[Scared-cpa]

Hey, everyone. I just found out I failed AUD with a 68. Booo. Anyway, I passed FAR back in January and my 18-month window began 01/31. I’ve got two options going forward because, although I know I have time left, I’m still anxious that if I fail other sections, I may run into a time crunch. Plus I will be finished with my MBA in July and will begin working in August so I’m scared about going through these milestones while studying. Here are my two options:

Option 1:
Q2 – retake AUD at the beginning and take REG at the end of the quarter
Q3 – take BEC
Q4 – begin retakes of any sections I may have failed. This will give me until 07/31/18 to retake and pass any failed sections.

Option 2:
Q2 – retake AUD
Q3 – take REG
Q4 – take BEC
2018 – use quarters for any retakes

Which option sounds the best? They both have pros and cons. The pros for Option 1 is that I have an extra quarter (Q4) to start any retakes I may have. The con is that I am crunching AUD and REG into one quarter and I’m afraid that won’t give me enough time for REG since that’s what I did in Q1 with FAR and AUD and I feel like I didn’t have enough time to prepare for AUD.

The pros for Option 2 is that I give myself more time to study for each section so I will not feel as rushed and since I will have more time to study, I will increase my chance of passing the first time. The con is that I will be using the extra quarter from Option 1 (Q4) to take a section instead of having it for retakes. This makes me feel like I will be in a panic for retakes because I will have to start studying all over again because by the beginning of 2018, I will have forgotten what the material from Q2 and Q3 in 2017.

ALSO, as a side note, should I start all over for my AUD retake, meaning I start from scratch or should I just use Ninja MCQs to do all the questions until I am trending 85? The latter is what I did for my FAR retake (67 to 82) but where the exam content has some minor changes now, I don’t know if that would be best. If I use Option 2, I will have the extra time to go back through all the material but if I utilize Option 1, I won’t have that choice and will only be able to use Ninja since I will also have to fit in REG.

By now, taking three exams and passing one, I feel like I have established what works best for me. I need to get through all the study material and then take AT LEAST 2 full weeks of final review through Ninja MCQ. I know this sounds like a lot of time for most people but it is how I work best because it seems like I ‘get’ the material during the final review but one week is not long enough for me to understand the material enough for a pass.

So I’m leaning more toward Option 2 because the extra time makes me feel like my chances of passing the first time is greater but the lack of extra time for retakes gives me anxiety. Plus I have no idea what type of field I will be going into once I graduate (tax, auditing, etc.) so I don’t know if I will have a busy season at the beginning of 2018 which would take time away from studying for retakes. I just don’t know what the best option is.

I’m using Wiley CPAexcel and Ninja MCQ for final review. I’m not interested in using anything else but in Q3 and 4, I will probably buy Ninja audio since I will be commuting to work.

[Dwill2nd]

Just curious do you have opportunities on your campus for job's in the nearest Metro City? Why not pursue those opportunities now instead of waiting if you can take advantage of on campus recruiting?

Bec, 6/8/2016 - 84!
Far, 7/12/2016
Reg,
Aud,

[Scared-cpa]

The nearest city to me is 2 hours away. I am going to move there but I don't have the money since I don't work and am a full time student. So I was going to get a job for a year or so in a small city about 45 minutes from my house, live with my parents, and save practically all my income to move.

[RockLobster]

Major bummer, you were so close! I think you should go with option 1. It's ambitious but you passed FAR, so you can definitely do it. I would certainly re-review multiple choice questions, but above all I think you should hit WileyCPA excel's book hard. If they have one I mean, idk anything about wiley lol. Also, wherever you start working in August may pay for a review course for you/reimburse CPA exam fees. If this is the case, you can look at hitting Becker for an alternative study option and/or a supplement to Ninja and Wley CPAExcel.

For real though, audit is 99% conceptual. It takes so long to understand the concepts but once you do the multiple choice becomes a breeze. Also, everything after FAR and AUD gets way easier.

Also, the fact that you're in school while studying for exams is impressive af. I think you'll find that working and studying is way easier than going to school and studying. Plus since you're living at home you can watch those commas in your bank account stack up as you study!

[Scared-cpa]

Thank you for your advice, RockLobster! Yes, Wiley has a book lol. I plan on reading back through all of it and doing the multiple choice again. Hopefully that will help everything click. I really would like to do Option 1 just because it gives me an extra quarter (Q4) for retakes at the end of this year. I'm just afraid I won't give myself enough time to do REG. That's kind of what I did with FAR in January and then squeezing in AUD. I feel like I could have passed if I'd had an extra week or so to study. I'd really like to maximize my chances of passing the next three sections on the first attempt. I feel like the best way to give myself that chance is by doing Option 2. I'm just such an indecisive person!

And thank you for thinking going to school and taking these exams are impressive haha. Technically, my academic advisor said most students take three courses full-time so taking four is ‘pushing it'. I'm still doing fine so far (4.0 GPA) but if I wasn't studying, I could totally have added in a fifth class. But this exam is more important! And I sure hope you're right about working being easier! I always psyche myself out about EVERYTHING, whether it be school, this exam, or working. So I make it more difficult on myself than it has to be, but I don't know how to change that. I'm hoping my nerves will settle down and I can get these exams out of the way.

Since I passed FAR, I feel like I can pass the other sections, too, but there's always that fear of this turning into a nightmare where I take forever to finish these exams. I just want them over with!

[Author]

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