[Anonymous]

I am getting ready to start preparing for the CPA exams. I have been out of school for 9 years and realize that I will have to spend a lot of time studying. I am just not sure which part to start with…..

I am debating with myself on studying for the parts I am most comfortable on first, then moving on to the other. OR, starting with the ones that I am least comfortable with and then going from there….

any suggestions??

Thanks!

Melanie

[Anonymous]

B.A.R.F…………work your way up the latter….

[Anonymous]

Hi Melby,

I would recommend starting with FAR as this topic has alot of material and will probably take the most study time to learn. Then after you pass this section you'll have 18 months to pass the other three. I atudied for FAR for a few months took it in November 2007 and passed on the first sit. As I was working and year-end was busy I then studied for BEC; and took the test in February 2008. Bec is the shortest study section and the exam time (2 Hours) is the shortest of all the parts. Next came Auditing which I took in May (and passed). As I then had a year left to pass the last part Regulation, I took June and July off and then started to study in August. Took the Regulation part in November 2008 and passed. This worked well for me. I suggest starting with either FAR or Regulation as these have the most material.

[Anonymous]

I feel your pain Melby. I too am sitting for the exam and have been out of school 12 years. I had to go back to school for 1 full time semester last fall to get my 150 since it wasn't required 12 years ago. I started w/ BEC since it appears to be the bear of the 4. I started studying for REG while waiting for BEC grade. Didn't pass BEC, but did pass REG on the first try. Just took BEC again a few weeks ago…waiting on that grade now (fingers crossed!). I'm studying for audit now and taking it in October.

My plan is to stick w/ 2 parts at a time and only move on once I pass one part. I don't want to overwhelm myself w/ too much info at one time. Working experience does help some – but it's hard to go back to studying when you haven't done it for so long. Good luck to you and just know you are not alone!!

[Anonymous]

Best plan, start with the part that you think will be the hardest for you. Since you only get the 18 month window, you would probably not want your clock to start until you have passed the part that you think you would struggle with.

You would hate to pass the 3 parts and then get stuck on the hard part and let the first 3 fall off and have to retake them.

That is just one opinion though.

[jeff]

Good question…it prompted me to write a post about it:

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-study-first-section.html

[Anonymous]

Get the hardest ones out of the way. I had passed all 3 and then failed FAR twice(64 then 74!). I lost my credit and had to start over. This time I started with FAR and passed when I took in August 3…with an 83! Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I took FAR, BEC, AUD, and REG. There are some things that I "found out" while studying REG & BEC that I wish I had "known" when I was studying FAR or AUD. I sort of wished I had done them in reverse order. However, the points being raised here to get the tough ones out of the way first are true. I don't remember how I decided to take my exams in that order. May be I thought FAR was tough, and I thought BEC would be a piece of cake, so I would be assured of passing one in the window? Not sure.

One option would be to scan give each section a quick look/study – say, 2 hours each, and see how you feel. Then start with the one you feel most comfortable with. Why? Because when you pass, the juices to finish it off start flowing. You believe you can do it. If you fail, sometimes it is hard to convince yourself that you can do it.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I agree with the others, take the harder/longer sections first, not only because of the window, but as I found, I lost momentum/motivation along the way. I went FARB and I passed the first 3 on my first try and am still waiting on my BEC score… Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

I am a lawyer having graduated from law school in 2011 and studied tax. I graduated from college in 2007, majoring in business and finance. I already passed REG as my first exam on my first try which I’m happy about. I wanted to see if I pass a section so I chose REG which is the most relevant to my education and experience. I was originally set to take FAR second, but now I’m leaning toward getting BEC and AUD out of the way first so I can focus on FAR. I majored in Finance in college. I also took an auditing course last year to become eligible to take the exam so I’m guessing BEC and AUD would be more fresh in my memory compared to FAR. However, I hear a lot of people saying that info learned in FAR helps for BEC and AUD.

[zombiecpa]

@cmitch85 I ll share my exam experience. I took FAR first, all the MCQs and SIMs were covered in my study materials (Wiley text book and WTB). Then I took AUD, most of the SIMS were FAR related and not covered in AUD study materials, therefore AUD exam requires solid comprehension of certain FAR topics (JEs, consolidated FS, accrual vs cash basis accounting and many more). Then I took BEC. A lot of questions were related both to AUD and FAR and again not covered in BEC study materials.

FAR 85
AUD 83
BEC 76
REG 90

[Anonymous]

Why are all of these extremely old”exam order” posts creeping back up???????

[zombiecpa]

@CPAMommyof3 Maybe some of the ninjas are too shy to start their own topics. So they look for the old ones with the same question.

FAR 85
AUD 83
BEC 76
REG 90

[Anonymous]

I looked back and the same person reopened all 4 of these really old posts. Seems strange to me.

[Anonymous]

I would like to thank very one for taking the time to share your experience in this long journey! Your comments help me a lot in my decision making process!

[Anonymous]

FARB

[Author]

Replies