[Anonymous]

Has anyone skipped reading the modules and just went straight to doing the MCQs for the tax portion of REG? I forget a lot of the tax stuff i read and learn from doing the mcqs. i like this method but im afraid that i will miss out on something that will get tested just cause i didnt read it.. thoughts?

[confusedcandidate]

I passed FAR that way and I'm pretty much doing that with Reg too. I can only pick up so much from lectures. Pounding those MCQs teaches me more and whenever I miss questions i read the explanations, take notes, google it, etc. There's more than one road to dublin and this one has worked pretty well for me. I'm not sure if I'll get away with it for Audit but it seems to be working well so far.

Weekends are meaningless to a CPA candidate

[Ag12thman]

I've seen other threads on this site that pushed for “start at the end” (this is my term, not theirs) approach as well. They highly recommend it and claim it can cut as lot of time off of your total exam prep time. Others will argue and say the reading or listening to lectures is crucial and should not be skipped.

FAR: July 2016

[Anonymous]

That's what I'm kind of doing for REG. I briefly read the chapters and took some notes, but then I jumped into MCQs. Everything sounds easy when you're reading along. I think it's more beneficial to learn from the MCQs, especially if you have the Ninja testbank. The explanations are much easier to digest and have links to the necessary references.

[okcpa2015]

The best study method is the one that makes you feel most comfortable and prepared.

Doing only MCQs is probably the most efficient way to study, but if you don't already have a base knowledge of the topics this could be pretty frustrating. If you don't understand a term that the question is asking then your just guessing.

FAR - 91
REG - 88
AUD - 98
BEC - 88

[golfball7773]

@okacpa – as you said it really depends on how you learn. Once you figure out whether you learn best by doing/watching videos/listening, etc then you can make a study plan.

Personally, I learn best by doing MCQ's 🙂

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 86
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

AUD - 71, 73

BEC - 74, 86

REG - 77*

FAR - 57

*expired

(I have been trying to become a CPA since 2013). only one test down.......

FAR: 63, 55, 62
REG: 65, 77*
AUD: Fail, 64, 71
BEC: 72, 74, 81

*expired

[ocarina]

I like things being sectional. Lecture followed by MCQ of the same topic to reinforce the information. Then reviewing later I do random MCQ! Helps drive it home.

FAR - 78
AUD - 82
REG - 79
BEC - 78

Study Materials: Becker Self Study, NINJA Notes, NINJA MCQ for review
Started March 2015 and finished December 2015 all on first attempt. Licensed CPA Jan 2016.

IT Auditor/CyberSec Consultant in Public Accounting
Future goals: Learn IT Network infrastructure, obtain CISA & CISSP

[Anonymous]

I did everything but read the book for BEC only; mostly, it was stuff I was familiar with and only needed a brief refresher. For the other 3 exams, I did everything.

[Anonymous]

I liked doing the lecture first to build a foundation. Becker was also really good about emphasizing what is and isn't heavily tested and giving you good ways to learn the material.

Once I was through the lectures it was non-stop MCQ for me though. I only used the book while watching the lecture and as a reference while working MCQ. I never sat down and re-read it word for word after a lecture.

[MassiveDynamic]

I did it for my latest AUD/REG/FAR. 67% success rate (got a 74 on FAR).

B 85 Aug 2015
A 81 Jan 2015
R 78 May 2015
F 76 Jul 2015
DONE!!

[Anonymous]

That is how I studied. I just hammered away at MCQs and SIMs, occasionally looking something up in the book.

[Yukkeko]

Actually I think REG, especially the tax portion worth the time going over the videos – they'll tell you what exactly you need to remember for the exam for those exemptions and phase-outs.

Also, it really depends on how comfortable you are with the topic. For me, especially some AUD and BEC chapters, i find the videos very time consuming and worthless.

AUD - 99
BEC - 92
FAR - 97
REG - 94

Accounting

FAR (4/14/14) - 97
REG (11/17/14) - 94
BEC (11/30/14) - 92
AUD (2/28/15) - 99
TEARS!

[ocarina]

I also believe reviewing Ninja Notes every day, maybe like 30 pages a day, helps A LOT with overview & keeping things fresh.

FAR - 78
AUD - 82
REG - 79
BEC - 78

Study Materials: Becker Self Study, NINJA Notes, NINJA MCQ for review
Started March 2015 and finished December 2015 all on first attempt. Licensed CPA Jan 2016.

IT Auditor/CyberSec Consultant in Public Accounting
Future goals: Learn IT Network infrastructure, obtain CISA & CISSP

[Jenny]

There's videos and books???

Just kidding, they were a waste of time for me. Only did MCQs and touched maybe 1/3 of the SIMs.

AUD - 76
BEC - 86
FAR - 76
REG - 76

Oklahoma CPA

 

Oklahoma Candidate
AUD - Pass (8/14)
FAR - Pass (11/14)
REG - Pass (2/15)
BEC - Pass (11/15)
Ethics Exam - Pass (12/15)

[Art Van Delay]

This is how I'm studying. Rather than spending hours pouring over material I already know, I'm working from the end. MCQ's all day; any areas that I'm persistently struggling it – I'll refer to notes on. Otherwise, I feel pretty confident in just doing MCQ's and getting an understanding of the questions I'm missing.

[jesta81]

By only doing the MCQ's you are putting all your faith in the author's selection of questions. Typically, the MCQ's will not hit all of the topic areas and that could be a problem when you get to the exam. For the exam you need a wide knowledge base.

AUD (11/26/14) 84
FAR (02/04/15) 87
REG (08/28/14) 84
BEC (07/07/14) 71, (10/01/14) 83

[Author]

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