CPA candidates often wonder if there’s an ideal day to sit for the CPA exam. I sat for the CPA exam on different days of the week myself and have discussed this topic with dozens of friends and colleagues over the years, and generates tons of debate. If you’re trying to figure out when to schedule your CPA exams, then this post is for you!
Ultimately the best day to sit for the CPA exam comes down to your own facts and circumstances (I know, classic accounting answer!). For the average CPA candidate working a typical 9-5 job, I suggest sitting for the CPA exam on Mondays. This should give you a solid 2+ days for any last minute review and a chance to clear your head and relax going into the exam.
But what if you can’t take the exam during the week, or have an unconventional schedule? Let’s break down everything you should consider when planning the which day of the week to schedule the CPA exam.
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Will Your Employer Give You Time Off?
Most of the Big 4 and other CPA firms let you to sit for the exam on company time during the workweek, as long as it’s not during busy season. Amazing, right?!
But what if your company doesn’t have a policy around the CPA exam? Simple, just ask.
Just because your company doesn’t have a policy for this doesn’t mean they’re not open to it. After all, you’re actively improving your skillset and making yourself more valuable to them.
Once they realize they’re benefiting as much as you are the conversation should be much easier.
(Bonus tip: Have a plan for all of your critical work tasks / deliverables to be completed by or taken care of during your absence. This will increase your chances of getting time off AND show them you’re a rockstar!)
Avoid the Busier Parts of Your Schedule
If your Thursdays and Fridays are full of meetings and critical work tasks then you’ll have a heck of a time trying to reschedule things. Likewise if your swamped with month-end close the first 5-6 business days each month.
Instead, choose a day or week when you’re less busy, or go with a weekend day. This will make it easier to catch up when you get back and save you loads of time and stress leading up to the exam.
Consider Using Vacation or Flex Time to Sit For the CPA Exam
It may not sound very exciting to use vacation time to study or take the exam, but there are several reasons why this could be a good idea.
Let’s say your boss is a lousy jerk (or even just a regular jerk) and won’t give you time off during the week to sit for the exam. In that case, use a vacation day instead. Unless you have major deadlines it’ll be hard for them not to honor your request, especially if you plan it far enough ahead of time.
You can also use vacation time leading up to exam day to minimize distractions during crunch time.
Just be sure to save some vacation time for, well, an actual vacation!
To maintain some balance I suggest using no more than 1-2 days of vacation time for any given exam section.
Avoid Sitting For the CPA Exam Close to Major Life Events
Hopefully your friends and family will understand if you need to miss out some things so you can study, but it may be much harder to skip vacations, weddings, bachelor / bachelorette parties, major birthdays, or other once-in-a-lifetime events.
Try to avoid scheduling an exam within 3-4 days of any of these major events, especially ones where you may be partying hard or doing anything that could mess with your sleep. This should give you plenty of time to recover and refocus on any last-minute review you need to complete.
If you must sit for the exam near one of these events, make sure you have a plan to keep your studying on track. Nothing derails a CPA exam score like an inconsistent study schedule or taking long breaks without studying, especially during crunch time.
What Day Should YOU Sit For the CPA Exam?
If you work a 9-5 job, Mondays are usually the best day to take the CPA exam. It likely creates the least conflict with your work schedule and should minimize the amount of vacation you’ll need to take. If Mondays aren’t possible, then Sundays are the next best option for similar reasons.
Unless you work part-time or have an unconventional schedule, you should also avoid taking the CPA exam in the middle your work week. You’ll simply have too many other things going on and fighting for your attention heading into the exam.
If you work part-time or have an unconventional schedule, go with a day that also let’s you set aside 2+ days before the exam for a well-rested and focused final review. This can do wonders for your exam performance, so you should aim to create that type of schedule whenever possible.
Bottom Line
When it comes to preparing for the CPA Exam, nothing is more important than a consistent study schedule and doing lots of practice questions. After that, optimizing for things like the particular day of the week you sit for the exam become less important, so keep this advice in perspective.
That being said, when the difference between passing and failing can come down to a SINGLE percentage point, it definitely worth putting some thought into when you schedule your CPA exam.
Regardless of which day you sit for the CPA exam, plan to complete your CPA review course 1-2 weeks before exam day and take stock of how well you remember the material. This will give you plenty of time to plan your final review, schedule any additional time off work (if needed), or even reschedule the exam if you’re just too far behind.
Best of luck on your CPA exam journey!
Featured image courtesy of Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
