[Stanley1]

I have about 5 years of public accounting experience as an auditor. My tax knowledge is virtually zero. What order would you suggest I sit for the exam?

I’m thinking:

Audit

FAR

REG

BEC

I should be able to pass audit, since that is what I do. Gives me some confidence. I think it makes sense to take FAR either before or after Audit, since you are dealing with financial statement stuff. Then REG, b/c if I fail it, I’ll have time to pass it again after taking BEC, which should be pretty easy. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

BEC

FAR

REG

AUD

BEC was the easiest for me, as I was a general business major and most of the material was simply a review for me (ie, econ, basic financial ratios, stats, & elementary IT). My logic was that it would be a good idea to get a feel for the actual exam-process with material I was most comfortable with. I chose FAR next, as it is widely considered to be the most difficult (obviously subjective). I figured it would be wise to knock out the hardest next, that way the rest would feel easier. REG was third, as I expected it to be the second most difficult. I was definitely wrong. REG was by far the hardest for me, and I would highly advise that you devote adequate time to learning the minutia of tax and business law. I saved AUD for last under the premise that it had been touted as the most ‘learnable' of the exams (ie, it can be studied for in the shortest amount of time). I found this to be 100% accurate, and if you have 5 years of audit under your belt, you may very well be able to prepare for AUD in under 3 weeks.

Overall, your (Stanley) game plan sounds pretty solid. I think sandwiching FAR and REG between BEC and AUD is a solid choice.

[Anonymous]

FAR

AUD

REG

BEC

[Anonymous]

FAR

AUD

REG

BEC

[Anonymous]

I started with FAR b/c it has the most amount of material and would require the longest amount of time to study. That way my 18 month window didn't start ticking until after I had gotten that one out of the way. I'm doing it in the order Yaeger recommended to me…

FAR

AUD

BEC

REG

Don't underestimate AUD just b/c you're an auditor. Theory and practice are very different! And there's lots of stuff on the exam that I'm sure you have never encountered in your 5 years.

I would suggest starting with the section you are most worried about. I didn't know if I could overcome FAR, so I figured if I could pass that one I wouldn't have trouble with the others. (Although after watching the BEC lectures the first time, I'm thinking I should have started with that one).

[Anonymous]

I started with FAR b/c it has the most amount of material and would require the longest amount of time to study. That way my 18 month window didn't start ticking until after I had gotten that one out of the way. I'm doing it in the order Yaeger recommended to me…

FAR

AUD

BEC

REG

Don't underestimate AUD just b/c you're an auditor. Theory and practice are very different! And there's lots of stuff on the exam that I'm sure you have never encountered in your 5 years.

I would suggest starting with the section you are most worried about. I didn't know if I could overcome FAR, so I figured if I could pass that one I wouldn't have trouble with the others. (Although after watching the BEC lectures the first time, I'm thinking I should have started with that one).

[jeff]

You'll find 10 different people with 10 different answers.

If it were me, I would take FAR first.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[jeff]

You'll find 10 different people with 10 different answers.

If it were me, I would take FAR first.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[oneFREAKINGpoint]

I'm with Jeff. I WISH I had taken FAR first. It takes ten times longer to study for than any of the others (and is about ten times harder IMO). I took it last because I was “building confidence” with REG, BEC, and AUD. My confidence built up great, but my studying slacked and the clock started ticking, and look where that's left me: two chances to pass FAR before two of my exams expire.

On another note, what happens if you take one of your confidence boosters and fail? What happens to your confidence? Trust me, go with your beast first.

[oneFREAKINGpoint]

I'm with Jeff. I WISH I had taken FAR first. It takes ten times longer to study for than any of the others (and is about ten times harder IMO). I took it last because I was “building confidence” with REG, BEC, and AUD. My confidence built up great, but my studying slacked and the clock started ticking, and look where that's left me: two chances to pass FAR before two of my exams expire.

On another note, what happens if you take one of your confidence boosters and fail? What happens to your confidence? Trust me, go with your beast first.

[Uncle Chips]

I went REG, AUD, FAR and now BEC. I thought REG would be the most difficult for me so I attempted it first. I threw in AUD next because I wanted to squeeze that in the same testing window that I took REG in. I gave myself about 3.5 weeks and just did nothing but study and was able to pass AUD. I took a break in December and then dedicated all of January and February to pass FAR and got through that one. Now I'm looking at spending 5-6 weeks of cramming BEC in hopes to pass all 4 on my first try. If all goes to plan, it basically will have taken me from Sept '11 through April '12 to finish.

In conclusion, I would recommend taking FAR or REG first and then putting AUD between them. I'm not certain my brain could have handled going through the rigors of REG and then jumping right into FAR.

REG - 82 (10/28/11)
AUD - 78 (11/22/11)
FAR - 75 (2/29/12)
BEC - 82 (4/20/12)

[Uncle Chips]

I went REG, AUD, FAR and now BEC. I thought REG would be the most difficult for me so I attempted it first. I threw in AUD next because I wanted to squeeze that in the same testing window that I took REG in. I gave myself about 3.5 weeks and just did nothing but study and was able to pass AUD. I took a break in December and then dedicated all of January and February to pass FAR and got through that one. Now I'm looking at spending 5-6 weeks of cramming BEC in hopes to pass all 4 on my first try. If all goes to plan, it basically will have taken me from Sept '11 through April '12 to finish.

In conclusion, I would recommend taking FAR or REG first and then putting AUD between them. I'm not certain my brain could have handled going through the rigors of REG and then jumping right into FAR.

REG - 82 (10/28/11)
AUD - 78 (11/22/11)
FAR - 75 (2/29/12)
BEC - 82 (4/20/12)

[heatmiser]

My opinion – take the hardest tests first (FAR & REG usually), to give yourself the most time possible to finish the rest of the “easier” tests. All of the tests are very hard, but I am goning by general consensus.

2011 CPA Exam Graduate

[heatmiser]

My opinion – take the hardest tests first (FAR & REG usually), to give yourself the most time possible to finish the rest of the “easier” tests. All of the tests are very hard, but I am goning by general consensus.

2011 CPA Exam Graduate

[Sam]

Does anyone have any advice on what to take after REG? Is there a section that has much carryover of material? AUD seems like the least amount of hours so that's a bit appealing but I don't think much knowledge would carry over.

[Sam]

Does anyone have any advice on what to take after REG? Is there a section that has much carryover of material? AUD seems like the least amount of hours so that's a bit appealing but I don't think much knowledge would carry over.

[Author]

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