[Glory]

Hello,

I recently ordered the video gold metal course from CPAExcel…i still need to send the check in but it should be here in 2 weeks (max) i would say…so i was planning on starting to study as soon as it gets here…the plan i came up with last night was to study 20 hrs per week…to take FAR first (im 22yrs old recently graduated with a B.S. in Accounting but i dont feel like i remember anything at all)…so i was planning on studying for FAR from the middle of Sept. until Nov. and take the exam in the middle of November…im going to apply to take the exam tomorrow (9/2/13)…thats about 2 months. Then i was planning to study from the middle of Nov. until the middle of January which is another 2 months and take another exam….then study from the middle of jan. until the end of feb. (6 weeks) and take the next exam…and then study from the beginning of march until the end of April (2 months) and take the last exam. I just dont know in what other i should take the exams or if thats enough time =-/ im also planning on purchasing the ten point combo

"Experience is a hard teacher because it gives the tests first, and the lessons afterwards."

[Freyer002]

@gloryn, Welcome to studying! I am in a similar boat as you. 22 and just graduated in May. I started studying a few days after graduation and have taken FAR and AUD. Haven't passed one yet, but still trucking on. Once you get deeper into CPA excel it will help you with scheduling tests. I use becker, but hear good things about cpa excel. I would suggest going the route that I am taking as for which tests to take, but everyone does it differently. First FAR, then AUD, then REG, last BEC. Also, I only get my NTS for FAR and AUD until I knock out one or both of them. I want to get these two out of the way before I move on. Personally I feel FAR is the hardest and most time consuming so I will feel very relieved just to get FAR out of the way. As for the time you are taking to study I think you are good to go. I did like 30+ hours a week for FAR the first time and studied for 7 weeks. AUD I did 5 weeks. So I wish you the best of luck on this journey!!

FAR 66 (07/01/13), 75! (10/01/13)
AUD 64 (08/12/13), 80! (11/23/13)
BEC 84! (05/22/14)
REG 77! (08/28/14)
DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again"

[Freyer002]

@gloryn, Welcome to studying! I am in a similar boat as you. 22 and just graduated in May. I started studying a few days after graduation and have taken FAR and AUD. Haven't passed one yet, but still trucking on. Once you get deeper into CPA excel it will help you with scheduling tests. I use becker, but hear good things about cpa excel. I would suggest going the route that I am taking as for which tests to take, but everyone does it differently. First FAR, then AUD, then REG, last BEC. Also, I only get my NTS for FAR and AUD until I knock out one or both of them. I want to get these two out of the way before I move on. Personally I feel FAR is the hardest and most time consuming so I will feel very relieved just to get FAR out of the way. As for the time you are taking to study I think you are good to go. I did like 30+ hours a week for FAR the first time and studied for 7 weeks. AUD I did 5 weeks. So I wish you the best of luck on this journey!!

FAR 66 (07/01/13), 75! (10/01/13)
AUD 64 (08/12/13), 80! (11/23/13)
BEC 84! (05/22/14)
REG 77! (08/28/14)
DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Failure is only the opportunity to more intelligently begin again"

[Anonymous]

I would definitely tackle FAR first. You might also want to think about tackling REG second, unless you think you are completely clueless about taxes and would like some work experience first. AUD was definitely MUCH easier after going on a few audits at work and having some accounting experience under my belt. BEC is sneaky hard, but I don't think work experience is really relevant for that one. If I were you I would take FAR then REG/BEC and then AUD. Both FAR and REG require much more study time than AUD and BEC I think, so if you have the time now I would knock both of those two out first.

[Anonymous]

I would definitely tackle FAR first. You might also want to think about tackling REG second, unless you think you are completely clueless about taxes and would like some work experience first. AUD was definitely MUCH easier after going on a few audits at work and having some accounting experience under my belt. BEC is sneaky hard, but I don't think work experience is really relevant for that one. If I were you I would take FAR then REG/BEC and then AUD. Both FAR and REG require much more study time than AUD and BEC I think, so if you have the time now I would knock both of those two out first.

[Glory]

@freyer002 thanks for the input!

"Experience is a hard teacher because it gives the tests first, and the lessons afterwards."

[Glory]

@freyer002 thanks for the input!

"Experience is a hard teacher because it gives the tests first, and the lessons afterwards."

[Glory]

@allbiz11 i think thats the order i'm going to take them…since i have the least time for the 3rd exam…i should take audit third. I currently work as a teller so i have no accounting experience whats so ever =-[

"Experience is a hard teacher because it gives the tests first, and the lessons afterwards."

[Glory]

@allbiz11 i think thats the order i'm going to take them…since i have the least time for the 3rd exam…i should take audit third. I currently work as a teller so i have no accounting experience whats so ever =-[

"Experience is a hard teacher because it gives the tests first, and the lessons afterwards."

[tough_kitty]

Just make sure you give yourself enough time to:

1) Go through the material once – watch all lectures, read the textbook, take notes (VERY important!), and practice MCQs.

2) Go back to all the topics – review the notes, and keep practicing MCQ's until you get 80-90% on each topic.

3) Give yourself a week or two for review, and practice a few SIMS but honestly, in my opinion (I passed FAR, BEC, REG on my first try), your time will be better spent on understanding and memorizing the material because all SIMS are different.

So, what I would do – estimate the time you need to spend on each of those parts – for instance, you'll have total time for lectures already given in your review, then I'd give myself 1.5-2 hrs to read each chapter + take notes, depending on how long the chapter is. And more or less (estimate ;-)) on MCQs. I had about 1,500 MCQs in Wiley for FAR so I gave myself about 1 min. per question, but it takes less time when you do them again later.

And I'd go by the total time needed to prepare for the exam – at least 150 hrs for FAR, about 80 hrs for BEC, 130 hrs for REG, and 100 hrs for AUD (I am still studying for that part).

As far as the order in each to take them – it depends entirely on you, just make sure you take FAR before AUD because AUD requires knowledge of GAAP. I personally took FAR first, then wanted a break from a huge textbook, so I took BEC next.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Just make sure you give yourself enough time to:

1) Go through the material once – watch all lectures, read the textbook, take notes (VERY important!), and practice MCQs.

2) Go back to all the topics – review the notes, and keep practicing MCQ's until you get 80-90% on each topic.

3) Give yourself a week or two for review, and practice a few SIMS but honestly, in my opinion (I passed FAR, BEC, REG on my first try), your time will be better spent on understanding and memorizing the material because all SIMS are different.

So, what I would do – estimate the time you need to spend on each of those parts – for instance, you'll have total time for lectures already given in your review, then I'd give myself 1.5-2 hrs to read each chapter + take notes, depending on how long the chapter is. And more or less (estimate ;-)) on MCQs. I had about 1,500 MCQs in Wiley for FAR so I gave myself about 1 min. per question, but it takes less time when you do them again later.

And I'd go by the total time needed to prepare for the exam – at least 150 hrs for FAR, about 80 hrs for BEC, 130 hrs for REG, and 100 hrs for AUD (I am still studying for that part).

As far as the order in each to take them – it depends entirely on you, just make sure you take FAR before AUD because AUD requires knowledge of GAAP. I personally took FAR first, then wanted a break from a huge textbook, so I took BEC next.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[futureCPA12]

Here is what you do:

Take them from hardest to easiest for you. Everyone is different, but most people find FAR and REG to be the most difficult. I took FAR in July and REG in August and passed both of them with Becker.

I recommend, for each test you study for, at least 150-300 hours of honest studying. Work perhaps >100 questions per day. Take it one step at a time. Don't just dive right in to the material. You need to build a base for it first, and as you review, build on the prior knowledge. The first few weeks will be hard, but by your 3rd or 4th week of studying, everything becomes muscle memory.

[futureCPA12]

Here is what you do:

Take them from hardest to easiest for you. Everyone is different, but most people find FAR and REG to be the most difficult. I took FAR in July and REG in August and passed both of them with Becker.

I recommend, for each test you study for, at least 150-300 hours of honest studying. Work perhaps >100 questions per day. Take it one step at a time. Don't just dive right in to the material. You need to build a base for it first, and as you review, build on the prior knowledge. The first few weeks will be hard, but by your 3rd or 4th week of studying, everything becomes muscle memory.

[Author]

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