As far as background goes I would say I fit the “generally intelligent people that put in the effort” category, but by no means did I have a 3.9+ GPA. In school I was in top 25% of class, but rarely the smartest person in the room.
The CPA exam is definitely a test that can be beaten. You don't have to be brilliant to do it. But if you are going for 90+ on sections and/or EWS range you're going to have to actually understand the concepts, not just blindly memorize mnemonics or MCQ answers.
Commit to a review program. Personally, I used Becker and would recommend them if you have a big four picking up the bill. If you're paying out of pocket, some of the lower cost programs seem pretty good (Gleim, Ninja, etc.). I'd imagine they are all fairly similar. The AICPA posts the outline of material covered for all exam sections along with the respective weight each topic carries. All review programs base their materials off of these outlines. There's no secret formula or recipe.
Give yourself enough time to go through the programs. Depending on your circumstances, this is going to vary significantly. Obviously if you're working full time and have a family, you'll need more time per section than someone who has a lot less going on.
I took the exams last year (April 14′ – October 14′) while I was still in school. I didn't have a ton going on so I could focus mainly on CPA. If you're able to do that, I'd say 2 months each for FAR and REG is sufficient, and 1 to 1.5 months each for AUD and BEC.
As far as test taking tips go, realize that a big portion of the exam is multiple choice. That means you don't always need to know the correct answer. As long as you have a basic understanding of the topic being tested, you should be able to eliminate 2 to 3 incorrect answers. You basically end up backing into the correct answer. Also, keep an eye out for buzzwords like “Always” and “Never”, those are going to popup on a bunch of AUD and BEC multiple choice questions, and rarely are the answers with those words in them correct.
If you're worried about focusing when you study, try to find the time of day that your most awake/focused/zoned in. For me it was late morning to early afternoon (10-2). I could put in a few hours of studying each day, drink some coffee, and then enjoy the rest of the day. Again, this is going to work if you are working full time/have a family, but if you have the flexibility, use it.
One last piece of test prep advice relates to the SIMS. Personally, I hated practicing SIMS. I thought they were a waste of time. Unlike the MCQs, SIMS are very unpredictable. They change significantly from one year to the next. It sucks, but its the way it is. So I would say don't even bother reviewing them. Just focus more on the MCQs, which are fairly consistent from one year to the next. Usually the topics/concepts you learn from the MCQs and outlines/lectures you use will carry over to the SIMS. Don't spend hours on material/formats you likely won't see on exam day.
The exception to that rule would be the research questions. Make sure you are familiar with the research materials (IRC, FASB code, etc.) and how to navigate each before you get to your test center. Other than that, forget about practicing SIMS.
AUD 99
BEC 96
FAR 94
REG 96
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