[pi15]

Just wondering if anyone takes a week off or a few days off from work to study before the test date? If so, has it helped?

Some background, I’ve been at this for a while but was struggling. I took a break from the studying and testing for half a year due to new job/relocation. I took FAR in APR and AUD in May and got 74 on both…. -_______- . I’ve improved for FAR by switching from Becker to Yaegar. I have been cursed at the 70s range for Audit for 2 times(passed before but lost credit).

[Nate]

I took off a week and a half to study for far. Tried taking it first and failed it twice over a year ago and was taking it now as my last one. Studied as much as I could because I really hadn't done much studying before it (since over a year ago). I watched lectures at 1.5 speed to pick up as much theory as I could and mainly practiced multiple choice to fill in holes (this is how i learned the most tbh). Didn't practice sims or get through all the material but I got an 82. I had passed all the other exams so had a pretty good understanding of how to take the test and the confidence you need going in. Also I had just completed my MS in accounting the past year which included a government/nonprofit class and advanced accounting class which helped out because I didn't get through all the material in becker. I was working in an accounting department at the time which actually really helped out with some of the sims (like the one where they give you a whole bunch of invoices to figure out).
All in all I wouldn't recommend taking off work unless you're really pressed for time. Do what I did for the other three- study a little bit everyday after work and get a lot done on the weekends. It's really a marathon not a sprint.

[pi15]

Thanks, yeah that make sense. I usually try to study every day during weekdays, give or take minus a day or two when I'm too tired to study (to the point it's pointless to study since I won't retain or try). I'm gonna take your advice on studying on weekends, I don't think I used my weekend efficiently. I was working a lot during Jan to April so I didn't finish some of the material but got the good gist of it. I'm thinking I'll need to do more MCQ practice and really understand more on concepts since I was stronger wtih SIMs than MCQs.

[Nate]

I took all four exams on Saturdays, and for BEC I was unemployed so I didn't have to worry about taking time off. For AUD and FAR I took the day before the exam off, and for REG I took the three days before the exam off. It definitely helps to take time off to study, especially the day before just to do a long review of everything. I went through the material, then went back through it just by doing questions, then the day before just recapped everything I didn't feel as strong about and that seemed to work really well. I used Roger.

[Anonymous]

I never took days off while I was studying for the exams. I took all on Saturday, and even worked morning/afternoon of before or after the exam on two of them. Like @Nate, I studied every day during the week and a lot on the weekends, really Sunday when I wasn't working at all. I did all of the exams in 5 months, so it's definitely doable. It all depends on what kind of time/other commitments you have. I can tell you from January to April I was working around 65 hours a week, finishing my Masters, and studying for the CPA exam- as you might guess I had very little (no) social life. For me it was worth it, but I know a lot of people have other, more important things to do than study for a 2nd job LOL.

If you have a bunch of days laying around, sure why not take a few. But I don't think you need to unless you're working unreal hours.

[Anonymous]

Working in public accounting – I took time off before the test to study/last minute review.

[Anonymous]

I'm still in the process. I only take a half-day to take the exam usually but I haven't taken any time off just for studying.

[Javilon]

I was lucky enough to take the week before or of my exams off. I got up and left the home like I was going to work, but instead went to a coffee shop and studied all day. I am not sure I would have been able to pass them all on the first try without the large time investment right before each exam.

[Anonymous]

I took a couple days off directly before each test (including both CMA tests). Boss is nice enough to not count it against my PTO days as long as I study at the office. Definitely helps to hammer out hundreds of MCQs right before the test.

[Tim]

I take the day of the test off and that's it.

[Anonymous]

I'm able to take 2 days off before my exam along with the day of my exam. I would still wake up at the same time on those days, but I would go to the library for a few hours, eat lunch and work out and then head back to the library for a few more hours. It's helped me a lot since I only need to focus on reviewing the material and not the stress of work as well.

[Anonymous]

Just took days off for the actual test. The first one I took was on a Saturday and the other 3 were on a Friday, because I thought taking it on a Saturday ruined your whole weekend. The FAR re-take was on a Monday because I thought it would optimize that last ditch effort of studying on the weekend, as I find that studying that last week is like waiting for something to happen and isn't very productive.

[Anonymous]

Did all my exams on Sundays.It gave me at least one full day of study before the test. For Reg, I took a whole week off and i felt it made a difference. I took the time to supplement my Surgent material by doing all Becket Reg MCQs

[tmacpa]

Recently I haven't taken any time off and would take exams on a Friday morning.

My last exam though I took Friday off and took the exam Sunday morning. I think that mostly helped me be relaxed and not super stressed out, honestly.

[Jen-J]

I did. Over the course of the 9 months I spent studying, I took 9 vacation days (plus it crossed over 4 holidays). I have a generous vacation allotment though. This was in addition to studying every night after work and all day both days on the weekends. I had maybe a handful of days I didn't study during that time frame (mostly while traveling, or commitments I made before signing up for the exam). I figured I'd rather be miserable for a shorter time frame and never have to do this again.

[Anonymous]

I generally take at least two business days before the test, and test day off.

[Author]

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