3 sections, 1 window – bad idea?

  • Creator
    Topic
  • November 27, 2012 at 12:29 am #174947
    soxfan866
    Member

    Hi all,

    I’ve been hanging around here for the past couple of weeks and am about to start studying for the exam. I’ve already been approved and scheduled my sections. I’m planning on using the new Becker materials in the self-study format to prepare for the exam. I’ll be done with school around December 10th and have until April before I start working. I’m really hoping to be done with this before I get back to working and was just looking for some feedback on my plan. The exams are scheduled as follows:

    FAR – 1/11 (~4 weeks of study time)

    REG – 2/7 (~3.5 weeks study time)

    BEC – 2/28 (~3 weeks study time)

    AUD – 4/1 (3-3.5 weeks study time, probably going to sneak in a break after BEC)

    There are areas of FAR that I wasn’t taught (Governmental/NFP/Consolidations), and I would say tax is one of my weaker areas (just haven’t covered a lot of the material). Other than that, I can’t think of any real limitations when it comes to what I’ve been taught. Obviously what I can remember is anyone’s guess.

    I’m planning on about 6 hours per day of studying. I’m leaning towards not getting any additional study materials due to time constraints and simply because I think (well, hope) that Becker alone can get me by. Judging by what I’ve read, and just common sense, different things work for different people, but I’m wondering if am I allocating enough time for a recent college grad to get past the exam in less than 4 months?

    Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • November 27, 2012 at 12:43 am #383195
    Roma
    Member

    @soxfan866,

    Pretty agressive, but depends on your starting level of knowledge on all 4 parts.

    In all honesty – there is no way in heck I would ever recommend taking all 4 in less than 3 months.

    In fact, I think it may be a bit tight for you already for FAR, in particular if you don't know GVNT / NFP /Consolidations.

    Then REG 4 weeks later – YIKES !!!!!

    I would suggest not locking into anything until you get a good feel on FAR and how you progress.

    In any event, good luck !!!

    Using Wiley
    FAR = 94 Feb 2012
    BEC = 92 April 2012
    AUD = 95 July 2012
    REG = 91 Nov 2012

    November 27, 2012 at 1:02 am #383196
    runhomejack
    Member

    It depends on how much accounting knowledge you already have. I would say you need another week for Reg. In fact, my bet would be against you just because I know I would crash and burn under the same plan if I had just graduated and have the overwhelming need to burn off steam. But of course, that's just me. Good luck though.

    BEC - Pass
    FAR - Pass
    REG - Pass
    AUD - Pass

    November 27, 2012 at 1:53 am #383197
    Rebecca_AZ
    Member

    First – are you giving yourself a small break after graduation? I think you should to rest your brain (and because you deserve it.) I would never recommend taking more than two sections per window BUT it can be done! (I think Sandra took 4 sections in July and August of this year and passed all…I may be remembering incorrectly but I do remember it was an insane schedule.)

    Based on the number of hours you estimate, you are in line for FAR, although personally I would spend 5 weeks on FAR but then I do have a full time job to deal with. I agree that you should add another week to REG but 3.5 weeks is not unheard of. (If you remember stuff from Tax and/or Business Law you may not need to spend as much time on that.) I think you're skimping on time for Audit. But Audit was really difficult for me.

    Regarding supplemental materials, I HIGHLY recommend Wiley Test Bank for additional multiple choice question practice. I found that the Becker questions repeated themselves and sometimes I would see the same question twice (even the additional supplemental questions). But I know people that have used only Becker and passed on the first try. Jeff sells Wiley Test Bank and you get your PIN the next day or earlier which is much faster than buying from Wiley directly. (Just a thought – if you get through FAR using only Becker, don't mess with the system.)

    Good luck!! You can do it!

    I passed in 2012!

    BEC - PASSED - I'M DONE!!!
    AUD - PASSED (finally!!)
    REG - PASSED (Twice - lost credit first time)
    FAR - PASSED!

    November 27, 2012 at 2:11 am #383198
    samdiegoCPA
    Member

    I am doing all four within four months ish. You can see my schedule below – I am not working so basically my job is to study. It's very hard to do at times because tv, friends, grocery shopping, cleaning the toilet, dancing with my bird… all things obviously more fun than studying, get in the way.

    I have a TERRIBLE attention span, so this is super difficult for me, but I am determined! I think you can do it, too.

    I am using Roger full course, Wiley test bank, and whatever else I can find that is free.

    AUD: 84
    REG: 84
    BEC: 79
    FAR: 83

    November 27, 2012 at 9:28 pm #383199
    soxfan866
    Member

    Thanks for the advice everyone. I definitely know that my plan is not recommended and that it will be tough. I will have to make sure to assess where I'm at as I start studying for FAR to see if I need to push things back. I would say that my starting knowledge is a little above average for all major areas except what I noted above. It doesn't look like I'll be taking much time off, but that's all right, it's been an easy semester anyway. Hopefully, I can get a head start on FAR sometime soon. I think I'm going to be stubborn and stick with just Becker for now, but Wiley and Ninja notes are certainly an option if I feel I'm struggling to get through the material.

    samdiegoCPA – Good luck with FAR tomorrow!

    November 27, 2012 at 9:58 pm #383200
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    If you're doing nothing but studying, definitely possible. If you feel pressed for time on FAR, do yourself a favor and push the date. I'd rather pass on the first go than restudy all of that material just because you cut yourself a week or two short.

    Just don't schedule until you're ready (don't procrastinate either!)

    November 27, 2012 at 10:18 pm #383201
    sarah210
    Member

    It is obviously possible for a person to pass these sections fairly quickly, and with you not working you have a much greater likelihood of being able to do so.

    But… if you are absolutely set on doing 3 sections in 1 window (which yes, sounds like an overly ambitious idea to me, personally), I would suggest AUD and BEC being two of those sections. REG and FAR have the most material, so to do them both in the same window *and* another section seems very optimistic. The Becker classes for AUD and BEC are each 3 weeks long if you do two chapters a week, so you could do FAR at the beginning of Jan, AUD at the beginning of Feb, and BEC at the end of February. That might give you a greater likelihood of getting 3 sections knocked out, especially since you're weak in tax.

    REG- 53, 91
    BEC- 88
    FAR- 62, 85
    AUD- 85

    Ethics- 93

    November 27, 2012 at 10:50 pm #383202
    Da Bears
    Member

    First off, White Sox or Red Sox…..

    I would do FAR/AUD/BEC in the first window, the REG. You can reschedule all this for free at this point since it's still more than 30? days away. FAR leads into AUD somewhat and the same with AUD into BEC. You can do it, you just might hate yourself! What kind of student were you? If you were a straight A kinda student I could see you being successful as long as you stay committed. I'm in same situation as you, just timing difference. I graduated in may took 9 hours of school in summer and sat provisionally in august for FAR, studied about 8 weeks just because it was my first exam and I didn't know what to really expect, plus summer school crap. Started AUD 9/5, Sat 10/16, started BEC 10/20, sat 11/07, started REG 11/09 and sitting 1/5 before I start work on 1/7. Of course I was taking breaks to visit family and live life and now with holiday season(Got some divorces in my family so I have like a bagillion family parties to attend to plus the gf's family parties). You just might have to tell your friends and family to leave you the hell alone for that time. Sometimes I felt bad telling people I can't go out tonight or whatever but that is life and it'll be worth it. Good luck

    FAR- 8/14/12 91
    AUD- 10/16/12 88
    BEC- 11/07/12 92
    REG- 01/05/13 86
    NIU CPA Review

    November 28, 2012 at 1:53 am #383203
    soxfan866
    Member

    I've been constantly changing my mind about the order of taking the parts. I think I'm going to cancel all the dates I have scheduled. I'm close to several Prometric locations and with few commitments (besides studying) I can be flexible with the dates. I may end up saving REG for last. The idea was to knock out the two hardest ones first, but that may not be the best idea. I'm confident in my abilities as long as I put the necessary time in, so yes, the real battle is against procrastination and distraction.

    Da Bears – Red Sox…unfortunately.

  • Author
    Replies
Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
  • The topic ‘3 sections, 1 window – bad idea?’ is closed to new replies.