Need advice on scheduling exams

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  • #187104

    Hi Everyone,

    I recently left my job to solely focus on passing the CPA exams. I have been fortunate enough to be living at home which helps reduce as much distractions as possible. My family has planned a family trip to India starting mid October. My goal is to take and pass all four exams before we leave on the trip.

    Audit is the only section I have never taken before and I have been studying for REG for the past month and half.

    I am seeking advice on which plan I should take. If there are any other options, then I am open as well.

    Plan A:

    REG-July 31st (less than 2 weeks to study)

    AUD-Aug 28th (4 weeks to study)

    FAR-Oct. 1st (4 weeks to study)

    BEC-Oct. 15th (2 weeks to study)

    Plan B:

    REG-July 31st (less than 2 weeks to study)

    BEC-Aug 14th (2 weeks to study)

    AUD-Aug 28th (2 weeks to study)

    FAR-Oct. 15th (6 weeks to study)

    Thanks!

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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  • #582040
    Mamabear
    Member

    Wow–That seems like a lot, but if you're going to try it then I would try to do Plan B.

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
    BEC (08/10/13) 80
    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    #582041

    Are both plans impossible to do? Am I crazy for thinking I can do all of it before my trip? lol

    #582042
    Mamabear
    Member

    I don't think anything is impossible, but I've never been able to solely study so I really don't know what you'll be able to accomplish before your trip. If it's what you really really want to do, then I say go for it. One suggestion though–Deactivate all of your online accounts. It's too tempting while you are in an online test bank to hop over and look at another71 or FB. With the tight schedule you are proposing for AUD and BEC you should probably just do that and nothing else for that month and get back online for FAR. Eliminate every distraction possible and you could do it!

    CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
    BEC (08/10/13) 80
    AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
    FAR (04/12/14) 81
    REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

    #582043
    Gatorgirl1231
    Participant

    I think both plans are a bit much, but then again I work full time.

    I would also go with Plan B

    Florida Candidate

    AUD: 77
    REG: 86
    FAR: TBD
    BEC: 79 (Expired)

    #582044
    JamesBJames
    Participant

    I think plan B is the better of the two, but I'm a little skeptical. If you've been studying REG for 8 weeks, I'm not sure if you're going to be able to power through AUD/BEC in two weeks or FAR in six weeks.

    It's certainly possible, but the effort you're going to have to put in over the next three months is going to have to be pretty insane.

    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!

    #582045

    Two weeks to study for any CPA exam is really slim.work or no work. I'm assuming you are going with a memorization technique…As real understanding of this material just takes more time. I honestly think Plan A gives the best option to pass the most exams as 4 weeks for AUD and FAR are probably doable if you are doing nothing but studying eating and sleeping. That still leaves only two weeks for BEC..which..unless you happen to have a solid cost/finance background is just very difficult.

    Not to be negative…But I think your odds of passing all four in either of these schedules is very slim…still I think you can probably walk out with 3 on Plan A….ands to where plan B only really gives you a solid shot at 2. Still…coming back from India with only one exam left is still a great accomplishment…even if you come up a little short on BEC. Good luck!

    MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

    #582046
    mla1169
    Participant

    You mention you've already attempted all but AUD already. How many hours have you put in for those attempts? You are going to need to put in more hours than before to walk out with a pass. So when you took BEC before, if you studied 100 hours total, I'd plan to put in 120 this time. It's not like brushing up on what you've studied, it truly is starting from scratch.

    But if you previously studied 60 total hours for BEC and are shooting for 80 hours this time you just might be able to pull it off!

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

    Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

    #582047
    MsAvi77
    Member

    My advice is completely based on my own experiences 🙂

    But I thought that taking FAR before AUD was really helpful- I automatically was clear on any journal entries and effects on the Income statement etc, which turned out to be a simulation when I took AUD on July 3. I don't know my results but I feel confident that the knowledge I gained while studying FAR made AUD easier.

    I also kept wishing to myself that I hadn't waiting to take FAR and sort of gotten it over with (I took it third). I got very tired by exams 3 and 4.

    However 🙂 I really think that you can do anything if you are determined enough. I would choose plan B because every extra moment you can get to study FAR will be very good for you.

    BEC 81
    REG 81
    FAR 76
    AUD 76

    Done Forever!!

    #582048

    Thanks everyone for your honest advice! I truly believe when there is a will…there is a way. However, there are plenty of doubts running through my head right now of whether I cannot only take the exams but pass them. Nothing is set in stone as of now.

    I am slightly leaning towards Plan A because I haven't taken AUD before and would need to learn the material from scratch. This would involve watching videos, taking notes, and doing MCQs. All the other exams I have taken before so I would not need to write extensive notes. Possibly review the videos and going straight to MCQs.

    #582049
    Kimboroni
    Member

    To me, writing notes isn't so that you have notes, but because the process of writing notes helps get the information into your brain. So if you want to pass the others, writing notes is a good idea for those as well, even if you already have notes.

    4 weeks of full time studying for AUD is likely too much, since there isn't that much material.

    I prefer plan B, but might I suggest a plan C which is a compromise between the two?

    Plan C:

    REG-July 31st (less than 2 weeks to study)

    AUD-Aug 21st (3 weeks to study)

    FAR-Oct. 1st (almost 6 weeks to study)

    BEC-Oct. 15th (2 weeks to study)

    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. 🙂

    #582050
    Tux
    Member

    I realize it would be “nice” to pass all 4 before the trip, but is it really necessary? Just focus on passing. If you have to take one more after the trip, it will just be a nice break from studying.

    I suppose your proposed schedule is possible since you already studied for most of them already. But, yes, that sounds like an aggressive schedule.

    I would say take FAR right after REG. It's a BIG one (as you know), so focus on getting that one over with. And, once you get past FAR, it will help you on both AUD and BEC.

    Most people advise not to jump around to the various sections. Stick with one section until you pass.

    I mean, start on another section for a couple weeks until you get your score, but if you don't pass one, turn right around and start studying for it again immediately.

    Good luck.

    FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
    AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
    BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
    REG - 89 - 2/27/15
    Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

    Study resources:
    Becker
    Wiley test bank

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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