Studying Advice Needed for First Time CPA Taker

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  • #193172
    willbcpa2015
    Participant

    Hi everyone, I just joined Ninja community yesterday…bought 10 point combo and started studying today. This is my very first time studying for CPA and can use all the tips and help from pros 🙂 I scheduled Audit for last week of May and will be using Ninja materials exclusively. Is using Ninja exclusively good idea? Is 7 weeks enough time to study for Audit? I graduated about 9 years ago, work full time in private accounting, a mom to a 10yr and 2 yr old and plan on studying average of 3 hrs a day. Thanks in advance for all your help….p.s. I plan on going back to public accounting later this year (was in audit for lil over 4 yrs and have been in private accounting for over 4 yrs) so would like to pass at least 2 or 3 parts before then…..How should I schedule them to hopefully pass 3 parts by September this year?

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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  • #661114
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I took about 4 weeks to study for AUD. So end of May is more than enough time. There isn't much calculation, just a lot of memorization and careful question reading. This test definitely likes to play word games with you.

    To answer your last question, keep in mind September is a no-test month, so you will need to do 2 exams in July and August. It's achievable, more-so if you decide to take AUD mid-May and use those extra couple of weeks in May + all of June + a portion of July for FAR/REG and then you can test for BEC end of August.

    #661115
    gflurry
    Member

    Given your situation as a parent and full time employee and now an exam candidate (the order of those very intentional). I work full time in industry and have one child (7 yrs old). I study 2 hours before work and my lunch hour three days a week and between 9-12 hours on the weekends. I try to be sure to do at least 18 hours a week, but more the three weeks before the test. It is difficult to study and not miss out on some family events/outings. I will say this, there are a ton of people on here who will say to “not have any fun”, “put family aside” for the time you are studying–I firmly do not believe this. I have passed AUD and just took BEC. I am trying to pass these exams strictly financial reasons, accounting is pretty boring (most types) and rather unfufilling. If I can't eventually pass all 4 parts, I am fine with having the letters DAD after my name instead of CPA.

    You have to find out what type of studying works for you on THESE exams. Not at all like college classes. I am 100% believer in NINJA and used only MCQ for AUD to raise my score from 67 to 81. I used 10 point combo for BEC and now for FAR.

    AUD: 67, 81 (NINJA MCQ's ONLY for 2nd Attempt)
    FAR: NOT GOOD, LARRY!
    REG: ??
    BEC: 4/4/2015

    "F**K CALM, GET MAD. DESTROY!"

    #661116
    Missy
    Participant

    Yes I believe the 10 pt combo is enough to pass. Yes, 7 weeks is in theory enough time to study for AUD. I would discourage the 3 parts before September, which would mean you'd have to get in 2 parts during the July-Aug window and where you're a mom with a full time job I don't think two in the same window is a great idea (particularly when your oldest will be on summer vacation and likely have a later bedtime than during the school year. If you have somewhat of a commute to work listen to the audio, I also listened while folding laundry or weeding my garden!

    My kids were 10 and 16 but involved in activities, I worked 65 hours a week and was taking online courses for my masters. Any testing window that I tried 2 exams I passed one and failed one. Took me 4 windows, 7 attempts to get 4 passes.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

    Finance manager/HR manager

     

     

    Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
    Finance/Admin/HR Manager

    #661117
    Kettlepot
    Participant

    Doing just Ninja to start might be difficult.

    the Ninja Book just didn't cover in-depth enough for me. It was a good overview, but without the core concepts already known, it's tough.

    I needed to establish a base understanding of all the concepts before sharpening those concepts into razor sharp bear-traps of accounting knowledge that now hold the bloody foot of the BEC Section in it.

    I'd suggest picking up the Becker or Wiley book and reading it for AUD.

    That's my approach anyway….but uhh I'm certainly no expert, as demonstrated by my scores in my sig!

    Far: 49
    BEC: 79 (Expired)
    AUD: 51, 67, 64
    REG: 59, 64, 59, 69

    #661118
    jeff
    Keymaster

    I'm curious – what NINJA Book topics did you feel weren't in-depth enough?

    I could have made each book a lot longer, but went with readability instead.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #661119
    Kettlepot
    Participant

    It was the NINJA AUD book, I picked that up along with the Notes and Audio, but I still didn't feel like I was able to master a few of the concepts which got me real good on the exam like how specific wording on the audit report changes when qualifying the report with an emphasis-of-matter paragraph, or how tick marks can represent all kinds of things on Audit Work Papers.

    Not to say that any concepts are missing, I'm just saying they aren't being drilled into me and emphasized like in some of the other books I've got.

    Far: 49
    BEC: 79 (Expired)
    AUD: 51, 67, 64
    REG: 59, 64, 59, 69

    #661120
    tami3492
    Participant

    Yes, I believe 7 weeks is enough time for AUD. I started studying for AUD in late December (after Christmas) and took the test on Feb 3rd. I think an average of 3 hours per day is a good goal. With having kids there may be some days where three doesn't happen, but there may be other days where you can sneak in more than three. I agree with Gflurry, be sure to set aside ‘fun time' and ‘family time'. While studying, I worked full-time, my kids were 8 and 9, and it was very important for me to spend time with them, but they also knew to leave me alone when studying. I generally took off at least one day a week from studying to give myself a break and spend time with the family. This was generally on Sunday, but sometimes it was during the middle of the week too if something came up. My husband was wonderful and really stepped up when it came to household chores and kid stuff. Be prepared to study on the go so you can get in every minute of study time where and when you can. I found Ninja audio to be invaluable for this. My commute is only 20 minutes each way, but that is 40 minutes a day of studying time that I was able to pick up. I also listened when driving the kids around to their different activities. I started studying for my first test on 5/29 and took my last test on 2/3, so a little over 8 months from start to finish.

    FAR 7/8/14 - 88 - Becker live course
    REG 10/14/14 - 82 - Becker live course, Ninja notes and audio
    BEC 11/25/14 - 88 - Becker live course, Ninja audio, Wiley book for extra questions
    AUD 2/3/15 - 94 - Becker self study, Ninja audio, Wiley book for extra questions

    #661121
    willbcpa2015
    Participant

    Thank you all so much for your advice…I will keep all these in mind…I do like Club300's idea of rescheduling Audit to mid-May and then doing BEC and Reg in July and Aug….I will stick to Ninja for now and see how I do on audit before supplementing with anything else.

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