[jlondon]

Hello all, I’ve paid for all 4 parts of the exam, and realize my schedule the next coming year is Extremely packed.. My exams all expire in June (Well, May, considering its blackout month) So here’s a few personal events…Got a bachelor party, and wedding to plan.. Wedding will be around June (Blackout month anyway)… so with consideration of that, Bachelor party should be around April? May?.. So, here’s my exam dates as anticipated..

1/24/2014 FAR (Taken and failed once already)

1/31/2014 AUD (Failed the last one by 2 points, so I don’t think it should be that hard again, right? )

Regulations… Never studied (Anticipated schedule date: Somewhere in April)

BEC… Failed Last year (Anticipated schedule for sometime in May)

So in the above schedule, right after AUD 1/31/2014… I will begin REG study the next day. Would you think it’s enough time if I schedule REG for beginning of April (Roughly 1.5 months time)? How many hours do you budget into studying? (I made a spreadsheet and track my hours of study time; hey, it helps) I work a full time job. Get home around 6-7..I can probably realistically put in about 2-3..maybe squeeze 4 hours each night (please tell me if this isn’t enough?!) So anyway, I want to take BEC last since it seems a bit more easier? And, to take into consideration.. it’s closer to the bachelor party/wedding/planning. On another note, does anybody have a suggestion which date I should plan the Bachelor party? lol.. I was thinking around end of April, hoping I’m ready for REG Early Mid April..?

My question is, how much time do you guys put into REG? and If you have a study schedule you have, could you let me know? I’m trying to coordinate my schedule accordingly, and follow it strictly so I can get my life back… AHHHHHHH.

Lastly.. any tips ? self techniques, suggestions, advice? etc?

Thank you all for any help.

…. If you fail to plan… you are planning to fail……

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[tough_kitty]

Exactly my point!! If you are already assuming you'll fail, either readjust your schedule or write it off altogether and concentrate on passing at least 2 of them, realistically!

And just to clarify – of course there were some topics which I was confused about – bonds, pensions, deferred taxes, st of cash flows, but after reviewing the book and practicing MCQ, I did better on those topics and I did use WTB to prepare so you have good study materials! Now all you need is time and practice, practice, practice!

And….just an idea….but if you pay someone (who is also attending the wedding) say $100 to take over some of your duties, you may end up saving more $ in exam fees and you'll have extra time to study. Just a thought.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Exactly my point!! If you are already assuming you'll fail, either readjust your schedule or write it off altogether and concentrate on passing at least 2 of them, realistically!

And just to clarify – of course there were some topics which I was confused about – bonds, pensions, deferred taxes, st of cash flows, but after reviewing the book and practicing MCQ, I did better on those topics and I did use WTB to prepare so you have good study materials! Now all you need is time and practice, practice, practice!

And….just an idea….but if you pay someone (who is also attending the wedding) say $100 to take over some of your duties, you may end up saving more $ in exam fees and you'll have extra time to study. Just a thought.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I'm looking at your schedule again… are you giving yourself 2 months for REG and 2 for BEC?? And only 1 month for FAR??

You still have till midnight to reschedule for free if you are on PST…

I'd do it this way if I were you:

AUD – 1st or 2nd week of Jan (2-3 weeks to study, at least 70 hrs)

FAR – last week of Feb (6-7 weeks, at least 140 hrs)

REG – last week of April/first week of May (4-5 weeks, at least 120 hrs)

BEC – last week of May (3-4 weeks, at least 70/hrs)

And then squeeze in your parties somehow in between….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

I'm looking at your schedule again… are you giving yourself 2 months for REG and 2 for BEC?? And only 1 month for FAR??

You still have till midnight to reschedule for free if you are on PST…

I'd do it this way if I were you:

AUD – 1st or 2nd week of Jan (2-3 weeks to study, at least 70 hrs)

FAR – last week of Feb (6-7 weeks, at least 140 hrs)

REG – last week of April/first week of May (4-5 weeks, at least 120 hrs)

BEC – last week of May (3-4 weeks, at least 70/hrs)

And then squeeze in your parties somehow in between….

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[jlondon]

@Touch_Kitty. Thanks so much for advice! Hmm. Well, I started to study FAR maybe late November.. I read about 5 chapters of Becker, then went back and realize, I nearly forgot everything I read, so then I just kind of started to do MCQ on Wiley, and taking notes down. and then procrastinated a bit, etc.. and now I'm here, I need to seriously get to work….

I was going to do AUD towards 1/31/14 because I think I have it down since it's my 3rd time… planning on studying about 1-2 hours a week from now until then. and everyday during the week before the exam (roughtly 14 hours or so?)

FAR – I'm budgeting about roughly realistically about 137 hours left for me… so I was going to spend it entirely on MCQ and light reading on topics I don't get..

REG – I have budgeted about 333 hours for 73 days…

BEC. – I've planned for 160 hours at 35 days.

All these hours of course may change, depending on my schedule.. Right now I'm just scared for FAR….30 days, 1 month.. yet it is Just around the corner…

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@Touch_Kitty. Thanks so much for advice! Hmm. Well, I started to study FAR maybe late November.. I read about 5 chapters of Becker, then went back and realize, I nearly forgot everything I read, so then I just kind of started to do MCQ on Wiley, and taking notes down. and then procrastinated a bit, etc.. and now I'm here, I need to seriously get to work….

I was going to do AUD towards 1/31/14 because I think I have it down since it's my 3rd time… planning on studying about 1-2 hours a week from now until then. and everyday during the week before the exam (roughtly 14 hours or so?)

FAR – I'm budgeting about roughly realistically about 137 hours left for me… so I was going to spend it entirely on MCQ and light reading on topics I don't get..

REG – I have budgeted about 333 hours for 73 days…

BEC. – I've planned for 160 hours at 35 days.

All these hours of course may change, depending on my schedule.. Right now I'm just scared for FAR….30 days, 1 month.. yet it is Just around the corner…

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@tough_kitty how did you come up with your schedule of hours? I mean, like how did you know to allocate which amount towards which topics, etc..? As for me, I kind of just did a even allocation on each topic based on the WTB.

I mean, of course certain topics will be much more tougher, would you have any suggestions on which topic I should spend more time on? For FAR.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@tough_kitty how did you come up with your schedule of hours? I mean, like how did you know to allocate which amount towards which topics, etc..? As for me, I kind of just did a even allocation on each topic based on the WTB.

I mean, of course certain topics will be much more tougher, would you have any suggestions on which topic I should spend more time on? For FAR.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[tough_kitty]

Well, ok… I trust you know what you are doing but….3rd time for AUD and only 14 hrs?

The pattern I've seen on here, people study more for retakes…in any case, good luck!!!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Well, ok… I trust you know what you are doing but….3rd time for AUD and only 14 hrs?

The pattern I've seen on here, people study more for retakes…in any case, good luck!!!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[jlondon]

@tough_kitty.. haha.. well I don't exactly know what I'm doing.. I'm really mad about Audit… I feel like I knew which ones I missed from the last exam.. so yea.. I think if i just keep doing questions, and reading on the reporting, etc.. I hope, and should pass?

I know right, I'm gambling my money away doing this…I just want to get done with.. it's torture.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@tough_kitty.. haha.. well I don't exactly know what I'm doing.. I'm really mad about Audit… I feel like I knew which ones I missed from the last exam.. so yea.. I think if i just keep doing questions, and reading on the reporting, etc.. I hope, and should pass?

I know right, I'm gambling my money away doing this…I just want to get done with.. it's torture.

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@Tough_Kitty Really looking forward to hoping I can follow the same amount of hours you spent… doesn't seem too bad…

“”FAR – 150 hrs

REG – 130 hrs

BEC – 80 hrs

AUD – 70 hrs””

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@Tough_Kitty Really looking forward to hoping I can follow the same amount of hours you spent… doesn't seem too bad…

“”FAR – 150 hrs

REG – 130 hrs

BEC – 80 hrs

AUD – 70 hrs””

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@tough_kitty… Ok… after a weekend of another bachelor party (I know right.. too many… #SMH.. everyone's getting married)… and contemplating about what you said.. I guess I've decided to reschedule my FAR Again…. Hopefully this will be my last.. going to Schedule all 4 and lock it down by tonight after 10 more hours of thinking about this…………..

1/31/2014 AUD – (Planning on doing roughly 5-6 hours each week ; Saturday & Sunday, budget for 22 hours until exam day; I've taken Audit a few times, and really feel like i got this down…so that's why so little hours)

2/14/2014 FAR ( Roughly 200 hours before exam date; hoping for 3-4 hours daily, and 12 hours each weekend)

4/14/2014 REG (Estimated 269 hours; same daily/weekend hours as FAR; really hoping I commit, since this is getting EXTRemely close to the big bachelor party/ wedding)

5/30/2014 BEC (Estimated 160 hours… take REG's comment, and put that on steroids regarding the wedding)…

what do you think ?

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[Author]

Replies