[Lillian]

I just finished the Audit exam and the scores are anticipated to be released August 4. Which means I have to wait a full month. Should I move on to the next part or wait until the score comes? I start a new position on my job tomorrow, so the break would be much appreciated…….but if I start on the next part I could take the test in the next open window of October. I can still take another part in October I just wouldn’t have as long to study if I waited until August…..decisions, decisions.

On my way to a CPA

[ruggercpa2b]

I took Audit 7/2 and have started to study for BEC. I do not want to waste window. If you wait til after scores you have already wasted a whole month not studying. Also, if you pass your window starts ticking.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[golfball7773]

Don't waste the window – you have 8 weeks until the end of the window – plenty of time and on the off chance that you fail – you can retake right away in October 🙂

FAR: 63, 55, 62
REG: 65, 77*
AUD: Fail, 64, 71
BEC: 72, 74, 81

*expired

[vvSPAZvv]

I was in the same boat as you — I take FAR July 14th and begin my new job August 4th. I debated back and forth what to do. Should I take an exam in August and risk being overwhelmed with a new job, or put an exam off until October when I know my FAR score and such.

This morning I decided to send my application in for BEC and plan to take it in August. While a break would be nice before starting to work, you have to weigh your +/-

Personally, I'd rather get them done sooner than later (even if that means sacrificing time now or even failing because I was stressed). Plus, I have a bonus on the line that will decrease severely after a year of employment, so that helps push me too 🙂

If I were you, I'd move on and keep at it while you're in the zone. What exam did you want to take next? If you planned on taking FAR next, you might want to wait unless you feel comfortable devoting most/all of your free-time to studying.

FAR - 76! 10/15; (65) 7/15
BEC - 82! 11/15; (74) 8/15
AUD - 01/16
REG - TBA

[Lillian]

@vvSPAZvv I have the 10 point combo minus the mcq for FAR which is probably where I will pick back up next. I was finally offered a position in the finance department but it did not come with any stipulations. I will probably take this week off and then make a decision on to go back at it or wait, just trying to get a few opinions along the way…

On my way to a CPA

[taxgeek83]

For what it's worth, I always moved on after every exam with the caveat that if I got a failing score, I'd drop the new section and get back to the failed one again. Only had to do it once – failed FAR & had started studying BEC – but I don't feel like I wasted any time going that route….

[okcpa2015]

Go ahead and pay for your NTS and schedule your next exam at the end of August. I wouldn't want to waste a month worth of studying just to wait on my most recent score.

Move on, commit, and knock out. Also, new job means new routine. You might as well start those study habits around your new position.

Good Luck!

FAR - 91
REG - 88
AUD - 98
BEC - 88

[Lillian]

@taxgeek83 what was your study plan for FAR? I've also failed this section just like you so I'm trying to decide how to approach it this time around. Since its so much material, I was considering either reading through the entire book once before I purchase the ninja mcq….or do like I did for Audit where I read a section then answered the questions but I would try to get through it twice for FAR. Any suggestions, what did you do the second time around?

On my way to a CPA

[will1181]

I just took the AUD exam, fairly certain I failed (got the research sim wrong, I'm still pissed about my own stupid mistake) but I'm moving on to BEC.

My plan:

BEC end of Aug

AUD first week of Oct

REG last week of Nov

FAR in Feb 2016

[Lillian]

@will1181, I was stuck on like 3 of the Sims but I put something in because I would rather take a chance and put something with the hopes of getting a few right than to leave them blank. I didn't do this with FAR, I freaked out and left about 3 Sims blank!!!

On my way to a CPA

[Skynet]

Time is a VALUABLE COMMODITY when you are studying for the CPA exams.

You should go ahead and start studying for the next section. Pass or fail, at least you used your time to wisely, even if it is getting through only a few chapters. If you fail, it's a small setback. If you pass, you are one step ahead.

[Anonymous]

Move on. I took BEC on July 1st and moved on to REG. I am taking REG on 8/14 so I will get the BEC score 10 days before exam, and I really may not even look. I need to stay focused and if I didn't pass BEC then I don't want it to discourage me. good luck!

[taxgeek83]

@Tville – Warning: I am by far not the best example of good study habits, but here goes.

I bought the Ninja notes and MCQs for my retake, and already had the flashcards. I wrote out all of the Ninja notes over the course of a couple of weeks or so, hammered the MCQs and bribed friends to run flashcards with me until I had them down. My MCQ approach was to go through them topic by topic and use my book/the internet/whatever I could find for reference when I was confused on a particular subject. I also did most of the MCQs in my book I think. A few weeks of that, and I held my breath and took the exam. Cut it close, but pulled a 78.

Like I said, I am NOT by any means the best example of good study habits, but I would certainly recommend getting a new test bank and getting through it – all of it. I liked the topic by topic approach because I was bored reading my book and I couldn't concentrate on the videos I had. So I essentially learned through the MCQs. Flashcards were great as well, especially in the week or so before the exam, because I could still recall what I had memorized on exam day. It doesn't work for everyone, but it worked for me. 🙂

[Lillian]

You all gave some valid points that I am considering. My husband, to my surprise has been saying to go ahead and keep studying. He feels like if i take a break then 1month will turn into 6, and 6 into 2 years, and sad to admit it but he's right. I took FAR in 2013 and haven't taken another until this past Monday. Granted i founf out i was pregnant at the end of 2013 but still, all in all i understand that im in a groove with managing study time and i should definitely stick to those habits anf move forward.

On my way to a CPA

[Lillian]

@taxgeek83 thank you for the advice. I've noticed that I also learn a lot more through the mcqs but I'm not sure if it's because I read through the entire book first and answered questions while going through the first time around and start at the beginning with reading but then answer only the questions that I missed the first time. Doing it this way made me understand the concepts a little better as well as seeing how I missed the question, be it a word made the question different or I didn't apply the concept appropriately. But studying and doing the mcqs in my opinion helped the most.

On my way to a CPA

[fuzyfro89]

Yes. Always move on to the next section. Waiting won't help, since it just wastes time. You tend to get a score some time while studying and a few weeks before you take your next exam. if you pass, great. If you don't, then you know what needs to come next, or can make a plan to come back to it after another exam.

[Author]

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