Is my Study Schedule Realistic in Order to Pass the Exam?

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Is my Study Schedule Realistic in Order to Pass the Exam?

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Started 2 years ago by Elfear
Latest reply from Tim94111

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Elfear

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Just wanted to say that this forum is a great resource for CPAs-to-be. Some great advice that I've been reading the last few days.

I wanted to get you guys' advice on whether my study schedule is realistic or not. I've been out of school for about two years. I did pretty well in my graduate classes but I know that doesn't always translate into performing well on the CPA exam. I don't work in the accounting industry so I'll need some extra studying.

I'm in the process of buying all the Becker materials (thankfully reimbursed through my govt. agency) and I'll start studying in Jan. for 2-3hrs on weekdays and 5hrs on weekends.

Here is what I have planned:

FAR - 95hrs of study and sit for exam first part of April
AUD - 64hrs of study and sit for exam first part of May
REG - 82hrs of study and sit for exam first part of July
BEC - 67hrs of study and sit for exam first part of August

Does that look like a realistic schedule and hope to pass the exam?
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Posted 2 years ago #
jrh510

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Elfear,

I did not study anymore than 4 weeks for each section.

I studied approx 80 hours for BEC and received an 84.
I studied approx 90 hours for REG and received a 90
I studied approx 15 hours for FAR and received a 78 (I had a graduate Advance Financial Accounting 6 months prior).
I studied approx 60 hours for AUD and the score is pending.

I work full time at a public accounting firm.

I think that your study schedule is realistic if you are disciplined and can absorb a bunch of information in a little amount of time.

FAR 78 (2/14), BEC 84 (8/14), REG 90 (10/26), AUD 97 (11/30) I'm Done!

Posted 2 years ago #
Patrick909

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It's going to vary - I don't think there's any solid rule to how much you need to study. It'll depend on the strength or weakness of your accounting background, your ability to recall said background, your ability to absorb some new stuff, and the wild card......your test-taking ability.

The safe bet is to study like hell for the first section, and see how you do. From there you can adjust up or down as you see fit.

Posted 2 years ago #
RookieCPA2b

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Elfear, your schedule seems too many hours, lol.

I'm taking FAR, and REG in January. I'm starting to study this coming weekend. I plan to study no more than 30 hours each, if that.

I have a trick though. For example for REG, I'll study the key Business Law chapters in Wiley and ignore everything else like Bankruptcy, Insurance and some other stuff that is rarely tested. For Individuals, I'll spend maybe 4 hours with very basic stuff. I'll be hitting hard Corporations and Partnerships and light on Estates and Transactions in Property. All-in-all NO more than 30 hours, if that.

FAR is even easier to study. I'll skip half the book and concentrate on the hot subjects. Like Consolidations, Bonds/Present Value, Inventory, Monetary Assets and Liabilities, Investments and Stockholder's Equity. I'm surely going to totally ignore Govt/NFP; I know it's taking a chance, but I doubt it's going to be tested, maybe 4 or 5 questions, and I'm not going to invest 20 hours on that crap, lol

The whole trick is to trim off unlikely and lightly tested material and focus your study hours on the hot subjects. Don't get fooled at the volume of material, it's mostly a distraction ploy by the AICPA.

I passed AUD with very few hours back in October. BEC, I'm taking in Feb; I'll probably study for BEC no more than 7 hours.....I'm in IT and took a look at the Wiley book and I kinda know figure what's important.

Remember, don't study all the material equally! And don't get fooled by the the volume.

I think everybody is going to think I'm crazy....lol

Posted 2 years ago #
CPAWannaBe

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Interesting. I'm not trying to be a smarta$$, but how do you know what is heavily tested? Because I seriously don't want to learn gov't and non-profit if it is a waste of time. I have never had a course in it and I need to devote my time to the meat of the exam to pass.

REG - 75 (expired, retake July 2011)
FAR - 69, 64, 67 <-Becker, 80 <-Yaeger
AUD - 82 ETHICS - 100
BEC - 72 (retake May 2011)

Posted 2 years ago #
RookieCPA2b

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Well, know one ever knows for sure. But, I figure we're heading towards international GAAP, and what heck does Govt/NFP have to do with that. They may throw a couple of questions-in but no way 20%. I've been reading many posts and inferring my conclusions....Also, I would study all the international related stuff, like exchange rates, bifurcations, hedges and stuff like that.....that's where we are heading anyways...lol

My budget for the CPA review is $120 bucks. I'll be doing problems and reading very little. I'll be reading the answers though..lol

I'm no genius, I have a GED and took me 6 yrs to graduate college...mostly Cs...

Posted 2 years ago #
zena

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CPAWannaBe, I seriously don't believe anyone can know what is heavily tested and what is not. AICPA only gives percentages for whole sections, and one can study, say bonds and consolidations until they're sick of it and get a few questions on that plus a few more on some other obscure topic like foreign transactions, all from the same section. I have seen questions nit picking everything. The book might have one line mention of some fact or exception and that could be the answer to a question. Too many of these is bad news. Sure one can hope to get lucky but, personally, I wouldn't go that route. I didn't have a class on Gov/NFP either so all I know is from the Becker text. I did get some questions on that topic but I can't remember how many. Keep in mind also that Gov/NFP simulations are fair game now too.

FAR 86 | BEC 94 | AUD 90 | REG 85
All done! used Becker

Posted 2 years ago #
Patrick909

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I can tell you, after having taken the 4 sections of this exam, if you think you know what's going to be heavily tested vs what isn't, you're in for a rude awakening. In each section, there were surprises in either direction as to what was hit hard and what wasn't.

You really think you're going to get away with ignoring Governmental/NFP on FAR???? ROFL good luck with that one, let me know how that works out for you.

Posted 2 years ago #
CPAWannaBe

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I would be nice to "skip" some subjects, but I am studying everything equally. Even if it is one point, it could be the difference between a 74 or a 75.

REG - 75 (expired, retake July 2011)
FAR - 69, 64, 67 <-Becker, 80 <-Yaeger
AUD - 82 ETHICS - 100
BEC - 72 (retake May 2011)

Posted 2 years ago #
Cowpatty

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A smart bet is to do a review course and work material in it and if you understand it then you will be good; study extra hard on the weak areas but do not get rusty on your strengths; look at the %'s on cpa-exam.org so you understand; buy Jeff's book or invest in learning how it is graded; there is a reason why the pass rates are so low.....

Your schedule is pretty short to me the hours are fine for BEC and Audit; the two easiest
but for REG I would do 120min and for FAR over 8weeks150min

Aud 76 Bec 76 Reg 83 Far 2/27/2010

Posted 2 years ago #
Lee_IN

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RookieCPA2b,

Having sat for 3 of 4 exams. I would have to say that your plan would be suicidal for me. I would tend to agree with some of the other post. This exam is not cheap and failing can be really expensive real quick. If you think you can ignore Govt/NFP I would think twice. I know individuals who have failed FAR because of this one section. If you do not get a simulation on Govt/NFP then approximately 1 in 5 multiple choice questions will cover the subject matter that equates to 18 questions. Are you more likely to get 18 verses 4 or 5, I would say closer to 18 would be more realistic. Like I said having sat for 3 of 4 exams the AICPA does not publish the percentages then turn around and ignore them at least not in my opinion. I wish you good luck, maybe you have one of those photographic memories which can absorb the information like a sponge and retain it indefinitely, I am not so fortunate.

Becker - FAR 80, AUD 73, 81, BEC 76, REG 81 (2010) DONE!!!! IN LICENSED CPA

Posted 2 years ago #
RookieCPA2b

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All you guys make valid arguments. But I think you haven't been able to see through the "smoke screen" of distracting questions during your exam. And those questions are the ones that are creating "Mass Panic" for everyone else.....

For REG, if were to ask you how many questions you had in "Bankruptcy" or Insurance ect., you probably would stay quiet! For FAR, if I were to ask how many question you got in Partnership Accounting, Basic Concepts ect, you would't Know. And if you read the many posts about FAR, Govt/NFP is not consisitently tested or lowly tested; on average 5 MCQ.

I studied 9 hours for AUD! Basically, I took the Wiley book, tore-out the answers for the MCQs and then read the answers to the questions at the same time. No sense in racking your brain to come-up with the answer that you already have!

And this is what I'm going to do with REG and FAR. Read the answers first, then look at the questions........That's why I could finish 2 or 3 chapters in a weekend.

I'm not going to spend thousands $$ to feed the hype for these review courses and AICPA collecting their exam fees. It's time we get smart about it and put our focus on the basics, read the answers and look at the questions and you'll know!

And for those super tough "out of this world" exam questions you all say you got during FAR, well my chances will be no better than yours! There's just NO way to know everything for these exams. And if you think you can, you're just kidding yourself.

Posted 2 years ago #
Elfear

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Thanks for the advice guys. It looks like I'm somewhere in the middle of what has been recommended. I'll have to look through the old exams and see how heavily each topic was weighted. Maybe there is a pattern from prior years that would make studying more effective. If I can get away with less study hours than I currently have planned than that would be great but I would rather over-study then be unprepared for the test.

Posted 2 years ago #
almost_there

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@RookieCPA2b: Let's hear how well this method works out when FAR kicks your butt becuase you think you can "outsmart" it.

BEC: 71, 80; REG: 79; AUD:67,68,80!!; FAR:80

Posted 2 years ago #
TampaAccountant

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I agree with Rookie, there's no way to study for all that FAR stuff.

I took FAR in Nov, and probably failed it!

I'm already studying for FAR for Jan, not going to study any Govt/NFP, and stick to studying MCQs

Posted 2 years ago #
Anna

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RookieCPA2b... what are you talking about - 4-5 questions on Govt and Non-profit???
There are no simulations on these topics - it's AICPA rule for these years. And you get up to 24% of MCQ for them - ask all of us - it's heavily tested.
I agree with you on cutting unneeded material - I was doing that as well. Still got myself about 50 - 75 hours for each section. And I'm a smart test taker. But 7 - 30 hours? I don't know... I'll be very happy to know if you can do it - please let us know.

BEC (82), AUD (86), FARE (75) => Becker 2009
REG (74),(74),(83) => Yaeger HS & Audio

Posted 2 years ago #
Jeff - another71.com

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Anna - Gov't and NFP are sim-eligible now. It's a recent development...

Become a NINJA:
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Posted 2 years ago #
Anna

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Oh great. I'm just glad I don't have to do it again...

BEC (82), AUD (86), FARE (75) => Becker 2009
REG (74),(74),(83) => Yaeger HS & Audio

Posted 2 years ago #
hopetopass

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RookieCPA2b... Please let us know what grade you got on AUD. I don't believe you passed that way.

Posted 2 years ago #
CPAWannaBe

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Gov't and NFP are sim-eligible now. It's a recent development...

Jeff,
That has ruined my day :(

REG - 75 (expired, retake July 2011)
FAR - 69, 64, 67 <-Becker, 80 <-Yaeger
AUD - 82 ETHICS - 100
BEC - 72 (retake May 2011)

Posted 2 years ago #
cpachick

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Speaking from experience I HAD a Gov't SIM! So they do exist!

I personally think that Gov't/NFP is really easy but its not what we are used to and most of us have never learned it before so you have to REVIEW the material, a once through should be enough for your to GRASP Gov't/NFP to the degree necessary to do well on the 10-12% tested on the exam.

Its kind of like the IT portion of BEC, its not hard stuff, but if you don't know it you can't SKIP it. To me Gov't & IT were both nice little breaks in the material that provided a little confidence boost when I was starting to think there was no hope.

Posted 2 years ago #
Anonymous

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Govt and Non-Profit is way more than 4 or 5 questions, trust me!!! I have taken FAR twice and it is very heavily tested!!!! Also as Jeff stated, they are sim eligible, good luck skipping these sections!!! I am sooooo glad I'm done with FAR!!!

Posted 2 years ago #
Cowpatty

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first of all Audit is theory based and rules based; and it is a traditional course that everyone takes

furthermore, you have 4.5 hours to ponder and rationalize your quesitons...........fat chance your method works for REG and FAR ha ha ha ha that's so foolish even the devil is laughing........it might work as well as contesting that failing score will.........a less than 1% chance......

Audit is a mean one but it has the least amount of material........BEC has lots of material but no sim and it has a lot of basic business and economics in it

REG is federal tax...........indiv and corp.............I made an A in corp tax several months before taking REG and it was a challenge............

it is very clear that the Rook wants to make it easier for those of us who study

Aud 76 Bec 76 Reg 83 Far 2/27/2010

Posted 2 years ago #
OOOOLando

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Hey first time user/first part to study for:

Using Becker...2009:

I know all study habits are different, but I guess this is trial and error (hopefully not an error).

I was hoping to do all of the lectures in the next two weeks...

Then just pound on the mcq/sims that are provided and using other resources that provide any more mcq/sims for the next two months...(with any other issues research more into it)

Then 3 weeks before the exam, just listen to all the lectures again and do that last study/cram session...

I allotted two months and want to take the exam in the end of FEB.

Hopefully it works...i'll tell yall how it goes ;P

FAR: TBA: Studying
REG: 07/23/11: Studying
BEC: 07/10/10: Passed (8/23)
AUD: 05/23/11: Waiting

Posted 2 years ago #
Patrick909

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Seriously, I do not think you can get away with not knowing Government/NFP. It's heavily tested. Plus, the terminology and concepts are different enough to make it unlikely that you'll get away with a good guess. But hey, go for it if you want, it's not my money and time. I only scored a 91 on FAR, what do I know.

Posted 2 years ago #
Tim94111

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RookieCPA2b is unlikely to pass another section with that outlook, especially when he writes, "Well, know one ever knows for sure." Yeah, write like that in one of the FAR memos, you'll kill it for sure Einstein.

AUD 70, 85 / REG 66, 85 / BEC 74, 80 / FAR 76 -->DONE

Posted 2 years ago #

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