good goal.

Self proclaimed: Highest ratio of Replies to Others v. Posts Created on A71

California CPA - Big4 Aud Manager Alum - Private Accounting at Startups

FAR, REG and BEC with Ninja Notes + WTB Only

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[Rupert17]

Started last August having passed one, but was a good part of the way into studying for my second. It was really important to me to finish them all before busy season, so that the light at the end of that busy season tunnel wouldn't actually just be more studying.

I think the average of my starting class was probably also around 1 or 2 exams. There was an especially hard worker who was able to pass all 4 that summer before we started.

REG (Jul 2013): 93
FAR (Oct 2013): 90
AUD (Nov 2013): 91
BEC (Jan 2014): 88

[Anonymous]

Having graduated in May and starting on the 4th of Oct, I will have sat for every test once.

It's a miserable summer, but it needs to get done.

[SpartanCPA]

To date, I've completed 3 exams. Graduated last December with my bachelors and started studying for the exam right after. Will be starting with Big 4 this upcoming September and taking my last exam (REG) at the end of this month.

AUD - 01/18/14 - 81
BEC - 05/29/14 - 85
FAR - 07/18/14 - 81
REG - 11/18/14 - 80

Becker CPA Review
NINJA Audio
Michigan State University

[thechapman]

I have no clue how people fit 4 in between May and September-ish. I'm taking 3 exams this windows and that seems like a very condensed timeframe, but maybe I'm wrong.

Passed - 2014

[fuzyfro89]

Depends on everyone's schedule, but of my colleagues in my start class at big 4, I would estimate around half were completely done by their start date. I'm not sure about the progress of the rest, but I knew some who had one or more sections to finish as we talked casually throughout our first year working.

[Anonymous]

I had exactly zero sections done before I started, but I started at a smaller firm about a month after I got my undergrad. I don't think any of my Big 4 classmates had any sections passed either. They all pretty much started right after graduation, too. Three years ago you still only needed 120 credits for CPA in PA, so that may explain that.

I'm now about three years in and getting around to this. Life can be hectic. In those three years I started new career, got engaged, got married, bought a big old house. Although, my bonus is the same now matter when I pass the exams. I may have sung a different song if the $5k carrot would disappear in a year.

[Anonymous]

I interned at a top ten accounting firm, and the majority of people I worked with completed the CPA exam while working, and didn't have any sections done before they started. I'm hoping that I'll have at least two or three sections done before I start in January.

[SIR AGE]

Depending on what happens come August 21st, I could have all sections done before I start or two. Swung for the fences this window. Wish me luck!

AUD: 5/27 82!
FAR: 7/3 80!
REG: 7/21 76!
BEC: 8/8 78!

[Author]

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