[Bsack]

Hey all,

My Becker material expires December 15th of this year and December is also the last month I can take FAR. I had studied to take FAR in August but postponed and decided to take audit first. Does it sound like a bad idea to try to fit in FAR and REG before December 5th? I am taking audit next week and want to jump into either REG or FAR immediately afterwards. I also work full time right now in tax and have passed only BEC.

This will give me about 1 month for REG and 1 month for FAR (kind of like a retake since I’ve already studied for FAR). I don’t like this idea but am strongly considering it given my circumstances. If not, my alternative is to focus on one exam and purchase another review course after mine expires.

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome.

BEC 76
FAR 08/22/16

[mtaylo24]

I don't know, but I'm kind of in the same boat after I take BEC on Oct 15. I am planning on also retaking both sections this window. As far as the strategy, F-1, R-1, F-2, R-2, rinse and repeat? I finished F 1 & 2 and R 1 & 2, before I found out I failed BEC, so I dropped them both. I think Reg has 8 and Far has 10. For me, I'm thinking Reg mid Nov and Far at the end of the extended window, but FAR has too much material to cram into 4 weeks, so that's why you may have to double up, or at least take a progress tests, while you are studying Reg. I don't really planning on reading or watching videos btw, all MCQ. Sounds like a hot mess right?

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[C / X]

Unless you already paid for the exams and can’t get your money back then that that’s pretty much a horrible idea. You are addressing a sunk cost and that shouldn’t be factored into the equation (it also isn’t obviously working for you- if the only reason you’re studying now is because it expires…)

Would you rather have two failed exams one quarter or one passed exam? At best I advise you to budget 90% of your time/mastering EXAM 1, and 10% of your time for EXAM 2 and if you have to take it just take it for “funzies.” My logic: *It is better to have passed 1 section in a quarter than failing 2 different ones*- ESP with exam changes coming up.

Both exams need at least 2 months of review time unless you are a cramming wizard or have factors like this: Person I know who WORKS for a CPA firm that mainly does 90% TAX& about 10% AUDIT, and used to work as a lawyer- I’m sure she can have 3 week of a study time for REG…or maybe you have a photographic memory, etc/ You have no other commitments in life (work/family/etc) and won’t get depressed being burrowed into a little hole.

(ESTIMATED*) actual costs that can be considered:
150: Exam cost
+ 75*-150*: Another exam you could have taken and passed in the extra TIME you have to study for RETAKE
– 50*: Exam experience for prep of next quarter
(+ MISC Costs) & Opportunity Cost: Added Study time + (1 – 3 months* minimum).

Even though it’s a bit more costly in the long-run sometimes it’s better to pay by section (ROGER/NINJA/etc have options for that if need be).

[mtaylo24]

^^^ I hear you. Wouldn't recommend to do that if it was my first time, but this is my 4th time at Reg and 2nd time at FAR, so I've been through the material for both sections multiple times. I've been studying for REG since last November and FAR since May. OP mentioned that he has been at FAR for a while.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[bhunt815]

I passed BEC and REG in 7 weeks but I doubt I could have fit FAR and REG in the same window. Not saying you can't do it, but I would have struggled trying to fit that much info into a relatively small window. FAR and REG are no joke and even for us crammers we might need a little more than a couple months to do both.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[jpowell31]

it'll be really tough but with your stuff expiring you're already losing more money than you would by taking a chance…if it's cost efficient and easy to get to a testing center i would say get your NTS for both – they last 3 months either way… and get right back into it after AUD with FAR, since you feel that may be easier to get through having studied for it already and see how it goes. don't schedule anything but keep an eye on open testing availability. aim to do what you want above but if you find it's not realistic, push the date back to the end of the period and do REG in jan/feb.
i live overseas so i probably wouldn't push my luck getting a flight, hotel and paying for an exam unless i had a good shot at it, but if you don't have major hurdles, plan as you go but don't put too much pressure on. i'll be sitting REG next week and aiming to sit FAR at the end of Nov (7 weeks) and i'm nervous about that so good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

dont resort to cramming just because your Becker is expiring.

i was in a similar situation: my Becker expired after i used it to pass AUD & BEC.

I used the Becker textbooks that i had left to study for FAR & REG. and used NINJA MCQ/audio/flashcards to replace the Becker MCQ's that expired. I am a big proponent of reading the books and skipping lectures (even when unexpired, i used becker solely for MCQ's not lectures.) Just because Becker's expiring, hang on to those FAR & REG textbooks and use ninja mcq.

[Anonymous]

I think this would definitely be possible, especially since you work in tax and have already studied FAR before. However, if you're worried about it, don't do it just because of the pressure of Becker expiring. You can get a three month extension from Becker if you haven't already. You can also keep using the Becker books and just pay for MCQs from someone else like Ninja once your online access expires like eesti mentioned.

[neaux]

I passed FAR, AUD, BEC, and failed REG over a course of 9 weeks. I think your background will have a lot to say. For example, are you a recent graduate? Do you have tax or audit experience? Those types of questions. If you are a recent graduate, you can easily cram for FAR. If you have audit or tax experience, you can easily cram for those sections. Anyone pass BEC relatively quick; you've already passed. For me, I had no tax or business law experience the time I allowed was simply not enough.

So for you, I think 1 month is plenty of time for REG as it is a review for the most part, but may not be for FAR depending on your schedule and comfort level with FAR topics. Maybe you can adjust your REG study time and add to FAR.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if this has already been used but have you considered contacting Becker? If you have an exam scheduled in the 90 day window of the expiration date, they will go ahead and extend the review course. Example- Course expires Dec.15 but you have an exam schedule March 15, they will extend that section for you until March 15. All you have to do is send them proof that you are taking the exam and scheduled for that day. I can't remember how it works but what I did, is I just scheduled my exam out to be exactly 3 months out and then once I got the extension, I moved it to when I actually wanted to take the exam. I would recommend scheduling to be exactly 3 months because if you tell them you are taking the exam Jan. 1, then they will only set the review course to extend until then. And worst case, you end up not passing, you may still have some time left on the review course to use it up again.

Might be worth a try if you are worried about putting out more money. It's free and you can only do it one time but can do for multiple sections (I believe I did for FAR and BEC).

I did this winter 2016 too. So unless they've changed since then, this should still be relevant.

[Author]

Replies