[mdrobbin]

I’ve now taken 3 CPA exams and I’ve developed a fairly standard study process. Everyone is different with what study techniques are right for them, but just in case anyone finds my techniques useful, I thought I would share.

For starters, I use Yaeger/Wiley/Wiley Test Bank + NINJA Notes. I think any major review program will probably do fine but I personally find the Wiley Test Bank invaluable and don’t think I could do without it.

First I get through the videos, taking a large amount of handwritten notes. I do my best not to go overboard with my notes because I will end up getting stuck on one lecture for hours… but I always end up with a fairly substantial amount of notes. For almost every bullet point in my notes I right down the Wiley page number in the margins of my notes so I know where to go reference the information when I come back to it later. Also, when the videos go over a MCQ, I circle the MCQ number in the Wiley book so when I get to that part of studying I know where I have additional notes written down.

Once I’m done with the videos I read through my handwritten notes about 2-3 times and read through the NINJA Notes 2-3 times. I know this particular item might not be agreed with, but I personally don’t find it valuable to re-write any notes. I started to do that for FAR and I had SO many notes to re-write I ended up so stressed out re-writing them that my mind was focused on churning through the notes and not focused on absorbing the material. I stopped re-writing my notes for FAR and have not re-written my notes for any other parts.

Next comes the MCQ’s. HERE IS THE KEY… AT LEAST FOR ME. When I start with the MCQ’s I open up a Word document on my computer. For every question I get wrong, I type up notes on why the wrong answers are wrong and why the right answer is right.

I go through the MCQ’s in Wiley using this process which leaves me with a new set of typed up notes. Next I move onto the Wiley Test Bank. I ALWAYS MAKE SURE TO HAVE ONE FULL WEEK BEFORE THE EXAM TO DO NOTHING BUT THE TEST BANK AND RE-READ NINJA NOTES. This keeps the stress level down because I know I’m on track when I have everything done except for the test bank and a week to go.

When going through the test bank, I do the same thing with having a word document open. I pick up very important information by reading each solution and typing up notes as I go. I keep a separate word document titled “CRITICAL REVIEW” for items I continue to struggle with or find particularly important.

As exam day approaches, after a long day of hitting up the Test Bank I re-read my typed notes to make sure I’m remembering my weak spots. I probably do 1,500 – 2,000 MCQ’s before exam day and by the time exam day comes around I have been doing so many MCQ’s I want to puke… but I just keep plugging away. I always use the “Practice Test” mode on the test bank and nothing else. I do questions in sets of what the testlets will be (i.e. 30 MCQ’s at a time for FAR) to help me understand how my time management is going per testlet.

The day before the exam I don’t study too late and make sure to get a good night of sleep. I don’t drink much water before the exam because I don’t want to have to take a bathroom break.

Just my 2 cents on my study techniques. If anything I say can help at least one person out there, then I’ll call this post a success. Good luck to everyone! One more to go for me and I can’t wait to be done!

FAR - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER)
AUD - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
BEC - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
REG - 2013 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES + NINJA AUDIO)

ETHICS - 2013 - PASSED

DONE!!! Thank you A71 for all the support! Hiya!!!

[Anonymous]

@mdrobbin Glad to hear I am not the only obsessive note taker. 🙂 I also end up with two sets of notes. The first set I write while watching the lectures. I'm pausing my videos every few minutes. My second set of notes contains all the MCQs I didn't get right and how to do it correctly and why. I ended up with five tabbed ring folders for FAR and I'm now doing this for REG. I write everything by hand though – I like organizing everything into columns and charts. During my FAR exam questions would come up and I could visually see in my head the answer in a column on my notes. Talk about a visual learning style. 🙂 It's excruciatingly slow to do it this way but I'll take whatever works. Good luck and happy note taking! 🙂

[Author]

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