[jackaroe]

It does make sense to get FAR under my belt before i move on. I”ve been out of school (non-biz major) for nearly three decades and took a couple of courses at a community college. My problem with studying is that i’ll be good discipline wise for a couple of days and then disappear from my studying for a couple of days because I don’t feel the pressure of having to pass the exam. Missed Reg by 2 points and missed Aud by 6. Close enough to know that I am able to do this – driven by ANNOYANCE to feel compelled to do it. This time I am sticking by Becker/Wiley MCQs.

For FAR – Figure – I’ll spend my time on the stand-alone topics.

1. Gov’t/Not-for-Profit

2. Bonds.

[Anonymous]

@jackaroe, I'm not sure whether or not to congratulate you on returning and giving the exam another go or not. Do you want to become a CPA? The impression that I'm getting is that you don't really want this at all……you said you don't feel pressured to pass the exam but that you are driven by annoyance to feel compelled to do it. I don't even know what that means so maybe you could elaborate on your story?

I think that if you do want to become a CPA and are serious about studying that you can! You have to get into a mind-set. You mentioned that you planned on attacking FAR using a 90 day study strategy but you also mentioned that you hate studying and you slack off frequently. I'm not sure what your schedule is like but what if you only study REALLY HARD for 6-7 weeks and then went and took the exam? Would it be worth your time then? I'm really not a fan of dragging out information over months because I feel like it's easier to lose that information.Your post didn't tell us a whole lot about you or your technique for studying so I'm just throwing ideas out here for you. If you don't like that idea then maybe you could incorporate Jeff's E.L.L. technique for studying. It's worked for tons of people.

I guess my overall opinion is yes FAR is doable in 90 days if you put the study time in. I feel like you need to WANT to do this too. You should WANT to become a CPA. Also, before you decide to take the exam create an actual study strategy. What are you going to do Week 1, 2, 3 etc and stick with it. Good luck!

[jackaroe]

Thanks for your response. I don't HAVE to get my CPA. Neither do any of you. I want to and stubborness and pride have cemented me on this road which i won't get off until i pass. However, the sun will continue to rise in the east. My job would prefer that i do NOT get my CPA. Economists frown upon mere mortals that are accountants. “Annoyance” is my driver these days and it is a quite fuel-efficient model:'). I do need to string together more study days together but (yeah ‘but') i just took a couple of months off after my last defeat. I used way too many resources. So for me – it would be 6 weeks with Becker/Wiley learning the stuff and two weeks to ramming MCQs and sims through my brain. This time around, I do need to STICK to a study plan – as you pointed out. Probably 90 minutes before i hit the gym in the morning and 120 minutes after work – M-F. May/June – take it at the beginning of July sounds like a plan. Original question though – is it allright to start out with gov't acct/not for profits as a stand-alone topic and then nail another stand-alone topic (e.g., bonds)? TIA.

[Anonymous]

@jackaroe, I realize that earning the CPA designation isn't something that we have to do but in order for me to get where I'm going then I need to do this. If it wasn't going to benefit me any then I probably wouldn't be going through this process. I guess we all have our reasons for choosing or not choosing to do these exams 🙂

To answer your original question, you can do topics in whatever order you desire. Any review pretty much goes from topic to topic as you described. Most people would agree that you should get through all of the material first and then focus on your weak areas.

[Author]

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