- This topic has 36 replies, 27 voices, and was last updated 9 years ago by
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June 10, 2016 at 1:21 am #202712
Anonymous
InactiveJust curious as I plan to start studying for the Exam. I worked very, very hard to graduate with a 3.7 GPA and took the hardest Accounting Electives (Advanced, Tax 2, Intermediate III). As long as I study my tail off and perform my due diligence should I be able to pass the Exam? Also, I am not working for at least 6 months, so I have plenty of time to study and review all of the topics I just covered as an undergraduate. I plan on purchasing Becker, Ninja MCQ’s, and taking FAR, AUD, REG, and BEC respectively. Thanks for any feedback!
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June 10, 2016 at 3:11 am #781140
nolan7120
ParticipantYes, the CPA test is much, much, much more difficult than what was thrown at you in college. I graduated with a GPA just slightly under yours. FAR is like taking 6 college tests in one. I'm not a fan of Becker lectures, although they were easier to digest than Yaeger's. I can't stand when an instructor either talks way to fast (Cindy from Yaeger) or just has a tendency to just read from the book and have you highlight, circle, underscore, and draw arrows a majority of the time (Becker). Becker over prepares you IMO with the amount of MCQ's they assign. Good luck
FAR (6/9/16) - 81
June 10, 2016 at 3:45 am #781141Anonymous
Inactive@nolan7120 Thanks for your honest feedback. I appreciate your responses concerning the Exam and Becker. I understand that the Exam is very, very challenging and will definitely be harder than my undergraduate courses due to its voluminous nature. However, is it really THAT much harder than earning a 3.7 GPA? I can tell you that I studied practically day and night to earn such good grades at a competitive school. I'm hoping that my innate study skills and recent graduation (May 2016) translate into an advantegeous Exam experience. Rather than worrying about manamegent, operations, statistics, and mis classes like in college (I know they are on BEC and Accounting classes are definitely more challenging) I can now focus on my accounting courses that I have already completed. Concerning FAR, I have already taken intermediate 1,2,3, Advanced, and GOVT/NFP. I hope my expectations are right, but I may be wrong. In short, I believe if I put in the study time and stay focussed, then I should be able to pass it within 18 months. Also, I'm currently not working. Wish me luck 🙂
June 10, 2016 at 3:56 am #781142thebigguy1992
Participantstop worrying about comparing it to a college GPA. all colleges are different, and even all professors in each college are different and grade differently. theres no apples to apples here. its you just study for the test as hard as you can, prepare a lot by doing tons of MCQ, and you hope for the best on test day. not trying to be harsh but theres no cutting corners or anything in this test. in school you can play the system and skip class and show up for the exam and ace it. here you can't cut any corners. you need to know most major topics or else you will risk going into exam day and having a sim or tons of MCQ on a topic you didn't study
June 10, 2016 at 3:58 am #781143Ryan – Just Another Dollar
Participant@cpa4928 Its like Roger says (over and over and over) in his course; “if you study, you will pass”. I didn't apply myself much as a student and have had to really work on my study skills, but I'm on pace to pass in 7 months while working full time (and maintaining a happy home). It won't be easy, but I'm sure you'll do just fine. Good luck!!
B - 88 (2/16)
A - 84 (4/16)
R - 73 (6/16), 82(7/16)
F - 67 (1/16), 84(4/16)Ethics - 93
Roger course & Ninja MCQ - HiYa!
June 10, 2016 at 4:01 am #781144vsoeu
ParticipantI'm in nearly the exact same situation. I graduated in December and didn't have my start date til July, so I figured I knock out all parts of the exam before work starts. So far I'm on track and will finish my last test with enough time before work for a little vacation.
What I found most taxing (no pun intended) was the change in structure. Your GPA obviously proves your determination but forcing yourself to self-study day after day when you can literally do anything else is a serious bummer. I'd suggest setting short term and long term goals, making a mental list of study spots you enjoy, and setting aside time to still enjoy life.
I passed my first two tests with just Becker (it was provided by my firm) and purchased just the ninja MCQ for audit. The jump in my AUD score is sure proof that the MCQ are a great addition.
Good luck to you!
BEC - 87
FAR - 87
AUD - 98
REG - (7/1)June 10, 2016 at 4:09 am #781145Anonymous
Inactive@thebigguy1992
Yes, you are right about me worrying too much about the exam. And, you are right about me comparing the Exam to my GPA (apples to oranges). However, exams take at my business school required at least 8-14 hours of study if you wanted to Ace it. Especially the Accounting Exams. I'd study for at least 2 days for every Accounting Exam (around 14+ hours) to earn a B or low A. They were brutal to say the least. Of course the Business 101 exams required 6-9 hours of study to Ace bc they were more straightforward. I appreciate your feedback.@rtalfson
Thanks for Roger's advice. I am hoping that his saying is true! I'll be studying my tail off, so wish me luck!June 10, 2016 at 4:16 am #781146Anonymous
Inactive@vsoeu
Thanks for your feedback. I really appreciate you suggesting to set short and long term goals. That is my next step in this lengthy and challenging process. Graduating with honors and completing 150 appropriate units were both short and long term goals that are completed. Now, I need to set ST and LT goals for the dreadful exam.Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I appreciate it!
June 10, 2016 at 4:18 am #781147Anonymous
InactiveOP, i went to a top50 school for my masters in accounting. not undergrad, masters. i studied for all my exams the night before (im a procrastinator) about 8 hours and got A's. those were piece of cake compared to the CPA exam, which is just just not something you can cram for.
the CPA exam has nothing to do with your grades in college. your studiousness and the habits you developed in college will, however, definitely help you pass. you also dont work- theres no excuse not to pass. i assume you have no kids or other obligations due to your age, budget a month for each section of the CPA exam with 6-8 hours a day studying. you are guaranteed to pass.
btw the course-load you took in college will DEFINITELY help you with FAR. take that part first. you will be surprised how much you remember and how much easier studying will be.
June 10, 2016 at 4:39 am #781148nolan7120
ParticipantAlso, it's not that the material is super difficult (depends on the person though), but what makes the FAR test so difficult for example (and I'm quoting someone else's post from this website) is that is an inch deep and a mile wide. There's just a shocking amount of material to cover. I would advise against purchasing Becker. They take the mile wide material and instead of being 1″ deep, they make it 6″ to 1′ deep. They're overkill. Yes you'll learn from it, but not as efficiently as you most likely would using other sources. Just my opinion….
People here seem to love Roger and the Ninja materials (I'd skip the notes though) so maybe give those a try. I'm using the Wiley books w/ Yaeger assigned problems with Becker (I got it for free that's the only reason) lectures to supplement. I can't stand the Yaeger lectures because they seemed really sloppy and the instructors either speak too fast or don't do a good job explaining the material. Becker is easier to watch but much more in depth which you don't need unless you absolutely love accounting and want to marry a textbook some day.
If you're starting a job in 6 months, give yourself 2 months each for FAR, AUD and REG. Then take BEC after you start working because it's supposedly the easiest. Or you can try to do them all in 6 months but you'll drive yourself nuts. It's doable though.
FAR (6/9/16) - 81
June 10, 2016 at 5:03 am #781149Anonymous
InactiveThanks for all of your informative feedback. I've heard the same words about FAR being an inch deep and a mile wide. The only area of FAR that has really challenged me was Pension Benefit Obligations. Other areas were challenging, but PBO's seemed to be the worse for me. Partnership accounting in Advanced class was also a pain.
I've also heard Becker is overkill, but they better prepare you if you have the time to study. If you don't have time to study, then Roger gets straight to the point, but doesn't cover as much material. Do you believe that statement? Also, I learn best by reading from the book and not lectures. I've heard Becker has the best books, so I want to purchase them. Do you believe Becker has the best books compared with Roger or Yager?
And, I plan on studying as you suggested – 2 months for each section with FAR taking the most time.
Thanks again for your help!
June 10, 2016 at 5:09 am #781150Anonymous
InactiveFor me? Getting that 3.7 GPA. I wasnt even close. 3.03 grad school and 3.17 undergrad
June 10, 2016 at 5:19 am #781151Anonymous
Inactive@Sunni
Thanks for your reply. I literally lived out of my room and barely had a social life – except for the Accounting club at my school. Not a healthy lifestyle, but I wanted to be as prepared as possible for the Exam. Hopefully my strategy pays off!June 10, 2016 at 5:24 am #781152Anonymous
InactiveCPA exam is tougher than university (MAcc, 3.8). Job in public accounting is tougher than CPA exam. Just my experience.
June 10, 2016 at 6:49 am #781153Anonymous
Inactive@DoOver
Sounds about right. Thanks for your feedback.June 10, 2016 at 7:16 am #781154nolan7120
ParticipantI can't comment on Roger because I haven't used it. I did just kinda glance through one of his lease lectures a little bit ago on youtube and holy cow the guy must be on some rather powerful uppers! He talks very fast (can't stand that!), and his handwriting is very sloppy. But he does seem to convey the material. I have his lease mnemonic stuck in my head because he repeated it so many times in the course of a few minutes. Whatever works though, right?
Liabilities killed me in college but IMO pensions aren't as difficult as deferred taxes, non-monetary transactions, SOCF's and consolidated financials (maybe because I forgot to go through this section a 2nd time before my exam). To each their own though regarding difficulty. Partnerships in Becker is rather easy and straightforward. I used them for that section instead of Yaeger.
Can't comment on Roger's books but Yaeger uses Wiley books of which I've only looked at the mcq's and SIMS, never the actual content of a chapter. I think I'd fall asleep two pages into it if I tried. Becker's books seem more user friendly but go deep into topics. The Wiley book approach is more about the teaching you the basics to pass the exam and not overwhelm you. Anyway, you're probably going to want the lectures too. Watch a few sample Roger lectures on youtube and go from there. I wish i would've done that with Yaeger, but I'm happy with the books and their assigned content. Good luck!
ETA: Or maybe consider CPAexcel as they use the Wiley books.
FAR (6/9/16) - 81
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