[Getting a CPA]

Soooo….FAR is the behemoth; REG is a b*t*h; BEC is one sneaky bastard….from what I hear. I NEVER hear of anything too too bad about AUD? Is it doable in 6 weeks?!?!

I am sure this will make a bunch of ppl studying AUD mad! I only ask (humbly) because I am taking FAR on Apr 2 and AUD is testing SAS starting July. So I thought I could take in May before memorial day weekend…

How many hours for AUD?

Thoughts?

[J]

To each his [or her] own, as they say. While the general consensus is that FAR and REG are the two most difficult and BEC and AUD are the easier two, it really depends on the individual and his/her background.

Yes, AUD really covers just one subject. Yes, it generally has the least study material. Personally however, I think it's going to be the most difficult to get through. I don't believe that the subject matter is difficult but I have little practical experience with auditing and I find the material dry and boring.

Therefore compared to the other three, I think this one will give me the most headaches. I studied relatively little for BEC (30-40 hours total) and passed relatively easily; I have an MBA and that background helped me there. I actually enjoy financial accounting and while FAR is certainly a lot to cover, I didn't mind it at all. I have a background in tax so I don't think REG is going to be too much of a problem (although the business law stuff concerns me a little). It's AUD that “worries” me the most.

You'll also note that for 2012, AUD had the lowest cumulative pass rate…

[Futile]

@InterFC1: I have no auditing experience, find auditing super boring, but I just found out I passed AUD. I found the material boring, yes, but more palatable than some of this other stuff (like cost accounting in BEC -.-). I think it is the easiest.

@Getting a CPA: It really depends on yourself. The only experience I have with auditing is an auditing class I took last spring. I started studying for AUD Jan 7 and sat Feb 20. I felt I had at least 1.5 weeks too many (I had gone through everything by the beginning of Feb, but couldn't reschedule), but that is probably just me. 🙂

CPA exam: Done!

Thank You, Lord.

[Getting a CPA]

@InterFC1 – I have an MBA as well, and information technology knowledge. I am a decent enough writer as well. That would mean I could breeze through BEC – EXCEPT that it has cost accounting! The biggest reason for taking AUD before BEC is to avoid test changes in July for AUD. Only AUD has test changes, so I thought I would knock it out and get back to the hard stuff (REG) afterwards. Now you are making me rethink and maybe I should take BEC late May.

@Futile – I have studied AUD lightly and I do agree it looks very manageable. BEC or AUD in late May? Hmmm…

The scores hover around the same %s each year I have noticed – 45% to slightly over 50% for any given part. I don't know what that is an indication of….

[Anonymous]

Correct with the ‘To each his own' idea. I believe that six weeks of intensive studying may do it. But I do mean INTENSIVE. Much success to you!

[Futile]

@Getting a CPA: BEC freaked me out because of cost accounting as well! Crazily, I decided to take it in the extended window and studied only 12 days. Busted my brain, I did, logging about 60 hours in that time. I did not think the exam was difficult, although there were a few questions involving convoluted calculations that I had absolutely no idea about. I guess I won't know until scores are released, but I think it went well. 🙂

I wanted to avoid the AUD changes, so I gave myself two windows to pass. It was my first exam. I think it was very useful taking BEC right after AUD, as it overlaps the most with BEC.

CPA exam: Done!

Thank You, Lord.

[J]

@Futile: Congratulations on passing AUD! I think we're pretty much in the same boat with auditing experience and as I mentioned in my previous post, I don't find the material necessarily difficult but rather extremely boring so more than anything else, it's just going to take me awhile to get through it to the point that I feel comfortable sitting for the exam. I actually had AUD scheduled for the end of February but moved it back to May and put REG ahead of it in my order! I want to make sure that I pass it the first time and don't have to worry about the changes to AUD coming July 2013.

@Getting a CPA: I know that there are some people who think otherwise, but I found the WC section on BEC to be a joke! I also think it is a sad commentary that the AICPA thought it necessary to include it; I guess there are plenty of professionals out there who cannot adequately communicate through the written word. The cost accounting stuff shouldn't weigh you down too much; if you're at a comparable level with that and strong with economics/finance/IT, you should be fine.

[Futile]

@InterFC1: Thanks. 🙂 I am sure you will do great! It is very boring stuff but mostly memorization. Know that you might see some FAR stuff.…

CPA exam: Done!

Thank You, Lord.

[J]

Hah… I hope I see a lot of FAR; I actually like that stuff…

[MintsRGood]

After putting in around 160 hours, 2000+ MCQS, 150+ SIMS, 7 full practice tests the week leading up to the exam (results from 80-90%), daily Ninja Audio, weekly Ninja Notes, a complete read through and notes/outlines prepared of every chapter in Becker Text, a Wiley test bank average of 88%…I found out this afternoon that I FAILED AUDIT AGAIN. Don't let Audit fool you, this section is from hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[Futile]

I pawned one sim because it was easy FAR related stuff. 🙂 But it was so unexpected, I was flabbergasted for a bit. The whole exam was just weird. (I guess that's because I was seeing a bunch of hard questions, haha.)

CPA exam: Done!

Thank You, Lord.

[Futile]

I think the whole CPA exam is from hell. =P

CPA exam: Done!

Thank You, Lord.

[Getting a CPA]

@MintsRGood – Wow! The horror stories actually help with coming back down to earth. I don't understand this stuff like others. I have been studying FAR for 6+ months (probably a record – lol), but I am trying to “get it” with a full-time job. The big problem with stretching it out as long as I did is memory. But 6 weeks may not be realistic with my knowledge level on this stuff…

[Katie_Choo]

You can do it. You have to believe that always and clear your mind and study. Try not to memorize, but do more understanding. Stop and think about what they're saying. I used Gleim and an am a huge advocate. I studied about 5-6 weeks while working full time (plus Saturdays) and I got an 86. My method was mostly the Gleim audio reviews. I didn't actually read much. I did do about 1000 MC, all 20 study unit sims (about 120 total) and the practice test. Also, when you're in the exam remember to use the authoritative literature in the sims for every part. It had to be the sims that saved me. It is possible!!

AUD - 86 - 11/19/12
FAR - 76 - 2/23/13
REG - 80 - 5/28/13
BEC - 84 - 7/18/13

[Anonymous]

AUD had the lowest pass rate in 2012. None of the sections should be taken lightly!

[Anonymous]

I thought so…Until I saw the 73 on my score report 😉

[Author]

Replies