[tomq04]

Hi gang,

I put too much on my plate and self destructed on FAR (64) and AUD (70)after a successful REG outing all the way back in July.

Here is what I’m up against, my wife is due June 30th, and my REG exam will expire in December of 2014. Last baby, I literally cannot remember the 3 months after birth, people tell me I didn’t sleep, and that the baby screamed for 16 hours/day. Basically if i’m not done by June, i’m starting from scratch+what I finish in this run. I’m also employed full time, but not in the tax world…so no long nights, and in general I can actually study ~1 hour/day at work.

I just took AUD Novemeber 30, so it is fresh in my mind, FAR was Oct 2.

Here are my thoughts:

AUD- January 31, lets me have 4-6 weeks to review and redo videos with a new plan of attack

FAR- April 1, gives ~8 weeks to study and completely revamp my attack on FAR.

BEC- May 31, 8 weeks for BEC.

This strategy would “guarentee” in my mind, a pass of AUD, but leave a lot of risk with FAR/BEC.

Alternate:

FAR- January 31,

AUD- April 1,

BEC- May 31

Thinking that I could have more time on FAR, but risk losing what I just finished studying on AUD…seems like a gamble no matter which way we look at it.

Is there a “best” plan, or is it just a matter of chinning up and kicking this crap out of this thing based on necessity?

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

[jlough]

I would probably suggest taking FAR first because you need that knowledge for AUD (I had a FAR sim on my AUD exam). I would also reduce down the amount of time you have scheduled for BEC— you probably need at most 5-6 weeks for it.

Also, you may want to build time in your schedule for a fail. Maybe leave open some time in May, in case you need to retake one of these three on May 31, if need be? Best case situation, you pass these three and will be done on April 30th.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[jlough]

I would probably suggest taking FAR first because you need that knowledge for AUD (I had a FAR sim on my AUD exam). I would also reduce down the amount of time you have scheduled for BEC— you probably need at most 5-6 weeks for it.

Also, you may want to build time in your schedule for a fail. Maybe leave open some time in May, in case you need to retake one of these three on May 31, if need be? Best case situation, you pass these three and will be done on April 30th.

F- 7/13- 84
R- 10/13- 79
A- 11/13- 99
B- 1/14- 86

Licensed in PA- 3/20/2014

This exam ALMOST defeated me back in 2006-2008, but I came back and WON!

[Anonymous]

I would get even more specific on time. For instance, I have 8? alarms set on my phone to block out times of the day to study. Here is a rough sketch of my daily routine (I often come up short, but I'd rather set it high than low):

4:55 AM – Wake up/Coffee/Devotions

5:45 AM – Read Wiley book

6:30 AM – Breakfast

6:50 AM – Get dressed

7:07 AM – Leave for work

7:20 AM – Write out notes from Wiley book or rewriting NINJA notes

7:50 AM – 10 MCQs

8:00 AM – Work

12 – 10 MCQs before lunch then lunch

5:15 PM – 10 MCQs before going home

Dinner/kids/bed time

7:30 PM – Watch NINJA videos

8:00 PM – Prepare to go to bed/talk to wife

9:00 PM – Sleep

As for order, I would started with FAR. Not sure after that though there is overlap w/ BEC and AUD on internal control kinds of things…

[Anonymous]

I would get even more specific on time. For instance, I have 8? alarms set on my phone to block out times of the day to study. Here is a rough sketch of my daily routine (I often come up short, but I'd rather set it high than low):

4:55 AM – Wake up/Coffee/Devotions

5:45 AM – Read Wiley book

6:30 AM – Breakfast

6:50 AM – Get dressed

7:07 AM – Leave for work

7:20 AM – Write out notes from Wiley book or rewriting NINJA notes

7:50 AM – 10 MCQs

8:00 AM – Work

12 – 10 MCQs before lunch then lunch

5:15 PM – 10 MCQs before going home

Dinner/kids/bed time

7:30 PM – Watch NINJA videos

8:00 PM – Prepare to go to bed/talk to wife

9:00 PM – Sleep

As for order, I would started with FAR. Not sure after that though there is overlap w/ BEC and AUD on internal control kinds of things…

[san4596]

Here is what I would do:

1) Skip the videos on the retake

2) Read the books and take notes

3) Hammer the MCQ's

– Make note of your weak areas, and work hard on them.

– Don't forget your strong areas, and do MCQ's on them twice a week.

I know this will be hard with a newborn, but you really need at least 2 hrs a day during the week. You need more on the weekends, so see if you can recruit family members to help the tired mommy while you are studying for 4-5 hours.

I would also suggest taking sections in the following order:

AUD – January 31

BEC – March 14

FAR – May 16

The only reason I suggest taking FAR last is the same reason I am taking it last. Since FAR is a beast, I will continue to do light studying after taking FAR assuming all other sections are passed. Crazy I know, but better than wasting time.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[san4596]

Here is what I would do:

1) Skip the videos on the retake

2) Read the books and take notes

3) Hammer the MCQ's

– Make note of your weak areas, and work hard on them.

– Don't forget your strong areas, and do MCQ's on them twice a week.

I know this will be hard with a newborn, but you really need at least 2 hrs a day during the week. You need more on the weekends, so see if you can recruit family members to help the tired mommy while you are studying for 4-5 hours.

I would also suggest taking sections in the following order:

AUD – January 31

BEC – March 14

FAR – May 16

The only reason I suggest taking FAR last is the same reason I am taking it last. Since FAR is a beast, I will continue to do light studying after taking FAR assuming all other sections are passed. Crazy I know, but better than wasting time.

CPA EXAM: DONE!!!!
Ethics Course: Passed
Application Mailed: 3/16/15
Professional Conduct Exam: 97
Certification Date: 4/2/15!!!

[tomq04]

March isn't an option.

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

[tomq04]

March isn't an option.

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

[tomq04]

or is it?

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

[tomq04]

or is it?

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

[runnerup]

How much time do you have to devote to studying each night?

If you can do 2 tests (or 3!) in the Jan/Feb window, you get some breathing room in case you need to retake one in the Apr/May window. Not saying you'll need to, but it takes the pressure off, ya know? Unless you work better under that pressure, of course!

REG 10/12/13 - 94
FAR 10/17/13 - 93
AUD 11/11/13 - 92
BEC 11/20/13 - 87
ethics 11/27/13 - 92%

[runnerup]

How much time do you have to devote to studying each night?

If you can do 2 tests (or 3!) in the Jan/Feb window, you get some breathing room in case you need to retake one in the Apr/May window. Not saying you'll need to, but it takes the pressure off, ya know? Unless you work better under that pressure, of course!

REG 10/12/13 - 94
FAR 10/17/13 - 93
AUD 11/11/13 - 92
BEC 11/20/13 - 87
ethics 11/27/13 - 92%

[tomq04]

I didn't work well under pressure in Oct/Nov window.

I wake up at ~4:30 study until baby starts yelling (~6:30 these days)

I make breakfast, make sure the wife is up, and head out in time to be at work by 8.

I can study for ~1 hour at work in general, between breaks and lunch.

I cannot study effectively at night as I generally pass out after the baby goes to bed at 7:30, the 5-7:30 window is the only time for family time, and after 7 months of this…i'm not giving it up; wife is giving enough.

I want to swap out the 4:30 wake up to 5:30 and get 1 hour of quality, rather than 2 hours of mediocrity and see if that is enough to get the boot moving. I will also start utilizing the library once or twice/week to get 2-4 hours of focus'd study in. I did this in the final 2 weeks for AUD, and felt like I made excellent progress (too little, too late). I want to do this for a Saturday Morning, and a random weekday evening (tuesday or thursday for example).

I also take Sunday off, partially for religious reasons, but in reality when I work 7 days/week I burn out before the following Sunday rolls around.

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

[tomq04]

I didn't work well under pressure in Oct/Nov window.

I wake up at ~4:30 study until baby starts yelling (~6:30 these days)

I make breakfast, make sure the wife is up, and head out in time to be at work by 8.

I can study for ~1 hour at work in general, between breaks and lunch.

I cannot study effectively at night as I generally pass out after the baby goes to bed at 7:30, the 5-7:30 window is the only time for family time, and after 7 months of this…i'm not giving it up; wife is giving enough.

I want to swap out the 4:30 wake up to 5:30 and get 1 hour of quality, rather than 2 hours of mediocrity and see if that is enough to get the boot moving. I will also start utilizing the library once or twice/week to get 2-4 hours of focus'd study in. I did this in the final 2 weeks for AUD, and felt like I made excellent progress (too little, too late). I want to do this for a Saturday Morning, and a random weekday evening (tuesday or thursday for example).

I also take Sunday off, partially for religious reasons, but in reality when I work 7 days/week I burn out before the following Sunday rolls around.

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

[mla1169]

Just pull out all the stops for studying between now and the end of May. Even if it means hiring a sitter so your wife can rest while you study and even if it means skipping or cutting short some holiday parties. It will certainly be more difficult with 2 children.

Make sure you're handwriting and copying your notes. Made all the difference in my 3rd go at Audit.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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