[M.O.D.]

Pray tell why some schedule the test in X weeks before even starting to study. I see that a lot here. People schedule the test first and start studying second.

You wouldn’t schedule your wedding before even meeting your boyfriend/girlfriend. Why schedule a test before you know what is on it? This is blowing my mind.

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)

[koz124]

I need the deadlines. I would continue to push out the tests if I didn't.

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[Anonymous]

@MOD — I was just talking to a friend about this yesterday. I don't get it either. My process is once I get through 80% of the material I tack on 3 weeks and schedule the exam for that date.

The only thing I can imagine is if some folks are in really remote locations to where there is only one testing center available (maybe far away also) and seats fill up quick so they need to schedule far in advance. I'd likely say this is an exception and not the rule.

[M.O.D.]

@koz

But is not the deadline semi-fixed? I also read that people are constantly changing the test date, and having to pay for that.

Where did you learn this: set a deadline for yourself by signing up for a test? It is not taught in any college course that I know of. Does Becker teach this?

Either way, whatever benefits of having a deadline, I think are far outweighed by the stress of cramming for something known.

@ Bob

I do something similar. I take a practice test, and if I pass, then I schedule 2-3 wks ahead and review meanwhile.

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)

[PurpleK]

What blows my mind are people that don't schedule in advance.

In public accounting, engagements are scheduled months to half a year or more in advance. Additionally, there are regulatory deadlines that are non-negotiable and must be met. Even if you do not receive the PBC files until the week before the regulatory deadline or sometimes agreed upon deadlines (that tend to be more flexible but the client usually does not care), you have no choice but to get it done.

Most successful people work with the deadlines they have and plan accordingly to make sure they are met.

[M.O.D.]

@ PurpleK

I have no issue with deadlines. I ran a successful business for 20 years. I lived and died by deadlines.

But the CPA test does not place a deadline.

We all know taxes are due April 15, or Oct 15 with an extension.

Imagine a world where you set your tax filing deadline.

Who in his right mind would set April 15, or any other date as a deadline to file, just for himself/herself?

And then punish himself if he is late, by paying late fees, etc.?

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)

[onmyway17]

I scheduled before studying for all 4 parts. I need the motivation to help me push and not give up to exam day. It all depends on the individual, some like to go with the flow and see how their studies progress, and some others ( like myself) like a little pressure.

FAR - 82
AUD- 91
REG- 81
BEC- 78

If it's important, you will find a way... if not, you will find an excuse. LET 2014 be the year!!!!

[koz124]

What do you mean it's not taught in any college course? It's in EVERY college course. You sign up for a class. They give you a schedule with the dates of your midterms and finals and then you study the material.

Also, you don't necessarily have to “cram” as you stated. While that is my choice, there are many that schedule their tests months in advance. The timeline isn't any different for these people than for those who study for 1-2 months and then schedule.

I'm not really sure why this is even a topic? Everybody has their own way of doing things. I state my reason, and you try to argue it?

Studying with Wiley Review, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Audio.
Retakes with Ninja MCQ only...awesome!
Far - 1/28 72, 7/22 79
Aud - 2/28 70, 8/14 83
Bec - 4/10 80
Reg - 5/30 64, 7/2 82

[JamesBJames]

I usually schedule when I'm about halfway through the material, but I scheduled REG before I started studying because 1) I'm pretty sure I understand how many hours I'll have to put into it after FAR, AUD, and BEC, and 2) I sort of want the deadline there to encourage me to study more, earlier. Past me is smart. He knows future me doesn't want to spend $35 to reschedule the test for October.

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!

[Mjganier]

Personally, if I don't have that exam date firmly square in the back of my mind, I'm not going to put forth quite an effort to study. I put the exam date far enough in advance and schedule my study time so that I have ample time for study and review. Then, regardless of whether I'm feeling ready or not, I take the test. I'm not going to ever push back an exam date but I'll push it forward if I'm feeling confident. I started studying for FAR early to mid June and scheduled the exam for Aug 25th. I changed it for the 18th since I didn't want to have 3 weeks of just review time (too long for old info to leak out). Plus, I'm too cheap to push it back.

FAR 8/18/2014--87
AUD 10/18/2014--78
REG 11/24/2014--76
BEC 2/28/2015--76

"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough"-Albert Einstein

Study Mats: Cpaexcel study text and EQ, Ninja MCQ, Ninja notes

[How many letters do you need]

MOD: Interesting question although your analogy is off. It's like somebody setting the wedding date and then planning/scheduling all the details in, which is how most do it. I think your process makes sense for the first exam, but once you are on the clock you just can't afford to let a window pass untested, even if you aren't 100%. So I think most people schedule that one (or maybe two) per window and just take their shot, retake if needed

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[mla1169]

You'd have nightmares if you knew how I “prepared” for FAR. Scheduled it first, then used NO official review materials. I only used the free questions on CPAREVIEWFORFREE.COM and googled the things I didnt understand.

And yet it worked.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[M.O.D.]

@ letters

If you have some clues about the wedding, then yes my analogy is off. But I've seen people that have not even taken the corresponding taxation and business law classes with REG already scheduled.

I find some people are very driven here, but there is a fine line between driven and foolhardy.

I think of failure (even if kept secret from others) worse than the drive for success.

In my world no one would ever fail a test because no one would take it before ready. Granted, some people may never get to take it at Prometric, but that is an overall better (and more peaceful) result than the madness to grasp and cram that I see in the study groups.

@koz

I am not arguing with you, but the professors set your finals dates, not you.

Imagine a world where you take the courses AND choose your final date.

Would you set your final date after you were ready to take the final, or before you were ready for the final?

I thought most would set the date after they were ready to pass the class, not before, but I could be wrong.

@ mla

That is funny. You must be a genius.

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)

[mla1169]

I think it had more to do with having been in school for 6 years before I started testing, taking accounting classes during my CPA studies and having worked in general ledger accounting for 15 years before it occured to me to try the exams. Just illustrating while there may an ideal way to go about testing there are a huge variety of ways that actually will produce a pass.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[John Tucker]

MOD is totally correct and that's the strategy I'm using. I'm not sitting for any exam section until I have fully comprehended all of the content, did all of my practice testing with scores over 80% and a fully Replica exam for the 3 or 4 hours depending on the section, with again a score over 80%. At that point I'm ready for the exam.

I got my NTS for BEC and FAR last week. I haven't scheduled either exam yet but I'm likely going to schedule BEC for the week of August 11th and FAR for the week of November 10th. But the scheduling of the exam doesn't occur until I'm in practice testing mode which is where I'm at with BEC. If I'm not scoring at the 80% minimum I can easily go back into the material and make corrections to comprehension.

I believe that individuals keep failing the exam due to piss poor preparation and planning.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[Sarah1421]

I don't know if this is the same for every state, but it doesn't cost me anything to reschedule more than 30 prior to the test date. 5-30 days is $35, less than 5 days is $88.20…. then there's something about 24 hours or less. So for all of you who love a deadline – schedule all four! Who cares…. especially if you realize you won't be ready more than a month ahead of time.

I'm certainly not made of money, but I don't have ANY problem paying $35 to reschedule if I'm not ready. I'd much rather pay the fee than take the exam twice…

I made the mistake of scheduling FAR too soon and had to reschedule… It was my first exam and I had no idea if the Prometric site would run out of seats (plus – I have to drive a couple hours to get to the nearest Prometric, so I thought I'd stay in a hotel the night before). All great intentions – I just had no idea how long it was going to take me to feel prepared for FAR and I WAS NOT going to walk into that testing center feeling unprepared. Granted, no one feel GOOD walking in…

FAR - 90
AUD - 91
BEC - 86
REG - 87

[Author]

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