Probably 6 hrs/day. Less for BEC. I got the most benefit out of intense repetition of Becker practice questions. Only referred to book/videos if I was really struggling with a concept. This was in 2011 so I’m not sure how the exam has changed since then.
Yeah it’s really weird to me when people try like 10 different resources
They are all so similar and well everyone knows becker works at the end of the day and most of the firms will pay for it…
If you don’t like doing a fuck ton of multiple choice questions well may as well embrace the suck because that’s pretty much what the exams are
I mean in the grand scheme time wise it’s more like 50/50 where multiple choice is higher volume and the sims are more time consuming
That being said the sims are the same content as the multiple choice questions just open ended more or less.
I did this too in between my BS and MS year. Took all 4 exams within a month, passed them all except audit with a 74. 😫
Ended up retaking it over winter break and passed it then. Was relieved to have it done and over with before I graduated.
18 months. Yes, took my final test on the last day I could have without losing credit for my first passed test.
Reg - First Time
FIN - Second Time
BEC - Second Time
Audit - Third Time
Never gave up. Had to take breaks for tax season.
If you didn’t try studying why did you take them? Serious question, I’m still a student and the CPA exam sounds hard enough as it is. Is there actually people who pass it without studying ?
yep you could only take it in May and November, only one location in my state so there were about 300 of us taking inside this old arena. All paper exams, 4 hours for each of the 4 sections. No calculators.
My older brother was successful CPA. My parents pushed me hard to follow his footsteps and take the exam senior year of college bc that is what he did. My GF dumped me in January of my senior year and I was not in a good place and put the exam on back burner.
Five months and I only studied during work days (I.e., m-f except for holidays or I took pto) unless it was the weekend before the exam. The key was drilling MCQ and basically ignoring everything else.
I studied all 7 days, but like 2-3 hours each day, even on weekends. A couple hours in the morning over coffee or whatever was better than skipping a day. 90% of my time was grinding MCQ
For the record, this is a super fast timeline that is prob faster than 95% of most test takers. I dont know anyone personally who has done this while working no less.
Thanks! Honestly I was kinda shocked I was able to do it like that. I read the book Atomic Habits beforehand and it really helped. I think it was more a test of discipline and study habits than anything
Multiple choice questions. Basically I just did the test bank and didn’t read the book at all. Began by listening to lectures but then stopped when I figured out it was more efficient spending time to learn the mcq
I’m waiting for score release in June but yeah I did the same for FAR and ISC which I will take in ten days. Sims were tough so I’m not sure if I passed but I did well on MCQs at least. Practice works!
Got consecutive 74's on FAR in a 35 day span. Either would have finished it for me. Instead I lost credits and had to pass the other 3 again.
Ultimately sat for 14 in total, passed 7 times.
Something like 2.5 to 3 years.
Those 2 score release nights were very dark for me.
I worked with someone that scored 74 three times in a row, then went into the expiration spiral. She ended up passing the CPA, but it was a nightmare for her.
Funny thing is that she is an awesome accountant. She just had a bad run on the exam.
I passed 3 within 6 months. Then I just chilled for a year and then it took me 2 months to pass the last one. So about 2 months of studying for each exam
Thanks kind stranger. I started to do the math on $ for testing once and decided it came somewhere between the cost of our fancy honeymoon and our not as fancy wedding. Ouch.
I studied for about 3 hours/day during the week, roughly 4-6 hours on Saturdays, and I took Sundays off from studying. During the week I mostly studied at work since I found I was more focused and had fewer distractions. I would go into work an hour early to study, I’d spend an hour over lunch studying, and then stay an hour late. Once I got home from work I was done for the day. So it was around 20ish hours per week total, give or take a couple.
I spent about 9ish weeks studying for FAR, so 180-200 hours. I barely passed with a 76. It was my first test, so I learned a lot about how I wanted to study for the rest and I got a lot more efficient. I spent about 7-8 weeks on REG, so maybe 140-160 hours. And then about 5-6 weeks on AUD and 4 weeks on BEC.
Started in 2022. Failed AUD then failed FAR. took a life break (bought house had a baby). Ready to get serious and pass these exams within the next year.
One year to read the entire study guide once and then re read it and fully note everything. 1 year of sitting for exam....Failed BEC once
2 years total and endless, endless, endless, time
Started studying Feb 2020. Passed all 4 by Nov 2020.
Got a 74 on my first exam, which was FAR.
Then passed AUD, FAR, REG, and BEC.
Studied about 2-3 months for each exam.
My situation was unique with covid. Had just graduated college fall 2019. I was working at a restaurant which shutdown. All the while I was able to collect unemployment. Then I started full-time in Oct 2020 at the job I lined up while in school.
Idk how y'all pass these exams while working full-time. Obviously it's doable, but balancing all that is brutal.
Pay attention. Take the best professors you can. Really think through your homework and the logic behind the moving parts. Seriously. The material you blow off during your degree (bc of work stress, or family obligations, or partying your ass off, or whatever applies in your situation) is harder to learn later on without having an instructor to clarify. You want your CPA study to be an honest to god review of concepts you grasped the first time around.
I studied and paid very much attention to both my principles classes, and anytime my managerial class references something from financial it clicks instantly and I understand it. I'm just afraid of later on in college losing this knowledge. How'd u retain all the info from ur principles classes?
The great thing about principles is that you’ll use the knowledge in every class moving forward! Nail the debits/credits and how the financial statements and their accounts interact. The sheer repetition of the principles material throughout your more advanced classes will keep it fresh in your mind. For me, retention became more of an issue in subjects like government/NFP and entity tax where it’s specialized information that you may or may not encounter again.
I’d recommend that you identify how you learn best and just home in on that. I’m a verbal learner, so I take copious notes, rewrite them, rephrase the concepts, try explaining the ideas to friends who aren’t in the field, etc. Other people approach accounting as more of a math exercise, so for them doing a ton of practice problems that work through the mechanics is the optimal way to retain info. Still others think best in terms of flowcharts, diagrams, and other visual representations. We’re all different!
The fact that you’re studying at all puts you way ahead of most students who take financial and managerial. You’ll be fine!
8 months, passed all 4 on the first try. Worked full time and studied my ass off after work, had no life at all. And the kicker? Haven’t used my cpa in years if ever.
6 months total between first and last test, all first time pass. 3 month lead time for Far so 9 months total. 84 FAR, 86 BEC, 77 REG, 85 AUD, In that order. took a week off from work before each test.
Depends….. I took BEC in ‘21 and failed with a 73. I had no time to study (less than 10 hours on Becker.)
Then in 2023 I said FFS just do it. Studied non stop for 3 months and passed all 4 sections.
It’s been almost 2 years since I took my first one. Sat for my fourth exam a couple months ago and still waiting on the score to come out in June. Hoping it’s a pass. Failed 3/4 exams on the first try and failed Audit twice. So fun. Honestly pisses me off to think about it. I never even got lower than a 73 on any of my 4 fails. I think they just want our $. I did take at least one some months off in that time and had one mental breakdown in large part because of the exams.
10 months. Would have been 6 but COVID happened in the middle and testing got all messed up. Passed all in single attempts, technically studied for BEC twice due to COVID canceling testing.
15 months from the day I started picking out study materials to the day I sat for my last exam. Passed all four sections on my first attempts. I was not working as an accountant at the time but to my credit I'd forgotten everything about accounting (outside of A=L+E) and basically had to learn everything from scratch.
I believe most people are capable of passing; it's just how much time you'll need will vary from person to person (as this topic illustrates).
6 months. Accidentally paid for all four at once and only realized my payments would expire in 6 months about 2 months into studying for FAR. Took FAR in January, REG in mid-March, and BEC/AUD the same week on a Tuesday/Thursday in the first week of April. Passed all 4 first try.
I studied 3 hours every weeknight and at least 3 on the weekends. I credit my passing to MCQ drilling, I had over 2,000 MCQs complete by each exam. I would take 10 question MCQ quizzes on all material every 15 minutes from 8am-6pm when I would go to the gym every workday. I got really quick at the problems and finished all the exams in 2 hours as a result lol
About 15 months. Had to retake one, otherwise would have been a clean sweep. If I re-failed I would have time to retake it but barely before the first fell off.
After about 21 months I am 3/4 and waiting on an AUD score. I’ve been fortunate to have gotten FAR and BEC in one attempt and REG and (hopefully 🤞🏼) AUD in 2 attempts
I passed the entire CPA within one calendar year, and passed all attempts on the first try. I planned my studies to coincide with my final semester (only took a couple of credits), summer break, and the intro period of my first full-time public job.
I’m old school. Studied for 6 months to pass all 4 parts in one shot many years ago (we even used pencils).
Prior to that I think I failed to pass any parts 6 times. The exam was given twice a year at this point. So 3 years until I learned to bust my ass and study.
Just keep fighting.
I started right out of college. Passed business with an 80. Working big 4 and with a smokin hot girlfriend, got mid 60's and low 70's on the rest. Gave up for 10 years until the software test question banks became better. (Efficient learning.com). Crushed the online questions thousands of times. Passed all four in just under the 18month window (when u could only take it 1x a window)
9 attempts total while working full time. My 3rd attempt at AUD got the dreaded 74 and felt worse on the 4th attempt but somehow got an 80 (did take it a week after 74 score). Really think if you're within a few points of 75 it's really just luck of the draw on the questions. BEC similar 73 on 1st attempt and the retake a week later got an 80.
I felt defeated through AUD but knew as a tax guy if I got through it with FAR already done I could handle BEC and REG was a breeze.
17 months from start, worked around busy seasons. Started Jun '20, first pass Nov '20, last pass Nov '21.
The best thing to do is take 4-5 months off working and study full time. If you are focused and study the correct way, you will pass.
Firms should let you “bank” CPA study time.
Very difficult to study while working a grueling job.
Without going back to find the specific dates, I'm going to say 13 months from when I started studying to when I took the last exam.
10 months from first attempt to last attempt.
13 months. Took 7 tests. My lowest score was a 72. For some reason I was always just on the cusp of passing. Never gave up and just kept going. I will say that I was incredibly burnt out at the end and I’m just now feeling like myself again 5 months later.
6 months. Started a new job in January, wife was pregnant. Knew my window was closing.
March - REG 80
April- FAR (supposed to be Feb but snow cancellation) 78
June - AUD 80
July- wife had baby
Aug - BEC 81
One try for each part. Between studying for the first part to finally passing the last part, it took a year. I was working so I had to pause during busy season. Wife did it in the three months between graduating grad school and starting her new job, passed all with one try each.
The biggest factor is the volume of other activities going on at the time you are studying. I passed all 4 parts if the CPA exam over the course of around 7 months from beginning studying but wasn't working.
I have seen so many smart people be unable to pass due to the conflict with burnout and busy season.
When I took the CFA I failed L1 5 times and L3 once but I was working all of those times except for a sabbatical i took for L3.
If you have the ability to take time off to study (pre full time onboarding), i would absolutely not squader that time.
In total, it took me about 18 months. Failed BEC and AUD a couple times each in the first 8 or 9 months. Once I figured out the best way for me to learn, I passed all 4 within 9 months or so. Studied about 20 hours a week for about 8 weeks each. Passed FAR and REG on first try. I used Ninja almost exclusively.
12 years… still failing. I’m the village idiot who is probably an r-word but I’m too stubborn to quit and the AICPA doesn’t mind collecting those exam fees from my dumb ass
Graduated in 2013 and sat for FAR and failed in 2014 and 2015... Fast forward to 2022, I finally took studying seriously and passed FAR REG & BEC on first try. AUD took two attempts. Never give up.
14 months from the day I cracked the first book open until I took the final one. I passed each on the first try. FAR was Sept - Dec. Then I took time off for tax season, got Covid the week after the deadline and took some extra time off to be lazy and studied for/took the other three from June - November. I put in more than 700 hours of studying in total. Weekends sucked, weekdays sucked, test days sucked, everything sucked for a bit there but happy to have done it!
12 months from first exam to last but i took off 4 months for busy season in the middle.
BEC - 3 weeks, first try
REG - 2 weeks, first try (worked in tax)
AUD - 2 months, 2 attempts 73,76
FAR - 2 months, 3 attempts 64,74,83
First round for me. But oh boy did I ever prep for it.
- For a yr in advance I started prepping for it. Evenings and weekends. Mostly technical knowledge.
- 2 mths to go I just did cases. Every night I did a case under full exam conditions.
- 1 mth to go, I took fully off work to just prep. And mixed cases and tech.
That was a decade ago. And I still have nightmares about how crap that year was. Anyway, once it’s done it’s done.
It took me almost a full year, and I was able to pass each on the first try. I took them in conjunction with grad school classes, so the sections lined up nicely with what I was already learning that semester. I generally spent 15ish hours a week studying on top of classes, then ramped up as it got closer to the test date. REG was the longest one for me, and it took about 5 months. The others took about 2.5 months each.
Took it in 1990 and it was only offered twice a year. 4 parts, all failed. I scored the lowest possible score in Business Law Section in the history of the Exam. Got focused and passed part by part and finished up in 1992
A little over a year between starting studying and finishing the last part. The time partially overlapped with a MAcc program. I only had to retake Reg once, the rest I passed first try. All things considered, not that bad. I still have the scores on my fridge even though I passed like 6 years ago
MCQ for 6 months every day for about ~2 hours (Kaplan)
FIn - took it first and was longest passed 1st time
AUD- passed first time
REG- passed first time
BUS - thought it would be easiest so saved for last. Studied much less but it took twice to pass. I was however only a question or two from passing the first time so I was pissed
Under 2 years. I studied more than they recommended amount because I had the mindset that I was only going to take the exams once and pass them the first time. Suffice to say, I passed all with flying colors the first time, except BEC which took me two times.
5 fucking years. But I have terrible study habits. I was on like my 4th or 5th far attempt (after getting two 74s in a row) and I had decided that would be my last test no matter what. And somehow I got 75.
About 6 months working full time and planned my wedding/got married in there too. All first try except AUD where I got a 74, but retested a week after score release and made an 83. The person next to me in the first AUD exam had a fidget spinner that caused me some serious concentration issues lol the second attempt I finished in less than 2 hours and almost 10 point bump
Passed each one the first time, probably just under the 18 month mark. Studied religiously on a schedule. I used Gleim instead of Becker and I liked it very much, though the test is very different now than it was when I took it.
Two years. I passed FAR on my first try in 2018. Took and failed AUD in February 2019, then retook and passed that May. Passed BEC in fall 2019 then failed REG just before lockdowns. I benefited from having my FAR score extended by 6 months so I could retake REG later in 2020.
4 for 4 on the first try, scores all between 75-80. I will brag about this, but I'd also call myself a good test taker as opposed to a strong (or even competent it feel at times) accountant.
I punted on BEC, but passed with a perfect score (75) in September 2008 to start the clock. Failed REG a few times, but passed the last one in November 2009. So, 14 months end to end.
7 months during my last semester of grad school, not working. FAR took 2 attempts, 1 attempt for the rest. Primarily studied Becker MCQ and supplemented with Roger videos on Youtube.
About 6 months of actual study time. I took a summer and busy season off. Started November of 2022 and passed my final exam in November of 2023.
Studied a lot during the week and weekends for FAR and AUD. Totally crammed in winged it for REG and BEC at the end of 2023.
95 days between passing Far and passing BEC, with REG around the 30 day mark and AUD around the 60 day mark. I studied about 75 days in the lead up to FAR.
Worth noting. This was during lockdowns and far overlapped with my last two classes of my MAcc. I had a lot of free time.
10 exams to pass 4. Failed FAR, REG, and AUD at least once each. Let BEC expire.
When it came down to the end, I only had to pass FAR and my back was against a wall due to earlier exams expiring. Luckily I buckled down and passed FAR on my 3rd or 4th attempt. I was ready to give up, but glad I came out the other side.
6 months total exam window time-November 2022 to April 2023. Probably 8 months of studying as I dug into FAR pretty heavy before taking it first. Used Gleim and would read outline for each chapter, never watched videos as they were useless. Hammered MCQs and sims then moved to next chapter. Did a walk back through the sections only doing testing on my last 2 sections(BEC and FAR). Passed all on first attempt.
2 years (or 4 years if u count the first time I failed)
12/2019 failed FAR with a 40. Decided to take a break.
10/2021 passed reg first try
Sometime 2022. Passed bec first try.
I forgot when (2022-2023) but I took AUD 3 times.
10/2023 passed far after 3 tries
I am so blessed for the extension or else my REG would have expired
AUD - 5 attempts
FAR - 5 attempts
BEC - 2 attempts
REG - 1 and done
I studied everyday between 8-10 hours. It took me 16 months or so to pass them all.
First try 6 months.. Failed FAR and BEC on both attempts. Took the next 6 months off and then found a new review course. Passed both AUD and BEC on first attempts, then REG and FAR, both of them I had to retake once. 14 months total from when I started with the new review course. Would have been faster but I took time off for an out of state move and a knee surgery.
I studied from 5-8p on weekdays in my office after work, then would hit it 8a-2 on the weekends. I gave myself Wednesdays and Fridays off.
FAR: passed 1st try
AUD: 74 first time, 63 2nd time, passed 3rd try
BEC: Took too soon after AUD, but passed 2nd try
REG: 4 tries to get a 75. Tax was always the worst part of accounting for me.
Total time was 15 months.
2 testing periods (so 6 or 8 months i think). I only studied for REG and AUD. Passed FAR in the first session. Passed the other 3 the 2nd time.
Worth pointing out, I had been working for about 15 years when I did it. I was asst controller (but acting as controller) at a place and the CFO wouldn't promote me to controller until I got it.
5 months for the CPA, I studied on average 6 hours per day 7 days per week.
I also finished the CMA exam about 8 months after finishing the CPA.
All told I finished both exams in about 15 months with a break between the CPA and CMA.
I took it in 2008 and it took me 6 or 7 months to pass all four exams. I took the summer off before starting in public accounting and crammed big time. I'm still shocked to this day that I passed with the way I studied.
I advise others to start with an exam section that you think you can pass on the first try to keep your confidence up. Also, mimic exam conditions when you study - don't take long breaks, don't study with music, work in bad lighting, don't study in a cafe, use a basic as f calculator, etc. You will be miserable when studying and taking the exam.
Got Becker’s in early January.
Passed FAR on February 28th.
Passed Reg on April 1st.
Passed AUD on April 14th.
Passed BEC on April 15th (did not study)
This was back when March was a complete dead month- no testing at all. Signed up too early for all 4 parts and the NTS expired on April 15th.
Started studying 6/2015
Took BEC 7/2015 - passed
Took AUD 8/2015 - failed
Took REG 9/2015 - passed
Took AUD 11/2015 - failed
Took off for holidays and tax season
(12/2015 - 4/2016)
Took AUD 5/2016 - failed
Took FAR 6/2016 - failed
Took AUD 8/2016 - passed
Took FAR 9/2016 - passed
Licensed 10/2016
I already know I'm gonna be one one of the people that it takes 5+ years and multiple fails because I have to go straight to work after graduation to feed my family and won't be able to study much.
I started the clock over summer break between senior + grad year and then took the final 3 sections the following April - August. My strategy was going through the material at a high level, doing a practice test to see where I sucked, focused on those sections all while hammering MCQs every spare minute I could find.
About 6/7 months from start of studying to finish; prioritized it over this span of time did nothing but work and study because I wanted it done ASAP so I could move on with life.
9 months. MCQ only (Gliem, Becker, and Ninja) Passed all 4 first time, no score lower than 89. Working full time, 7 years after undergrad, immediately after MACC.
One summer. Becker “Fast Pass” crash course. Treated it like a job.
How many hours of studying a day?
Probably 6 hrs/day. Less for BEC. I got the most benefit out of intense repetition of Becker practice questions. Only referred to book/videos if I was really struggling with a concept. This was in 2011 so I’m not sure how the exam has changed since then.
Not the commenter but I’ve seen people pass FAR studying 10-14 hours per day for about two weeks. That includes weekends. Becker is the way.
Yeah it’s really weird to me when people try like 10 different resources They are all so similar and well everyone knows becker works at the end of the day and most of the firms will pay for it… If you don’t like doing a fuck ton of multiple choice questions well may as well embrace the suck because that’s pretty much what the exams are
As someone planning to start sitting in 2025, what % of the exam is multiple choice?
I mean in the grand scheme time wise it’s more like 50/50 where multiple choice is higher volume and the sims are more time consuming That being said the sims are the same content as the multiple choice questions just open ended more or less.
The shittier you think you did, the more likely you passed
I did this too in between my BS and MS year. Took all 4 exams within a month, passed them all except audit with a 74. 😫 Ended up retaking it over winter break and passed it then. Was relieved to have it done and over with before I graduated.
18 months. Yes, took my final test on the last day I could have without losing credit for my first passed test. Reg - First Time FIN - Second Time BEC - Second Time Audit - Third Time Never gave up. Had to take breaks for tax season.
Me too. For me it was FAR…either i pass or my BEC and AUD scores were set to expire. YOLO.
Same! (Well very first start to finish mine was MUCH longer, lol) But, I took AUD the very last day before I would lose BEC
May '94 - didn't study and failed all 4 May '96 - passed 2 Nov '96 - passed the other 2
If you didn’t try studying why did you take them? Serious question, I’m still a student and the CPA exam sounds hard enough as it is. Is there actually people who pass it without studying ?
The exam was really different in the 90s
yep you could only take it in May and November, only one location in my state so there were about 300 of us taking inside this old arena. All paper exams, 4 hours for each of the 4 sections. No calculators.
I took it in the basement of the arena in Norfolk, VA 1991. Fun times, that concrete caused the loudest echoes
Hara Arena in Dayton Ohio. It had a metal roof. A hail storm came in and pelted the roof and was incredibly loud and distracting
before fasb heh.
My older brother was successful CPA. My parents pushed me hard to follow his footsteps and take the exam senior year of college bc that is what he did. My GF dumped me in January of my senior year and I was not in a good place and put the exam on back burner.
I got a 68 on FAR without studying, I got busy with work and wanted to see how it was. Next time I studied the Becker book and got a 94.
Five months and I only studied during work days (I.e., m-f except for holidays or I took pto) unless it was the weekend before the exam. The key was drilling MCQ and basically ignoring everything else.
Exact same thing I did. I always tell people this.
Thank you, cumslatheredcpa
Lmfao somebody audit this man he seems like sticky cpa
r/rimjob_steve
Slather him up some more
I studied all 7 days, but like 2-3 hours each day, even on weekends. A couple hours in the morning over coffee or whatever was better than skipping a day. 90% of my time was grinding MCQ
What did you use to study?
For the record, this is a super fast timeline that is prob faster than 95% of most test takers. I dont know anyone personally who has done this while working no less.
Thanks! Honestly I was kinda shocked I was able to do it like that. I read the book Atomic Habits beforehand and it really helped. I think it was more a test of discipline and study habits than anything
I tip my cap. Well done .
MCQ?
Multiple choice questions. Basically I just did the test bank and didn’t read the book at all. Began by listening to lectures but then stopped when I figured out it was more efficient spending time to learn the mcq
I’m waiting for score release in June but yeah I did the same for FAR and ISC which I will take in ten days. Sims were tough so I’m not sure if I passed but I did well on MCQs at least. Practice works!
What study review program did you have?
If you do Becker then basically all you have to do is memorize the questions because most of them are the same ones that are on the exam.
Becker practice MCQ? Doesn’t the book/lectures contain a lot of the acronyms for memorization?
Got consecutive 74's on FAR in a 35 day span. Either would have finished it for me. Instead I lost credits and had to pass the other 3 again. Ultimately sat for 14 in total, passed 7 times. Something like 2.5 to 3 years. Those 2 score release nights were very dark for me.
That...sounds awful.
I worked with someone that scored 74 three times in a row, then went into the expiration spiral. She ended up passing the CPA, but it was a nightmare for her. Funny thing is that she is an awesome accountant. She just had a bad run on the exam.
I passed 3 within 6 months. Then I just chilled for a year and then it took me 2 months to pass the last one. So about 2 months of studying for each exam
5 years 20 exams with a 18 month haitus in there while working full time, married with a kid at the time.
I feel ya. 4 years and 18 tries for me. Two of my scores expired at the 18 month mark so had to retake them.
This thread gives me hope
Same
Took me 8 months but i didnt fail. I think my study time went over 450 hrs
10 years between my first section and final pass. There was a lot of life in there but glad I never gave it up.
I would give you Gold if Reddit still did that
Thanks kind stranger. I started to do the math on $ for testing once and decided it came somewhere between the cost of our fancy honeymoon and our not as fancy wedding. Ouch.
I'm surpassing your record at 12 years and still trying Hopefully I don't have to make a 2025 version of my username
This is your year! PM if you need to vent!
Wait what? Dude i just realized that, when did they get rid of those awards?
Around that whole IPO time. It's kinda back, but not like before.
Passed them all first try within 6 months while working full time. It sucked, but I’m glad I got it over with.
How long did you spend studying for each exam? As in length of time in days and around how many hours a night?
I studied for about 3 hours/day during the week, roughly 4-6 hours on Saturdays, and I took Sundays off from studying. During the week I mostly studied at work since I found I was more focused and had fewer distractions. I would go into work an hour early to study, I’d spend an hour over lunch studying, and then stay an hour late. Once I got home from work I was done for the day. So it was around 20ish hours per week total, give or take a couple. I spent about 9ish weeks studying for FAR, so 180-200 hours. I barely passed with a 76. It was my first test, so I learned a lot about how I wanted to study for the rest and I got a lot more efficient. I spent about 7-8 weeks on REG, so maybe 140-160 hours. And then about 5-6 weeks on AUD and 4 weeks on BEC.
Started in 2022. Failed AUD then failed FAR. took a life break (bought house had a baby). Ready to get serious and pass these exams within the next year.
One year to read the entire study guide once and then re read it and fully note everything. 1 year of sitting for exam....Failed BEC once 2 years total and endless, endless, endless, time
Started studying Feb 2020. Passed all 4 by Nov 2020. Got a 74 on my first exam, which was FAR. Then passed AUD, FAR, REG, and BEC. Studied about 2-3 months for each exam. My situation was unique with covid. Had just graduated college fall 2019. I was working at a restaurant which shutdown. All the while I was able to collect unemployment. Then I started full-time in Oct 2020 at the job I lined up while in school. Idk how y'all pass these exams while working full-time. Obviously it's doable, but balancing all that is brutal.
6 years
4 months, one per exam
How many hours a day of studying?
Freshman here in college, how do I prepare as much as possible for the CPA?
Pay attention. Take the best professors you can. Really think through your homework and the logic behind the moving parts. Seriously. The material you blow off during your degree (bc of work stress, or family obligations, or partying your ass off, or whatever applies in your situation) is harder to learn later on without having an instructor to clarify. You want your CPA study to be an honest to god review of concepts you grasped the first time around.
I studied and paid very much attention to both my principles classes, and anytime my managerial class references something from financial it clicks instantly and I understand it. I'm just afraid of later on in college losing this knowledge. How'd u retain all the info from ur principles classes?
The great thing about principles is that you’ll use the knowledge in every class moving forward! Nail the debits/credits and how the financial statements and their accounts interact. The sheer repetition of the principles material throughout your more advanced classes will keep it fresh in your mind. For me, retention became more of an issue in subjects like government/NFP and entity tax where it’s specialized information that you may or may not encounter again. I’d recommend that you identify how you learn best and just home in on that. I’m a verbal learner, so I take copious notes, rewrite them, rephrase the concepts, try explaining the ideas to friends who aren’t in the field, etc. Other people approach accounting as more of a math exercise, so for them doing a ton of practice problems that work through the mechanics is the optimal way to retain info. Still others think best in terms of flowcharts, diagrams, and other visual representations. We’re all different! The fact that you’re studying at all puts you way ahead of most students who take financial and managerial. You’ll be fine!
Thanks, I'm always anxious af and this helped me a lot!!!! Thank you!!!
8 months, passed all 4 on the first try. Worked full time and studied my ass off after work, had no life at all. And the kicker? Haven’t used my cpa in years if ever.
Shocked at the last part. How come?
6 months total between first and last test, all first time pass. 3 month lead time for Far so 9 months total. 84 FAR, 86 BEC, 77 REG, 85 AUD, In that order. took a week off from work before each test.
Depends….. I took BEC in ‘21 and failed with a 73. I had no time to study (less than 10 hours on Becker.) Then in 2023 I said FFS just do it. Studied non stop for 3 months and passed all 4 sections.
5 months - 1 try each exam.
Took a year to pass them all. Passed all first try except FAR took like 3 tries
4 years for me
It’s been almost 2 years since I took my first one. Sat for my fourth exam a couple months ago and still waiting on the score to come out in June. Hoping it’s a pass. Failed 3/4 exams on the first try and failed Audit twice. So fun. Honestly pisses me off to think about it. I never even got lower than a 73 on any of my 4 fails. I think they just want our $. I did take at least one some months off in that time and had one mental breakdown in large part because of the exams.
10 months. Would have been 6 but COVID happened in the middle and testing got all messed up. Passed all in single attempts, technically studied for BEC twice due to COVID canceling testing.
15 months from the day I started picking out study materials to the day I sat for my last exam. Passed all four sections on my first attempts. I was not working as an accountant at the time but to my credit I'd forgotten everything about accounting (outside of A=L+E) and basically had to learn everything from scratch. I believe most people are capable of passing; it's just how much time you'll need will vary from person to person (as this topic illustrates).
7 months - 90 Average - 1200ish hours of studying
6 months. Accidentally paid for all four at once and only realized my payments would expire in 6 months about 2 months into studying for FAR. Took FAR in January, REG in mid-March, and BEC/AUD the same week on a Tuesday/Thursday in the first week of April. Passed all 4 first try. I studied 3 hours every weeknight and at least 3 on the weekends. I credit my passing to MCQ drilling, I had over 2,000 MCQs complete by each exam. I would take 10 question MCQ quizzes on all material every 15 minutes from 8am-6pm when I would go to the gym every workday. I got really quick at the problems and finished all the exams in 2 hours as a result lol
5 years, 20 exams
From the time I started studying to the time I finished my last exam, it was about one year.
About 15 months. Had to retake one, otherwise would have been a clean sweep. If I re-failed I would have time to retake it but barely before the first fell off.
After about 21 months I am 3/4 and waiting on an AUD score. I’ve been fortunate to have gotten FAR and BEC in one attempt and REG and (hopefully 🤞🏼) AUD in 2 attempts
I passed the entire CPA within one calendar year, and passed all attempts on the first try. I planned my studies to coincide with my final semester (only took a couple of credits), summer break, and the intro period of my first full-time public job.
~3 years 13 total attempts, passed BEC twice
I’m old school. Studied for 6 months to pass all 4 parts in one shot many years ago (we even used pencils). Prior to that I think I failed to pass any parts 6 times. The exam was given twice a year at this point. So 3 years until I learned to bust my ass and study. Just keep fighting.
Passed all first time in about 6 months total. Had an easy job at the time and was able to study during down times.
13 months, all on first try
It took me the entire 18 month window. I passed my final exam on the day my first passed exam was going to expire.
I started right out of college. Passed business with an 80. Working big 4 and with a smokin hot girlfriend, got mid 60's and low 70's on the rest. Gave up for 10 years until the software test question banks became better. (Efficient learning.com). Crushed the online questions thousands of times. Passed all four in just under the 18month window (when u could only take it 1x a window)
I passed all the Canadian cpa educational components within 2 years of starting. EVR PERT took 7.
9 attempts total while working full time. My 3rd attempt at AUD got the dreaded 74 and felt worse on the 4th attempt but somehow got an 80 (did take it a week after 74 score). Really think if you're within a few points of 75 it's really just luck of the draw on the questions. BEC similar 73 on 1st attempt and the retake a week later got an 80. I felt defeated through AUD but knew as a tax guy if I got through it with FAR already done I could handle BEC and REG was a breeze. 17 months from start, worked around busy seasons. Started Jun '20, first pass Nov '20, last pass Nov '21.
The best thing to do is take 4-5 months off working and study full time. If you are focused and study the correct way, you will pass. Firms should let you “bank” CPA study time. Very difficult to study while working a grueling job.
2 years. Took a summer off started a masters program for something. Else. Retried the test and ended up passing. Don’t give up !
Four months, passed all first try. I sat for them before I started working full-time.
About a year. COVID happened right before my last test though so I couldn’t schedule for 2 months
took my first exam on memorial day weekend and passed my last section (one fail) that november
18 months FAR 3 times BEC 1 time REG 3 times Audit 1 time (this was easy for me bc last one and I was an auditor at the time)
Without going back to find the specific dates, I'm going to say 13 months from when I started studying to when I took the last exam. 10 months from first attempt to last attempt.
Passed all on first try except REG which I took twice
About 9 months total. Studied for one during semester break of masters year and then the other 3 from May-August after graduating. First try on all.
Around a year and a half. Passed FAR, AUD, and BEC first try. Had to take REG twice.
Around a year I think. Passed them all first try but did take a break during busy season.
13 months. Took 7 tests. My lowest score was a 72. For some reason I was always just on the cusp of passing. Never gave up and just kept going. I will say that I was incredibly burnt out at the end and I’m just now feeling like myself again 5 months later.
11 times in about a 24 month period. Covid saved my ass from lapsing on my first exam.
9 months.
11 months (January 2023 - November 2023). Passed all on the first try.
6 months. Started a new job in January, wife was pregnant. Knew my window was closing. March - REG 80 April- FAR (supposed to be Feb but snow cancellation) 78 June - AUD 80 July- wife had baby Aug - BEC 81
One try for each part. Between studying for the first part to finally passing the last part, it took a year. I was working so I had to pause during busy season. Wife did it in the three months between graduating grad school and starting her new job, passed all with one try each.
The biggest factor is the volume of other activities going on at the time you are studying. I passed all 4 parts if the CPA exam over the course of around 7 months from beginning studying but wasn't working. I have seen so many smart people be unable to pass due to the conflict with burnout and busy season. When I took the CFA I failed L1 5 times and L3 once but I was working all of those times except for a sabbatical i took for L3. If you have the ability to take time off to study (pre full time onboarding), i would absolutely not squader that time.
Aud 4x ; BEC 2x; FAR & REG 1x Took FAR with a day or two to spare in my 18 month window and thankfully nailed it.
About 4 months
2 years. Failed FAR twice to start and finally got a 76 on the 3rd try. Passed the rest on the first try. Took breaks for busy season also.
Started full time in July 2019. passed all 4 tests on first try by January 2020. Gave myself 6 weeks between tests.
A year to do all 4 but I also passed first time on them all. Retaking can add some time
Passed the first time!! 1998. Took all four tests passed with avg score of 89
In total, it took me about 18 months. Failed BEC and AUD a couple times each in the first 8 or 9 months. Once I figured out the best way for me to learn, I passed all 4 within 9 months or so. Studied about 20 hours a week for about 8 weeks each. Passed FAR and REG on first try. I used Ninja almost exclusively.
9 months while working full time at a PA firm. Passed all on first try using Becker.
This thread is making me second guess doing it at all lol
12 years… still failing. I’m the village idiot who is probably an r-word but I’m too stubborn to quit and the AICPA doesn’t mind collecting those exam fees from my dumb ass
Graduated in 2013 and sat for FAR and failed in 2014 and 2015... Fast forward to 2022, I finally took studying seriously and passed FAR REG & BEC on first try. AUD took two attempts. Never give up.
14 months from the day I cracked the first book open until I took the final one. I passed each on the first try. FAR was Sept - Dec. Then I took time off for tax season, got Covid the week after the deadline and took some extra time off to be lazy and studied for/took the other three from June - November. I put in more than 700 hours of studying in total. Weekends sucked, weekdays sucked, test days sucked, everything sucked for a bit there but happy to have done it!
12 months from first exam to last but i took off 4 months for busy season in the middle. BEC - 3 weeks, first try REG - 2 weeks, first try (worked in tax) AUD - 2 months, 2 attempts 73,76 FAR - 2 months, 3 attempts 64,74,83
Don’t talk about it
1 year while working full time. First try each
First round for me. But oh boy did I ever prep for it. - For a yr in advance I started prepping for it. Evenings and weekends. Mostly technical knowledge. - 2 mths to go I just did cases. Every night I did a case under full exam conditions. - 1 mth to go, I took fully off work to just prep. And mixed cases and tech. That was a decade ago. And I still have nightmares about how crap that year was. Anyway, once it’s done it’s done.
10 total tests and 2 total years was about to lose Far when I passed both AUD and REG in the same quarter
10 months. Passed them all first try.
Six months. I took progressively less time with each test (FAR, AUD, REG, BEC). In fact only studied two weeks for BEC because I was just done
It took me almost a full year, and I was able to pass each on the first try. I took them in conjunction with grad school classes, so the sections lined up nicely with what I was already learning that semester. I generally spent 15ish hours a week studying on top of classes, then ramped up as it got closer to the test date. REG was the longest one for me, and it took about 5 months. The others took about 2.5 months each.
Old school here. Had to take all 4-parts at the same time. Failed all 4 first time. Passed all 4 on the second attempt (after Becker).
1 year 3 months each part passed first tries. Over studied but no regrets.
Took it in 1990 and it was only offered twice a year. 4 parts, all failed. I scored the lowest possible score in Business Law Section in the history of the Exam. Got focused and passed part by part and finished up in 1992
A little over a year between starting studying and finishing the last part. The time partially overlapped with a MAcc program. I only had to retake Reg once, the rest I passed first try. All things considered, not that bad. I still have the scores on my fridge even though I passed like 6 years ago
MCQ for 6 months every day for about ~2 hours (Kaplan) FIn - took it first and was longest passed 1st time AUD- passed first time REG- passed first time BUS - thought it would be easiest so saved for last. Studied much less but it took twice to pass. I was however only a question or two from passing the first time so I was pissed
Under 2 years. I studied more than they recommended amount because I had the mindset that I was only going to take the exams once and pass them the first time. Suffice to say, I passed all with flying colors the first time, except BEC which took me two times.
Nine months, I studied two hours every day for nine months. The key for me was doing 30 minutes of rereview of topics I’d previously covered daily.
2 years. Passed BEC and AUD first try. REG twice and FAR way too many times. Glad I never gave up.
6 months. I did Beckers and sat while I was getting my masters degree. It was INTENSE, but worth it.
5 fucking years. But I have terrible study habits. I was on like my 4th or 5th far attempt (after getting two 74s in a row) and I had decided that would be my last test no matter what. And somehow I got 75.
7 months, passed all 4 on my first attempt after studying about 30 hours a week. It's doable and worth doing.
About 6 months working full time and planned my wedding/got married in there too. All first try except AUD where I got a 74, but retested a week after score release and made an 83. The person next to me in the first AUD exam had a fidget spinner that caused me some serious concentration issues lol the second attempt I finished in less than 2 hours and almost 10 point bump
Passed each one the first time, probably just under the 18 month mark. Studied religiously on a schedule. I used Gleim instead of Becker and I liked it very much, though the test is very different now than it was when I took it.
Year and a half. Passed all first time except bec. Took me twice and was my nemesis.
Two years. I passed FAR on my first try in 2018. Took and failed AUD in February 2019, then retook and passed that May. Passed BEC in fall 2019 then failed REG just before lockdowns. I benefited from having my FAR score extended by 6 months so I could retake REG later in 2020.
I was a legend. Only studying the bare minimum and through sheer will of my pp I passed
7 months while working full time, but I'm a masochist. I love the pain.
Passed each one on the first try, took them each about 2 months apart
4 for 4 on the first try, scores all between 75-80. I will brag about this, but I'd also call myself a good test taker as opposed to a strong (or even competent it feel at times) accountant.
12 months
4 months studying full time
I punted on BEC, but passed with a perfect score (75) in September 2008 to start the clock. Failed REG a few times, but passed the last one in November 2009. So, 14 months end to end.
7 months during my last semester of grad school, not working. FAR took 2 attempts, 1 attempt for the rest. Primarily studied Becker MCQ and supplemented with Roger videos on Youtube.
About 6 months of actual study time. I took a summer and busy season off. Started November of 2022 and passed my final exam in November of 2023. Studied a lot during the week and weekends for FAR and AUD. Totally crammed in winged it for REG and BEC at the end of 2023.
9 months. Took about 2.5 months to study for Fin and 1-2 for the others.
4.5 months, 4/4 first try. Gift of being a fresh college grad with 5ish months to kill before working full time
95 days between passing Far and passing BEC, with REG around the 30 day mark and AUD around the 60 day mark. I studied about 75 days in the lead up to FAR. Worth noting. This was during lockdowns and far overlapped with my last two classes of my MAcc. I had a lot of free time.
About 6 months First try each time I know myself and I knew if I failed any I would have been discouraged
One summer. Used Becker. Took FAR twice and passed the remainder first try.
Reg, first time, in 1983. Back then you took all parts in one day.
10 exams to pass 4. Failed FAR, REG, and AUD at least once each. Let BEC expire. When it came down to the end, I only had to pass FAR and my back was against a wall due to earlier exams expiring. Luckily I buckled down and passed FAR on my 3rd or 4th attempt. I was ready to give up, but glad I came out the other side.
6 months total exam window time-November 2022 to April 2023. Probably 8 months of studying as I dug into FAR pretty heavy before taking it first. Used Gleim and would read outline for each chapter, never watched videos as they were useless. Hammered MCQs and sims then moved to next chapter. Did a walk back through the sections only doing testing on my last 2 sections(BEC and FAR). Passed all on first attempt.
5 mos
4 months. Gave myself 1 month for each part
Canada - 2020: failed day 1, passed 2/3. 2021:Passed day 1.
2 years (or 4 years if u count the first time I failed) 12/2019 failed FAR with a 40. Decided to take a break. 10/2021 passed reg first try Sometime 2022. Passed bec first try. I forgot when (2022-2023) but I took AUD 3 times. 10/2023 passed far after 3 tries I am so blessed for the extension or else my REG would have expired
First time every time.
AUD - 5 attempts FAR - 5 attempts BEC - 2 attempts REG - 1 and done I studied everyday between 8-10 hours. It took me 16 months or so to pass them all.
First try on each, nine months total. Would not recommend FAR during tax season.
24 months in total. I was not in a good headspace lol.
1.5 years
First try 6 months.. Failed FAR and BEC on both attempts. Took the next 6 months off and then found a new review course. Passed both AUD and BEC on first attempts, then REG and FAR, both of them I had to retake once. 14 months total from when I started with the new review course. Would have been faster but I took time off for an out of state move and a knee surgery. I studied from 5-8p on weekdays in my office after work, then would hit it 8a-2 on the weekends. I gave myself Wednesdays and Fridays off.
Three years
FAR: passed 1st try AUD: 74 first time, 63 2nd time, passed 3rd try BEC: Took too soon after AUD, but passed 2nd try REG: 4 tries to get a 75. Tax was always the worst part of accounting for me. Total time was 15 months.
Finished all on the first attempt - 11 months span
2 testing periods (so 6 or 8 months i think). I only studied for REG and AUD. Passed FAR in the first session. Passed the other 3 the 2nd time. Worth pointing out, I had been working for about 15 years when I did it. I was asst controller (but acting as controller) at a place and the CFO wouldn't promote me to controller until I got it.
Is the US CPA exam much easier than the one in Canada? I’m gonna start studying for mine from December.
5 months for the CPA, I studied on average 6 hours per day 7 days per week. I also finished the CMA exam about 8 months after finishing the CPA. All told I finished both exams in about 15 months with a break between the CPA and CMA.
I took it in 2008 and it took me 6 or 7 months to pass all four exams. I took the summer off before starting in public accounting and crammed big time. I'm still shocked to this day that I passed with the way I studied. I advise others to start with an exam section that you think you can pass on the first try to keep your confidence up. Also, mimic exam conditions when you study - don't take long breaks, don't study with music, work in bad lighting, don't study in a cafe, use a basic as f calculator, etc. You will be miserable when studying and taking the exam.
Got Becker’s in early January. Passed FAR on February 28th. Passed Reg on April 1st. Passed AUD on April 14th. Passed BEC on April 15th (did not study) This was back when March was a complete dead month- no testing at all. Signed up too early for all 4 parts and the NTS expired on April 15th.
6 months with 2 month break
5 months, had to take FAR twice.
Started studying 6/2015 Took BEC 7/2015 - passed Took AUD 8/2015 - failed Took REG 9/2015 - passed Took AUD 11/2015 - failed Took off for holidays and tax season (12/2015 - 4/2016) Took AUD 5/2016 - failed Took FAR 6/2016 - failed Took AUD 8/2016 - passed Took FAR 9/2016 - passed Licensed 10/2016
Too long!
Three months but I wasn't working at the time, just grad school so I did nothing but study and sleep for that time
I already know I'm gonna be one one of the people that it takes 5+ years and multiple fails because I have to go straight to work after graduation to feed my family and won't be able to study much.
I started the clock over summer break between senior + grad year and then took the final 3 sections the following April - August. My strategy was going through the material at a high level, doing a practice test to see where I sucked, focused on those sections all while hammering MCQs every spare minute I could find.
Bout a year on and off. I tried to bang one out every quarter
About 6/7 months from start of studying to finish; prioritized it over this span of time did nothing but work and study because I wanted it done ASAP so I could move on with life.
9 months. MCQ only (Gliem, Becker, and Ninja) Passed all 4 first time, no score lower than 89. Working full time, 7 years after undergrad, immediately after MACC.
The sum of the four tests in a testing center.....
Lmfso bro what are you taking as exam 1? Fuck yeah I’ve been trying to study kudos to the CPAs here this shit is no joke
20 months, four 74s. But I got it done