[EGRRunner]

Hello FAR takers… So I am a totally non-traditional CPA exam taker. I’m 45 and jumping into this. My undergrad is in Accounting back in 1991. I’ve spent my career so far in corporate accounting and loving it.

I was given money to take the exam for educational purposes rather last minute, so the $1,000,000 question is: How should I best prepare for the exam to try and give it a fair shot knowing I work 50 hours a week and have a family with the exam date of August 29.

At this point, I obviously am using the exam to find my weaknesses as I don’t have oodles of disposable time on my hands to August 29.

Thanks for any thoughts you have!

[mla1169]

Get in at least 2 hours per day during the week and 5 hours each on Saturday and Sunday. That's 20 hours per week should put you close to 120 hours total, which may be enough if you're strong in accounting concepts.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[impska]

Uhh.. Just study. Seriously. You can study for FAR in a month if you try. Just try to pass it. Screw taking it just to see where you stand. Walk in ready. MLA just gave you a 120 hour study schedule that isn't intensive at all.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[taxgeek83]

It seems like you have a pretty strong financial accounting background, so you might try finding a good test bank (I liked Ninja for FAR), taking a practice exam and seeing where you sit. That should highlight your weaknesses as far as the CPA exam goes, and might save you some time. I'm definitely not suggesting that you skip reviewing anything else, but given the fact that you are short on time, it might be a good start.

[mla1169]

And for what it's worth even if this attempt is truly nothing more than a recon mission I'd still get no less than 20 hours per week. Developing the stamina and determination to work this into your schedule is more worthwhile than the half day in a Prometric.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[yourmomsaCPA]

I'm not as old as you but I have a family (3 young kids!) and a corporate job. For me, it's getting it over with without dragging my family through additional study time b/c of failed exams. I mean, if it's part of your study strategy (I studied for FAR for 2 months) and you're sitting again in say, early Oct, go for it. But, FAR is so, so, so vast – that your “weak areas” on the test at the end of Aug may not even be tested on the next go-round.

FAR - 87 2/18/14
AUD - 84 4/2/14
REG - 87 7/23/14
BEC - 78 8/26/14

I'm finally an *official* CPA - TX

[Graham_3]

I have to agree with @yourmom. Taking the exam once will uncover your weaknesses for that exam in particular and may not even touch on topics you may struggle with the next time you take it. The variation from exam to exam is just too high. Like others have suggested, I would take a practice test (you can even find the free AICPA ones) as a diagnostic tool now and then get studying. Also, don't just study your ‘deficiencies'.. it is really important to be knowledgeable on all possible topics in order to pass.

P.S. @yourmom good luck on REG today!!!

FAR-78
AUD-89
REG-88
BEC-85

Done!!

[yourmomsaCPA]

Awe, thanks Graham! T-90 minutes!

FAR - 87 2/18/14
AUD - 84 4/2/14
REG - 87 7/23/14
BEC - 78 8/26/14

I'm finally an *official* CPA - TX

[Anonymous]

I did the same thing EGRRunner and I'm in a similar boat (34 yrs old, wife, old house, 50 billable hours a week) I ended up with a 73.

Just study. Get the Wiley book, read a chapter then take ever fourth question (1,5,9…). Repeat for each chapter, then go back and do the next set of every fourth question (2,6,10…). If you do well on a section both times, don't spin your wheels on it. If you score beneath 70%, do the third and forth sets of every fourth question.

You should be able to knock out FAR in that time. I ended up having to orphan that plan. I only got to skim the chapters and had to skip the questions. I took FAR the day after AUD and didn't have enough time to properly study for both. I focused on AUD. It was either fail one, or fail both.

In any event, you'll probably surprise yourself and pass.

[M.O.D.]

If you want to a quick diagnostic, all review programs offer practice exams. Less embarrassing than a real failure.

Age 48.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[EGRRunner]

Thanks so much for the feedback everyone! I appreciate everyone's unique perspective. @yourmom you raise a good point that what is tested on one exam may not be on the next! Hope you did awesome with REG.

[yourmomsaCPA]

Hahahaha! I totally bombed it…but I swear – I could walk in there today and pass a REG test. I just got a really, really hard one based on what I studied (that being said, I think I got lucky with my FAR test and just so happened to be tested on my strengths).

If you can get through the study material, you should be fine. FAR was more natural for me b/c I'm a controller and even though I only do a very small fraction of what FAR covers, journal entries and worksheets are still part of my everyday job so it REALLY helped on the SIMs.

REG? Not so much!

FAR - 87 2/18/14
AUD - 84 4/2/14
REG - 87 7/23/14
BEC - 78 8/26/14

I'm finally an *official* CPA - TX

[Kimboroni]

Such a good point about the variation in different tests. There were a bunch of things that my FAR test didn't even touch on, yet other people testing around the same time said their test asked them about topics across the board.

A lot of us are older, work full time, have family responsibilities, etc.– it's tough to fit enough study time in, but it can be done. Just go for it and do the best you can. As others said, a recon mission test probably won't give you the feedback you're looking for. There are other, better, cheaper ways.

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. 🙂

[Anonymous]

Just a personal opinion here…if you are going to spend 200 bucks to take an exam, make it worth while. Use the practice exams instead to test your weakness, don't waste your money just to see your own weakness. Because of the vast amounts of materials in FAR it's possible you will get tested on something completely different the second time you try to take the exam, and all that effort just went to waste.

Like people on here say you will never ever feel prepared going in. I know CPAs that tell me they never felt prepared going in especially for FAR. You might as well just study for the exam and going in full speed. You will always have a weakness on this exam considering you don't know what they throw at you, the best thing you can do is to just know the most important materials inside and out, do a basic review of the less important materials if time is an issue, and cross your fingers.

[Author]

Replies