[Tarheelgirl]

I am just filling out my application to take the CPA exam and extremely nervous!!! It has taken me years to finally decide to go ahead and do it now before I start a family. Not sure if I am even smart enough to tackle all this tests. Looking for study material and I am eying on Gleim. It is cheaper than some of the rest I seen and plus I used in college. What advice do some of y’all give for studying material?

Also need help deciding which exam to take first? I was thinking of taking REG first, being tax rules change so much.

Any advice would be extremely helpful!

Thanks 🙂

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[tough_kitty]

Roger CPA Review and FAR! 🙂

FAR takes longer to prepare for and the 18 month window doesn't start until you pass the first part, so this way you'll have 18 months to pass the other 3 parts.

And trust me, you are smart enough. The key is to find TIME, have a schedule and STICK TO IT!!!!!!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Roger CPA Review and FAR! 🙂

FAR takes longer to prepare for and the 18 month window doesn't start until you pass the first part, so this way you'll have 18 months to pass the other 3 parts.

And trust me, you are smart enough. The key is to find TIME, have a schedule and STICK TO IT!!!!!!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Also, check the expiration date for your NTS.

In CA you have 9 months to take all the parts you signed up for, so don't pay for all at once! Do 2 at a time. You'd have to re-apply to sign up for the other 2 and probably pay a small fee, but in the long-run it will save you a lot of money and stress!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Also, check the expiration date for your NTS.

In CA you have 9 months to take all the parts you signed up for, so don't pay for all at once! Do 2 at a time. You'd have to re-apply to sign up for the other 2 and probably pay a small fee, but in the long-run it will save you a lot of money and stress!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[nbad311]

I used Gleim for my FAR exam and I really liked it! Yes, definitely more affordable than some other study materials.

You'll get a lot of different opinions on what exam to take first. Many will say REG and FAR and the hardest, or at least contain the most material, so get those done first. (I personally hated AUD and BEC the most!) I wouldn't be too concerned about the tax laws changing too much, it won't be vastly different from now and 12 motnhs from now (at least not that I'm aware?). Despite that, REG isn't a walk in a park either and it might be a fair choice for first exam. It was my first, a decision I was happy with!

Good luck! 🙂

And tough kitty is right, it's not about smarts, it's about effort and dedication!

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[nbad311]

I used Gleim for my FAR exam and I really liked it! Yes, definitely more affordable than some other study materials.

You'll get a lot of different opinions on what exam to take first. Many will say REG and FAR and the hardest, or at least contain the most material, so get those done first. (I personally hated AUD and BEC the most!) I wouldn't be too concerned about the tax laws changing too much, it won't be vastly different from now and 12 motnhs from now (at least not that I'm aware?). Despite that, REG isn't a walk in a park either and it might be a fair choice for first exam. It was my first, a decision I was happy with!

Good luck! 🙂

And tough kitty is right, it's not about smarts, it's about effort and dedication!

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[Anonymous]

FAR, AUD, BEC, REG

There is some overlap of material in AUD and BEC, so you probably want to take those back to back.

[Anonymous]

FAR, AUD, BEC, REG

There is some overlap of material in AUD and BEC, so you probably want to take those back to back.

[jlough]

I would suggest starting with FAR. You will need that knowledge in many different areas throughout the entire CPA exam. And like ToughKitty said, it is the longest section so you don't want to have to study for it while your 18 month clock is ticking.

As for the study materials, the one piece of advice I would give you is to look at all your different study tool options and pick the one that you think you will be successful with— don't just choose the cheapest option. In the end, if you choose a study tool that doesn't work for you, you will end up spending a ton more in exam fees for retakes.

Also, check out Jeff's CPA Survival Guide– it has a bunch of really good information.

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 would suggest starting with FAR. You will need that knowledge in many different areas throughout the entire CPA exam. And like ToughKitty said, it is the longest section so you don't want to have to study for it while your 18 month clock is ticking.

As for the study materials, the one piece of advice I would give you is to look at all your different study tool options and pick the one that you think you will be successful with— don't just choose the cheapest option. In the end, if you choose a study tool that doesn't work for you, you will end up spending a ton more in exam fees for retakes.

Also, check out Jeff's CPA Survival Guide– it has a bunch of really good information.

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!

[Tarheelgirl]

Thanks guys for all your responses! I really appreciate it. I will defiantly take all your advice into consideration.

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Tarheelgirl]

Thanks guys for all your responses! I really appreciate it. I will defiantly take all your advice into consideration.

FAR - 46, 79 (7/8/14)
AUD - 56, 59, 2/23/15 3rd times a charm!
BEC - 69, 74 Really??
REG - April, I hope. Fingers crossed!

[Author]

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