[camosley]

Okay, did not pass FAR in November like I needed to in order to take AUD on January 4 and Reg on January 31. This would have allowed me to be done with this chaos.

So, I need some advice and love from the CPA exam family.

Here are a couple of options I have going in my mind. I think it would be good to have others that are going through this on the outside looking in to help with my decision.

First Option:

Study like a mad man and take AUD on January 4 and hope that I pass. Then, take FAR and REG by January 31 (shot in the dark, I know) and pray I don’t lose BEC (this is the only one I have passed at the moment).

Or,

Second Option:

Take AUD on January 31 and give myself more time to study AUD (this will be my fifth time to take the exam) in hopes of passing. This will ensure I will lose BEC, which I passed the first go around. Take BEC at the end of February. Then, set myself up to study for FAR starting in March and take it at the end of April. Then start studying for REG (which I passed the first time) at the beginning of May and take it at the end of May.

With option two, I will have successfully let two exams lapse. Oh the agony. Don’t worry, I have licked my wounds. I will not quit. There is no quit in me. I am in strategy mode to figure out my best options to pass.

Side note. I work with a gentlemen on the side during tax season on top of my regular job. This side job is not an option to pass up this year. My family needs the money.

Thanks for any help, prayer, or advice you can offer.

Blessings,

chuck

[ohiostategirlcpa]

Work on the exams you have not yet passed, and of those do FAR first: it is the hardest and will help with AUD. After you pass FAR and AUD then retake BEC and REG if needed.

F91 A95 R90 B94
CMA since 2015
(Gleim books/PDFs, MCQs, SIMS)

[Missy]

This is just my opinion, but I think that for a person working full time with a side job, trying to take two exams in a testing window is a mistake. Its a longshot to pass three exams in January at best. I would slow it down and really focus on ONE exam, pick AUD, study and take sometime in February, then choose a next section. Trying to plan out 3-4 sections may be ok for someone who either doesn't work full time or doesn't have other obligations but in your case I think its counterproductive.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[wombataholic]

I really doubt that you'll be able to pass 3 sections in one month while working full time. Start over from the beginning and study hard to take FAR at the end of February, then after tax season ends start working on AUD.

Licensed CPA
Passed each section on the first try with Ninja Notes/MCQ/Audio

[camosley]

All,

Thank you so much for your advice. I had one more question if you don't mind.

I am going to try and pass AUD by February before tax season hits. Then after tax season, I will go from there and try and pass FAR.

With that, I wanted to ask a quick question about study method. I am currently using CPA Excel. I have bought NINJA MCQ's, Audio, and flash cards.

Currently, I have moved on from videos (which I have done recently) and started studying just MCQ's. If there is an area I don't understand, I will read text and dig into what I don't understand. I tried early on Nailing the videos, but it was slowing me down, and I don't think I was learning very well that way.

Does anyone have a suggestion regarding what I could do in order to break up my method and maybe give myself a better edge on this goal of passing?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you for all advice you have given to me.

Many thanks and blessings,
chuck

[sva_123]

i think reading the text is important. It's time consuming but that's what helped me start passing these exams (videos, reading, taking notes, ninja mcqs).

AUD: Pass (July 2015)
BEC: Pass (Nov 2015)
REG: Pass (Feb 2016)
FAR: Pass (June 2016)
Ethics: 100%

Becker self study and Ninja 10 pt combo

[Marcus]

Option 1 is ambitious, but not so far out of reach, option 2 lets bec expire, but to be honest, if you know the material real well, then maybe it might be good to follow option 1. Meaning if you have a great foundation already for far, reg, and aud. I'm assuming you have to have a good foundation at least for aud, if this is the 5th time. If thats the case, take all 3 or bust for option 1. But then you are in the predicament that your family needs money, so if option 1, if your not ready, don't waste your money as each test is like $200. So if your not comfortable then go with option 2, take some breaks and buckle down and take it slow.

Some courses make guides for free and you can try and follow one test window scheduler, but if your working 2 jobs with no time, then it may pose a problem. I was in the same position as you for AUD, I was on my fourth attempt afraid that I would fall into the hole, but it does take some time. But for AUD what worked for me was simulation practice and just reworking mcqs, but I wasn't under the gun to finish all 3 in one window.

For option 2: My advice is TAKE REG now. I know people keep pushing FAR, but in 12 mos the REG/BEC exam are going to change to 4 hours a piece with more simulations and some analysis (I know eeeeeek). So if BEC expires, try and take REG/BEC so even if you do pass you have an 18 mo window (and the possibility of not having to retake them when they go to 4 hours). And then tackle Far and Aud. I found that bec and reg are somewhat of a breather only being 3 hours instead of four.

[Anonymous]

You have a lot going on. A family, tax season and a side job? Although I believe in going full throttle, I took an exam the last two februarys in a row and very much regret doing it. Because if you study as much as you need to, you will get behind in tax season and then you will walk right out of that test and into a mountain of a messy tax season.
I also have a family, tax season and i have passed these exams.

I presume you are almost ready to take AUD since Jan 4 is one week from today. I would reschedule AUD to January 20 and do 1,500-2,000 questions in Ninja MCQ. Cancel the REG exam on Jan 31 and take it after tax season. You will need to roll out of tax season and right into REG. Keep in mind , it isn't all about what you can survive. Your family is going through this as well. Good luck.

[Author]

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