[RyGuy34]

I decided to forego going for the expensive CPA review courses and instead to buy the Wiley CPA book for $40 and doing the practice problems. The reason was that I didn’t want to spend $1,000+ on a review course, plus I’ve always been a self-studier. I started studying for the FAR section first.

Here’s the deal. The textbook really seems quite long to me and I’m going at a very slow pace. It’s 3 months in and I’m only about halfway past the modules. I’ve lacked discipline to be sure but there are also times where I’ve sat for 3+ hours at a time and only gotten through a tiny portion of the book. I’m still a self-studier and really don’t see online or live courses doing my any good. But is there some textbook that provides a more accessible review of the material? I want something that’ll teach me the minimum I need to pass and nothing more.

PS, this is the book I’ve been using:

The FAR section is just over 400+ pages.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if you could get the Roger book by itself but it basically modified what you need to know from the Wiley book.

[ScarletKnightCPA]

Look at my signature. I would say don't bother trying to read it.

I tested out reading the book, it took me 3 months to finish the book and by the then I had 1 week left to do multiple choice questions hard core.

Book is good for reference but don't just read it. Too much information at once. Do the questions and reference back to material in the chapter as needed.

Far: 76 (Wiley Test Bank)
Aud: 77 (Wiley Test Bank)
Reg: 61, 76 (Wiley book, Wiley Test Bank)
Bec: 86 (Wiley Test Bank)

MBA in progress

[Kimboroni]

That's the program I use, and I think it's great. I read the chapter and work the problems. But that doesn't mean it will work for everyone. I'm a pretty fast reader, so that helps. Here's a recent thread where I broke down my strategy for FAR: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/taking-too-long

Something that might help make Wiley more digestible is supplementing with Ninja. Sometimes I just don't make the connection in what I read in Wiley until I hear Jeff explain it a certain way in Ninja Audio. Or if I've already heard it on the Audio and then read it in the book, the seed has already been planted, so I process it better. Ninja is quite affordable and well worth the investment. Ninja MCQ is supposed to be good, although I haven't tried it. Sometimes I do better doing questions on the computer, and then I use the Wiley test bank (which I think is now overpriced), and when I feel like doing them on paper I use my Wiley book.

Maybe be more active when you read and take some notes (but not a lot) as you go along.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Author]

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