[life25]

Hi All,

I am new to the forum and am taking my first CPA exam on August 31, 2011. I am sitting for BEC on that day and will start studying on this upcoming Monday. That gives me approximately 5 weeks to digest the material and try and pass. I am using Yaeger CPA review materials that I bought back in January of this year, however, I am purchased the NINJA study guides and updates as well as the Yeager CPA review updates to assist in the changes with IFRS. Can anyone please let me know if this will be sufficient material to study and pass and if you feel that 5 weeks is enough time?

Thanks!

[Zizoty]

How many hours are you planning to study a day/week? Are you working full time? BEC can be tricky because there are a lot of unrelated topics. I think 5 weeks is doable if you can put in around 70+hrs.

AUD - 83 Feb11
REG - 75 May11
BEC - 73 July11 84 Oct11
FAR - 63 Aug11 76 Feb12 I'M DONE!!!!!

[life25]

I am currently working at a CPA firm – Mid-sized, and am hoping to clock in around 40 hours/week. With a majority of my time going to the weekends.

[Zizoty]

If you can log in 20-40hrs/week, then you should be fine with BEC. I think Cindy from Yaeger did a great job with the video. Some people find that Jeff's notes helped them with IT. You can also use cpareviewforfree.com for additional MCQ practice. If you are strong with IT and ECON, BEC should not be that hard. GL

AUD - 83 Feb11
REG - 75 May11
BEC - 73 July11 84 Oct11
FAR - 63 Aug11 76 Feb12 I'M DONE!!!!!

[IwannaBaCPA]

I logged 111 total hours for BEC and passed. I don't think it is so much about quantity, but more about quality of time spent…I certainly think 5 weeks is enough time for any section actually. I studied FAR in about that amount of time while working about 35 hours a week and passed. Just be sure to make a plan, stick to it and leave cushion room for the unexpected…

good luck!

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[life25]

Thank you both for the input! I have been putting this exam off for a long time, and it's time I started this journey and stick to it.

I will keep you all posted. Thank you for the good luck wishes!

[IwannaBaCPA]

It won't be fun and you will have to make sacrifices, but if you really are focused on passing, it will be worth it…short term pain for long term gain is what I keep telling myself as my friends are heading to the beach or traveling places and I am listening to Audit lectures…

Best of luck to you!

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Anonymous]

life25- When I was reading your post, I had to do a double take and make sure it wasn't my username. I am in almost the exact same situation, except that my exam is schedule for Aug 29. I also purchased Yaeger HS in January 2011 and I'm just now getting around to the exams. I have the NINJA notes and the Yaeger update. This is my first section, as well. I'd love to keep this thread going to track our progress/ask questions along the way!

Good luck!

[life25]

eatrunCPA – It is good to know that someone else is in a similar situation. I have gone through so many life changes in this one year currently that the CPA exam became a foreign concept to me until I realized that I am unhappy at my current firm and I am ready to make a change and go elsewhere. So, I knew that the time was now for me to stay focused and try my hardest to pass this exam. BEC – 1st runner up. I am more than nervous as I am not sure what to expect, but I can only hope that if I do commit myself it will work out wonderfully!

I agree, we should definitely keep this thread going to track our progress/ask questions along the way. You will be my new found internet buddy! I have a rough week at work currently and am hoping to start fresh studying potentially on Monday and my plan is to clock in around 40 hours in addition to my 40 hour work schedule/ per day. Are you working currently?

[Anonymous]

life25- yes, I am currently working full time, but not in public accounting. I wil definitely not be putting in 40 study hours a week! I arranged my study plan around completing certain modules on certain days. Yesterday was my first day and I started by doing a diagnostic exam on gleim's website. I scored a 60%, but won't know the breakdown by functional area until I speak with a personal counselor (salesperson). I am using Yaeger/Wiley and watched Part 1 and Part 2 of Module 41 in B1. I paused frequently to take notes and also paused and solved the MCQ before Cindy solved it. I'm actually really excited to finally be starting to tackle this exam!

How did your 1st day of studying go?

[Author]

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