Should I take the CPA exam?

What section in the CPA Exam is the best one to take first?

• I plan on taking the CPA Exam soon. I am wondering if it is good idea to take the hardest part/section. For me, the hardest part is the Regulation. Is this good idea to take the hardest part first or the easiest? Thank you!

• Answer:

  If you are relatively confident in your abilities, then taking what you perceive as your weakest area first can be a real boost. Most people tend to over-study for their first section as well. That can help lead to a positive result. The down side is if you do not score a 75. If that happens, you will be taking all of the others knowing that you will have to take the first one again. With that being said, I also chose what I thought was my weakest area (REG) first. With my score returned as an 85 it gave me all of the confidence in the world for the other three. In my opinion, the sections from hardest to easiest are: FAR, REG, BEC, AUD. FAR simply has so much material that can be covered. You almost have to pick your poison and know that you will not know some parts of that section. As an auditor with PwC, AUD was by far the easiest. REG was not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be. BEC was also pretty easy by comparison. Hardest section first or easiest section first, make sure you do everything possible to prepare for it. Taking a few extra hours now and over studying can save you many hours if you get the dreaded 74! I know people that have taken the exams both ways with success and without initial success. From talking to each of them I have decided that it was all in the preparation. I took them in the following order: REG, AUD, FAR, BEC. My perception was to go hard/easy/hard/easy. It worked for me and if you put in the work, it can work for you too. Schedule your exams well in advance and set a time every day to study. There is far too much material to 'cram' for in any section. Best of Luck!