New here and just getting ready to start studying for the exam. Any advice/tips would be appreciated.

My advice to you is to study LOTS of multiple choice questions. You won't regret it when exam day comes and you recognize the quesitons, maybe even word for word.

Welcome!

That's a good one. Also just don't let yourself get too down when you're not scoring well or don't feel like studying. There are definite high's and low's, but it will be worth it when we are done with it!

thanks guys! this exam looks to be a beast for sure, but i am determined!

Welcome! Andrew has talked about this before, but you have to make a study schedule. It keeps you on track, ensures you will complete all the material on time, and keeps you motivated by tracking your progress. That's my suggestion to you.

Would you guys say the questions on the exam are typically easier or harder than the ones in most review courses?

For me, the questions in my review course were as hard or harder than the exam questions. As Cramming wrote, some were VERY similar to the actual exam. I used mostly Wiley practice questions and they did a pretty good job of preparing me.

What order do you people think I should take the sections in?

Good question. This is my response when it came up previously:

Lots of people say take the hardest one first, but I say take an easier one first. I failed REG first with a 62, then failed FAR with a 61. I almost quit after those two! But I studied really hard for BEC and passed! It gave me motivation to keep on and that is one of the biggest parts of this CPA exam.