[Anonymous]

I’m getting my MAcc from USC May 2013. Is a 3-month study plan for the CPA exam before I begin work feasible? How many people actually attempt this? Should I study a section per window, while I work, or cram all my studies in a short period and get it out of the way?

It’s not an issue of time and dedication, just which would be the ideal choice to give me the best result (passing the exam). Thank you for your response.

[Anonymous]

you meant 3-month of studying for one exam or for four exams?

[Anonymous]

finish it before you start work, but 3 months is not nearly enough for all four exams. Starting off, AICPA allows you to take exam two out of the three months in a window, then one month break. Unless you are planning on taking all four in those two months its not practicable. And if you think one month of study for all four exams is enough for you, well then give it a shot but I must remind you most candidates fail this exam not because of lack of knowledge but because of lack of preparation.

I am a big 4 hopeful, starting Aug this yr. It was advised to pass the exams before starting work so I took on studying (while currently employed at a regional CPA firm). I started studying in Nov 2011, took my first exam end of Nov. Studied whole month of Dec[no CPA exams in Dec] and took a test in Jan. Studied rest of Jan and Feb and took third test end of Feb. Studies whole month of March[no CPA exams in March] and more than half of April, took FAR on Apr 19th. That's almost five and a half months.

Good luck!

[mla1169]

There was one person here who passed all 4 exams in 2 months so it can be done but I have to believe she was a very wonderful exception. For a person working I'd say one exam per window (I tried 2 per window but failed one each time, I also have 2 kids).

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[MChro12]

It definitely is possible if you aren't working, but it isn't highly recommended. You are going to have to be extremely dedicated/disciplined and studying will have to be your life. The whole off month period every two months might become an obstacle, especially since you are going to start studying in an off month. If you are going to do it, I'd study for FAR June since it has the most content by far. I think it is legitimately possible to pass audit and BEC in 2.5 weeks a piece. Both require about 100 quality hours, BEC could be more or less depending on how much of an econ, finance, and IT background you have. That would leave you with almost a month to study for REG, which has the second most content.

Reg 77 (Aug 11)
Aud 80 (Nov 11)
BEC 79 (Jan 12)
FAR 80 (April 12)

[LongJourney]

Speaking as someone who attempted to take all four parts at once within less than three months of studying and passing from the first time with a reasonable margin the answer is… it depends. How are you planning to study for the exams? Are the stuff you studied at your university still fresh in your mind? How good are you under pressure? Are you that disciplined? And most importantly, do you have a strong motivation to do so? At the end of the day, the CPA exams questions aren't that difficult but the materials size is quite big. Cramming isn't a good idea if there are too many new materials. It's nice to “get it out of the way” but the exams aren't that cheap, and depending on your nature, failing a part due to improper preparation can still demotivate you.

REG: 80 (02/02/2012)
FAR: 91 (02/06/2012)
AUD: 89 (02/09/2012)
BEC: 79 (02/12/2012)

Ethics: 90 (02/11/2012)

[Anonymous]

When I refer to a “3-month study plan,” I'm referring to this one suggested by Roger CPA Review:

From what I gather from everyone's comments, I'd say it's better to work and study than cram. Honestly, I'm a slow-learner and it takes awhile for the material presented in lectures to click for me, the numbers don't just click for me instantly, like for some people. I started taking accounting courses after I got a Bachelor's degree in science and I've done well, but a lot of it gets lost after the exam. I think the intensiveness of USC's MAcc program will drill a lot of the concepts into my mind by the time I finish within a year. I can be disciplined and work okay under pressure, but I'd prefer to go slow and steady.

I just ask this because I understand how hard it is to study after a long day of work.

Created with Compare Ninja

[Author]

Replies