[mi2015]

Hi All,

I have recently received confirmation from the accountancy board that I am eligible to sit for CPA exam.

I would like to know based on you guys experience following:

– Best choice for review course selection

– What order is best to complete exams

– Is it possible to pass all 4 parts within 1 years with a full time job

I would appreciate any comments to help me plan my CPA exam preparation.

Thank you.

MI

[mla1169]

First question depends on your learning style. Wiley suited me just fine but it's entirely self taught and a LOT of information. Other systems have lectures or even live classes.

Second question is subjective. I am of the school that says start with the hardest (FAR) because you'll have progressively less energy to study the longer you're at it. Besides if you don't pass at least the 18 month clock isn't ticking yet.

Third question is yes it is absolutely possible to pass all 4 in 12 months while working full time. Not everyone is able to but many including myself do.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mi2015]

Thank for your comment. Based on online information I am attractive to go for Becker review course (online classes). I would hope they will cover everything which I need to pass my exam in May.

[Java230]

You should take FAR first, it comes up in other sections. It will help u. Plus, people think it's hardest, the 18 month clock won't start until you pass it.

Licensed WA CPA 2/2015
Government Auditor Since 2007

[TNCPA16]

I would echo what mla1169 said. Definitely research the various review materials out there to see what would be best for you. Becker tends to get the most recognition, but that doesn't mean it's the best program for you – personally, I did not like Becker and did not have much luck with it.

Starting with FAR is a good strategy. I opted to start with the easiest section for me, AUD, because I needed a confidence boost (this is my second go-around with the CPA exam – had I failed AUD, I was not going to pursue the CPA anymore).

Yes, it is definitely possible to pass all 4 parts in a year while working full time.

Good luck!

[s2sylvir]

Which material: I like Becker. It gives you just enough information to pass. Yes, the exam is likely going to test you on things Becker didn't cover, but I'm fine with that. You just have to be comfortable with the fact that sometimes you think Becker isn't giving you all the information. I find that it's more time efficient. I'd rather memorize 90% of the material in 20 minutes, than spend an additional 2 hours memorizing 100% (which is kind of like Becker vs Wiley — Wiley is waaaay in depth).

Which one first: Basically, there are 2 approaches

1) Take the one you feel will be the easiest (you're familiar with the topic, you like the topic, etc), get a confidence booster.

2) Take the one you feel is the hardest first. Your 18 month doesn't start until you pass the first section, so knocking the hardest out is always encouraged. Know that if you fail, it's okay. Just keep trying. It's not about remembering your past failures, but reaching for your future success.

Here's my person story (which you can skip):

I think going with FAR is always a good choice. It's got 10 chapters (vs 6 or 8), so there's a lot more material to learn. Knock it out and have your 18 mo. clock start that way.

I actually started with FAR, because I heard that was the hardest. I realized maybe 3 chapters in that it wouldn't be a difficult exam for me, and went to my least favorite subject (which was audit). I'm glad I started with AUD… Because it took me 5 tries (yikes).

Since then, I've gotten the groove of this CPA thing and am confident I could knock out the rest (which has been pretty true, got BEC and REG on the first try).

I'm now moving back to my favorite topic during college, FAR, and find it not so painful as AUD (I don't know what it was with AUD).

Anyway, good luck!

BEC - PASS (79)
AUD - PASS (63, 71, 74, 74, 83)
REG - PASS (88)
FAR - PASS (58, 89)

Becker for all + FAR 10 Point Combo

[FIFOisbetterthanLIFO]

@s2sylvir, do you have an email you would share? I have a couple of questions about REG (you got a pretty good score in my opinion) and I don't want to spam the message board here.

FAR - Passed (82)
BEC - Passed (76)
AUD - Passed (89)
REG - Passed! (81)
AICPA Ethics

Licensed CPA

[Anonymous]

– Best choice for review course selection – As others say, it depends on your style and budget. I know some review materials offer a demo version, try them. I am using Gleim, it's boring but in-depth and very good in explaining answers. The main reason I bought it is it's cheaper. But hey, so far it works for me!

– What order is best to complete exams – They said, start from the most difficult, but difficulties again depends on individual. For me REG is the hardest, FAR was my highest score so far. Mine is FAR-AUD-REG-BEC. FAR-AUD and AUD-REG have overlapping topics. BEC has a little bit of FAR and AUD.

– Is it possible to pass all 4 parts within 1 years with a full time job – Yes. I started studying April of last year and I'm on my last section which I hope will be done this window. You just need to create a concrete study plan (some review materials has this feature) and stick to it. Mine was to take one section each window (slowly but surely).

Good luck and welcome to the club!

[FIFOisbetterthanLIFO]

I really like Roger CPA review and his price is reasonable (if you get it at the right time on sale its around $1400). He engages you the entire time and keeps the material understandable and as interesting as it can possible be (lets be honest its accounting). He also breaks it down into bite size lessons so you can absorb the material at your own pace. Breaking for 10 minutes in between a 45 minute session helps me to retain information better. After three straight hours of studying, things tend to roll in one ear and out the other or the eyes start to glaze over. Make yourself break for 5 or 10 minutes it can make a world of difference…the key is you HAVE to come back!

Watch a couple of Roger's videos on YouTube to decide for yourself.

FAR - Passed (82)
BEC - Passed (76)
AUD - Passed (89)
REG - Passed! (81)
AICPA Ethics

Licensed CPA

[Anna]

1) Best choice for review course selection

If you feel you need to prepare more for the amount of material, I think Becker books/materials and Roger CRAM work best. If you feel there are areas you didn't understand in college and are not just reviewing, or if you've never seen a significant amount of the material before, Wiley review books are painfully detailed but have the key facts you should need. In either of these cases, I found Wiley online test bank very efficient for tracking progress.

My other reccomendation if you find it difficult to focus (I do) is Gliem audio – which you can listen to while driving, eating, organizing things, or doing nothing but listening. These are not as boring as reading and require less effort than practice questions. Plus, I found a few unexpected questions on the exam that were covered only by the Gliem audio and that I didn't remember seeing in my review books/questions.

Also, nothing beats homemade flashcards from my experience.

2) What order is best to complete exams

If you'll be motivated to complete the parts by getting through less difficult ones first, start with BEC. But if you're more so trying to efficiently study (looking to overlap topics, or avoid confusing yourself by studying for different sections one after another), I would reccomend FAR first since tackling those topics that will build a good foundation for BEC or AUD (I think either makes sense following FAR), and REG (at least to me) seems to have the most concentration of topics that don't have a ton of overlap with the others, so I might save that for last.

It really is up to you for this on the basis of preference. I would warn though that if you do know of one you will struggle with (for example, if you have never really gotten the hang of tax, REG will be tough to pass), don't save it for last! Or at least give yourself ample time to retake 2-3 times before you could lose any credit.

3) Is it possible to pass all 4 parts within 1 years with a full time job

I am halfway there, so I will say I think so. I have taken time off before each test, and you have to make the most of weekend study time to give yourself a break during the week.

BEC - 81
AUD - 81
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

[jacepaxton]

You can read more at

yahoo

[needhelpnow]

– Best choice for review course selection

I actually switched from Becker to Roger a while back. I did this because some of the material was just bland and I needed someone to make them a little more fun for me to understand. After I tried Becker a few times, it just wasn't doing it for me and my focus kept getting lost. Roger actually kept it fun to listen to the lectures. I think the questions are quite the same for both, but either way I would also supplement it with Ninja MCQs or something just to keep testing yourself for MCQs.

– What order is best to complete exams

If you want to build up your confidence, start with BEC or AUD, then move to REG and FAR..otherwise do 1 hard 1 easy..start with REG, then BEC, AUD then FAR..

– Is it possible to pass all 4 parts within 1 years with a full time job

Possible? Yes, but no parties or hanging out on the weekends. Just a no no. Otherwise you will need more than an year.

[mi2015]

Thanks all. Your comments are much appreciated!

[Skynet]

Whenever you are studying for the CPA exams and feel stressed out remember the saying

“Where there's a Will, there's a CPA”

[peskypole]

Review course:

I've been very happy with Yaeger. It is about mid range when it comes to cost. Roughly half the cost of Becker. The lectures cover the important points of the material well. Yaeger uses the Wiley books and test bank, but specifically tell you NOT to read the whole book as it is very detailed. Yaeger puts together a nice handout as well that is very helpful.

Exam order:

FAR – Takes a while to study for and gives you a good foundation for the other sections. Get the hard one out of the way. if you fail no ticking clock to worry about.

AUD – Nice breather in between the two toughest sections.

REG – Unless you've done a lot of tax work, this one rivals FAR on the difficulty scale. Tax law doesn't follow the rules of common sense.

BEC – Have yet to take, but pass rates say this is the easiest section. Finish off with this one.

Yes, it is possible to pass all four in a year. Assuming I pass BEC in May, I will have done so taking about three months off for tax season.

FAR - PASSED!! - 95
AUD - PASSED!! - 98
REG - PASSED!! - 93
BEC - PASSED!! - 90
Licensed CPA
Just a couple of thoughts I tried to remember as I went through the journey of passing the CPA exams:
Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do all this through him who gives me strength."

[zoctoman]

For the first test, take what you are most excited about. If far is not it, I'd say take it 2nd. I took bec last and loved how there were no simulations(just writing sample which you can BS). It was such a relief to not have to worry about practicing sims for my last exam!

Audit(11/5/13) - 89
Reg(5/16/14) - 86
FAR(7/18/14) - 82
BEC(11/14) - 85

[Author]

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