[sidneybristow]

I’m just getting started studying for the exams, beginning with FAR, and using Becker. With so much material to study, what is the best way to study? Should I take my own intensive notes, read the chapters 3x, supplement with Wiley and NINJA Notes? I just want to be the most effective and efficient with my time because there is a lot of material to cover. What has worked for all of you to be successful?

Go into the land I will show thee. (Gen 12:1)

"If you envision it, you can have it. And you can have it by aiming at it." (Jordan Peterson)

[littlenumberrobot]

Everyone is different. You have to find out what you have to do in order to retain the information. When I started out for my 2nd round of FAR I took too many notes and it was actually hindering my productivity. So I skimmed things down and got back on track. I highly recommend NINJA.

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[sharp315]

Using Jeff's NINJA framework has worked well for me. Here's the format I use consistently (even with FAR):

1. Watch ALL Becker (or other review course) videos first and take a lot of notes (notes can be messy, just worry about getting words on paper; focus on the main details and not the tiny exceptions YET). Don't worry about MCQ or SIMs yet. Take a week and power through ALL the videos so you have a basic understanding of all the topics you can expect to see.

2. Read each chapter section by section and create your OWN notecards. This is where you can focus on learning the exceptions and smaller details. Don't be afraid to put the same topic on several notecards or asked in different ways. The more ways you can wrap your head around a single topic, the better.

3. Supplement your chapter readings by re-watching each video lecture (AFTER you read). Go through your notecards as you're watching to see if there are major points that you've missed.

4. Work ALL the MCQs (Becker, Wiley, CPAReviewForFree, and anything else you have) for each section/chapter after you've READ the chapter, REWATCHED the lectures, and have gone through your notecards a few times.

5. Repeat the read, rewatch, MCQ formula until you've been through all the topics. This should take you up to your final 1.5 to 2 weeks before the exam

6. During your final review (last 1.5 to 2 weeks), rework ALL your MCQs and supplement with ALL SIMs. Generally the text and lectures aren't as helpful during final review.

7. Hammer your notecards constantly over your entire study period. Supplement with 10-15 MCQ progress tests on previous topics so you're retaining everything.

8. The best time to do more notecards and MCQs is when you're absolutely sick and tired of doing notecards and MCQs

Generally I aim to get through ALL MCQs at least twice, plus however many progress tests I get to (generally 1000 or so MCQs extra).

BEC: PASS
AUD: PASS
FAR: PASS
REG: PASS

[hopefulTXcpa]

I don't understand how people can watch ALL the lectures and THEN go back to the MCQ. I have to do those right after I watch the videos to make sure I really understand the material…just my 2 cents.

FAR - 4/13/13: 82
REG - 7/1/13: 84
BEC - 10/10/13: 79
AUD - 11/25/13: 92
Becker Self Study

Texas CPA 2014

[SeattleAccountant]

@hopefulTX, I gotta do the same. Every section gets video + MCQ + sim completed BEFORE moving on to the next one; otherwise, it would be all blurred jellied mess in my memory 🙂

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

[MrsBing]

Yeah, I don't get that either. It seems like you'd forget everything you watched after the last video.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[sharp315]

First through lectures aren't for understanding the nitty gritty details, it's for understanding the overall concepts and generally the types of material you'll see. The real learning comes from reading the chapter and then rewatching the lecture to clarify and practice.

BEC: PASS
AUD: PASS
FAR: PASS
REG: PASS

[MRSJLeon917]

My approach for each section was as follows:

1) watch lecture

2) Take notes on section

3) Do all MCQ and SIMS

4) move to next chapter & repeat steps 1-3

5) during last week or so, review, including:

A) Redo MCQ and SIMS for each chapter

B) Rewrite Ninja Notes

C) Take Final Exam 1 of Becker

D) look at sections I am weaker in and try to understand concepts

E) redo MCQ and SIMS again

F) rewrite Ninja Notes again (time permitting)

G) take Final Exam 2

H) Reread notes as a final refresher

AUD (5/25/2012): 91
FAR (10/22/2012): 89
REG (11/28/2012): 89
BEC (01/05/2013): 82
Ethics Exam: 90

IL Licensed CPA - 7/15/2013

A long journey, officially DONE!

[Anonymous]

For me it's:

1. Watch lecture

2. Do all MCQs & Sims

3. Repeat step 1 and 2 until all lectures are complete

4. Rework all MCQs and flag all question that I get wrong and the ones that I think are important

5. Take Becker Practice Exam 1

6. Rework all MCQs that are flagged

7. Take Becker Practice Exam 2

8. Do MCQ progress tests (in sets of 30) and sims (usually the last day or two before the exam)

9. Take the actual exam

10. Drink heavily and pray

11. Repeat for next exam

This method has worked so far. Praying for a passing score for REG on Wednesday.

[jeff]

I've always said that you can do the MCQs after the lecture, but it's inefficient because you'll be working those same questions again a few weeks later when you forget the material.

Whatever way works for you is the best way.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Lost1]

skim through review lecture/books on main concept and spend more time on MCQs/SIMs – to the point you almost memorize the whole answer..it works better for me.. i memorize the whole damn thing and the concept reveals itself. i know it might sound inefficient but i guess everyone's different..good luck

"If you can do it, I can do it better."

[RandomAlt]

@hopefulTXcpa – I am purposefully skipping every MCQ and SIM until after I get through every study section in CPAexcel, and then I am going to power through them multiple times.

My main reasoning is that when I get to the actual exam, the exam is not going to tell me what “section” the material is coming from, I am going to have to figure that out myself. So, if I am doing the MCQs right after studying the chapter, I know the material corresponds to that chapter, and I don't have to use my critical thinking skills as much. I'm almost trying to simulate the exam itself.

Now of course, this is also tied into the way I study, because as I am studying new material, I am also reviewing old material, to keep it fresh in my mind. I have no doubt that if I didn't, when I go to do the MCQs, I won't remember a thing.

So this is my study system. I am using CPAexcel.

1)Watch topic video

-CPAExcel provides a printout of the slides that go along with the video, and I generally take clarifying notes on there. I will also go into the study text to see how it corresponds with the video, and maybe make some notes based on them.

2)Create Flashcards

-I make my own flashcards, I feel I remember them better if I use my wording. Since CPAexcel's FAR section has 239 topics, I try to create up to 4 flashcards per section…really boil it down into the most important topics of each section

3)I skip the MCQs, SIMS, and Proficiency Questions

4)Repeat above for each topic video

5)Everyday I review anywhere from 50-100 flashcards.

-I consider this the most important part of my studying. This is how I keep old information fresh.

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[samdiegoCPA]

I've taken all four parts already and failed them all on the first try (all scores between 65-71) and passed Aud on the 2nd try. The first time, I watched all the Roger videos and didn't really take notes, didn't do all the multiple choice available, didn't do ANY multiple choice in the FAR homework book (WTF!)

Since I have a grasp and learned all the information from the videos recently, I am not re-watching them. I go through the entire Roger book and take Word document notes from that in my own words. Then I go through the Wiley book and do every homework problem for that chapter and type the answers into my notes. Then I go through the Wiley test bank online and do the same thing. I think this works AMAZINGLY! Every few days, I will go and read through all of my notes again or parts of them. Basically everything you'd need to know is within the notes! After everything is complete, I do a million multiple choice and refer back to my notes for every question I attempt to solidify my understanding. I went from a 70 in Audit to 84 by doing this, and also only took 3 or 4 weeks to study the second time through.

I tried to read the Wiley book as well, but it was just getting to be too much information and I believe the homework covered what you really needed for the most part. I also did it for BEC in a sense since that was my last one of the first time through. I was super upset of my failing score of Audit that week that I took BEC (and failed that with 71) so I was in a terrible “I hate CPA exam” mood. I could have easily passed if I had cared a tiny bit more :'(

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[sidneybristow]

Thank you so much for everyone's input. Reading all of your best study habits really helps me formulate a plan of action on how to study. I copied all of your responses into a Word document and printed it out so I can review your best practices on study habits and apply them to my studies. There seems to be a consensus on taking really good notes. All of your input is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks again for your input. It has really helped.

Go into the land I will show thee. (Gen 12:1)

"If you envision it, you can have it. And you can have it by aiming at it." (Jordan Peterson)

[RandomAlt]

@sidneybristow – No problem. And a good point to take from this is that everyone studies differently, so you have to figure out the best way to study for you. If you are more visual, videos will probably be better…etc.

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[Anonymous]

BHDave: ^ “Drink Heavily and Pray” Lol

[Author]

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