[MIA4MYCPA]

I found out yesterday that I passed AUD (my frist section). I thought I would be utterly relieved and highly motivated for my next section once I found out I passed. Ummmmmmm… WRONG! I now feel even more stressed because I know I have the pressure of the 18 month clock ticking! To make matters worse, I started studying FAR right after I took AUD and feel completely overwhelmed by this material. Anybody have any strategies to relieve the stress and conquer FAR?

AUD - Oct 2011 - 79
BEC - Feb 2012 - 84 (seriously thought I failed this one)
REG - May 2012 - 84 (hmmm.....do they actually grade the SIMS???)
FAR - Aug 2012 - 80

I must be dreaming.... am I really done!!!

[KasiaS]

I know how you feel! I felt relieved for about a second before the pressure set in. I wasn't as much concerned about the 18 month window because I was always told that FAR is the worst, so I figued if I can pass this, I can pass anything! The pressure I felt was that if I passed that on first attempt, I now HAVE to pass everything on first attempt as well – especially since my employer is reimbursing me for all of my CPA expenses.

As for FAR, my strategy was to do as many MCQ testlets as possible after finishing the lectures and I made notecards for all topics I was consistently scoring <70% on and other topics that I either didn't understand or felt I'd easily forget. Then, on the way to the exam I went through these notecards twice. This really helped because all of that info was fresh in my mind going in to the lion's den. I was taught that there is no point in making notes during lectures because then you're not being an active listener and I stand by that. Good luck and congrats on passing AUD!

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[letsfixthis]

@MIA4MYCPA, the same thing happened to me when I passed BEC back in July. I was like, OMG, the clock is ticking now! You'll get over that quickly, just stay focused with FAR. 18 months really is a long time, you know? I barely even remember what my life was like 18 months ago, lol.

BEC: 87 (7/13/11)
FAR: 86 (8/31/11)
AUD: 99 (10/6/11)
REG: 88 (11/30/11)
Ethics: 100
(Illinois)

Used Becker for all four parts. Supplemented it with Wiley Test Bank for FAR and REG (HIGHLY recommended) and NINJA notes.

[Veronica75]

Haha y'all are funny. 18 months flew by way too quickly for me. Get your tests passed so you don't end up in my boat. Re-taking Audit this month! Sucks!

FAR - 79 (2x)
AUD - 81 (expired), 77!
REG - 74! omg (3x) 87!!!!!!! I'm done! OMG!
BEC - 81 (4x)

[Anonymous]

I feel the same way too!!! I pass my AUD in August and was so happy for one day then felt depressed the next. When I studied my AUD, I was focusing so much just to pass it to get it going, but now I start to feel the length of this journey. I am studying my BEC right now and have hard time sticking to it…I don't even know how I will handle FAR & REG……I have way more respect for people who are CPAs now than before.

[js75]

@letsfixthis, any tips on how to study for AUD? I'm taking it at end of month.

BEC 11/24/10-77
REG 5/11/11-82
FAR 10/5/11-85
AUD 11/30/2011

[Herbieherb]

Don't worry about the clock for now. Just try to get in 2 exams per window. I think the ones who get screwed by the 18 month window either took some break in between, or get stuck on one part which is their nemesis. For many audit is that.

NEW YORK- DONE

[MIA4MYCPA]

@KasiaS Thanks for sharing your strategy. I have been debating on whether to make flash cards for FAR b/c I did make them for AUD and never used them. However, FAR is a completely different beast so I like the idea of using them for the concepts I am having a hard time understanding.

@let's fix this – 18 months will fly by, I am just praying that I will be a CPA by the end of that time frame!!! Hardwork will get me there!!

@Herbieherb – I wish I could take two exams in a window, but I work full-time (public accounting firm), have a wonderful fiancee, and two girls (my youngest is only 15 months). I manage to spend 2.5 – 3hrs a night studying after they go to bed and 6-8hrs b/w the weekend days. I don't want to push my luck too FAR (haha pun intended) on taking time away from my family. They are all very supportive but I am trying to maintain a balance. I am focusing solely on FAR until January when I plan to take it. Then its on to BEC, I am hoping to finish that before tax season starts!!

Random Thought – Is it bad that my 9 year old told me that she thinks I should have my middle name changed to Studying??? Her justification is that everytime somebody asks me what I am doing, what I am getting ready to do, or what I did yesterday my answer is always ….. STUDYING!!

AUD - Oct 2011 - 79
BEC - Feb 2012 - 84 (seriously thought I failed this one)
REG - May 2012 - 84 (hmmm.....do they actually grade the SIMS???)
FAR - Aug 2012 - 80

I must be dreaming.... am I really done!!!

[Veronica75]

@ Herbieherb – I don't know about the two exams per window. I was trying to do that and ended up not passing either one. I think it all depends on the person. I have a lot of things going on other than the exam, and two tests per window was too ambitious for me. But you know, hindsight is 20/20. I haven't taken much of a break since January 2010, so I'm exhausted.

FAR - 79 (2x)
AUD - 81 (expired), 77!
REG - 74! omg (3x) 87!!!!!!! I'm done! OMG!
BEC - 81 (4x)

[Herbieherb]

@Veronica Exactly when the exam isn't your #1 priority and “all those other things going on” get in the way, the 18 month thing stress you out…my strategy stressed me out Oct -Nov 2010 and only. By the time I was to take my last part FAR, I had 5 times to take it and 1.3 years to pass. I made it a priority. I worked f/t no kids or gf tho so it worked for me. Could I ….give myself a break? Get married? Have kids? Move? Buy a house? Go on vacation? Change job? Start MBA ? Get a puppy? Etc? Yes but I chose not to in control & had a goal

NEW YORK- DONE

[Anonymous]

Hahaha, just be glad you're stressing about it now. After I passed my first one, I sat around and did nothing for a good 9 months before I even started thinking about it again. Now I'm under pressure to past this last section before my time expires. If you're actually worried about it and thinking about it, you'll be fine. 🙂

As for FAR, what helped me is taking my own notes while reading. It's extremely tedious and time consuming, but I felt it helped me absorb the information the best. Everyone's different though, just gotta find what works best for you!

[letsfixthis]

@js75 – For AUD (and every other test) I used Becker, and I just did what I always do when I study for each section. I went through all of the lectures in a chapter, then did every single problem in that chapter before moving on to the next one. I did this until I'd gone through all the chapters, then I went back to chapter one and re-did every single homework problem again. Once I re-did each homework problem in each chapter, I then did all of the SIMS and make sure I understood those as much as possible. I also purchased the Wiley online test bank for some additional MCQ's and SIMS, which I'd utilize during my final review (usually the two weeks before my exam). To top it all off, I'd get the Ninja notes, because I found that reading through those the 2-3 days right before the exam served as a great refresher and let me know if there was anything I needed to re-study the last few days before the test.

Basically I don't have any secrets for AUD (unfortunately), I just followed the study plan I described above and somehow managed to do OK on exam day. I also went for a long run a few hours before my exam, and I found that to be EXTREMELY helpful, if the exam isn't first thing in the morning. I hope this helps in some way, let me know if you have any questions/thoughts about AUD (though I took it a month ago so I've probably put it all out of my mind by now, lol).

Any tips for me on how to study for REG? So far I'm doing my usual study plan described above, though this test has me really nervous so I wonder if I should change things up a bit…….

BEC: 87 (7/13/11)
FAR: 86 (8/31/11)
AUD: 99 (10/6/11)
REG: 88 (11/30/11)
Ethics: 100
(Illinois)

Used Becker for all four parts. Supplemented it with Wiley Test Bank for FAR and REG (HIGHLY recommended) and NINJA notes.

[Anonymous]

Geez, 99 on audit !, How can I give a savant any help?

[Veronica75]

@herbieherb – If only everyone could be as perfect as you!

I work fulltime, have a husband and a house, and other things going on. It's not always a choice to have distractions. Some of us have to do the best we can with what life's handing to us at the moment. My biggest struggle is that I was a 4.0 student in college, so I expected to pass all these exams within a year. Learning to fail wasn't easy. I was going to quit after my last attempt at BEC, but I passed…. here I am….

The best thing is, I'll be a CPA one day, too, and no one will know that I struggled through the whole thing while you breezed through it! 🙂

FAR - 79 (2x)
AUD - 81 (expired), 77!
REG - 74! omg (3x) 87!!!!!!! I'm done! OMG!
BEC - 81 (4x)

[letsfixthis]

@broadstreet, I just got lucky, LOL. Seriously, I have no idea how that happened. I was only scoring in the 70's-80's on practice exams the week before. Trust me, I'm scared to death about REG! Any advice would be REALLY appreciated!

BEC: 87 (7/13/11)
FAR: 86 (8/31/11)
AUD: 99 (10/6/11)
REG: 88 (11/30/11)
Ethics: 100
(Illinois)

Used Becker for all four parts. Supplemented it with Wiley Test Bank for FAR and REG (HIGHLY recommended) and NINJA notes.

[mla1169]

I say if you have time to fret over the clock ticking you've got too much time on your hands lol! There's a lot to stress over especially the closer you get to one expiring. Trust me you can work around any distraction if you make up your mind to 😉

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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