[solescpajourney]

Let me just start by saying that I haven’t even purchased my study materials yet, but I’m eager to begin studying! What is wrong with me??? I’m trying to decide what to study first! I know most people say to take FAR first since it’s the toughest and has the most material to study, but I just finished my MBA last year and passed the CFE exam in January. I am thinking that I should take BEC first while it’s relatively fresh on my mind. However, I also want to start testing in January of 2015, so I have plenty of time between now and then to get some studying in. Yesterday, at my kids’ soccer practices, I thought it would have been a perfect time to study instead of scroll through Facebook – and we have plenty of practices left! Should I start studying BEC now, or is it too early? Or should I start going through the FAR material since I have so much time and there’s so much more to cover for FAR? Any Advice is appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

Most here will recommend FAR first, but that'll require immense effort, concentration and consistency in order to keep the material fresh.

I've seen everyone approach the order of the test differently.

[Smashbox20]

First of all, I wouldn't study for 5 months before taking an exam. There is a significant memory component to these exams and you should never study for more than 2 months. Secondly, we'll see how long your eager feeling lasts, these exams eat your soul and leave nothing but destruction in their wake 😉

To finally answer your question, I took FAR first and I'm so thankful I did. I went into this thing much like you: eager and naive to what I was getting into. That's why I'm glad I had the longest test over with by the time I figured out. I took them in inverse order of my perceived level of difficulty and I couldn't be any happier that I did at this point. Good luck, I'm sure you will do great!

FAR: Passed
REG: Passed
BEC: Passed
AUD: Passed

[WeWillSee]

Best case scenario it would be nice to get FAR out of the way first. However, if you end up losing your first exam (hopefully that won't happen, but you never know, life happens sometimes) you wouldn't want FAR to be the test that you have to re-pass.

I know people do study for 3 months for FAR. You do want to make sure when you do take FAR you have plenty of time to study for it! I studied for 4 weeks the first time , and then for 3 weeks the second time. Failed the first time, am waiting for the 2nd score to come out this week – I didn't give myself a ton of time but I had to get AUD and BEC in these 2 testing windows as well, because I could lose REG in November if I don't pass.

[M.O.D.]

I am in a similar position.

I just finished the CMA exam, AND I studied for BEC.

But after hearing that FAR and REG questions are on BEC, and since 2 months later I am still waiting for the AICPA state boards to finish **** me, I decided to push ahead and study FAR.

It is a beast worth tackling early, hard and long.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[h0wdyus]

Get the one you think is hardest for you, done first. This way when the clock start ticking after you pass the first exam, you have the easier one in front of you. This way you can devote 3 to 4 months to prepare for test that you think you find hardest or will take the most time to prepare. I would think since FAR has a lot of material and forms the basis for Audit in some way and BEC, do FAR first. REG is a monster too. Choose between FAR and REG first.

FAR - 81 29th Aug 2013
AUD - 84
REG - 82
BEC - 89 29th Aug 2014
Using Yager

FROM NJ

[solescpajourney]

Thank you all so much for the responses! Smashbox20, I have finally built my soul back up from getting through the MBA – it took 5 years! I am sure I will only be eager to finish once I start studying!

It sounds pretty unanimous that I should take FAR first. I guess I should probably wait until about October to start studying. In the meantime, I'll probably be visiting this site often 🙂 I've learned so much about the exam from reading all the posts on here!

[ShelahV]

I just started studying for FAR and hope to take it in November but January 2015 is likely so I have to disagree that 4 months is too long to study for an exam especially a huge one like FAR. Since I have a PT job (2 wknds a month) and FT job, I'm doing about a chapter every 10 days or so because this works best for me. I read the Becker book taking notes as I go, then watch the lectures and do homework. After each chapter I work Sims and review. For me personally, I want to feel prepared for the exam so I'm taking a longer time than some to take them because I don't see the value in trying to pass them all in a very short time frame but then failing one because I took it too quick. This is my preference so I say if you're ready to study, then start and do a study plan that works for you.

I just took BEC and I'm waiting on the results – I studied for a month and half at 20-30 hours a week and another 2 months with only 10-15 hours since I had a PT job (in addition to my current FT job) that I worked 25-30 hours a week at. So my study time was limited in the beginning but I felt prepared to take the exam but we'll see in about 24 hours or less.

BEC 8.14.14 - 87!
FAR 1.8.15 - 89!
REG 4.15.15 - 86!
AUD 7.2.15 - 90!

Application submitted 8.6.15
Licensed CPA 8.19.15

Benefit in living in a small state SD!

[tomq04]

Any reason you couldn't test in November? Start studying now, strike while the iron is hot!

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Anonymous]

I'd say start with FAR, as it is most definitely the most material heavy and will likely take the longest to study for. (It did for me, anyways) Plus, as I go through BEC currently, it seems that a lot of the BEC material either comes back fairly easily, or has been at least in part covered in the other exams.

And I would concur with not studying too far out in advance. I picked up FAR, put it down due to work busyness, and then restarted it a month apart and felt like I had forgotten 60% of what I previously worked through.

[StephAV]

I studied for FAR first, ended up passing it on my 3rd round right after I passed BEC. I feel like FAR is a beast and a good base of knowledge that helps with all the other exams.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[gt5717b]

If I could do it over again, I'd probably start with FAR. It's hard and intense, but the material you learn has some overlap with AUD. I'd then take AUD next since it is closely related. Next, I'd take REG and finish it off with BEC.

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[Kimboroni]

You can study over a long period of time if you really have to, but it is inefficient because you just end up restudying the early stuff again when you get closer to your test. I'm not sure that much is gained by doing that.

I studied for FAR for about 25 hours a week for 8 weeks.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[solescpajourney]

I would test in November, but there is a professional development grant where I work – I can submit it for January and get up to $500 reimbursed for my exam and registration fees. I've already used it for CPE for this fall semester (I work at a college).

I also work full-time, have 3 busy kids, a husband, I'm a girl scout leader and the Treasurer and Assistant Youth Director in my church, so study time is very limited for me. I'm definitely going to aim for 20-25 hours of study a week and I'm hoping not to disrupt my life as much as the MBA program did since my husband really isn't happy about my choice to “take time away from my family to study.” I figure a couple of hours on weekdays and then Saturday and Sunday Afternoons should do it. If I start in October, I should have a good 12 weeks for FAR.

[UNC MAcc]

Take FAR REG as your first two. Trust me. With your background BEC will be easy and by the time you're on your 3rd 4th test you have a harder time studying than for your first.

B - 89
A - 80
R - 78
F - 86

CIA, CFSA, MBA, MAcc (too many f'ing degrees and certs, I know, trust me)

[funtimesNOT]

“eat your soul and lead nothing but destruction in the path” —- smashbox 20

you took the words out of my mouth! studying for the CPA is like being an drug addicted. You stop talking to your friends, your family you lose your relationships…. but it is all worth it!

DO it QUICK as possible. If you want to take BEC take that first. But if you take FAR then BEC will be a refresher. I would only recommend taking BEC first if you have been out of school a long time. That way you can review the basics. TAKE FAR FIRST is you are in school. That way you can review, and never have to relearn anything. the CPA is not as hard as you think it might be, but it still sucks your soul out of your body. YAY!

AUDIT - 79
FAR - 64, 77
BEC - 69, 71,79 - DONE!
REG - 60, 75

Nothing in the 80s ; however, I worked full time the whole time! (like 10 hour days) so it can be done 🙂

[Author]

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