[M.O.D.]

Pray tell why some schedule the test in X weeks before even starting to study. I see that a lot here. People schedule the test first and start studying second.

You wouldn’t schedule your wedding before even meeting your boyfriend/girlfriend. Why schedule a test before you know what is on it? This is blowing my mind.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Anonymous]

I always scheduled first for several of the reasons mentioned here, but one which I haven't seen mentioned: My preferred date/time wouldn't be available by the time I had studied and was ready. I didn't do a month plus of review, because I would forget too much that way. To get a decent time/date/location combo, I had to schedule at least a month in advance to be sure of getting what I want. Usually my review lasted about a week – that would be way too late to get my work and test schedules to work out for me to be at the exam center! (I only took one on the weekend, so generally coordinated time off work as well.)

However, bigger motivators (aka why I was looking to schedule early in the first place) were the motivation provided by deadlines. Some people work best under deadlines and stress; some work best without either. I'm one of those who does best under both. It's not necessarily healthiest for me long-term, but it accomplishes the task in the short-term. For example, I have written multi-page papers that got A's without any notes while sitting in the class prior to the class where the paper must be submitted. My best work comes out of these situations. So, without a test date, and thus without a deadline, I'm in a rough place.

Personally, I wouldn't want open-ended deadline for tax season either. Yeah, when I worked in taxes, late Jan through mid April were pretty miserable, but at the same time, we could do more in the last week of tax season than in the entire month (or more) that followed. I'd rather use that motivation to get the taxes done and out of there, rather than have no deadline and be plagued with them year-round. (Of course there were still extensions post-April, and fiscal year filers etc., but not nearly as many returns as tax season.)

I think, though, that what it really comes down to is a difference in how people work. Some, such as the OP, prefer to work without the added pressure of deadlines; some like me need the deadlines to perform. What matters at the end of the day is that we all perform well…whatever it takes to do so.

Oh, and for what it's worth, I'm pretty sure that all 4 of my exams were scheduled before really beginning to study, I didn't have to reschedule any, and I passed all 4 on the first try, within about 4 months (last week of May to first week of October). So, for some of us, it does help us pass them efficiently. For others, it would be study-suicide.

[Anonymous]

between testing windows, 18 month rolling period, limited seat availability from prometric, cheap or free rescheduling, and extensive study planners that tell you exactly what to do each and every day, it seems silly to wait until you're “ready” which could really be never.

not planning ahead is a good way to screw yourself out of a test date, lose exam credit, miss a testing window and have a MONTH long wait to “review” (ie forget). deadlines give structure, something to work towards. sure, maybe you don't have to schedule a test for november today, but there's nothing wrong with setting goals and pushing yourself to achieve them. I know more or less exactly how much time, effort, energy to dedicate to finishing the exams when I need them to be finished. people want to be finished before they start work, before busy season, before they go to grad school, before they lose credit for an exam due to the 18 month window.

[M.O.D.]

Thank you all for writing.

Yes I am seeing more benefits now, especially in the realm of long term planning, and the juggling of many responsibilities.

I too have an estimated schedule/deadlines.

I was surprised by the ambition and drive of CPA professionals 🙂

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[stag]

I think it has more to do with different people's personalities. I always schedule an exam before I started studying, because knowing myself, I would never had started to study unless there was a deadline, generally known as procrastinating. It worked, cause knowing there's a date drawn in sand usually lit a fire under my ass. Also, scheduling in advance usually allowed me to pick the last days of the testing window to sit for the exam. I don't try to kill myself or my social life, thus one exam every window, no more, no less. Worked out fine.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[Anonymous]

I couldn't get a date if I waited until 2-3 weeks out and if I did wait, and it was a weekday, there is no guarantee that I could get that day off. I have to plan ahead because of the demand in my area and the demand in my job. Period.

Once I set the date, I go through all the study material and create my schedule based on the amount of time I have. So, some sections I studied 15 hours/week, and others 25 hours/week.

[Mamabear]

I set my date before I start studying so I can give my parents enough advance notice for babysitting more heavily the week or two prior and so my boss will know which days I will be taking off leading up to the exam. There is a lot of planning involved in the study process when you have kids and work full time. I need to know a date so my husband can also adjust his work schedule for that time as well, if possible. When it's just you, it's okay to say study until you're ready. When there are other people involved you have to say do whatever you can in the time you have alotted so that you are ready when you need to be. I have only rescheduled one exam and that was because of circumstances outside my control. The $35 was worth it to relieve the stress of the other people in my life.

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!!

[SIR AGE]

I scheduled all four sections within 11 weeks of each other before even starting to study for my first one as you can see by my dates below. I'll be taking my third exam fort this testing window come August 8th. Growing very fond of the pro metric testing center…

Looking back on it, it was not the greatest decision nor would I ever recommend it. I've spent the entire summer studying day-in and day-out. I've missed out on several fun occasions and the nice weather as I'm sure the majority of us have.

Am I glad I'm less than 3 weeks away from POSSIBLY being finished? damn right! Am I burned out right now studying for Bec? Let me check my Ad hoc report and get back to you.

AUD: 5/27 82!
FAR: 7/3 80!
REG: 7/21 76!
BEC: 8/8 78!

[Skynet]

@MOD – I live in SoCal, and even though there area lot of Prometric testing centers, the dates gets filled up quickly. It's why people often schedule months ahead of time.

As for wedding goes, I guess you never heard of “I was so Drunk last night, I don't remember what happened, and What is this ring on my finger the next morning?, and Who did I just Marry? and What is my Last Name? Wedding”

[How many letters do you need]

Everybody has their method that works best for them, but for most I think the strategy of waiting could be disastrous. You set the date ahead because after the first exam the 18 month clock is ticking and ultimately that is the schedule you must adhere to. What's the point of waiting until you are “ready” if you pass one and wait so long that another one expires? Then you have exams like FAR and REG where a lot of people never really feel ready, you just have to go in and take your shot. I don't know I just don't get the advantage of waiting. I say you set the date, set your study schedule, stick to it, and on exam day you give it your best shot, restest if needed.

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[mla1169]

The other thing is there are many reputable sources that give guidelines on how many hours of study are required in preparation for each exam. I realize these are guidelines and some will take double while others take half the time to prepare. When I got my NTS, I knew I was targeting 140 hours of study time, so I estimated 7 weeks out. I had to coordinate my exam appointment with my work schedule and knew between month end, training that was going on, and then other employees scheduled time off I may have only had 2-3 days during a given month that I could take time off. I would have to request a day off at least a month in advance so it wasn't at all like I had the luxury of saying “oh boy! I'm ready! I'll go next Tuesday.” As it was one of my fails was because even though I had an approved day off my boss made me come in and would only let me take 2 hours to go take AUD. By the time I got there, signed in, and allowed for a 20 minute drive back to work I had less than 60 minutes to take the exam. I'm actually pretty proud of that 49!

Some may ask why I even bothered going and didn't reschedule. Was a heat of the moment thing and a very fine line between that and snapping.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[M.O.D.]

@ mla

That is amazing that you would cut off a test short to get back to work.

I would excuse myself saying the test took longer than I expected. They allow 4 hours, but I thought I could do it in 2…

I think of the CPA as an investment of X weeks, Y months, or Z hours of preparation which return is shown in a 4 hour test.

If I don't fully prepare (material and study plan, and test timing, etc) I am dishonoring my own preparation, ie I waste my own investment. I guess I don't like to lose any investments, if I can help it.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[mla1169]

Honestly I did the entire thing without logic or reason. If I had a dime for every person who told me I was out of my mind I wouldn't be working anymore! I totally understand where you're coming from as a basically risk management perspective. For me, it was a matter of proving I could do something I was told “couldn't” be done, even though there was high risk involved (in terms of lost NTS fees.) I'm not at all a gambler, except those 12 months!

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

In my case, I scheduled all four of my exams ahead of time since I'm trying to knock them out before I start working at my CPA firm. I'm just out of school and have been offered a nice bonus if I pass all of the sections prior to starting employment. Pretty common practice at a lot of CPA firms I think. But it also helps me to have a deadline in place. It would be far too easy to slack off on studying and just keep putting off the exam.

[Anonymous]

I've always scheduled my tests before starting to study. It's not like you have no idea what's on it- we have accounting degrees, we've taken classes covering most of the material, and we know the topic of each section. It's not like we're signing up for an exam, only to learn the topic of the exam much later.

[Anonymous]

I scheduled all of my exams beforehand partially for deadline motivation but mostly because I have to request days off of work to sit for the exams well in advance of the actual exams. My Prometric center doesn't offer Saturday testing, so I didn't have much choice but to schedule everything before I began any studying. I'm actually curious as to how those who work manage to schedule their exams for just a few weeks after they feel prepared to sit for them. Does Prometric normally offer Saturday appointments and my center is just unusual in that respect?

[Author]

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