[OnmywaytoCPA]

My CPA journey started over two years ago. I started studying for the exam back in February 2012 and I took REG in April 2012 and failed with a 74. Then I took BEC in July 2012 and failed with a 69. After two failed attempts, I have to admit that I just gave up on the exam. I had paid over $4,000 in exam fees and the Becker Prep Course and I was too afraid to sign up for anymore of the exams, because I was afraid that I would fail.

Last year in October, I started a new job at a local CPA Firm and I slowly began to get back my motivation to take the CPA Exam. Around Thanksgiving last year, I purchased the Ninja Audio and Notes for AUD, BEC and REG. My plan was to get settled into my new job, and accustomed to being a new father, and then I would start studying for REG. My goal was start studying in April, and retake the REG exam in July.

Recently at work I been assigned to audits, and I am actually enjoying the audit process, which is rare, because most people find auditing boring. Now a part of me is thinking start with REG first, since you already attempted it once before. But then another part of me is saying study AUD since that is what you are doing at work, and since you are enjoying it, the material will be easy to pick up. I’m not sure, how to restart this process and I would hate to pay for REG and wish I had signed up for AUD, or pay to sit for AUD and wish I had signed up for REG. Any suggestions or advice on taking the exam is welcome.

REG - 74, Retook 6/10/16, scored a 72 (Hate this exam)
BEC - 69, 79, 8/1/15
AUD - 83, 4/4/15
FAR - 77, 2/27/16

[JamesBJames]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, to be honest. There's such a wide range of advice. Some people say to take AUD or BEC first because they're the shortest to work through, others recommend FAR or REG to get one of the tough ones out of the way before the 18-month timer starts, and some suggest just doing one you're comfortable with.

The only thing I would really recommend is that if you take FAR before AUD, take AUD right after because a lot of the knowledge transfers. AUD -> FAR likely works alright too, although you'd probably get a little less out of the synergies.

Regardless of what you pick, you're going to have to study from scratch. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can pass REG easily because you got close on your first attempt.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[JamesBJames]

I don't think you can go wrong with any of them, to be honest. There's such a wide range of advice. Some people say to take AUD or BEC first because they're the shortest to work through, others recommend FAR or REG to get one of the tough ones out of the way before the 18-month timer starts, and some suggest just doing one you're comfortable with.

The only thing I would really recommend is that if you take FAR before AUD, take AUD right after because a lot of the knowledge transfers. AUD -> FAR likely works alright too, although you'd probably get a little less out of the synergies.

Regardless of what you pick, you're going to have to study from scratch. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can pass REG easily because you got close on your first attempt.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[Mamabear]

I started with my most familiar material (BEC) because I thought that if I couldn't pass them all in 18 months then I would prefer to pass BEC twice than any of the others. I regret that decision. I wish I had started with REG or FAR because the amount of material is so vast that I took longer to study for it and it cut into my 18 month window more. Plus if you start with the most material then when you get to BEC and AUD you will already know your best study habits and with less material it could keep you from getting too burnt out before your last test. Going from least to most material is like climbing a really steep hill. 🙁

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Mamabear]

I started with my most familiar material (BEC) because I thought that if I couldn't pass them all in 18 months then I would prefer to pass BEC twice than any of the others. I regret that decision. I wish I had started with REG or FAR because the amount of material is so vast that I took longer to study for it and it cut into my 18 month window more. Plus if you start with the most material then when you get to BEC and AUD you will already know your best study habits and with less material it could keep you from getting too burnt out before your last test. Going from least to most material is like climbing a really steep hill. 🙁

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

Get FAR out of the way forsure that's the most amount of material. Put the time in now to ensure you pass, do it right do it once and it will be a lot shorter if you have to retake test's.

[Anonymous]

Get FAR out of the way forsure that's the most amount of material. Put the time in now to ensure you pass, do it right do it once and it will be a lot shorter if you have to retake test's.

[Kimboroni]

If I had to redesign my order knowing what I know now, I would probably do FAR, AUD, REG, BEC. FAR helps prepare you for AUD as far as journal entries and ratios, and there is some crossover with AUD and REG in professional responsibilities. That would also alternate between longer test/more material and shorter test/less material for testing stamina.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

If I had to redesign my order knowing what I know now, I would probably do FAR, AUD, REG, BEC. FAR helps prepare you for AUD as far as journal entries and ratios, and there is some crossover with AUD and REG in professional responsibilities. That would also alternate between longer test/more material and shorter test/less material for testing stamina.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[zieba]

I started with audit – check my signature – and if I had to do it all over again…. I'd get over FAR first. Then do AUD, because it draws from FAR, and because you can likely get it out of the way no problem. This would put you half done, relatively quickly (time doesn't start counting until you pass the beast).

It's tough to start with FAR, but it's beneficial from the standpoint of the 18 month ticking clock.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[zieba]

I started with audit – check my signature – and if I had to do it all over again…. I'd get over FAR first. Then do AUD, because it draws from FAR, and because you can likely get it out of the way no problem. This would put you half done, relatively quickly (time doesn't start counting until you pass the beast).

It's tough to start with FAR, but it's beneficial from the standpoint of the 18 month ticking clock.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[Lindrobe]

I did FAR first and i am really glad. It definitely makes sense to do AUD 2nd and it a lot less info, so it seems like a nice break after doing FAR. I did BEC third just cause of time constraints and I knew it would be an easier section for me to tackle during tax season.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[Lindrobe]

I did FAR first and i am really glad. It definitely makes sense to do AUD 2nd and it a lot less info, so it seems like a nice break after doing FAR. I did BEC third just cause of time constraints and I knew it would be an easier section for me to tackle during tax season.

FAR 12/3/14, 87
AUD 2/3/14, 90
BEC 4/1/14, 88
REG 5/27/14, 94

Licensed CPA, Indiana

"Successful people do things that unsuccessful people don't want to do"

[nigercpa]

I am with Lindrobe on this. I took my exam the same order taking Far, Aud, Bec and will write Reg in July. Writing Far first will help you a lot in Aud, in fact I got a far simulation in my aud exam simulation. You can never go wrong writing far first. In my experience because of the volume of material it made studying for aud and BEC much easier and faster to study for since they cover less materials. I wrote Aud after 4 weeks of studies and wrote Bec after two weeks within the same result window, and I received two passing scores on result release day. I can confidently say that passing far gave me the boost and seriousness I needed to pass the others. Lindrobe, do you live in Indiana? I live there too. Would be nice to have someone on the forum that live in the same state as I do.

Far - Passed 83
Aud - Passed 84
Bec - Passed 77
Reg- Passed 77

[nigercpa]

I am with Lindrobe on this. I took my exam the same order taking Far, Aud, Bec and will write Reg in July. Writing Far first will help you a lot in Aud, in fact I got a far simulation in my aud exam simulation. You can never go wrong writing far first. In my experience because of the volume of material it made studying for aud and BEC much easier and faster to study for since they cover less materials. I wrote Aud after 4 weeks of studies and wrote Bec after two weeks within the same result window, and I received two passing scores on result release day. I can confidently say that passing far gave me the boost and seriousness I needed to pass the others. Lindrobe, do you live in Indiana? I live there too. Would be nice to have someone on the forum that live in the same state as I do.

Far - Passed 83
Aud - Passed 84
Bec - Passed 77
Reg- Passed 77

[GoVPI]

It just depends really how you look at it… Would you rather pass FAR first then let that be the one your 18 months starts on? Its the first to expire (scary). Im going with the two I think I have the best shot at passing first, gives you some motivation, positive momentum. Its totally personal preference.

BEC 8/14/14 - Passed
Graduated from college 12/13/14
AUD 8/31/15 - 74. Retake - Passed
REG
FAR

[Author]

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