[sscusc]

Hi all. I accepted a job at the big 4 putting in 50-55 hours.

I was wondering for all those who worked this many hours and had to study for the CPA exams, how did you schedule your exams?

[Anonymous]

It's pretty tough to do them simultaneously, but I passed two sections when I was with a Big 4 firm.

See if your company will allow you to take a day off for exam purposes. If they do, I'd use it for sure. (Beats using a vacation day!) I typically tried to schedule them on a Monday so you'd have the whole weekend to get some good study time/sleep in. And make sure you just speak with your team/direct supervisor so they know your schedule a long period ahead of time.

Good luck! 🙂

[Anonymous]

I agree with Captain Pounder. I studied for one or two hours on week nights and then hit it hard on weekends. Once you have your study materials, set up your study plan with the number of study hours for each week that fits into your schedule. Some people want the exam over in a few months and dedicate every free minute to studying. Others take a little longer and try to balance life/work demands with studying.

Personally, my comfortable pace was a Becker section a week + one week to review prior to my test. Other people say that's way too slow, but it worked for me. Once you dive into your study materials, schedule your first test so that you have a deadline. Good luck!

[sscusc]

Sounds good!

I was planning on doing about 1-2 hours on weeknights. Then hitting it hard on the weekends.

I want to get BEC done before I start. Start work 2nd week of October. Then do Audit end of October or early November. Then FAR in early January. Then REG in late February.

I am planning on dedicating ~20 hours a week to it.

And I want to do BEC just because I like it and I would rather do the easier one first. And it's really not that bad to study over the Winter.

I am using Yaeger right now.

[evesocal]

I took one exam per window. I took the Becker live classes. Studied maybe an hour or two during the week as I'm very tired at the end of the day. Studied a lot more on weekends. Two of my Becker classes ended just before Thanks giving (the first and last, two different years) so I took those exams in January. BEC in Jan of 2012 and FAR in Jan of 2013. So I had about 6-7 weeks after the class ended to study.

With REG and AUD I had less time, just due to the timing of the class and whatever else was going on in my life.

It's very hard to work full time and prepare for the exam. Frankly I hated it. But very glad I did it and it's done!

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[JAM_CPA1]

I Work full time at a BIG 4 Firm giving upwards of 60 hours sometimes and doing both FAR and BEC and passing. To pass in these circumstances i think discipline is the KEY! Its hard to do but very possible. I'll be doing REG and AUD still working full time….

FAR (21/7/2013) 75!
BEC (23/7/2013) 83!
AUD (28/2/2014) 67
REG (27/2/2014) 84
AUD (18/4/2014) 83

I'M DONE!!!!!

Becker Self Study!

[Liss, Master of Coin]

I too work 50-60 hours (plus 5-10 hours to commute) a week.

I try for about 1-2 hours a night studying. And 15-20 hours studying on the weekend. My goal is to finish 2 sections a week, less if its a really long section.

At the beginning, I tried doing 4-6 hours a day of studying during the work week by getting up early and staying up late. I wanted to take all the tests by the end of summer. Yeah, did not happen. I burned out in about 2 months.

I can't afford for studying to affect my work productivity. So now I'm just hoping to be done by the end of the year.

CPA (MA, Non-Reporting)

The difference in winning & losing is most often, not quitting - Walt Disney

B - 33, 71, 79!
A - 32, 61, 70, 83!
R - 33, 58, 73, 69, 81!
F - 47, 78! 🙂
After 3 long years, I'm finally DONE!
I could not have done it without NINJA MCQs.

Used: Roger for his Videos, WTB, and NINJA Audio, Notes and Test Bank.

[JAM_CPA1]

It can really affect your productivity but because i was acustomed to going to work and university in the nights (for five years), it didnt affect me that badly. I studied for 4 – 6 hours per night and more hours on weekends. I had to take breaks, as in, not study on some nights when i just didnt have the energy.

FAR (21/7/2013) 75!
BEC (23/7/2013) 83!
AUD (28/2/2014) 67
REG (27/2/2014) 84
AUD (18/4/2014) 83

I'M DONE!!!!!

Becker Self Study!

[mla1169]

Its not fun but I was working FT, and in grad school and have 2 kids. The audio helps a lot, on your commute or if you're allowed a radio on your desk,

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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