I don't know how to study properly for the CPA. Losing motivation.

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    Topic
  • #193678
    CPAGRIND
    Participant

    I’ve attempted the CPA three times. BEC, FAR, and AUD. I will admit that I wasn’t prepared for BEC and FAR. I took AUD recently and really thought I did great. I scored a 60. I’m losing motivation. I recently got employed at a great job(industry). Management is great and they keep advising me to continue pursuing the CPA. I know I will need a CPA to advance within the company. I think I don’t know how to study properly. I have Roger CPA and everyone tell’s me its not the best. A part of me doesn’t want to waste time on the lectures. Honestly, I just feel dumb. I don’t know what to do.

    Please tell me what worked for you.What was your study plan? I want to pass one section–It’s kind of embarssing. 🙁

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 24 total)
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  • #670747
    fsugirl2005
    Participant

    My suggestion is to get the Wiley Test Bank, Ninja Test Bank, or Gleim Test Bank. Wiley is the easier of the other two but Wiley is enough to help you pass. You have to work all the multiple choice questions more than once to get the benefits. Also, I have heard suggestions about writing and then re-writing your notes. Frankly, this approach may not really work for me but when I took FAR the first time, I hammered out Gleim MCQs until every thing “clicked.” If you have not done all the Test Bank questions, then you have understudied, IMO.

    REG - 78
    FAR - 79
    AUD - 76
    BEC - 75

    I have been on this journey off and on for over 10 years. I think it's about time that I wrap this up.

    AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
    FAR - 10/28/16
    BEC - 11/2016
    REG - 01/2017

    Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

    #670749
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    What ever you have been doing, do it differently.

    #670750
    mommyof3texans
    Participant

    It might be time to focus on one of the four parts instead of moving around. I'd say maybe stick w/ AUD since that seems the most recent and the one you felt you were the most studied on.

    1 – How much time are you spending studying?

    2 – As you progress through the material, be sure to review past chapters/sections

    3 – Understand why you are getting questions wrong, don't memorize answers

    4 – Make your own notes – writing down how YOU will best understand and remember will help drill it in

    You can do this, it is less about being intelligent and more about grinding it out.

    BEC - 02/21/15 - 82
    FAR - 05/29/15 - 82
    AUD - 07/09/15 - 93
    REG - 11/14/15 - 80

    All done!!!

    #670751
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Get Becker…. Becker is idiot proof!!!!! They dumb things down to us… No wonder it's the most expensive.. I'm glad my firm bought it for me..

    #670752
    ruggercpa2b
    Participant

    I don't think you need to purchase another review course. Roger is a god review course. Have you atmctullay utilized it or have you just been listening to people tell you it's not good? You will get lots of reviews from different people for all review courses. Just like the person above mentioned Becker is the best. I have used Becker and totally disagree.

    You have to be honest with yourself. Are you putting in the studying that is needed? Are you taking the time to actually learn the material and not just going through the motion of finishing all lectures and questions. It took me over 2 years to get serious and be truthful with myself on how I was studying. My last audit retake I read the Wiley textbook and also read Roger's audit textbook. I works every question in the Ninja testbank and made sure I understood the material. My score went up. I had no hope when I scored that 47. The sims killed me on my last retake. But I am so close I can see the light. Stick with one section as someone else mentioned.

    Figure out how you learn best before you go spending money on every review course and testbank out there. You can do it. good luck!

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - NINJA in Training
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    AUD - 1/6/18
    FAR - TBD
    REG - TBD
    BEC - TBD

    AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
    BEC - 8/20/2016
    REG - TBD
    FAR - TBD

    I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

    #670753

    “Get Becker…. Becker is idiot proof!!!!! They dumb things down to us… No wonder it's the most expensive.. I'm glad my firm bought it for me.”

    Why don't you take an exam before polluting the forums with stuff like this. Becker is no better, or no worse than any of the other review courses. Fact is, if you don't put in the time with any of the review courses you are going to have a real bad time. One thing is certain, Becker is the most expensive, and least forgiving. You would think they would give you more than 18 months for the crazy premium they charge.

    FYI Another85, Of all the people I know that have used becker, more have failed than have passed.

    #670754
    silliepanda
    Member

    I agree with Monkey Wrench. If you don't put the time in you won't see positive results. I have used 3 different study courses. I am using Roger right now and while I have passed one section, the reason for my failure on the other is my own cause. It is not the study program that causes the failure. Personally I like Roger better because it is broken down into smaller sections. You may just need to revise your method of studying. Break it down into smaller areas and do questions until you grasp the section — then move on. Or maybe you need to do all the lectures first. Everyone learns different. Don't give up! Focus on one exam and don't bounce around either. Good Luck!!

    BEC - TOO MANY FAILS TO LIST! July 2015 I WILL GET IT!
    AUD - AUG 2015- NEVER PASSED!
    FAR - LOST CREDIT
    REG - PASSED

    #670755
    10keyLeah
    Member

    As someone said, don't jump around from section to section. Stick with one section until you pass it. All of the different study materials from various sources go over the same things. They may be presented slightly different, but you still have to learn the material no matter which review course you choose.

    I used Yaeger, and finally figured out that the lectures didn't help me much. I learned best by reading the Wiley books and doing MCQ like crazy. So I pretty much ditched the lectures. Also, Ninja notes were very helpful as were the other Ninja materials. I only made personal notes on topics where I had trouble.

    We can all make suggestions, but you have to figure out how you learn the best. Stick to one exam, and buckle down on it.

    Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

    #670756
    Martin
    Participant

    10key, what did you do different to jump from 69 to an almost perfect score of 95 in Audit? I have never seen a jump like that before. You went from shit I dont understand audit, I hate Audit, Audit is not for me, to b.t.c.h please this is the dumbest exam I have ever taken.

    Through God all things can happen!

    “You never fail until you stop trying.”
    ― Albert Einstein
    When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
    “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

    FAR= 72-84
    Audit= 73-82
    BEC= 74-75
    Reg=77

    #670757
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @Monkey Wrench

    All the people I know who took Becker (+10) passed on the first try.

    I hope I pass too.. My point is that going through Becker course and solving the problems I feel that I understand the concepts as apposed to just solve mcps.

    #670758
    fsugirl2005
    Participant

    “Get Becker… I'm glad my firm bought it for me.. “

    Well, I'm glad someone else bought it for you. Not everyone can afford Becker. I doubt you would have purchased it yourself if your firm hadn't. Many people go with Becker because that's the review course that's marketed heavily to undergraduate accounting students. They don't even bother to test out other review programs before they spend that kind of money. I've used Wiley and I've used Gleim in the past and the present, respectively, they are both easy on my wallet and it gets the job done. I'm sorry but Becker capitalizes off of college students who may have a degree but are not really business savvy when it comes to research.

    REG - 78
    FAR - 79
    AUD - 76
    BEC - 75

    I have been on this journey off and on for over 10 years. I think it's about time that I wrap this up.

    AUD - 10/21/16 (75----07/2010 expired)
    FAR - 10/28/16
    BEC - 11/2016
    REG - 01/2017

    Using Gleim CPA Review, Ninja Audio, Ninja Book

    #670759
    TaxGod
    Participant

    Although I agree with fsugirl, Becker is a brand name and overpriced. Do keep in mind Becker may not be the best software dollar for dollar, but overall I would argue that it is the best software. So if you're willing to pay the price then by all means get Becker, however plenty of other software can get you to that 75 at 1/4 the cost.

    AUD: 02/28/15 - 89
    FAR: 05/29/15 - 80
    BEC: 08/03/15 - 81
    REG: 08/27/15 - 76

    #670760
    Skynet
    Participant

    To the OP. Make sure you are understanding the concepts and know how to apply those concepts.

    Before my first pass with Gleim, I was using Wiley's Books only but found out it was too dry for me and often had a hard time figuring things out when I got stuck.

    Since switching to Gleim, I found out that I did better when I have a test bank and being able to customize the practice exams to mix things up helped me retained the information better. The customization helps prevent me from memorizing the answers.

    The last thing is to know where your weaknesses are and work on them until you understand them.

    I apologize if this makes too much sense. It only happens when I'm drunk.

    *Drinks from Jack Daniels Whiskey bottle*

    AUD - 90
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 84
    REG - 87
    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
    Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
    Phase V : TBD

    BEC : 78
    REG : 87
    FAR : 84
    AUD : 90

    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
    Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
    Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase V : TBA

    #670761
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I cant speak for the other software and I'm not a recent college grad, but I felt pretty comfortable with Becker's pass promise. If you do all the work and dont pass, you keep access to the software (and updates) for free until you do. So far, when Ive done the work, I've passed. Shrug.

    I believe in spending money on quality and from my research, Becker seemed to be the best.

    YMMV of course. 🙂

    #670763
    jeff
    Keymaster

    Have you read the Survival Guide? It could help.

    https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-survival-guide/

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
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