[logueco]

I’ve just begun this horrifying journey of sitting for the CPA exam and I’m starting with FAR as I’ve heard that its the hardest and I’d like to get it out of the way first (aka pulling the bandaid off approach). I’m using Becker Online courses at the moment (I’d prefer the in class courses but I’m out of the country for the next few months) and I’ve already managed to get myself quite behind their recommended schedule. I have the luxury of studying for the exam (almost) full time so hopefully I won’t have much of a problem catching up.

The issue I’ve been running into is that I’ve never had to study for anything similar to this before in my life. I’m used to working on subjects that cover a much smaller amount of material that you need to have in depth knowledge about, rather than working on something that is a “mile wide and an inch deep” as the saying goes. I’ve had to alter my study approach several times already because I’m getting bogged down and taking too much time. At the end of this week I should have just about completed all of the lectures and homework for F1-F3 (haven’t tackled the sims yet, I’m planning on getting half way through the material and then go back and work with them) and its taken me about 2 and 1/2 weeks so far. Becker recommends getting through 2 sections a week, but I’m just not working at that pace yet.

My current approach is watching all the lectures in full taking notes as I go along. After I’ve finished watching all the lectures I go back through my book notes and make further notes about the key ideas, formulas and any tricks etc. etc. Once I’ve taken notes on a given chapter I then take its MCQs taking notes as I go along for any rules I haven’t seen before and how to handle tricky problems. This process seems to be the best way for me to hammer everything home. At the end of each section I feel like I understand everything I’ve covered (not memorized it or mastered it, but I know why I’m getting things right or wrong), but its taking me the better part of a week to do each section and I feel like I’m not being efficient.

As it stands currently, I have just enough time to take each Becker course consecutively (with at least a week or two afterwards for review) in time to finish all four before I start my full time job in September. At the rate I’m currently working at I don’t know if I can keep up with that schedule, so I’m inclined to try an alternative approach to save time, but if as a result I don’t pass one of the exams I’ll be forced to re-sit it in the fall anyway.

I realize that personal style and preference play a large part in this type of decision so there is probably no right answer, but any advice or insight you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I feel like I’m wasting even more time debating how to cover the material, so I’d like to decide once and for all my approach and get stuck in.

If you’ve read this far I really appreciate it. I feel so lost and I’ve already found out just how frustrating and demoralizing this whole process can be and I’ve only just started. Any help at all would make my day!

Thanks,

Connor

[Anonymous]

I think no body here knows what he is going to study before he starts

Really it needs too much time and efforts

Iam in the same boat with you (no work for now) and planning to finish it by 4th quarter

But I won't ever study four parts and take them in one window with one week or two between exams

I believe that everything is doable but for me I dont imagine how i will retain that quantity of material

One thing I advice you,study hard for FAR (and you can do 2 chapters of becker on a week without work )

When you finish your studying think about the ability to study four parts at the same time

No one here will know you better than you,its your dicision so study hard,do your best on FAR then take the dicision about your ability to do that

Good luck

[logueco]

Thanks for the reply AnasAG. I couldn't imagine taking all four in one window either. I may not have explained myself well enough. I'd be taking 2 per window (FAR and AUD in the April/May window and then REG and BEC in July/August window). I'm hoping to be able to study for each one individually, sit the exam and then immediately start on the next one. In theory it works out but I just don't think I can keep up with that kind of schedule and be confident that I'm covering and understanding everything.

I'm so glad I found this board, I thought I was going crazy alone. Its nice to know there are other people out there suffering too! (I don't care how bad that sounds, its true!)

[Anonymous]

In that way I advice you to schedule your FAR exam as soon as possible in somthing like April 15

When you schedule you will be under pressure and you will go on FAR faster

Thats the only way to do it, because you will never feel prepaired to it

So you have to schedule and give all you can to do, leave 2 to 3 weeks for final review and MCQs

Do MCQs as much as you can, and i think you will be ok

This board will keep you motivated,its a gift from god to us

People here very helpfull,feels and knows your pain like no one in the real life

[mla1169]

logueco, how many hours per week are you studying?

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[logueco]

@mla1169 the first 2 weeks I did 20 hours each but from this week on I'm going to try to do at least 25 a week. The problem I'm having is that it seems like I'm going about studying really inefficiently so the hours aren't producing the results I was expecting, which is why I'm falling behind.

@AnasAG I just got my eligibility confirmation from NASBA yesterday so I'm going to schedule the exam as soon as I get the chance. I just want to make sure I leave enough time, but I'm sure you're right and having a set exam date will help me push harder and be more focused.

[Author]

Replies