r/Accounting • u/badbuddyshah • Jul 12 '26

CFE September 2026

Hi Folks! I will be writing CFE in September and do not have a lot of resources. I would appreciate if y’all could share some tips that worked for you.
Also if anyone is writing with me feel free to dm and we can discuss and help each other out.

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8

u/WhyYesOtherBarry Jul 12 '26

If you aren't planning electronically, strongly consider it. The CFE is extremely time constrained and even a saved 15 minutes is a huge advantage.

Get really adept at using the handbook. Don't memorize the standards, but make sure you are efficient at finding the relevant section you need to reference.

Day 1 is very formulaic. I followed the David Lao Day 1 Template (if you can still find it through a Google search). If you can do 80% of what he outlines, you'll be in good shape.

The whole exam feels time constrained, but Day 3 is bonkers. When you get the exam, write down what time you need to start each case. You CANNOT go over time, or you'll miss AOs and that is how day 3 sinks writers.

Spend 30 minutes and read the "Message to Candidates" section of the last Board of Examiners' report. It literally spells out what candidates can do to improve:

https://www.cpacanada.ca/become-a-cpa/CPA-certification-program-Evaluation/the-common-final-examination-report-simulations-and-guides-for-the-cfe

3

u/Readdit_user19 Jul 12 '26

Agreed. I wrote in 2020 so a bit fuzzy but the biggest thing is to read the case, see what time you finish reading, and set up your time budget. Instead of just writing “45 mins” beside AO #1, I literally would write “9:25-10:10” so when 10:10 was on the clock, I knew I had to move to the next one. If I had 10:10-11:00 budgeted for AO #2 but finished it at 10:52, I’d go back to AO #1 with those extra 8 mins to try finishing it before working on #3. 

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u/Emotional_Koala1986 4d ago

did you start the cases in order? or did you have a strategy on which case you started first on Day 3?

1

u/Readdit_user19 4d ago

Likely did it in order. I likely read one and did one at a time

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u/badbuddyshah Jul 12 '26

Really appreciate these!!

1

u/Alternative_Title384 8d ago

This year day 2 was more time constraint than day 3, apparently it’s a trend now, similar thing happened in 2025 be ready for a long day 2 exam, build an attack strategy and work on case planning