Sarah is a NINJA CPA Blogger.

Hello NINJAs,

I’m anxiously awaiting exam score releases from my rematch with AUD in early July. I felt better after leaving the prometric site than I did the first time I sat for AUD but I have no idea if that will be enough to receive the passing 75.

In the meantime, I’m been working through FAR. This is my third CPA exam and I have a couple of takeaways as many people ask the order you should take the exams. I took AUD first, then BEC, then my retake of AUD, and now FAR.

There is substantially more material to cover in FAR than in either AUD or BEC. I didn’t realize the magnitude of material and have probably not given myself enough time to get through the lectures, understand the lectures, and work MCQs.

I used the same plans that I used on BEC and my second time through AUD but the sheer amount of material is daunting and has left me already planning a backup retake plan for this section.

I have a feeling if I would have started out with FAR, I would have been very overwhelmed by the material, the amount of, and the understanding of how to really study for it. I think having a couple of sections under me has been a mental help.

I should finish up all the lectures and notes this weekend giving myself 3 weeks to work through Wiley MCQs before I sit on 8/26. My NTS is expiring then so I don’t have much of a choice but to take it and hope for the best and be prepared for the worst. If the worst case scenario happens, I’ve already got a plan in place.

After sitting for the exam, I’m going to continuing working MCQs for the next several weeks until the testing window opens back up and then retake FAR before a much needed and anticipated vacation to Napa, CA. This will be my first true break from studying and when I come back in late October, I’ll begin tackling REG with the hopes of trying to put this exam behind me before the Thanksgiving holidays.

If everything aligns, there’s a chance I could be done by the end of the year and start next year not only as a CPA, but as a CPA with a life again.

Good luck to everyone waiting for score releases.

Sarah