What order to sit for the CPA?

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #168462
    Stanley1
    Participant

    I have about 5 years of public accounting experience as an auditor. My tax knowledge is virtually zero. What order would you suggest I sit for the exam?

    I’m thinking:

    Audit

    FAR

    REG

    BEC

    I should be able to pass audit, since that is what I do. Gives me some confidence. I think it makes sense to take FAR either before or after Audit, since you are dealing with financial statement stuff. Then REG, b/c if I fail it, I’ll have time to pass it again after taking BEC, which should be pretty easy. Thoughts?

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 48 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #460290
    Minimorty
    Participant

    Save AUD for last. You'll be so glad that your last section will be your easiest.

    For you, I would suggest REG, BEC, FAR, AUD.

    #460397
    Minimorty
    Participant

    Save AUD for last. You'll be so glad that your last section will be your easiest.

    For you, I would suggest REG, BEC, FAR, AUD.

    #460292
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I go with what you're comfortable with first. You want to have the confidence of passing one section which will give you confidence for the other sections.

    I'd go with audit, far, bec, reg. I would save reg for last. Hopefully you'll be as pumped up as I was for my last section.

    #460399
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I go with what you're comfortable with first. You want to have the confidence of passing one section which will give you confidence for the other sections.

    I'd go with audit, far, bec, reg. I would save reg for last. Hopefully you'll be as pumped up as I was for my last section.

    #460294
    Sapper
    Member

    I would take your hardest test first and save your easiest for last. If you're like me, you may get burnt out studying after a while. Another tip – even though you've worked as an auditor, still make sure to spend plenty of time studying for the audit exam. I know auditors who have failed that section because they thought it would be a piece of cake (although none had 5 years experience).

    Maybe this order? REG – BEC – FAR – AUD

    FAR - Feb 2012 - 86
    BEC - Apr 2012 - 85
    AUD - Apr 2012 - 89
    REG - May 2012 - 78
    Review: CPAexcel + university review class + NinjaNotes (AUD&REG)

    #460401
    Sapper
    Member

    I would take your hardest test first and save your easiest for last. If you're like me, you may get burnt out studying after a while. Another tip – even though you've worked as an auditor, still make sure to spend plenty of time studying for the audit exam. I know auditors who have failed that section because they thought it would be a piece of cake (although none had 5 years experience).

    Maybe this order? REG – BEC – FAR – AUD

    FAR - Feb 2012 - 86
    BEC - Apr 2012 - 85
    AUD - Apr 2012 - 89
    REG - May 2012 - 78
    Review: CPAexcel + university review class + NinjaNotes (AUD&REG)

    #460296
    Givemesleep
    Member

    Take Aud, Bec, Reg, Far. BEC is the killer, trust me. I have no brain cells left and passed AUD and Reg, first shot with a lot of motivation. BEC, is out there bro/sis. Currently studying for BEC retake, will not fail, studying very differently this time. To me AUD was the most interesting, REG was manageable, BEC weird,

    Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
    Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
    Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
    Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

    CPA License received 10/2012 !!
    CFE License received 04/2013 !!
    EA License received

    Givemesleep

    #460403
    Givemesleep
    Member

    Take Aud, Bec, Reg, Far. BEC is the killer, trust me. I have no brain cells left and passed AUD and Reg, first shot with a lot of motivation. BEC, is out there bro/sis. Currently studying for BEC retake, will not fail, studying very differently this time. To me AUD was the most interesting, REG was manageable, BEC weird,

    Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
    Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
    Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
    Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

    CPA License received 10/2012 !!
    CFE License received 04/2013 !!
    EA License received

    Givemesleep

    #460298
    rezaking
    Member

    hey givemesleep.. hope the studying is going well man! i finished going through audit and im much more prepared this time.. but im still struggling with the sims.. the ones that give you 12 options each.. ive been getting those wrong even though i FULLY understand the logic before all the topics.. im worried about these sims man.. i hope it doesnt crush me a second time on 4/7.

    at least BEC has no sims (thank god) because cost accounting was my weakest area for as long as i can remember.

    OP.. i would take AUD first like givemesleep said.. get your confidence up and then no matter what order you take the rest dont underestimate any of them or they will crush you and youll be surprised how low of a score you got 🙂 good luck.

    BEC - Passed
    REG - 7/21/2012
    AUD - 8/18/2012
    FAR - 11/10/2012

    #460405
    rezaking
    Member

    hey givemesleep.. hope the studying is going well man! i finished going through audit and im much more prepared this time.. but im still struggling with the sims.. the ones that give you 12 options each.. ive been getting those wrong even though i FULLY understand the logic before all the topics.. im worried about these sims man.. i hope it doesnt crush me a second time on 4/7.

    at least BEC has no sims (thank god) because cost accounting was my weakest area for as long as i can remember.

    OP.. i would take AUD first like givemesleep said.. get your confidence up and then no matter what order you take the rest dont underestimate any of them or they will crush you and youll be surprised how low of a score you got 🙂 good luck.

    BEC - Passed
    REG - 7/21/2012
    AUD - 8/18/2012
    FAR - 11/10/2012

    #460300
    porschify
    Member

    I would take your most familiar topic first. My logic is that if the 18 month window knocks at your door and you lose credit, I would want to have to retake the exam that is easiest for me.

    REG- 81
    BEC- 72,76
    AUD- 67,88
    FAR- 78

    Done!

    #460407
    porschify
    Member

    I would take your most familiar topic first. My logic is that if the 18 month window knocks at your door and you lose credit, I would want to have to retake the exam that is easiest for me.

    REG- 81
    BEC- 72,76
    AUD- 67,88
    FAR- 78

    Done!

    #460302
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I did FAR-BEC-AUD-REG…that worked pretty well for me, but there was no rhyme or reason to why I chose that order…so maybe not so helpful after all

    #460409
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I did FAR-BEC-AUD-REG…that worked pretty well for me, but there was no rhyme or reason to why I chose that order…so maybe not so helpful after all

    #460304
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    BEC

    FAR

    REG

    AUD

    BEC was the easiest for me, as I was a general business major and most of the material was simply a review for me (ie, econ, basic financial ratios, stats, & elementary IT). My logic was that it would be a good idea to get a feel for the actual exam-process with material I was most comfortable with. I chose FAR next, as it is widely considered to be the most difficult (obviously subjective). I figured it would be wise to knock out the hardest next, that way the rest would feel easier. REG was third, as I expected it to be the second most difficult. I was definitely wrong. REG was by far the hardest for me, and I would highly advise that you devote adequate time to learning the minutia of tax and business law. I saved AUD for last under the premise that it had been touted as the most ‘learnable' of the exams (ie, it can be studied for in the shortest amount of time). I found this to be 100% accurate, and if you have 5 years of audit under your belt, you may very well be able to prepare for AUD in under 3 weeks.

    Overall, your (Stanley) game plan sounds pretty solid. I think sandwiching FAR and REG between BEC and AUD is a solid choice.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 48 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.