[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 also think scheduling beforehand makes a lot more sense if your NTSs last for quite a bit. I'm in Virginia and our NTSs are good for 12 months from issuance, so applying for all four sections and scheduling them beforehand still allows for plenty of time to prepare for each.

[samdiegoCPA]

Really?????? I would not even begin to start studying until my test date was scheduled. How do you NOT do this? I haven't read through the replies, but that is the only way you can study efficiently… is if you have a deadline. If I didn't do this, I would put it on the back burner and then never complete it because I could do notes another day or MCQ another week, I'd rather go to the bar than finish this topic.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[univegabw]

I have to pass all 4 parts and become licensed before the new law changes next July in Colorado. I schedule, then begin studying because it forces me to study and also I'm trying 2 sections per window each time in case I don't pass. I guess I'm going with an approach of throw as much at it as I can taking it and hope I pass it in time. I could have studied 3 months take a section and hoped to pass them in time, but I wanted to maximize my chances knowing it is a reward of not needing to get 150 credits.

A- 53, 55
B- Passed!
F- Not Yet Taken
R- 1/17/2015

[Anonymous]

At the end of May, I requested NTS and I signed on to Prometric to schedule.

Saturday exams were completely booked, and morning exams are pretty much booked till 4:00PM in Q3.

So if I wait till I feel “ready”, there won't be any openings.

Ready or not, I schedule the exam beforehand.

[John Tucker]

Why not START studying and making sure you comprehend all of the content, then once you get into the stage where you are going to start doing a bunch of practice MCQs, schedule the exam out at that time? In let's say a week or 2 weeks from that time period?

I don't think it makes sense to schedule an exam and not have started any quality preparation yet, if you need a deadline to “motivate” you to start studying for the exam and the monetary gains of having a CPA License aren't ALREADY the motivation, then perhaps your heart is in the wrong place?

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[IWPGirl]

I look at it… I need to study and take exam at some point anyway, so why shoud I wait? I was very overwhelmed when I started to study in January. But I wanted to get it done. So I planned out the tentative exam dates right from the beginning considering work, birthdays, etc. Besides, I think it is important to have a plan and stick to it. I know if I take a break, I'll have hard time getting back to studying mode. So a few days in between parts is just enough. Knowing the dates is good to plan the rest of my life just in general. Nothing blows my mind about that lol

AUD - 90
REG - 78
BEC - 84
FAR - 91 woo hoooo!!

Becker and Ninja MCQ

[How many letters do you need]

John Tucker: how far are you talking here? Are you saying that even once the 18 month clock starts going, you would let a whole window pass if you didn't feel ready? How can that possibly be the best option?

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[John Tucker]

Well, for example with me, I am using a different approach to the exams.

1.) I copied off ALL of the content for the four sections

2.) Organized and did light rewriting initially in my own words

These two things allows me to have a holistic view of the entire four sections of the exam and understanding all of the topics to be tested.

3.) Then I am focusing on BEC and FAR for this year (August and November testing), then AUD and REG in February and May.

4.) I would take the rewritten copied off information and further condense it, then I would do all memorization and comprehension for the section. This is what I'm doing for BEC currently. From there, I would do ALL of the practice MCQs in CPA Excel to confirm a 80% passing rate. Then I'm going to do at least 10 of the practice WCs. Then I would take the full Replica CPA Exam in CPA Excel to confirm again a 80% passing rate. At that point I'm READY to take the exam.

Following this, I would actually schedule the exam once I'm 80% passing on the practice MCQs for about 7-14 days out.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[How many letters do you need]

John: so I guess my question is, if November rolls around and you feel you aren't ready for FAR, do you wait until Jan and let a whole window pass or are you definitely taking FAR in November regardless?

MBA,CMA,CPA, CFF?, ABV?

[John Tucker]

Well, hopefully it won't come to that lol. See with my strategy most of the BULK of time in preparation is done in that I have pulled off all content and rewritten it in some fashion, right now when I start the FAR memorization (which is right after I take the BEC exam) I just need to condense everything done a little further and then I do the memorization/comprehension run. That run takes me a solid week give or take. From there, I do the practice testing. So the 3 months I have given myself for the FAR additional preparation is more than enough time considering that my work and other activity schedules don't allow me the leeway to work on the CPA Exam as much.

* State of MA CPA Exam Candidate
- BEC: Sunday, August 24th
- FAR: Saturday, November 29th
- AUD: TBA for February 2015
- REG: TBA for May 2015

[Gatorbates]

If I didn't have a hard date scheduled, I'd push studying off a day or two (or a week), when I didn't feel like studying. Having the exam set forces you to a routine and time budgeting. I did this for all four exams. If I didn't, I don't think I'd have my license now.

Licensed Florida CPA:
B: 71, 73, 79
A: 83
R: 78 (expired), 77
F: 74, 74, 80

It's finally freaking over.

[itsjustatest]

I never started studying before i had a test date scheduled. Allowed me to set up a study schedule and this way i was forced to stick with it.

If you dont have a date set, those long weekend getaways become a lot harder to say no to. Everyone has their own style.

AUD - 83
REG - 78
FAR - 69,73,79
BEC - 85

[M.O.D.]

@ letters, John Tucker

I have a similar method. I first study to take notes do all the MCQs in order to learn the material (long term memory).

Then when I am scoring high on a practice test, then I schedule, and then I start memorizing (short term memory).

Sure it is possible to estimate into the future, but it could be + or – 1-2 months, and if I estimate wrong, it disrupts my learning process (especially the short-term memorization).

So I am placing myself first, and the test second, ie the test follows my learning schedule/abilities.

There is also the issue that I want to get every question right. Not knowing an answer on the test is like walking into a client's office and not knowing an answer. It makes me look bad.

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)

[gt5717b]

For the same reason runners sign up for marathons. Most people don't just train for something they haven't committed to yet. Not many casual runners build up to 26.2 miles of endurance with no concrete race in mind. By signing up, you are committing yourself and setting a goal. I tried studying on my own before scheduling my first exam and all that did was make it easier to procrastinate since I had an unlimited amount of time to study with no end in sight. Once I finally buckled down and picked a test date, I had a goal in view and did not have the luxury of procrastination. It lit a fire under me.

Also, with the CPA exams, I think your goal shouldn't be to maximize your score on each test, but to minimize the amount of time dedicated to each test while feeling comfortable that you will pass. My goal on each exam was to get an 85. That gave me 10 points of cushion. Could I have scored in the 90s? I would like to think so, but that would've required possibly another month of studying per exam. Instead, I focused on understanding the main objectives and not trying to study every little thing that could appear on the exam. The goal of the CPA exam is to be efficient with your time. There is a point of diminishing returns with studying too much.

REG - 89
FAR - 84
AUD - 73, 86
BEC - 89

GA Licensed CPA

[rfc63]

The goal of the CPA exam is to pass them, not study for them and understand every little detail that may or may not be tested. Therefore, I scheduled all four in 2013 to ensure I got the times I wanted: end of August, beginning of October, end of November and beginning of January. And then I prepared for the exams the best I could. If I gave myself more time I may have been able to get better scores but ultimately, the Pass is what counts.

[Author]

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