[Anonymous]

I want to get an idea from all those who have passed any of the exams as to how many hours a week they put in and how many weeks did they study for each section.

I am studying for Audit right now and spending close to 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. And I am planning to sit for the exam after 6 weeks. I don’t think I can take the exam any sooner or without studying 8 hours a day. Of course there are days when its abt 5-6 hours but generally its 8.

[LongShot]

So, you're planning on a total of 210-336 hours of studying for Audit? If that's the case, then you shouldn't have any trouble at all! To answer your question, I think I might've spent about 10 to maybe 20 hours a week for around 4-6 weeks studying for BEC, my most recent exam. I've taken them all now (haven't passed REG yet), and I've probably hit 100 hours total study time on maybe 2 of the sections (not saying that's a good thing or that I recommend it! That's just what it was). Definitely shooting for more like 200 hours of study time for my retake of REG though, because my FAR expires after July!

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[LongShot]

So, you're planning on a total of 210-336 hours of studying for Audit? If that's the case, then you shouldn't have any trouble at all! To answer your question, I think I might've spent about 10 to maybe 20 hours a week for around 4-6 weeks studying for BEC, my most recent exam. I've taken them all now (haven't passed REG yet), and I've probably hit 100 hours total study time on maybe 2 of the sections (not saying that's a good thing or that I recommend it! That's just what it was). Definitely shooting for more like 200 hours of study time for my retake of REG though, because my FAR expires after July!

FAR - 75
AUD - 72; 87
REG - 64; 74; 84
BEC - 88

Done!!

[PocketsWithCash]

7 weeks for FAR. 3-6 hours a day (usually on the lower half) for 6 days a week and less on Sundays. No studying after class or 8pm on nights without class so I always had time to relax and do other things. On Sunday I did a comprehensive mcq review which was usually 1 or 2 ninety question progress tests (90 minute time limit for each one). From those I created a list of topics that I wanted to review during my last 2 weeks. The last two weeks were review, did all MCQ and sims from 2 chapters a day for 5 days (skipping things I found easy), then took a Becker Final Test I. Did that again focusing only on topics/questions that I found most difficult and took Test 2. After Test 2 I had 3-4 days to touch up on random topics so I just did practice “testlets” of 30 questions.

Divide your studying into topics/lessons that you want to master each day and not a target numbers of hours. If you can learn something in less time then use that time to relax and do something fun, or occasionally get a head start on your next topic if it's long or difficult. Studying for 8 hours a day, 6 weeks in a row will probably make you incredibly bored with the material and lower your productivity in the later weeks. I found my studying was always much more effective after I integrated breaks and time off.

FAR 97
REG 91
AUD 5/30/14
BEC 7/11/14

[PocketsWithCash]

7 weeks for FAR. 3-6 hours a day (usually on the lower half) for 6 days a week and less on Sundays. No studying after class or 8pm on nights without class so I always had time to relax and do other things. On Sunday I did a comprehensive mcq review which was usually 1 or 2 ninety question progress tests (90 minute time limit for each one). From those I created a list of topics that I wanted to review during my last 2 weeks. The last two weeks were review, did all MCQ and sims from 2 chapters a day for 5 days (skipping things I found easy), then took a Becker Final Test I. Did that again focusing only on topics/questions that I found most difficult and took Test 2. After Test 2 I had 3-4 days to touch up on random topics so I just did practice “testlets” of 30 questions.

Divide your studying into topics/lessons that you want to master each day and not a target numbers of hours. If you can learn something in less time then use that time to relax and do something fun, or occasionally get a head start on your next topic if it's long or difficult. Studying for 8 hours a day, 6 weeks in a row will probably make you incredibly bored with the material and lower your productivity in the later weeks. I found my studying was always much more effective after I integrated breaks and time off.

FAR 97
REG 91
AUD 5/30/14
BEC 7/11/14

[Anonymous]

So far you're getting answers from the shorter-study-time crowd…and I'm in that crowd, too. Just want you to know, though, that the answers you're getting here are not particularly average! In time, I'm sure you'll see many answers from others who studied way more and still struggled, so just realize this varies from person to person.

Myself, I laid out at one point how long I'd studied for each, but I think my longest was about 70 hours and my shortest just shy of 40, if I remember correctly. Passed all 4 on first try; Audit and BEC were the shortest (my strong subjects); FAR was the longest. Hours per week was around 10 reliably, closer to 30 the final week before exam. I was working full-time while taking the exams and had family obligations (not kids; aging grandparents and other relatives needing attention) which helped to eat up the rest of my time. Weeks per exam was around 3-6, depending on where the windows fell, how confident I felt, and which exam it as.

[Anonymous]

So far you're getting answers from the shorter-study-time crowd…and I'm in that crowd, too. Just want you to know, though, that the answers you're getting here are not particularly average! In time, I'm sure you'll see many answers from others who studied way more and still struggled, so just realize this varies from person to person.

Myself, I laid out at one point how long I'd studied for each, but I think my longest was about 70 hours and my shortest just shy of 40, if I remember correctly. Passed all 4 on first try; Audit and BEC were the shortest (my strong subjects); FAR was the longest. Hours per week was around 10 reliably, closer to 30 the final week before exam. I was working full-time while taking the exams and had family obligations (not kids; aging grandparents and other relatives needing attention) which helped to eat up the rest of my time. Weeks per exam was around 3-6, depending on where the windows fell, how confident I felt, and which exam it as.

[Anonymous]

Wow…I am def spending a lot of time..but honestly I don't think I can do less hours. My 8 hours are spread out during the day with drop offs/pick ups for kids, cooking dinner and what not. I guess after my first exam and pass I might be able to figure out a more effective method to attack these exams.

[Anonymous]

Wow…I am def spending a lot of time..but honestly I don't think I can do less hours. My 8 hours are spread out during the day with drop offs/pick ups for kids, cooking dinner and what not. I guess after my first exam and pass I might be able to figure out a more effective method to attack these exams.

[Quinacridone]

For FAR and REG, I generally started studying when I got home from work and went until about 10:00 each night – so roughly 4 to 5 hours each night of the week except one (generally do not do a full study on Fridays – normally just a couple of hours). On the weekends, I studied from the time I woke up till I went to bed except for whatever errands I had to run.

Now that FAR is done, I'm starting to feel some burnout though. Its getting tougher to stay motivated.

REG - Nov 4, 2013: 88
FAR - Feb 27, 2014: 86
AUD - April 5, 2014: 91
BEC - May 6, 2014: 83

Florida CPA 24 July 2014
(Done in seven months - thank you Jesus!!)

[Quinacridone]

For FAR and REG, I generally started studying when I got home from work and went until about 10:00 each night – so roughly 4 to 5 hours each night of the week except one (generally do not do a full study on Fridays – normally just a couple of hours). On the weekends, I studied from the time I woke up till I went to bed except for whatever errands I had to run.

Now that FAR is done, I'm starting to feel some burnout though. Its getting tougher to stay motivated.

REG - Nov 4, 2013: 88
FAR - Feb 27, 2014: 86
AUD - April 5, 2014: 91
BEC - May 6, 2014: 83

Florida CPA 24 July 2014
(Done in seven months - thank you Jesus!!)

[MassCPA2014]

For FAR, I spent an average of 5 hours per day for a month, with the last week being closer to 8 hours per day.

For Audit, I spent about 3 hours per day for a month, with the last few days barely being able to study at all, as I felt prepared and was too bored to keep going.

FAR: 86
AUD: 88
REG: 85
BEC: 84
DONE!

[MassCPA2014]

For FAR, I spent an average of 5 hours per day for a month, with the last week being closer to 8 hours per day.

For Audit, I spent about 3 hours per day for a month, with the last few days barely being able to study at all, as I felt prepared and was too bored to keep going.

FAR: 86
AUD: 88
REG: 85
BEC: 84
DONE!

[Anonymous]

BEC 50-60 hours. My CMA and corporate finance experience was helpful. IMO, by far the easiest of the tests, especially if you like math and formulas

AUD, I studied 80 hours and failed because I didn't study the SIMS enough. I added 40 hours over four weeks for the retake, and rocked the SIMS and I still barely passed. Tricky test, and no easy math questions to boost the score.

REG, I probably put in around 100 hours since I had vacation time over Christmas and New Year's. I enjoy tax and I have been in the workforce for two decades, so tax was easy. BULA wasn't like the case law from college and was pretty dry, and I was a contracting officer in the Army. I can see why people have trouble with REG.

FAR, I am planning for around 120-130 hours for an end of May exam. I don't have a lot of traditional accounting experience, but the parts that are similar to BEC should help. Next two and a half months I want to nail and be done with the CPA exam.

I work 50 hours per week and I have a family, so I can only study 20 hours per week max. I average around 10-15 so I can actually spend time with my family.

[Anonymous]

BEC 50-60 hours. My CMA and corporate finance experience was helpful. IMO, by far the easiest of the tests, especially if you like math and formulas

AUD, I studied 80 hours and failed because I didn't study the SIMS enough. I added 40 hours over four weeks for the retake, and rocked the SIMS and I still barely passed. Tricky test, and no easy math questions to boost the score.

REG, I probably put in around 100 hours since I had vacation time over Christmas and New Year's. I enjoy tax and I have been in the workforce for two decades, so tax was easy. BULA wasn't like the case law from college and was pretty dry, and I was a contracting officer in the Army. I can see why people have trouble with REG.

FAR, I am planning for around 120-130 hours for an end of May exam. I don't have a lot of traditional accounting experience, but the parts that are similar to BEC should help. Next two and a half months I want to nail and be done with the CPA exam.

I work 50 hours per week and I have a family, so I can only study 20 hours per week max. I average around 10-15 so I can actually spend time with my family.

[Anonymous]

I work full time with a wife and 2 young kids. Give myself about 10 weeks per exam. M-F I shoot for 45 min of reading Wiley textbook, 30 min NINJA notes, three times of 10 MCQs, and end day with some NINJA Blitz so 10 hours per week with anything on Saturday as a bonus. I almost never hit 10 hours. Even if I only hit 7 which is probably average, that's 70 hours an exam.

[Author]

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