[jenpen]

I have been thinking about the next step after I take REG this month, and I think I might have a plan. However, I wanted to post it here to maybe get some advice or opinions on whether it’s actually possible.

I have taken AUD twice. I will get the second score tomorrow, but I am operating under the assumption that I did not pass.

REG – 8/29

BEC – 10/2 (about 5 weeks)

FAR – sometime 11/23-11/30, depending on availability (7-8 weeks)

AUD – early January 2016 (5-6 weeks, maybe 7-8 to factor in holidays)

I am hoping that this plan will give me enough time to study for each section. I have a trip to Italy planned at the end of next April and I would love to be done with the CPA before I leave.

So – thoughts on this schedule? Any help would be appreciated!!

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[Zuly]

@jenpen4 Hopefully you did pass and can move on. However, if you don't pass any reason why you don't want to take it in October? I'm a believer in trying to pass a part and then move on to the next part. I feel like if you leave it until the end all that studying would have kind of gone to waste. Mind you, you should still study like it's your first time but at least this way you haven't forgotten the majority of what you have learned.

FAR - (11/01/14) 71 (02/07/15) 79
AUD - (04/30/15) 86
BEC - (07/21/15) 73 (10/01/15) 75
REG - (11/30/15) 55 (05/19/16) 74

[wombataholic]

That looks like a doable schedule. Pretty similar to mine date-wise, except my plan is to go AUD-BEC-REG the rest of this year.

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[jenpen]

@Zumo – No reason, other than I am sick of looking at it and would like to never have to deal with it again!

But you're absolutely right. So flip AUD and BEC and it looks like I've got a plan. Maybe doing it in October will give me what I need to pass (should I retake). I know I didn't study correctly for it and I have since corrected/changed my study habits, plus incorporating Ninja.

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[tcheney3]

I think you should have done FAR before AUD because as commonly noted on this board there is substantial overlap between the two. That being said if you fail with a 70's+ score I would buy the ninja MCQ's and just do them until you want to throw your computer out the window.

BEC - 82
REG - 86
FAR - 85
AUD - 84 and I'm out!!!!!
Ethics - 95
In Skynet's Honor:
Act I: Shutdown Skynet and prevent Judgment Day.
Act II: Add a comma and three letters to my title.
Act III: Time Travel and marry a young Denise Richards (and prevent subsequent plastic surgery),return to present.
Act IV: Serve as Successor to Elon Musk as CEO of Tesla.
Act V: Ensure Judgment Day has been stopped. Utopia achieved.

[Zuly]

I have to agree with tcheney3. That's the best way to approach it especially that by taking FAR you'll have a better idea on how to do the SIMS that are FAR related. Also helpful for transaction cycles. How about this…take FAR in late October, AUD afterwards and then BEC for last. AUD and BEC have some overlap due to COSO and IT. Up to you of course but you do have options.

FAR - (11/01/14) 71 (02/07/15) 79
AUD - (04/30/15) 86
BEC - (07/21/15) 73 (10/01/15) 75
REG - (11/30/15) 55 (05/19/16) 74

[jenpen]

@tcheney – Had I found this board sooner I am sure that I would have used a completely different line-up. But, alas, that was not the case. FAR intimidated me since it came with 2 books from Wiley and coming off tax season I knew that I wouldn't have enough time to sit for it in the second window. Obviously, it wouldn't have mattered either way as it turned out. 🙂

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[jenpen]

Soooo I didn't pass AUD (not a total shock). I improved, but not nearly enough. So you think I should take FAR first and then take AUD? Because I really like that idea. I am not ready to jump back into AUD and would like to get FAR out of the way.

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[rp 12]

No. Take Audit early October. Push FAR end of Nov.

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

AUD: 68, 62, 77✔ (expires 10/31/16)
FAR: 53, 48, XX (retake 6/16)
REG:
BEC: 53

[jenpen]

Dang it, rp, now you've got me back to second-guessing the order I should take them. I'm just too indecisive and can really go either way. I'm just trying to make sure I have enough time to study for FAR and I would like to take both of them in the next window.

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[rp 12]

Sorry to confuse you. I was just trying to say not to flip flop between parts. Not too long ago I was in your position as well. Passed AUD in Q2 Window. I was suggesting to give retake now bc your concepts, and material w/ AUD is likely to be fresh. Depending on how comfortable you with REG, and how long are you in your prep with REG If you covered 75% of material then stick with REG. If not, get back on AUD – look at your score report – see weaker areas – start from there, and get to your stronger areas later. I think you might have not passed bc of SIMS. It is very important to know the concepts and apply that in SIMS. Also, another thing I picked from this forum is write down the explanation in your own words/shorthand way for the MCQs you got wrong, and that my help retaining.

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

AUD: 68, 62, 77✔ (expires 10/31/16)
FAR: 53, 48, XX (retake 6/16)
REG:
BEC: 53

[jenpen]

Oh I have no doubt it was because of SIMs. The first attempt was a combination of not fully understanding the material and being scared out of my mind. The second attempt I barely studied for (Like, seriously, about 20 hours in the couple of days leading up to it. I was such a slacker.) but I know some material I was having problems with just suddenly clicked and made life easier.

I am about halfway through the REG information, and if I don't take it in this window then my NTS will expire before I can sit. Plus I am finding this material easier, at least the blaw stuff since tax still remains to be seen. So REG is definitely happening.

My thought process is that if I take FAR first it might help me nail the concepts that I need for AUD. Unfortunately I likely won't receive the breakdown for another month to help me know where to focus my studying. I am also planning on incorporating Ninja stuff this time around since I wasn't able to last time (I found this stuff the night before my exam) so I think that will probably help.

But then again, I can totally see what you're saying. Maybe you're right, take AUD first in early October and then hammer FAR after that. If I take AUD the first week of October which gives me about 5 weeks to study, that still gives me a good 8 weeks if I take FAR at the very end of November…

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[Author]

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