[Anonymous]

Hey everyone, first post here.

I just passed my first exam FAR with an 83! I only signed up for FAR first so right now I am not scheduled for anything. I use Roger, and my initial thought was to just go in order of thickest book to skinniest (FAR-REG-AUD-BEC).

I have had a friend tell me he recommends BEC next. Just wondering what the best strategy is for signing up. I’d love to be able to register for all three and save $150 in app fees, but thinking realistically that 2 might be the better option… Which two? When would you say to try and pick a date to sit? Any insight would be helpful!

Sorry if this is an incredibly redundant post, but everyone’s situation is different 😉 I am an Accounting Manager at a private firm. No experience working in public audit or tax prep other than college courses.

[acctaks]

@Alexbg01 I think AUD would be the most logical step since it's related to FAR. REG and BEC are pretty much their own topics.

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[Anonymous]

I think you should only register for what you realistically feel you can accomplish. Trust me you won't be saving much by paying for all the exams then having to re-pay on retakes because you rushed to take them all. Everyone has their own method on the order of exams they take. Some work in tax so they take REG first others take FAR first because it's the longest. Do it however you want! I will tell you that FAR and AUD do have similarities so personally I would take those back to back. BEC is short and has no SIMS but don't underestimate it. REG is taxes and unless you work in tax or have experience it will suck lol.

[wombataholic]

I did pretty much the same thing, registered for FAR, took it, then got my NTS for the other 3. I liked it because it gave me an actual time constraint for when I had to sit for each exam. It worked for me because my state's NTSs are good for 9 months – your mileage may vary.

I agree with acctaks – AUD is the next logical exam because of all the overlap with FAR, and that REG/BEC are pretty much their own topics, though there is a little overlap between REG and FAR, but not nearly as much as AUD and FAR.

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

[Anonymous]

Interesting.

I wouldn't think FAR and AUD were that closely related… I hated auditing in college but I got a B in it. Would you say just to register for AUD? What about AUD and BEC? Indiana gives you a 6 mo NTS.

What is the best time to schedule the actual exam? How long would you give yourself for AUD? My guess would be I put in around 100 hours for FAR, but feel that I got really lucky.

Thanks!!

[acctaks]

AUD is actually a nice little break after FAR. I gave myself 2 months for all tests. BEC was harder for me than REG.

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[Anonymous]

It depends on your current situation…do you work? what other commitments/obligations do you have going on besides studying? Also, it's not a true 6 months because you have black out months. If your studying full-time and have no other obligations (significant other, kids, elderly parents etc) I would schedule 2 exams- AUD study for a month then probably REG for month and half. Then take BEC last and study for that a month.

[Anonymous]

Is AUD easier than REG?

[okcpa2015]

I went a FAR, REG, AUD, BEC; ordering them in what I thought at the time was decreasing difficulty.

Having FAR & REG behind me really took some stress away when I was studying for my last two exams.

FAR - 91
REG - 88
AUD - 98
BEC - 88

[acctaks]

You can't really gauge based on other's experiences. Mine in order was FAR 77 (didn't complete 3 Sims), AUD 92, REG 86, BEC 83. FAR goes with AUD because when you audit you're looking at FAR. No test is “easy”. They all take time and effort. Even if you think you know a subject play dumb and act like you're learning for the first time. You're going to have questions that are going to make you say wtf.

F-Pass
A-Pass
R-Pass
B-Pass

I'm a CPA!

[Author]

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