[SFMLE]

Hello Everyone,

I’m in week one of studying and am getting a little worried/ need the little extra push from those going through the cpa exam process 🙂 I failed REG at the end of November with a 63, and then retook it on 1/14 (come on score release!). I still don’t know how I feel about REG, but I figured I would move on and take FAR since it was discouraging to fail REG and then come out of the retake not confident.

Is four and a half weeks enough time to study for FAR? I work full time, have no kids or family, so all leisure time is devoted to studying. I’ve gone through sections 1 and 2 so far in Becker, and plan on finishing 3 and 4 by the end of this weekend, and maybe even start on 5 if my brain isn’t asking me for a mini break. It seems like a lot of the concepts are similar to REG, so studying has kind of been more of a review process than learning too much new material.

Any suggestions? I’ve also purchased the NINJA notes so that I can read them when I have time here and there on my iPhone, and I also bought Wiley notes that is on my Kindle for my commute (which is only about ten minutes lol).

BEC 8/31/11 80

AUD 10/14/11 89

REG 11/30/11 63, retake 1/14/12

FAR 2/29/11

BEC 8/31/11 80
AUD 10/14/11 89
REG 11/30/11 63, 1/14/12 72
FAR 2/29/12

[Anonymous]

It's doable, but you will be exhausted. Good luck, I am with you in spirit.

[SFMLE]

Thanks Cash! I see you just took FAR? How was it? Any surprises, or did you feel that the material you used covered the topics sufficiently?

BEC 8/31/11 80
AUD 10/14/11 89
REG 11/30/11 63, 1/14/12 72
FAR 2/29/12

[Anonymous]

Hey!

I studied FAR in three weeks BUT I did not work at all. Needless to say I struggled during the exam, and barely passed. I will never do that again but a family problem had kept me away from studying.

So it's doable, but you'll be exhausted.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do great! 🙂

[katiekanton]

I have to agree with dousugar. I've spent a month on it, full time, I don't work, and I'm not ready. I may pass, but it won't be a slam dunk by any means. If my NTS weren't expiring, I wouldn't even be considering it.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[Anonymous]

@SFMLE

No real surprises here, but I studied all the material that was available to me. They definitely cover everything.

I had about 5-6 weeks of prep before I took the exam.

[SFMLE]

Thanks for all of the suggestions and support everyone! I think I'm just so eager to finish and have my life back 🙂 My NTS expires at the end of February which is why I'm taking it, and so far I think I'll be ok (hopefully)…

Has anybody supplemented with the Wiley test bank? Is it worth purchasing?

BEC 8/31/11 80
AUD 10/14/11 89
REG 11/30/11 63, 1/14/12 72
FAR 2/29/12

[HumanPiranha]

i wouldnt look at it at as a number of weeks but as a number of hours. i studied about 140-150 hours for FAR over the span of about 4 months and passed. if you can squeeze in at least 120 hours in a month or so, go for it.

[makinthemagic]

I did it. I don't recommend working while doing it but it's possible if you devote every non-working and non-sleeping minute to FAR. A little luck doesn't hurt.

Bec 4/11/11 91
Aud 7/11/11 75
Reg 8/31/11 80
Far 5/24/11 86
Ethics - 98
California Licensed CPA
Illinois Registered CPA

[Anonymous]

Other people have done it, but it would have been impossible for me.

If you have taken enough advanced accounting classes and the material is mostly familiar, then yes, it's doable.

I studied 2 months while working full-time and took a review class before that.

[Givemesleep]

Totally doable in 3 weeks, granted this coming from someone that passed REG studying for 13 weeks ! Never do that again, it was my first part. I think 5-6 weeks is good for all parts except maybe Far. 2/6 coming, just let me pass BEC and I will repent. Less than a week untill I find out cant take the waiing. Aud is going well, or maybe Wiley is too easy, cant tell.

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[SFMLE]

I completed a Master of Science in Accounting program, have been in accounting for over six years doing full cycle accounting, so most of the material is familiar luckily. I also worked for a nonprofit for two years when I moved here to San Francisco just to learn fund accounting because it was so hard to grasp just learning concepts through courses and reading!

You all are motivating me to just study study study for the next few weeks 🙂

@givemesleep I'm sure you did great on BEC! I found AUD material to be fairly easy too, but my suggestion would be to do tons of multiple choice questions. I've found that out of the three exams I've taken so far, AUD was the worst when it came to word play… if you can learn how they try to trick you, you'll ace it!

Good luck with exams everyone!

BEC 8/31/11 80
AUD 10/14/11 89
REG 11/30/11 63, 1/14/12 72
FAR 2/29/12

[Author]

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