[justsail]

I’m currently in grad school and work full-time. I will also be studying for the CPA exam. I should have about 10 hours per week I can put toward studying. I will be in grad school for the next 2 yrs and would like to complete all 4 exams shortly after graduating. I will be taking the Massachusetts exam.

My total study time should equate to roughly 500hrs per year. I don’t have any professional accounting experience. I put my study time for each section on the high side. I’m considering these numbers:

BEC – 120

FAR – 120

REG – 150

AUD – 120

= 510 hrs.

Please correct me if that is way off. Given my schedule, I’m not sure what strategy to use for exam order and how much time to allow for completing all four. From the NASBA site (https://www.nasba.org/exams/cpaexam/massachusetts/), I have 18 months to complete all four. I’m looking at getting CPAExcel self study (probably not the videos)…although I’m still considering RogerCPA. Given my probably longer period of study time, CPAExcel won’t require me to repurchase after 12 months or so.

Would a good study strategy be to start on one exam, study, do practice test, then take the real exam? Rinse, repeat to finish all four within 18 months? I will use the the study program through the entire study period until the last exam is done. Just looking for some general guidance and direction.

[jelly]

Other factors to consider are if you're going to take summer classes, when you'd take your first exam, and keep in mind that exams occur 2 of out of every 3 months per testing window.

Couldn't pass again!

[mla1169]

Honestly I think you would be doing yourself a disservice by only allowing 10 hours a week for this. I was in school and working full time (and have 2 kids) and studied approximately 20 hours a week. The problem with studying 10 hours a week for 12 weeks is that you're not likely to retain information from 3 months earlier. It's been said many times that short term memory is the best tool for this process.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[justsail]

Thanks guys.

Do you use the Wiley books for MCQs? Is that the best resource for testing your progress?

[jenuno01]

I would say you probably under-budgeted FAR. It is A LOT of information, not necessarily the hardest, but it can get overwhelming. Only you know how fast of a studier you are, I am personally slooowwww at studying and like to take time to go HAM and understand everything on my first round. Just realize that it's not the number of hours you study, it's the QUALITY of time you study. Good luck!

Class of 2012

[JakeO]

I would say 150 hours of study time for FAR is plenty, considering most of the study sites say you should study for about 12-130 hours for that part, and about 80-100 hours for the other 3 parts.

But studying over 3 months for only 10 hours a week is not a good plan. If you are going to study for a long period of time, then you need to study and restudy a few times each section so they are fresh. Now, this strategy can and has worked for many people but the overall study time per week for these people are way higher, probably in the 20's to 30's.

I definitely suggest doing one part at a time, and then when you take that test study for another part and take it. That way you will know if you passed the first one or not and not have wasted any time.

But, since you have 2 years of school, I think going through all four of the sections (sounds tedious and ridiculous i know) BEFORE taking any of the tests will be very beneficial. In this instance you are not studying to necessarily retain everything but simply studying to understand. This should take a few months (remember, the notes you take do not have to be detailed, and even just reading through the study book without working questions or taking notes will be beneficial).

Once you've looked through everything, you can then decide which test to take first (I suggest FAR…because its big and can get overwhelming and you don't want the 18month clock breathing down your neck while doing it.) I would plan on taking the first part next May, this way you can have a few weeks without grad school classes (unlless you're taking summer classes) to study. Then I suggest doing a smaller exam like BEC or AUD the first week in July. One month is plenty of study time for these sections especially if you already looked through the info once. I would then think REG would be the best one to study and take at the end of August, then take your last exam, either AUD/BEC, in OCT/NOV.

If you dedicate your time and truly study there is no reason you shouldn't pass on the first try. I really think going over all the information in each test once, at a very quick pace (simply read the book or watch the videos for understanding not for learning), then taking time to study the section is key. When you have a good idea of what the entire test looks like it seems much more manageable and you are better able to focus on the areas which are of the greatest importance.

AUD-Failed (Waiting for Score)
BEC-PASSED (First try)
REG-Failed (Retake February 2013)
FAR-Failed (Retake January 2013)

[justsail]

Thanks JakeO. You mentioned to go over all the material once and then take the first exam next May. I will only have about 10 hours per week through May 2013. Probably 20hrs per week there after. In addition to the MBA, I have to take two undergrad 3 credit accounting courses to meet final educational requiremens for the exam. I will do one undergrad class this Fall then another in the Spring. 10 hours per week CPA exam studying isn't something I can improve on until after I'm finished with the second undergrad course in May 2013.

I would say I'll have about 20 weeks left of CPA exam studying for this year. That's 20 * 10hrs = 200 hrs. Then four months next until up to May. About another 16wks * 10hrs = 160 hrs. Say about 150hrs + 200hrs = 350hrs. Theorectically, that should be plenty for two exams. But if I follow your idea of going through all material first, those first 200hrs could be dedicated material overview. Then the last 150hrs are prep for FAR. I like the idea of doing FAR first since it is the biggest. Doing it first won't chew up any extra study time in the 18 month window.

But once the clock starts ticking, what are some strategies for anticipating retakes?

Can I take any test in any of the four windows:

Jan – Feb

April – May

July – Aug

Oct – Nov

I may consider one test per window starting in May or Aug 2013. My last chance should be Nov 2014.

I plan to use CPAExcel but will have to purchase updated text books at least once? Doesn't any study material last only for a year?

Have you guys tried the Ninja Notes from another71?

[Author]

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