[Anonymous]

Hello everyone, I just completed my MBA in July of last year. Trying to make this year happen and get my CPA. Thinking of using the Kaplan CPA review to start working on it. Has anyone used it? Really considering it especially since i got it for free by being a campus representative for them. How long should i take studying for each exam also, etc?

Help people i am married have a 9 month old and dont even know when and where to start!

[jeff]

Hey – you can't beat free!

Try the ninja study planner to keep it all straight: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-study-plan/

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[jeff]

Hey – you can't beat free!

Try the ninja study planner to keep it all straight: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-study-plan/

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Anonymous]

I have been using Kaplan. I passed BEC with the Kaplan book, online lectures, and test bank. I added the Ninja materials and the Wiley test bank to my AUD studying after my first fail. For FAR I am skipping lectures, reading the Wiley textbook and using the Ninja materials to supplement, along with the Wiley test bank. I like the Kaplan books, but I also like the Wiley book because it breaks the sections up and has you work multiple choice questions after every couple of pages. The Kaplan book basically has 10 MCQ after each chapter and no SIMS. I studied approximately 8 weeks for BEC and 8 weeks for AUD and will study about 10 weeks for FAR. I have a full time job and 3 little children. You can do it!! If I could redo the order of my exams I would have taken FAR first because your 18 month clock doesn't start ticking until you pass your first exam and FAR will take the longest for me to study for because I can only study about 20 hours per week. I took BEC first because I knew it would be my easiest exam (business background) and I wanted that confidence boost to go into the other exams. Plus, if I ran out of time passing any of them and one expired, I wanted that one to be BEC because it would be the only one I wouldn't kill myself to have to take again. 🙂 It all just depends on what motivates you and which section you would consider your strong/weak section. Look over the topics of the sections and browse through some of these study groups to get an idea of what are on the tests. You may also want to go ahead and glance at the books to see how much is concept vs computation and base your decision on which test to start with on all of that research.

[Anonymous]

I have been using Kaplan. I passed BEC with the Kaplan book, online lectures, and test bank. I added the Ninja materials and the Wiley test bank to my AUD studying after my first fail. For FAR I am skipping lectures, reading the Wiley textbook and using the Ninja materials to supplement, along with the Wiley test bank. I like the Kaplan books, but I also like the Wiley book because it breaks the sections up and has you work multiple choice questions after every couple of pages. The Kaplan book basically has 10 MCQ after each chapter and no SIMS. I studied approximately 8 weeks for BEC and 8 weeks for AUD and will study about 10 weeks for FAR. I have a full time job and 3 little children. You can do it!! If I could redo the order of my exams I would have taken FAR first because your 18 month clock doesn't start ticking until you pass your first exam and FAR will take the longest for me to study for because I can only study about 20 hours per week. I took BEC first because I knew it would be my easiest exam (business background) and I wanted that confidence boost to go into the other exams. Plus, if I ran out of time passing any of them and one expired, I wanted that one to be BEC because it would be the only one I wouldn't kill myself to have to take again. 🙂 It all just depends on what motivates you and which section you would consider your strong/weak section. Look over the topics of the sections and browse through some of these study groups to get an idea of what are on the tests. You may also want to go ahead and glance at the books to see how much is concept vs computation and base your decision on which test to start with on all of that research.

[Anonymous]

Also, when planning your exams I would suggest that you look at when the score release days are in comparison to when the test date is and try to take the exam as close to the cutoff for score release as possible. The wait for a score can be brutal because you don't whether you should continue studying the same material or move on to another section. I would also make full use of the blackout months to study and not just take month long breaks. You could potentially get two tests in one window (one of the first day and one on the last day) if you wanted to. It all depends on how much time you have to study each week and how long you want to take on the exams. It will take me at least a year to complete mine, but I have seem many on here that are done with all 4 in 5 or 6 months.

[Anonymous]

Also, when planning your exams I would suggest that you look at when the score release days are in comparison to when the test date is and try to take the exam as close to the cutoff for score release as possible. The wait for a score can be brutal because you don't whether you should continue studying the same material or move on to another section. I would also make full use of the blackout months to study and not just take month long breaks. You could potentially get two tests in one window (one of the first day and one on the last day) if you wanted to. It all depends on how much time you have to study each week and how long you want to take on the exams. It will take me at least a year to complete mine, but I have seem many on here that are done with all 4 in 5 or 6 months.

[Anonymous]

awesome thank you! Yes i am also considering doing the ninja along with the kaplan for the FAR. I actually want to take this one first and make sure I pass this first. I am still trying to figure out how to do the application for CPA as well as then be able to schedule to take the exam. I am also hoping to find an accounting position soon that will help me in keeping up with my accounting experience. Wow you have 3 kids!! whats your schedule like how do you do it! I am trying to figure out this schedule right now. thats amazing! Congrats to you on that for sure!

[Anonymous]

awesome thank you! Yes i am also considering doing the ninja along with the kaplan for the FAR. I actually want to take this one first and make sure I pass this first. I am still trying to figure out how to do the application for CPA as well as then be able to schedule to take the exam. I am also hoping to find an accounting position soon that will help me in keeping up with my accounting experience. Wow you have 3 kids!! whats your schedule like how do you do it! I am trying to figure out this schedule right now. thats amazing! Congrats to you on that for sure!

[Anonymous]

I have a very supportive husband and parents. They are in charge of the kids when I need to study in the early evenings or on the weekends and I try to get studying done during lunch (flashcards or audio) and after the kids are in bed (reading, and MCQs). Good luck with everything. This forum is extremely helpful!

[Anonymous]

I have a very supportive husband and parents. They are in charge of the kids when I need to study in the early evenings or on the weekends and I try to get studying done during lunch (flashcards or audio) and after the kids are in bed (reading, and MCQs). Good luck with everything. This forum is extremely helpful!

[Author]

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