[JLLLLLLL]

Hi All,

I took FAR in January and passed. I took BEC in May and feel like I passed (find out for sure on 5/24). I want to take my next exams in August and November (leaving January open for any retakes and then be done). My May, June, and July weekends are completely booked with weddings, baptisms, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, and baby showers so I’m a little nervous about how much time I’ll have available to dedicate to studying. Should I try to take REG or AUD in August? Which section is easier to study on the go (in cars, planes, on the beach, etc.)? I do not have audit or tax experience so I think the topics will all be relatively new for me. Which section is easier if you don’t have prior knowledge of either? I know REG is only a 3 hour exam, but AUD has less Becker chapters. I have Becker materials and flashcards (although I never used the flashcards for FAR or BEC).

Thanks in advance for your advice!

FAR - 85 (01/2016)
BEC - 88 (05/2016)
AUD - 09/2016
REG - plan to take in 11/2016 or 01/2017

[Nessie]

JLLLLLLLL,

I feel that AUD will take less time and less concentration-so it might be the choice. I think it is a longer exam because the examiners are giving you time to think. The material you have to cover is less than REG. I found with AUD, it was actually good to step away for a day or two a week, and when I came back to it, I felt refreshed and the concepts had sunk in.

It all depends on you. If you did well in AUD at school, this is the one you should choose first.

No sure you can study AUD at the beach, but it is easier to study with some distractions than some of the others.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[S1CPA]

In the big picture, it comes down to what you feel like you PERSONALLY will struggle with more. Some people have said that audit is the hardest to study for. I personally believe that REG is the hardest one to pass.

As you mentioned, AUD has only 6 Becker chapters, and REG has 8. Another interesting point of view is that learning AUD is more about concepts and ideas, while REG has some math/formula concepts. AUD mayyyy be easier to study for if you are studying on the go.

But as I said before, it comes down to personal preference. good luck

AUD - 80 April 2015
FAR - 77 August 2015
REG - 60 October 2015, 73 May 2016, 75 July 2016
BEC - 79 January 2016

[Jdn9201]

Agreed with others – depends on your strengths/weaknesses. I would say AUD would be easier to study on the road because there's very few computations involved. Don't be scared of AUD though – it was difficult for me to maintain focus (lack of numbers) but I didn't think AUD was that hard for me – just read the questions VERY carefully. I only had 1 audit class my entire career and did fine.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[JLLLLLLL]

Thank you all! I've never had an audit or a tax class (but interned at PwC in tax and went to some of their tax trainings), so both topics will be relatively new. I think I'm going to do AUD during the summer after hearing your advice.

FAR - 85 (01/2016)
BEC - 88 (05/2016)
AUD - 09/2016
REG - plan to take in 11/2016 or 01/2017

[Nessie]

JLLLLLLL,

Just curious, how were you able to book the exam without an audit class. I was not able to book the exam without showing I had taken one audit class?

I think you are smart to do AUD. I was good in both and will be working in tax. AUD took only 7 weeks, whereas REG took me about 12. I felt I needed breaks studying AUD, so your busy weekends may be OK in the end.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[JLLLLLLL]

Hi Nessie,

I applied to be licensed in Connecticut which does not require a specific tax or audit course (but requires more business credit hours than other states and I have a ton of undergrad and grad credit hours that are in other business areas).

Here is the CT criteria:

You are a graduate of a regionally-accredited college or university approved by the Board with a bachelor’s degree, with at least 46 semester hours in the study of accounting and related subjects, including, but not limited to:
business law,
economics,
finance;
of which at least 24 semester hours shall be in the study of accounting.

FAR - 85 (01/2016)
BEC - 88 (05/2016)
AUD - 09/2016
REG - plan to take in 11/2016 or 01/2017

[monikernc]

aud can be done anywhere it requires a limited number of calculations so you do not have to be at a desk or have a calculator and paper like reg or far or bec. you will need to make notes, though.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[If I can, u can too!]

i felt either was equally difficult. Reg is a mile wide and not that deep but Aud is narrow but a mile deep. i spent more hours passing Aud than Reg.

Licensed CPA since Apr 16
Order in sequence of passing
FAR-71,71,79
BEC-80
REG-72,77
AUD-56,72,72,72,80! Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!
FAR/BEC/AUD: Becker & Yaeger lectures (Wiley & Ninja MCQs). REG: Becker lectures (Ninja MCQs).

[Author]

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