[hlim95]

Hello. I have a few questions about the CPA exam and the review courses that I hope you guys can help me out with. Here is a brief summary of what I am planning to do and how I tend to study. I will be graduating this semester with a BBA in Accounting and will be pursuing a MAcc in Fall 2017. My plan right now is to start studying for one part of the CPA exam this summer and finish the remaining three parts while I am in school. I plan to use WileyCPA and Ninja MCQ. My study method for all my accounting courses are to read the textbook, take notes, and answer any questions that are available to me. I rarely rely on lectures to help me do well in a class.

Which part of the CPA should I begin with? I was thinking of doing AUD first because I just completed an auditing class and the material is still fresh in my mind.

Because I will be paying out of my own pocket, I was wondering what is the benefit of having Wiley CPAexcel Silver opposed to just using the CPA study guide textbooks you can buy from Wiley for $360 with student discounts. Right now, I am assuming that buying the review course will give me online video lectures (I probably won’t use even if I do get review course), additional questions, and a clear study plan. I just want to make sure that if I get the Wiley books and Ninja MC questions, would it be enough for me to do well?

I noticed that the most recent edition for Wiley is April 2017 for the books. I am assuming that within the next couple of months, Wiley will release another new set of books. I was wondering if there is a vast difference between these editions. Would it be okay for me to just get the bundle April 2017 if I plan to finish the CPA by the beginning of next summer? Or am I better off getting one book at a time?

Thank you.

[leglock]

in so far as order goes, i recommend FAR, AUD, REG, BEC. FAR seems to be the most challenging, so why start your clock with an easier section and risk losing passed sections. I took AUD then FAR, and on one AUD simulation, there was FAR material that was easy points, but I hadn't studied FAR yet, and didn't remember the material from when I had it in school, and therefore missed those very easy points.

[M123]

I'd personally do the CPA before MACC if you qualify to do so. Studying for both will be the equivalent of “serving two masters” – not the ideal plan.

As far as order, I took REG, FAR, AUD, BEC.

REG is a wildcard, but AUD has a fair amount of content from FAR and BEC has a fair amount of content from FAR and AUD.

There is no better order than that 🙂

[hlim95]

Thanks for the answers guys. Another question, when should I register for these CPA exams? a month in advance, two months in advance?

[Mika]

I used Becker and Ninja MCQ, so I can't say anything about Wiley..

For exam orders, I think you should take your exams in accordance with your MACC class schedule. I just graduated from my MACC program. Almost all of my classmates take the exam in the same order. So if you just had Audit class, maybe you can start with AUD, and study for the exam that relates to your fall semester class.

As for registration, depends on how long your state takes to process and give you a NTS? I live in NC, our state board says it will take up to 4 weeks for them to give me a NTS after I submit my application. (However, it really took them 1 week to do haha). So maybe you should do at least 1 month in advance to be secure. Each NTS is valid for 6 months period, so probably will allow you to take 2 exams (maybe 3 if you study hard).

[ultrarunner]

I am in a Master program. The program is very hard. CPA exam was a lot worse for sure due to the low chance of passing. If you are a full-time student taking one class at a time, then, you may be able to do both. Anyway, doing both would be challenging. I took FAR/AUD/REG/BEC but ended up passing this order: AUD/FAR/BEC/REG. All the best!

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[hlim95]

I think my MAcc is a little different from what you guys are talking about. My MAcc is only one year and almost all my accounting courses (intermediate accounting, advanced accounting, managerial accounting, auditing, accounting information systems) are waived because of my undergraduate. So, I will only be taking business communications, corporate tax, a couple of other accounting courses, and mainly electives. My MAcc program is mainly for students who needs to meet the 150-credit requirement and just wants a MAcc along with it.

So, I don't think that my studies with MAcc program will coincide with the CPA exam in terms of material.

[Author]

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