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CalcuttaTigah
Member since Jul 2009
375 posts
| CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 8:45 am)
Is it safe to say this is the most difficult section of the test? I feel like there is a ton of material on there. I am hoping to take it at the beginning of July a few days before I start. If I had the entire month of June to prepare without work/school, would that be enough time?
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Ford Frenzy 
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2010
4039 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 9:01 am to CalcuttaTigah)
that's enough time just make sure you are using a structured review
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krehn11
LSU Fan
IA
Member since Jul 2011
689 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 9:03 am to CalcuttaTigah)
This was my personal experience:
AUD - Easiest (97)
FAR - Easy (95)
REG - Difficult (94)
BEC - Brutal (87)
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LSUMon
LSU Fan
Monroe
Member since Aug 2006
386 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 9:04 am to CalcuttaTigah)
Depends. Honestly I would suggest taking one the "easier" ones first. I do not know how much they have changed the format, got mine 6 years ago, but no matter how much you take practive test it is very different once you get in front of the computer. Get use to the format first before you tackle FAR.
Also, try to take each test at the end of the testing month. That way you will only have to wait 2-3 weeks for your results instead of a few months. It helped me on my schedule future test.
Good luck
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BigBoyTiger
LSU Fan
Chicago
Member since Aug 2005
8506 posts
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| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 9:11 am to CalcuttaTigah)
I thought Reg was the most difficult.
Do you use a review company? I used Wiley, I think. It was pretty good.
There is a small amount of IFRS on there, too.
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krehn11
LSU Fan
IA
Member since Jul 2011
689 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 9:17 am to BigBoyTiger)
I used Wiley as well - as well as the Gleim test bank CD.
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CalcuttaTigah
Member since Jul 2009
375 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 12:57 pm to CalcuttaTigah)
So how many hours/weeks did y'all study for each section? If you remember...
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BigBoyTiger
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Chicago
Member since Aug 2005
8506 posts
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| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 12:58 pm to CalcuttaTigah)
Honestly, here's how I did this:
I worked from 8 to 5. Then I would get home around 5:30 and start studying from 6-9 pm with some time for dinner in there. I would do this mostly each weekday.
I would take the weekends off...studying only for a little bit on Sundays.
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CalcuttaTigah
Member since Jul 2009
375 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 1:05 pm to BigBoyTiger)
Yea, the firm is paying for my Becker self-study course. However, I will be working some serious hours once business season starts cranking up and won't be able to study much in the evenings. I am trying to knock out FAR the week before I start.
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kfizzle85
LSU Fan
Houston
Member since Dec 2005
19852 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 1:06 pm to CalcuttaTigah)
I took it while I was still in school so its not really worth comparing.
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krehn11
LSU Fan
IA
Member since Jul 2011
689 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 1:18 pm to CalcuttaTigah)
I had a full semester of CPA exam review classes before I took the exams. Then I took May/June off. I took each exam a week apart in July 2010.
I basically took the afternoon after the exam off, then I studied the next 6 days from about 8 AM - 7 PM each day with a about 2 half hour breaks a day.
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meldawg399
LSU Fan
nola
Member since Oct 2008
680 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 5:25 pm to CalcuttaTigah)
used Becker.....on/off for 3-4 weeks. used some thanksgiving time and a dsy of vscstion too. also studied during lunch. passed FAR for the first time last fall with an 83.
 :cheers:
REG imo is the toughest.....i've lost BEC 3x and AUDE 2x. got til Nov to get BEC again and REG finally passed or I lose FAR.
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pnut53088 
New Orleans Saints Fan
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2009
2153 posts
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| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 7:18 pm to CalcuttaTigah)
I've taken BEC, REG, and FAR. Thought REG was the hardest.
ETA: in terms of the test. I thought REG's material wasn't that bad.
This post was edited on 5/1 at 7:20 pm
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OceanMan
LSU Fan
Member since Mar 2010
1897 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/1/12 at 9:33 pm to CalcuttaTigah)
I think it is safe to say, but on a bad day, REG can be a motherfricker.
4 weeks is enough time to study, but it better be your full-time job. 6 weeks is a little safer but 4 is doable. If you do 6 you can take days off and not go crazy (if that is a possibility)
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ladytiger118
LSU Fan
Casterly Rock
Member since Aug 2009
5343 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/2/12 at 12:00 pm to OceanMan)
So you suggest to (ideally) study intensely about 6 weeks per section? Not as bad as I originally thought. I plan on getting Becker...even though it's $3,000 it is worth it to me to pass every section on the 1st try and not have to pay money to retake sections. Plus some companies reimburse new/right out of school employees for their CPA prep funds. Becker seems like a good ROI to me.
ETA: How do you sign up/where is the testing center in the New Orleans area...I need to know this for when I start taking the CIA exam as well  .
This post was edited on 5/2 at 12:01 pm
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kfizzle85
LSU Fan
Houston
Member since Dec 2005
19852 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/2/12 at 1:00 pm to ladytiger118)
It definitely should not take you 6 weeks per section. FAR and REG maybe, BEC and AUD shouldn't take nearly that long.
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NS Who Dat Nation
New Orleans Saints Fan
Mandeville
Member since Jul 2007
7221 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/2/12 at 1:12 pm to CalcuttaTigah)
quote:
Is it safe to say this is the most difficult section of the test?
Completely depends on your experiences. I was an auditor for 3 years before I took Audit and FAR and felt that having work experience helped a lot. FAR probably covers the most wide range of information though. I've heard many people say that it's a mile wide, but only an inch thick.
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Ford Frenzy
LSU Fan
Member since Aug 2010
4039 posts
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quote:
I've heard many people say that it's a mile wide, but only an inch thick.
I'd agree with this completely, I took FAR last Feb and made a 93 (not to brag, but to brag ) and studied for about 2 months prior using Becker....if I could do it again, I wouldn't study as much, it was overkill
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ladytiger118
LSU Fan
Casterly Rock
Member since Aug 2009
5343 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/2/12 at 4:57 pm to kfizzle85)
quote:
It definitely should not take you 6 weeks per section. FAR and REG maybe, BEC and AUD shouldn't take nearly that long.
How many hours a day and/or days a week for the time frame? Like 8 hours a day 6 days a week for a month vs. 5 hours a day, 4 days a week?
This post was edited on 5/2 at 4:58 pm
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NS Who Dat Nation
New Orleans Saints Fan
Mandeville
Member since Jul 2007
7221 posts
| re: CPA Exam - FAR (Posted on 5/3/12 at 8:35 am to ladytiger118)
Everyone is different. I studied for BEC like crazy and failed it 3 times. Sometimes I studied for a month and a half, sometimes a month or less. I had a friend study two weeks and pass it in the high 80's.
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