[FutureNJCPA]

Hey all, so I graduated in January with my BS and landed a job in the Big 4 with a delayed start till July. I decided that i was going to attempt all 4 sections and go to grad school in 6 months before i began in hopes of passing all 4 sections. I took REG in February and got a 75, then FAR in April and got a 70 and AUD in May and got a 71 and currently have BEC scheduled for July 2 (5 days before i start work). That said, Im feeling incredibly dissappointed and feel like i put myself in a huge hole. I know it gets harder to study once you start working which is why i wanted to get them all done before work began. For each section i only studied 4-5 weeks for each one. So i keep telling myself that the second time around will be easier and if i study for longer i’ll be ok. Does anyone agree with that? Any experiences that you can share would be greatly appreciated. thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

It's true that its harder to study while working, especially while working in public accounting during busy season! But harder doesn't mean impossible. You can try to schedule your exams during the slow months, and if you have alot of out of town clients, then choose to pick up dinner on your want to the hotel, and study in your hotel room. I would also recommend trying to pass sooner rather than later. As a newbie, you wont have as many clients, or as many responsibilities at work so you'll have slightly more free time.

From looking at your scores it seems that you knew the material fairly well. So studying the second time around will be easier because the material is more familiar, but you should still attack each exam with the same motivation and aggressiveness as you did the first time when you only gave yourself a few weeks to study. Don't think that just because you scored a 71 before that you only need to study a tiny bit more to get that 75, because the test is a mile wide and an inch deep, so you never know what the next one could be like.

[Kitch]

I believe it is harder while working; however, the value of experience is priceless!! If I had to do it over (thank god I don't) then I would get at least a year in before I started studying. Heck, I didn't even know what an engagement letter was when I started studying audit. So much of this exam is in the working world. At least this has been my experience working at CPA firm.

FAR - Passed
REG - Passed - 2 tries
AUD - Passed - 2 tries
BEC - Passed

[FutureNJCPA]

@Kitch- Ironically thats the first i've heard someone say that they more experience they got the easier it was for them. I've had friends tell me that so much of the stuff is non-real world that the longer you are out of school the harder it is. What you are saying would seem to make sense tho. My other thought process is that the first section i took was REG and that is all the most recent stuff i took in school and the stuff i actually like (as sad as it is lol) so when i did the review for REG it was actually like a review. For AUD and FAR it was all stuff i hadnt seen in 2 years or stuff that i only had a semester on and never really understood it fully so my “review” was actually more of a learning experience. Im hoping that the second time around for AUD and FAR will be more like an actual review tho.

[SoonToBeCPAChick]

I only found work to be helpful with AUD (working as an auditor in public), so I would suggest taking that one last. FAR I found school to be the most helpful and BEC is just a cluster f of random topics that there is really no way to get experience on, just a matter of studying the material.

But don't feel discouraged. You are way ahead of the game!!

FAR 10/1/2010 =====> 90
BEC 10/28/2010 ====> 81
REG 2/2/2011 ======> 82
AUD 5/28/2011 =====> 92 ===========>DONE!!!!

[NoScores2Display4thisSection]

If you can push your start date out further that would be awesome, but this is not always possible. The sooner you ask the better.

done

[FutureNJCPA]

@CPAchick- Thats is what ive heard but im starting in the tax practice so i wont have any AUD experience after i start.  I guess my concern is that I'm behind, not ahead of the game.  I know I set a goal for myself (as hard as it was) so I felt like I am in a hole now. 

I'm 23  so I guess my question is at what age do most people pass the exam?

[Anonymous]

Don't worry! You are ahead of the game already by having already studied and sat for all the sections. There is another thread on this forum that discusses the average age of people taking the exam, I think the average age is 25-27, but there are lots of people of all ages that are going through this same process.

[Anonymous]

A FutherNJCPA – I currently work for a Big 4 in NYC. I finished my BS June of 2010 and started with the firm at the end of September. I did not do any of the exams before I started because I wanted to actually have a summer (which I did and I don't regret). Therefore I have only studied for this test while working there.
 
And it IS possible to pass. I've taken 3 of the 4 parts and have passed all 3. You just need to manage your time and study. Study is the key. Happy hours, events, friends, yeah they all go away. But its worth it in the end.

 I took FAR back in the beginning of January before busy season kicked off, then resumed in April and took AUD then BEC in May. It is possible! The best time to take it in my sector is in the summer, (I'm taking REG in July). My sector is so slow that they encourage sabbaticals for people to take the exam, finish degrees or just travel. I'm not sure which Big 4 you are going to, but my firm is very accomodating. They want you to pass. That is their priority and yours too obviously.
 
Good luck!! You can do it 🙂

[Author]

Replies