[Anonymous]

I really, really hope I passed FAR. I will find out on the 20th, so I pray to the CPA Gods nightly!

Assuming I passed FAR, should I take AUD or REG next? I am kind of burned out from FAR and need a break, so I wanted to take AUD simply because it is less material to work through and Corporate Taxation is more challenging than any topics I ever covered in my Audit class at University – IMO. Howeever, I do not want to go into REG even more burned out after AUD…

Here are my assumptions about both Exams:

AUD:
Less material than REG, less calculations, a decent amoount of FAR concepts are covered in AUD, and some of the Sims should be easier because I just finished FAR (hopefully). More conceptual.

REG: More material than AUD, less overlapping of topics with FAR, more calculations, harder topics, Bus. Law and Ind. Tax were not too hard at University, but Corporate Taxation – Ughhhh. (Corp Tax, Intermediate 2 and 3, and Advanced were my most challenging University classes).

Thanks for any feedback. I have only take FAR on 9/9 and still somewhat new to the CPA process.

[Lou]

I personally recommend AUD. Directly applied FAR concepts as well as its all conceptual so it's a little easier on the brain than FAR.

FAR- taken 8/11/16....now the wait begins
AUD- scheduled 9/8/16
BEC- scheduled 10/9/16
REG-scheduled 12/10/16

Live a few years like most people won't, to live the rest of your life like most people can't.

[Anonymous]

@Iblacker

Thanks. Those are my thoughts as well, but I wanted to to hear other's opinions too. I appreciate your feedback.

[Lou]

Yeah I just finished up AUD after doing FAR and was really happy I did because I think aud would be even more siginficantly difficult when it comes to the SIMs especially because of the AJE and FAR concepts like revenue recognition etc.

FAR- taken 8/11/16....now the wait begins
AUD- scheduled 9/8/16
BEC- scheduled 10/9/16
REG-scheduled 12/10/16

Live a few years like most people won't, to live the rest of your life like most people can't.

[Anonymous]

Definitely AUD after FAR. AUD and FAR are both GAAP based (AUD just adds in the various auditing standards). REG dumps everything GAAP and goes to IRC. I'd wait to tackle IRC till I was done with GAAP, just so that you're not dropping GAAP, then picking it back up, then dropping it again, etc. So, do AUD next, get your passing score for FAR while you're doing AUD, then tackle REG (or BEC) while you wait for your passing score on AUD. 🙂

[LedgerL0ver]

I will also recommend studying for AUD right after FAR.

You will without a doubt see many topics covered in AUD that overlap with FAR. Because of this, I felt it was a bit easier to retain new information.

If you have not taken BEC yet, I would recommend taking that right after AUD because the IT section in AUD and in BEC overlap quite a bit as well.

Good luck!

FAR 4/24/16 --85--
AUD 7/5/16 --84--
BEC 8/30/16 --?--
REG

[Harambe]

I took AUD right after FAR, I would recommend you do the same. FAR definitely prepared me for some of my AUD sims.

[Anonymous]

The standard exam order used to be AUD after FAR because of their similarities and how studying for AUD might also prepare for possible retakes on FAR. But now that you have to factor in the fact that REG and BEC are getting harder, you might want to tackle either of those two next. I know the feeling of being burned out after taking FAR, but if you have the chance to take an easier REG and/or BEC, I recommend you to push through. Also, REG taxation part does not go beyond intermediate tax classes in the university, and questions do not go into very specific areas. I think you shouldn't be scared of it at all.

[Anonymous]

Great responses fellow CPA candidates and you all basically summed up my thoughts. I wanted to make sure I am taking my exams in the most efficient order because the CPA process is fricking Brutal. I figured AUD would be the next best choice and I sure hope it is not as challenging or cumulative as FAR. I've never had to study so many random topics in my life for FAR! Goodluck to you all.

[Author]

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