Does there seem to be any consensus on which segment of the CPA exam should be taken first? What is your impression on the different sections? Which one is the hardest, easiest, etc?
Used Becker self-study materials (just this for FAR original & REG #1), WileyTestBank, NINJA notes/audio, and Roger cram course for AUD #5, REG #3 & FAR reboot. CPA!
FAR!!!!! Not only because its awful and hard- but also because it helped me prepare for both AUD and BEC!!! I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't taken FAR yet. Also- if you're good at auditing take it last or if you're good at tax take it last- I saved REG until the end and its sooooo painfully boring to study. I admit I actually enjoyed studying AUD and man do I wish I had saved that for the end! It's hard to stay focused especially when it's your last section and it doesn't interest you one bit!! Good luck 🙂
FAR: PASSED!! 64, 68, 79 on 2/27/13!
AUD: PASSED!! 73, 93 on 4/5/13!!!
BEC: PASSED!! 75 (phew) on 5/24/13!
REG: PASSED!!! 77 on 8/7/13 I AM DONE!!!!!
Experience: got it!
Ethics Exam: PASSED on first try (what a waste of money)
FAR!!!!! Not only because its awful and hard- but also because it helped me prepare for both AUD and BEC!!! I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't taken FAR yet. Also- if you're good at auditing take it last or if you're good at tax take it last- I saved REG until the end and its sooooo painfully boring to study. I admit I actually enjoyed studying AUD and man do I wish I had saved that for the end! It's hard to stay focused especially when it's your last section and it doesn't interest you one bit!! Good luck 🙂
FAR: PASSED!! 64, 68, 79 on 2/27/13!
AUD: PASSED!! 73, 93 on 4/5/13!!!
BEC: PASSED!! 75 (phew) on 5/24/13!
REG: PASSED!!! 77 on 8/7/13 I AM DONE!!!!!
Experience: got it!
Ethics Exam: PASSED on first try (what a waste of money)
In my opinion, FAR first. The following 3 sections all have topics contained in FAR, but in much lesser detail. Once I had nailed them down in studying FAR, it made it much easier to revisit them in later exams and also took me a lot less time to re-learn them. However, I don't know if I would have been able to pass without studying for it for 2+ months! It definitely takes a lot of time and dedication, whereas I am breezing through BEC and will probably only spend 3 weeks. FAR definitely lives up to the term ‘beast'
In my opinion, FAR first. The following 3 sections all have topics contained in FAR, but in much lesser detail. Once I had nailed them down in studying FAR, it made it much easier to revisit them in later exams and also took me a lot less time to re-learn them. However, I don't know if I would have been able to pass without studying for it for 2+ months! It definitely takes a lot of time and dedication, whereas I am breezing through BEC and will probably only spend 3 weeks. FAR definitely lives up to the term ‘beast'
a) Take the easiest for you (which is objective based on job experience, ease on the subject, etc) OR
b) take the hardest first and get it out of the way, and let the 18 month clock start ticking.
Now if you take the easiest to gain confidence and you end up failing, that's going to shatter your confidence. Go for either ‘a' or ‘b'.
likely if you take the hardest (which for most people seems to be FAR) and end up NOT getting it out of the way, you'll be stuck having to do it again.
Just keep in mind that you have to take all 4 of them anyway. In the words of unanimous “More than one way leads to Rome”
a) Take the easiest for you (which is objective based on job experience, ease on the subject, etc) OR
b) take the hardest first and get it out of the way, and let the 18 month clock start ticking.
Now if you take the easiest to gain confidence and you end up failing, that's going to shatter your confidence. Go for either ‘a' or ‘b'.
likely if you take the hardest (which for most people seems to be FAR) and end up NOT getting it out of the way, you'll be stuck having to do it again.
Just keep in mind that you have to take all 4 of them anyway. In the words of unanimous “More than one way leads to Rome”
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