[smyoung0521]

I apologize in advance if this has been a thread before, but I was curious and thought others might be too.

A question for you guys, is that your latest score or your first score…..what do you think was your secret? Was it the prep company that you went with, your general IQ, your work experience, or is it the time and energy that you put in? A combination of all that combined? What was your general amount of time studying as far as weeks before exam? I know that you only need a 75 but……I would love to score higher…..

I guess I am wondering what is the secret formula :-)? (A lucky sock perhaps?)

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 64
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

Every journey begins with a step.
Starting over again after an extended time.
Using Roger's and Ninja 10 pt combo

Restarting my journey!
Using Rogers and supplementing with Ninja

[topharry123]

I scored in the 90's for my first three. I used CPA Excel and Wiley as a supplement. CPA Excel was a massive help and IMO the main reason I scored so high. On all three exams, I covered pretty much everything in the materials, and the ones I didn't were likely pre-test questions. I did put in a lot of time. For FAR, about 2 months, then a month each for AUD and REG. I did many MCQ's over and over again. I can't remember how many exactly, but now with BEC I am doing 250+ per day the 2 weeks before my exam and I think it was the same with the others. All in all, i've always had good grades so maybe I just learn well, but a good program coupled with the time I put in was the driving factor behind my scores.

FAR - 95
REG - 93
AUD - 91
BEC - 85

[CPA Exam]

I usually end up procrastinating until ~1 week before the test. That is when I really start studying for the test. I usually do about 1 Becker section (watching the lectures and doing the MC) a day. I tend to skip the simulations on Becker and the additional practice MC, but I try all the other MC at least once. The last day before the test I kind of look over the stuff that I struggled the most with when doing the MC. I also tend to make flash cards for concepts that I believe are important, although I rarely review the flash cards. I really do think that if you confine your studying to about one week you have a lot less time to forget everything that you have learned.

Audit: 97
BEC: 92
REG: 89
FAR: (8/30/2013)

[rupert]

Everyone studies/learns in a different way, so you'll probably just have to see what works best for you.

I studied using NIU (Northern Illinois University) CPA Review – Correspondence Option. It's basically an MP3 audio version of the live review course. I supplemented the material with Wiley Online Test Bank. However, I ran out of time and was only able to get through about 300 Wiley MCQ's per exam section.

The review materials from NIU CPA Review were pretty well loaded with MCQs mixed in throughout the chapters, so it's not like I didn't practice any MCQs. Many candidates do thousands of MCQs and repeat them several times.

The MP3's contained approximately 40-50 hours of lecture for each exam section (maybe only 30 for BEC, but I haven't started yet, so not sure).

Here's the approach I've used for each exam section so far.

1) Listen to lecture and follow along in the review books. Take necessary notes.

2) Re-read the books and work through the material on my own. Take notes as necessary.

3) Read through all review books again (the 3rd review is much quicker than previous 2).

4) Review notes and/or sections from books that were difficult to remember.

5) Work MCQs from Wiley Online Test Bank in practice mode from all topics. Again, I ran out of time, so I didn't make it through nearly as many questions as I had originally planned. I didn't work any practice task based simulations in Wiley. I just hoped that my understanding of the material was sufficient to complete the task based simulations thrown at me during the exam.

6) Review AICPA exam released questions. These were provided through my review course. They are a sample of actual exam questions released by AICPA from recent exams.

For each section, this was done in a compressed time frame of approximately 20 days (maybe a little longer for FAR). I'm the worst procrastinator in the world. Fortunately, my job allowed me to take some time off before each exam. I studied for 12+ hours per day for at least 10 days prior to the exam. Estimated study time for each exam: FAR – 200, AUD 150 to 175, REG 150 to 160.

There were also a few topics in FAR that I found myself referencing my textbook from college accounting courses to get a better understanding and explanation of the topic.

So far, I've scored FAR 90, AUD 96, and REG 93. It would be an understatement to say that I'm pleased with the NIU CPA Review course.

Many candidates are successful just cranking out thousands of MCQs without much reading/reviewing. I don't like this approach because I feel the need to understand as much of the material as possible before approaching MCQs (with the exception of MCQs contained in each chapter to help with understanding concepts). However, I must say that the 300 or so Wiley MCQ's I attempted for each exam section were very helpful. Many of them were very similar to actual exam questions. If I had to do it over again for the 3 sections I passed, I would try to get through all of the MCQs at least once.

FAR 90 Oct. 6, 2012
AUD 96 Dec. 8, 2012
REG 93 May 30, 2013
BEC 84 Aug. 31, 2013

NIU CPA Review Correspondence and Wiley Test Bank

[SeattleAccountant]

@Rupert

Nice grades!

How are those BEC studies coming up?

When are you planning to take a test? Hoping to see you participating in BEC or Power Weekend discussions 🙂

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[kmaahs]

I'm not really in the ultra high score range, but I am 2/2 so far. (aud/bec)

I am lucky enough to study full time, 5 days a week, and work a few shifts on the weekends.

I use CPAexcel, nothing else.

The cpa exam is my life right now. Best way, in my opinion, so long as it is an option.

I certainly realize that I am lucky to be a place where I can get by focusing all my attention on the CPA.

I can't imagine doing the tests while working 55 hours a week…

C.P.A.

[barelystayingsane]

I am only using Becker and have not started working yet. Here is my study strategy:

1) Cover each Becker module in 3 days (the first half of the module the first day, the second half the second day, and review the entire module the third day)

– The first two days consist of first reading the section, watching the lecture for the section, going back over the section to memorize information, and then doing the MCQ problem set for that section. Wash, rinse, and repeat for the other sections.

– On the third day of the module, I go back over the entire module and again memorize the information. Then I run any of the “optional practice questions” Becker has, as well as the sims.

2) Halfway through the book (about 3 modules in for BEC and 4 for REG), I go back and spend a day on each module, again memorizing the information and then doing a 50-question practice test. (For FAR, I stopped twice and went back after F4 and F7, just because there was so much material.)

3) I then continue on with the second half of the book following steps 1 and 2 (i.e. for BEC, after finishing B6, I spent a day each on B4, B5, and B6).

4) Then I start from the beginning and cover a module a day, also doing another 50-question practice test. I do this twice (so for BEC, it would take me 12 days to go through it twice.) During one of the cycles I take notes, which I use later.

5) The second and third day before the exam, I take a breather and do a Becker practice exam.

6) On the day before the exam, I just look at my notes and do the practice questions at the end of the modules in the Becker book.

I know it seems like overstudying, and it probably is, but I'm one of those people who doesn't feel like he knows the material unless he knows it all, so it does a lot to calm my fears. Rather than cramming and losing 10 whole days, this strategy only takes about 4 hours per day, so while I probably put in more hours than other people, I still have a lot of time each day to relax. Granted, like I said, I'm also not working yet.

[GO Hawks]

Create a schedule with deadlines and stick to it. Accept that your life will suffer.

BEC 88 5/25/2013
FAR 96 7/01/2013
AUD 99 7/08/2013
REG 93 8/01/2013

Straight Becker'in it

[novatrek86]

Plenty of good advice in here. The only thing I can add is to simply take your time.

[Anonymous]

Bookmarking this to come back to later. Gotta get back to writing Ninja notes 🙂

[stealthDC]

@Determined_To_Succeed, the ninja notes were a big help to me, good luck!

AUD: 76
BEC: 76
REG: 78

[futureCPA12]

@stealth Lovin' those scores! Almost got 300 club right there.

AUD - 92
BEC - 81
FAR - 76
REG - 89

Never give up!

[rupert]

@Seattle – Thanks. Same to you! I have yet to open my BEC material. Wife and I just had our first child in June. Between taking care of baby, trying to catch up on work from taking time off for previous exam and newborn baby, I just haven't been able to get anything else done. I'm actually scheduled to take the exam Aug. 29th, but the possibility of having to postpone to Q4 window is becoming very real. Hopefully something changes and I can join in on some of the other discussions you mention.

FAR 90 Oct. 6, 2012
AUD 96 Dec. 8, 2012
REG 93 May 30, 2013
BEC 84 Aug. 31, 2013

NIU CPA Review Correspondence and Wiley Test Bank

[smyoung0521]

Thanks so much for all the replies so far!! I am currently scheduled to take BEC on Aug 30 but might move to next testing window as I start a new job on Aug 19th and I want to make sure that my first 2 weeks on the new job I am focused on that. Although part of me wants to go ahead and take it just to ‘get the nerves out.'

I have MDS study review and I have the 10 point combo which includes wiley test bank. I also have the Wiley book. I think it is interesting how different the MCQ are in each system….almost to the point where I feel like I am studying for two different exams. I have 2 small kids and work full time now so that affects my study time but I do know it is doable 🙂 I love the tips and thought others might to as you guys who score in that range are the masters 🙂 We have much to learn from you guys.

BTW, study while you are young! I am not old but goodness, it is harder to stay up late and I have tendinitis in my right arm which makes copying notes torture! So my two cents…..pass this thing when you are young!!!

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 64
FAR - NINJA in Training
REG - NINJA in Training

Every journey begins with a step.
Starting over again after an extended time.
Using Roger's and Ninja 10 pt combo

Restarting my journey!
Using Rogers and supplementing with Ninja

[peetree]

@smyoung you are definitely right about passing the exam young.

I had an old accounting manager who never took it and at 40 years old thought he could pass it and scheduled all four exams in one testing window. He ended up failing everyone of them miserably because he 1) thought he knew it all already and 2) didn't have time to properly put the amount of time this exam needs.

So much easier when you're young with no family but I give so much credit to the people who do pass this exam with families.

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[SeattleAccountant]

@peetree,

Hey, I'm 40, married, kids and passed 3 sections on the first attempt just fine. Don't scare people. It is doable just requires more planning and time 🙂

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[Author]

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