[Anonymous]

Hi, I’m VERY new to this forum, so apologies if this has been addressed recently in another thread (I searched and didn’t find anything). I’d like some feedback on my exam plan:

FAR – beginning of July

AUD – beginning of Aug

REG – end of Aug

BEC – beginning of Oct

Reasoning:

Most people seem to think FAR is hardest and it’s best to get that out of the way first in case you have to retake it. Most people also seem to think BEC is quite hard because it covers such a range of material. My current semester (hopefully the last, if I pass cost II!) ends at the end of April, so I will have less competing for my attention beginning in May. Taking BEC last will give me some additional study time for that section in September.

Concerns:

I’m a little worried about REG. I did well in my tax classes (Bs) but I don’t feel I have an intuitive understanding of the material. Same for law.

Strengths/assets:

I feel my technical understanding of GAAP is quite good. I have 4 years of experience as an auditor plus 5 years in a private company’s accounting department. School has always been relatively easy for me (until cost II, anyway–this class is killing me). I am extremely motivated to pass all parts ASAP.

Weaknesses:

I hate to study. For anything.

Any and all feedback is welcomed! Thank you!

[mla1169]

Will you be working or only studying during that time?

Honestly, apply for ONE NTS and schedule only ONE section to start. You're not going to know what you're getting into until you try one exam so use that as a test to see how you feel about scheduling the rest.'

If you hate studying for school, this will be more intense and stressful than anything you've done before.

Your plan MAY work, but I wouldn't put money on it until you try one.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

Will you be working or only studying during that time?

Honestly, apply for ONE NTS and schedule only ONE section to start. You're not going to know what you're getting into until you try one exam so use that as a test to see how you feel about scheduling the rest.'

If you hate studying for school, this will be more intense and stressful than anything you've done before.

Your plan MAY work, but I wouldn't put money on it until you try one.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to allow more time for REG. You could probably do AUD in 4 weeks because you have experience in it. Any reason why you want to try to cram everything in to 4 months? It's doable, but you may get burnt out not allowing yourself any downtime between exams. If anything give yourself a week or so just to recoop before jumping into another one. It is really easy to get burnt out with the CPA, especially since you work full time as well.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to allow more time for REG. You could probably do AUD in 4 weeks because you have experience in it. Any reason why you want to try to cram everything in to 4 months? It's doable, but you may get burnt out not allowing yourself any downtime between exams. If anything give yourself a week or so just to recoop before jumping into another one. It is really easy to get burnt out with the CPA, especially since you work full time as well.

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to cram everything into 4 months for a few reasons, chief among them being that we may move (to a state with rules “significantly similar” to FL, or however they word it, so at least that's not an issue) but I'm not sure when. Could be as early as this fall, could be next spring. But I know I will be more employable if I have passed all four parts before looking for a new job.

If I DON'T pass all four parts before we move, at least I can take the sections I have passed with me (so to speak).

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to cram everything into 4 months for a few reasons, chief among them being that we may move (to a state with rules “significantly similar” to FL, or however they word it, so at least that's not an issue) but I'm not sure when. Could be as early as this fall, could be next spring. But I know I will be more employable if I have passed all four parts before looking for a new job.

If I DON'T pass all four parts before we move, at least I can take the sections I have passed with me (so to speak).

[Study Monk]

If you are working full-time then you will probably not be able to meet your deadline. I am assuming your an average person, but many people with similar qualifications take longer than 6 months to study for these exams while working. There are many auditors who fail audit. Many accounting managers who fail FAR and so on. It's better to approach these exams with a healthy level of fear than trying to power through them. I personally have not heard of anyone passing these exams in 4 months while working. I am sure people have accomplished the feat, but I imagine its no more than 5% of candidates. I would also warn you that the cpa exams don't test strait forward every day accounting but instead is geared towards academic intellectual accounting. For example only 10% of your audit exam will test audit procedures and the other 90% will be rules, exception to rules, specific wording in audit reports, specific AICPA rules, specific GAAS rules, and audit theory.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

If you are working full-time then you will probably not be able to meet your deadline. I am assuming your an average person, but many people with similar qualifications take longer than 6 months to study for these exams while working. There are many auditors who fail audit. Many accounting managers who fail FAR and so on. It's better to approach these exams with a healthy level of fear than trying to power through them. I personally have not heard of anyone passing these exams in 4 months while working. I am sure people have accomplished the feat, but I imagine its no more than 5% of candidates. I would also warn you that the cpa exams don't test strait forward every day accounting but instead is geared towards academic intellectual accounting. For example only 10% of your audit exam will test audit procedures and the other 90% will be rules, exception to rules, specific wording in audit reports, specific AICPA rules, specific GAAS rules, and audit theory.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[jlough]

Your background sounds similar to mine- I have 3 years external audit, 1 year internal audit, and 4 years private acctg experience. I agree with the others– if you don't have tax/law experience, I'd schedule more time for REG. I studied about 8 or 9 weeks for that one.

I also agree with CPAMommy- give yourself a few days in between to relax and regroup. I took a week off between each of my exams and it was a much needed mental break (and I got to catch up on my laundry… and my TV shows).

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]

Your background sounds similar to mine- I have 3 years external audit, 1 year internal audit, and 4 years private acctg experience. I agree with the others– if you don't have tax/law experience, I'd schedule more time for REG. I studied about 8 or 9 weeks for that one.

I also agree with CPAMommy- give yourself a few days in between to relax and regroup. I took a week off between each of my exams and it was a much needed mental break (and I got to catch up on my laundry… and my TV shows).

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!

[zieba]

There are people here who've done the whole thing in 2-3 months; albeit they are probably gifted to a certain extent.

The only thing which jumped out at me was REG timing, that's just not happening in four weeks.

Good luck!

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[zieba]

There are people here who've done the whole thing in 2-3 months; albeit they are probably gifted to a certain extent.

The only thing which jumped out at me was REG timing, that's just not happening in four weeks.

Good luck!

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[Author]

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