[JSPERBER]

Would it be futile to study for the FAR section now if I plan to sit for the exam during November?

I’m taking relatively easy college credits over the summer so that I’ll that I’ll have 120 credits by the end of the summer in order to sit for November’s testing window. In addition, work starts to “slow down” during the summer, so I’m not sure what I should do with all my free time. Would It be overkill to study now?

I’d figured maybe if I study way in advance, the material will be stored in my “long term memory bank” which will make my studying much easier as the test day approaches.

[EuroAddict]

Go for it. Can't hurt you.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Ajaz0810]

How about study hard for 8 to 10 weeks and take the test in August then study another 8 to 10 weeks and take another test in October. By the end of the year you could be done with 2 sections. Trust me from somebody who has been doing this for almost 2 years, I had the same thought as you did when I started. I wanted to give myself 6 months to pass far. I got a 62. The more time you give yourself the harder it is to ever pass.

FAR 62, 66, 78
AUD 66, 55, 74, 72
BEC 79
REG

[Anonymous]

I disagree:

The old saying “it's never too early to start” does not apply to studying for the CPA Exam. There is too much information that you need to know on the exam so if you spread your studying out, you won't retain the information. And if you work MCQ every day for months, you will start memorizing answers and forgetting concepts.

A time frame is going to be different for everybody but what worked for me was using Becker, I would average about 1.5 chapters a week. For REG (8 chapters) that took me about 6 weeks. Then I spent another month in review mode. So about 10 weeks for REG. The other 3 pieces were a similar time frame (you can see my actual exam dates below which shows I did one exam per test window which gave me plenty of time to prepare between exams). That worked for me. Others can do two exams a window without a problem but I'm not one of those people.

[Zuly]

@JSPERBER can you take an exam earlier than November? Say last day in August or October? I know you mentioned the 120 credit hours so I know you have to take than in account with taking the exam. I agree with Angelwatch and others that you don't want so much time to study because you'll either forget concepts or you won't apply yourself as much because you feel like you have all the time in the world to only find out you have two weeks till exam day. I know because I did that with my first go with FAR and it backfired on me. If you can't do earlier than November then just wait to study…not sure if you'll be studying full time or not so based on that figure out when is the best time to start. Also, another reason to wait is because most course providers (like Becker, Roger, Yaegar, NINJA or Wiley MCQs) have time limits to how long you have access to their courses so you want to make sure you buy them when you are actually ready to start studying for the exam and know that they will still be available when you take that 4th exam. Good luck with everything!

FAR - (11/01/14) 71 (02/07/15) 79
AUD - (04/30/15) 86
BEC - (07/21/15) 73 (10/01/15) 75
REG - (11/30/15) 55 (05/19/16) 74

[jrb0048]

I have only taken one test so far and it was audit. I studied hard for 3 weeks and took it. I said to myself there is absolutely no way for me to memorize EVERYTHING in audit, but if they ask me the right questions during the test I would pass. On my first take they asked me questions that I knew instead of things that I was fuzzy on (auditing cycles) and got an 86. As result with these tests, I would recommend hitting it hard and fast instead of dragging it out.

Audit- 86 5/27/2015
Regulation- 89 7/2/2015
Bec- 83 7/23/2015
Far- 80 8/31/2015
Ethics-62, 90
CMA-
Part 1: Passed 12/10/2015
Part 2: Passed 3/11/2016

CIA- Pass 1/29/16/// CRMA- Pass 2/9/16// CCSA- Pass 2/21/2016/// CFE- Pass 2/29/2016/// CFSA- Pass 3/15/2016

[ocarina]

I don't think so. I work fulltime & felt I drug it as long as you should for 2 1/2 months! Any longer then that its ridiculous & the return on investment really starts to fall. You should get it done in one go with 2 months or so of time.

FAR - 78
AUD - 82
REG - 79
BEC - 78

Study Materials: Becker Self Study, NINJA Notes, NINJA MCQ for review
Started March 2015 and finished December 2015 all on first attempt. Licensed CPA Jan 2016.

IT Auditor/CyberSec Consultant in Public Accounting
Future goals: Learn IT Network infrastructure, obtain CISA & CISSP

[Anonymous]

Worked for me in REG. Studied May 2014 and took 5 months to study until November 2014 and got a 90.

[Anonymous]

Then for Audit took 2.5 months while working and getting my Master's and BEC 4 Months during busy season and finishing up my Master's.

[Author]

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