[Anonymous]

Just wanted to say that this forum is a great resource for CPAs-to-be. Some great advice that I’ve been reading the last few days.

I wanted to get you guys’ advice on whether my study schedule is realistic or not. I’ve been out of school for about two years. I did pretty well in my graduate classes but I know that doesn’t always translate into performing well on the CPA exam. I don’t work in the accounting industry so I’ll need some extra studying.

I’m in the process of buying all the Becker materials (thankfully reimbursed through my govt. agency) and I’ll start studying in Jan. for 2-3hrs on weekdays and 5hrs on weekends.

Here is what I have planned:

FAR – 95hrs of study and sit for exam first part of April

AUD – 64hrs of study and sit for exam first part of May

REG – 82hrs of study and sit for exam first part of July

BEC – 67hrs of study and sit for exam first part of August

Does that look like a realistic schedule and hope to pass the exam?

[Anonymous]

Elfear,

I did not study anymore than 4 weeks for each section.

I studied approx 80 hours for BEC and received an 84.

I studied approx 90 hours for REG and received a 90

I studied approx 15 hours for FAR and received a 78 (I had a graduate Advance Financial Accounting 6 months prior).

I studied approx 60 hours for AUD and the score is pending.

I work full time at a public accounting firm.

I think that your study schedule is realistic if you are disciplined and can absorb a bunch of information in a little amount of time.

[Patrick909]

It's going to vary – I don't think there's any solid rule to how much you need to study. It'll depend on the strength or weakness of your accounting background, your ability to recall said background, your ability to absorb some new stuff, and the wild card……your test-taking ability.

The safe bet is to study like hell for the first section, and see how you do. From there you can adjust up or down as you see fit.

[RookieCPA2b]

Elfear, your schedule seems too many hours, lol.

I'm taking FAR, and REG in January. I'm starting to study this coming weekend. I plan to study no more than 30 hours each, if that.

I have a trick though. For example for REG, I'll study the key Business Law chapters in Wiley and ignore everything else like Bankruptcy, Insurance and some other stuff that is rarely tested. For Individuals, I'll spend maybe 4 hours with very basic stuff. I'll be hitting hard Corporations and Partnerships and light on Estates and Transactions in Property. All-in-all NO more than 30 hours, if that.

FAR is even easier to study. I'll skip half the book and concentrate on the hot subjects. Like Consolidations, Bonds/Present Value, Inventory, Monetary Assets and Liabilities, Investments and Stockholder's Equity. I'm surely going to totally ignore Govt/NFP; I know it's taking a chance, but I doubt it's going to be tested, maybe 4 or 5 questions, and I'm not going to invest 20 hours on that crap, lol

The whole trick is to trim off unlikely and lightly tested material and focus your study hours on the hot subjects. Don't get fooled at the volume of material, it's mostly a distraction ploy by the AICPA.

I passed AUD with very few hours back in October. BEC, I'm taking in Feb; I'll probably study for BEC no more than 7 hours…..I'm in IT and took a look at the Wiley book and I kinda know figure what's important.

Remember, don't study all the material equally! And don't get fooled by the the volume.

I think everybody is going to think I'm crazy….lol

[Anonymous]

Interesting. I'm not trying to be a smarta$$, but how do you know what is heavily tested? Because I seriously don't want to learn gov't and non-profit if it is a waste of time. I have never had a course in it and I need to devote my time to the meat of the exam to pass.

[RookieCPA2b]

Well, know one ever knows for sure. But, I figure we're heading towards international GAAP, and what heck does Govt/NFP have to do with that. They may throw a couple of questions-in but no way 20%. I've been reading many posts and inferring my conclusions….Also, I would study all the international related stuff, like exchange rates, bifurcations, hedges and stuff like that…..that's where we are heading anyways…lol

My budget for the CPA review is $120 bucks. I'll be doing problems and reading very little. I'll be reading the answers though..lol

I'm no genius, I have a GED and took me 6 yrs to graduate college…mostly Cs…

[zena]

CPAWannaBe, I seriously don't believe anyone can know what is heavily tested and what is not. AICPA only gives percentages for whole sections, and one can study, say bonds and consolidations until they're sick of it and get a few questions on that plus a few more on some other obscure topic like foreign transactions, all from the same section. I have seen questions nit picking everything. The book might have one line mention of some fact or exception and that could be the answer to a question. Too many of these is bad news. Sure one can hope to get lucky but, personally, I wouldn't go that route. I didn't have a class on Gov/NFP either so all I know is from the Becker text. I did get some questions on that topic but I can't remember how many. Keep in mind also that Gov/NFP simulations are fair game now too.

FAR 86 | BEC 94 | AUD 90 | REG 85
All done! used Becker

[Patrick909]

I can tell you, after having taken the 4 sections of this exam, if you think you know what's going to be heavily tested vs what isn't, you're in for a rude awakening. In each section, there were surprises in either direction as to what was hit hard and what wasn't.

You really think you're going to get away with ignoring Governmental/NFP on FAR???? ROFL good luck with that one, let me know how that works out for you.

[Anonymous]

I would be nice to “skip” some subjects, but I am studying everything equally. Even if it is one point, it could be the difference between a 74 or a 75.

[Anonymous]

A smart bet is to do a review course and work material in it and if you understand it then you will be good; study extra hard on the weak areas but do not get rusty on your strengths; look at the %'s on cpa-exam.org so you understand; buy Jeff's book or invest in learning how it is graded; there is a reason why the pass rates are so low…..

Your schedule is pretty short to me the hours are fine for BEC and Audit; the two easiest

but for REG I would do 120min and for FAR over 8weeks150min

[Anonymous]

RookieCPA2b,

Having sat for 3 of 4 exams. I would have to say that your plan would be suicidal for me. I would tend to agree with some of the other post. This exam is not cheap and failing can be really expensive real quick. If you think you can ignore Govt/NFP I would think twice. I know individuals who have failed FAR because of this one section. If you do not get a simulation on Govt/NFP then approximately 1 in 5 multiple choice questions will cover the subject matter that equates to 18 questions. Are you more likely to get 18 verses 4 or 5, I would say closer to 18 would be more realistic. Like I said having sat for 3 of 4 exams the AICPA does not publish the percentages then turn around and ignore them at least not in my opinion. I wish you good luck, maybe you have one of those photographic memories which can absorb the information like a sponge and retain it indefinitely, I am not so fortunate.

[RookieCPA2b]

All you guys make valid arguments. But I think you haven't been able to see through the “smoke screen” of distracting questions during your exam. And those questions are the ones that are creating “Mass Panic” for everyone else…..

For REG, if were to ask you how many questions you had in “Bankruptcy” or Insurance ect., you probably would stay quiet! For FAR, if I were to ask how many question you got in Partnership Accounting, Basic Concepts ect, you would't Know. And if you read the many posts about FAR, Govt/NFP is not consisitently tested or lowly tested; on average 5 MCQ.

I studied 9 hours for AUD! Basically, I took the Wiley book, tore-out the answers for the MCQs and then read the answers to the questions at the same time. No sense in racking your brain to come-up with the answer that you already have!

And this is what I'm going to do with REG and FAR. Read the answers first, then look at the questions……..That's why I could finish 2 or 3 chapters in a weekend.

I'm not going to spend thousands $$ to feed the hype for these review courses and AICPA collecting their exam fees. It's time we get smart about it and put our focus on the basics, read the answers and look at the questions and you'll know!

And for those super tough “out of this world” exam questions you all say you got during FAR, well my chances will be no better than yours! There's just NO way to know everything for these exams. And if you think you can, you're just kidding yourself.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice guys. It looks like I'm somewhere in the middle of what has been recommended. I'll have to look through the old exams and see how heavily each topic was weighted. Maybe there is a pattern from prior years that would make studying more effective. If I can get away with less study hours than I currently have planned than that would be great but I would rather over-study then be unprepared for the test.

[Anonymous]

@RookieCPA2b: Let's hear how well this method works out when FAR kicks your butt becuase you think you can “outsmart” it.

[TampaAccountant]

I agree with Rookie, there's no way to study for all that FAR stuff.

I took FAR in Nov, and probably failed it!

I'm already studying for FAR for Jan, not going to study any Govt/NFP, and stick to studying MCQs

[Anonymous]

RookieCPA2b… what are you talking about – 4-5 questions on Govt and Non-profit???

There are no simulations on these topics – it's AICPA rule for these years. And you get up to 24% of MCQ for them – ask all of us – it's heavily tested.

I agree with you on cutting unneeded material – I was doing that as well. Still got myself about 50 – 75 hours for each section. And I'm a smart test taker. But 7 – 30 hours? I don't know… I'll be very happy to know if you can do it – please let us know.

[Author]

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