[Anonymous]

After taking and failing Auditing twice and Business once I decided that I needed to take a break. After 3-4 months of not studying I think I am ready to hit the books again. I am unsure of where to start though. Should I start over on Auditing again? Or should I start fresh on another section?

[Anonymous]

It's really a personal preference thing… If it was me, I'd want to kick Auditing and get it out of the way, just because it had opposed me. But, at the same time, if there was one that I felt like I had a better basis in, I'd probably try to get one pass to motivate me for the rest. So it's a gamble. In college (or in work), did you feel more comfortable with law/taxes or with financial accounting? If so, you might consider taking REG or FAR instead…but if you think your chances with all 4 exams are about even, then if I were you, I'd take AUD and I would give it everything I had and then give it some more, and hope to pass it. 🙂

And if you decide to do AUD, I have to say that I have found MintsRGood's posts to be incredibly inspiring. One thread where she discusses her strategy to pass AUD is here: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/mints-re-audit-pass so especially since you're struggling with the same exam, you might find her pep talks inspiring. I'm studying for a first try at AUD myself, and am waiting on a score that I fear will be a fail…and her posts always help me remember why I'm doing this and why I have to give it everything I've got!

[Anonymous]

I did this. I passed BEC in January 2009 then failed REG 3 times, Far 1 time (well really 2 times since I didn't show up for one of my FAR attempts), and AUD 1 time. All between January 2009 and mid-2010. I gave up mid-2010 and didn't start up again until July 2012. Put my all into it at that point and finally got my last passing score in May this year.

As Elisabeth said, it's all personal preference. I chose to start my “round 2” with REG. I wanted the 2 larger exams (REG and FAR) out of the way first, and I knew I didn't want to start with FAR – so that left me REG. After REG I moved on to FAR – it was the only one I had to take twice, so I was glad I went to that one second. Then I took AUD, then BEC – no real reason for those 2 in that order, that's just how I ended up doing them.

Good luck! And good job making the effort to get back into them. It was not easy, but now that I'm done I'm really glad I went back to it.

[evesocal]

If I had it to do over again I'd start with FAR, the hardest (IMO anyway) because of the 18 month clock. I didn't really think about this when I started and took the exams in the order Becker taught live classes that I could get to.

Because I work full time (and a lot more toward deadlines) I could only take one exam per window. When I realized how hard FAR was and that I had a limited time to pass it, it was very stressful. It all worked out in the end, thank God.

Take the hardest first and get it over with if you know which it is. Not that any of them are easy.

B: 75

R: 80

A: 77

F: 81

Ethics: 84, 92 and done!

Licensed in CA

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[Kenada]

I agree with Evesocal, I would have wanted to start with the hardest but at the time I was thinking let me build confidence and then I will go harder.

So far AUD has really given me a headache. BEC was not as bad and I am glad I passed it. REG has alot of volume so what i am finding hard is to remember all the rules. But I like numbers so I think I won't feel as insane as I did AUD. FAR is my last exam to take this year.

Just hope I am lucky to pass before Nov 2013 – Just like all the other CA Candidates that are stuck in this deadline grid lock with the new changes for 2014.

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[Author]

Replies