[CPAPASS]

I have always studied by taking notes while reading. I hate this habit but can’t seem to get myself to stop doing it.

I’ve realized that most of the time I go so overboard that I am almost rewriting the Becker book. I know that I learn better this way but it is way too time consuming and my hand hurts honestly lol.

So I wanted to ask, what are some effective ways you study while reading the textbook or how do you pick what to take notes on. With the CPA, I feel like everything that I am reading in the textbook can potentially be tested so I make notes on almost everything and it has become very frustrating.

Please share what works for you to retain information. Thanks

[zoctoman]

Simply read out loud. I got carpal tunnel using your method. Read out loud and “trust” that you will remember everything without written proof. You may feel like things are “up in the air” without writing, and I was scared when I physically could not write with carpal tunnel. But you will realize how much more you can learn in a shorter amount of time. My grades were never higher than after I got carpal tunnel.

And the voice box can handle a lot more than the hand!

Audit(11/5/13) - 89
Reg(5/16/14) - 86
FAR(7/18/14) - 82
BEC(11/14) - 85

[Anonymous]

Totally agree. Some nights I have to read aloud to keep myself awake, but I remember the info so much better. I also try to visualize what I'm saying as I'm saying it – helps blend it all together.

[Future Ninja]

each one of us is unique and special.. it depends on who you are whether if you are auditory (learn by hearing), visionary (learn by seeing) or by writing. If that's the way you learn best, then do it. I was disappointed also by taking down notes but I would just say to myself, this is not a race that whosoever finish the material first, pass the exam. This is a marathon. Slow but sure. To me, hand written notes can make a big difference as long as we read, review, and take it wherever we go. @studymore – you have that greatness within you and it can be done. Trust your instincts. I trust mine. ” Luck is the last dying wish of those who believe that winning can happen by accident. Sweat on the other hand is for those who know it's a choice.”

AUD - 79 (expired) retaking July 28,2016
FAR - 76 expiring July 31, 2016
BEC - 85
REG - 74,74,74,74,59,70,

[005]

Yep, I do this too. As a matter of fact, I've done it throughout my whole time in college too. I just outline the chapters by re-writing major points.

However, with the CPA exam, there's a lot of information. And being that the chapters are outlines themselves, most of the times, I just end up basically re-writing the book…

So for BEC (my first exam), I wrote the notes out by hand. That worked but my hand was killing me by the end of studying. So for AUD and REG, I decided to use Microsoft word. For Reg, I typed up over 200 pages, and for AUD, about 120 or so. I'm currently doing the same for FAR….

but hey, it's worked. I'm 3/4 done, so it has to be working. I'm a visual learner, so going through the material and outlining it to my liking helps me understand the material. However, It's just very time consuming…

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[kpb]

After I read the chapter or section of a chapter, I use the Becker outline to take notes from. It helps me remember the more important points without rew-writing the entire book. I too feel like if I were to take notes from the book, i'd rewrite the whole book. I haven't written notes from the outline for all the sections but usually I at least READ them after reading a chapter or after doing the hw questions. Right now as I study reg, i've been trying to write notes after I read the chapter. It really helps when I get to the homework and I can somewhat remember the little rules. I still flip to the book page either way to make sure i see it also.

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[ShelahV]

I say go with what works for you. When I was doing my master's in accounting, it helped me retain information in some classes is I read the chapter and took notes before I went to class – tedious but it worked. I did the same thing with BEC and got an 87 and I currently doing the same thing with FAR and then I listen to the Becker lecture and do MCQ. I tried skipping the note taking for a small section of BEC but didn't score as well in MCQ so I went back to my original study plan. Someday I feel like I'm rewriting the book but I try to break it up a bit and do a sub section of a Becker chapter, then do the lecture, MCQ and then do the next sub section – not quite as boring for me this way.

BEC 8.14.14 - 87!
FAR 1.8.15 - 89!
REG 4.15.15 - 86!
AUD 7.2.15 - 90!

Application submitted 8.6.15
Licensed CPA 8.19.15

Benefit in living in a small state SD!

[Tux]

I did the SAME thing for my first CPA exam (FAR). Took tons and tons of notes, typed them into Word, formatted with bullets, bold, underline, highlights, and all IFRS info was in red. Yes, practically re-wrote the book. Although I scored well (86), that method is WAAAAAAAY too time consuming.

This is my new approach —- Let the MCQ's be your guide.

Yes, potentially Anything in the text can be tested, but trust Becker and use the MCQ's to know what to learn.

Take notes from the solutions in the MCQ's. Use the ebook link for each MCQ which shows you what page the info came from.

I write on note cards and group them with a rubber band by topic and by chapter. You can write page numbers on them too to keep them in the same order as the book.

Then, go through the MCQ's again, using your notecards as a crutch to help you learn the rules, formulas, etc.

I used this approach for both AUD and BEC, and got through the info much faster. (I know they are much smaller sections than FAR anyway, but I promise that this method saves a TON of time.)

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Anonymous]

@Tux I did the same (re-wrote mcq explanations) for my review weeks and thought it helped really well, also.

[CPAPASS]

Thank you for the replies. I am going to try to switch up how I study. It is probably the worst time to decide to learn a new method to study but hopefully it works out. With BEC the writing was doable, when I got to FAR it was making me feel like quitting the cpa.. way too much material.

I like the MC idea, going to limit my note taking to MC questions I get wrong, and if it is a topic I get wrong often maybe I will try taking more detailed notes on those sections only.

[CPA soon]

I also only take notes while working on MCQ now, I add any notes to my printed Ninja notes so I have everything in one place then I can reread along with the details necessary for me.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[thechapman]

The reason it sucks is because it requires you to be way more involved than most other methods of studying. Keep it up.

Passed - 2014

[hdotc]

I take all of my notes doing the multiple choice questions. Miss a question? Read the explanation, understand it, rework the problem, make notes. Get a question right but I wasn't 100% sure about it before answering? Same thing.

Then I read through these + the Wiley Focus Notes the day before the test, go through all of the MCQs I've missed the day of the test, then take it.

3/3 so far.

[Vern -No what I mean]

I do the same hdotc.

I learn by getting the MCQ's wrong and having to rework them. I usually print them out and write on the paper so I end up carrying around my Becker book and a binder of questions.

Still waiting for FAR score release! ughh

AUD - 90
FAR - 71, 76
REG - 75
BEC - 76 (bubble sucks)

Becker + Ninja MCQ's

[sillyva]

I read through the chapter without taking any notes, then re-read it and write down what I felt were the most important parts on index cards. For REG I had almost 600 cards – but they were helpful because I could use them both to read over as notes or to quiz myself. I also grouped them by chapter with rubber bands so if I was focusing on one particular section (ex. Corporate Taxation) I wouldn't lose track of the cards.

I've used this method for BEC and AUD (passed both sections), so I'm hoping it was enough for REG. Still waiting on the NASBA site to post scores. 🙂

AUD 71, 82
BEC 85
REG 73, 89
FAR 73, 81

[CPAPASS]

Whoever mentioned using the outline from Becker thank you! This is a great idea.

Through out college and now with Becker I spent so much time writing notes in order to study and remember information.. it definitely helped to remember info but so time consuming.

I changed my study process to reading and only taking notes on mnemonics, formulas, etc. I read a small section and then review main points in my head. At the end of the chapter I use the outline to try to recall important information. So far it's working and has helped to speed up the reading/studying process so that I can move on to MC.

If anyone is struggling with writing too many notes and looking for a change try it.

[Author]

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