Comments on: How to Study for the CPA Exam http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:54:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Anonymous http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-42784 Anonymous Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:51:37 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-42784 I have about 8 weeks till I take the FAR exam, just wanted to know how long or how many weeks you spent on watching those videos and taking notes? I'm doing it now and it took me a very long time to finish these videos. I have about 8 weeks till I take the FAR exam, just wanted to know how long or how many weeks you spent on watching those videos and taking notes? I’m doing it now and it took me a very long time to finish these videos.

]]> By: TXwannaB http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-13890 TXwannaB Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:01:32 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-13890 I just took BEC (using Becker) and I got a 74. I love your idea of watching the lectures and taking notes instead of just highlighting the book. I think this will work well in all of the sections except the IT section, the MCQ's for IT covered some big gaps in the lecture that were covered in the book. So, IMHO, for the IT section of BEC, you must read EVERYTHING, and highlight as you work the questions. BUT, I haven't actually passed this section yet so that is just my opinion. I just took BEC (using Becker) and I got a 74. I love your idea of watching the lectures and taking notes instead of just highlighting the book. I think this will work well in all of the sections except the IT section, the MCQ’s for IT covered some big gaps in the lecture that were covered in the book. So, IMHO, for the IT section of BEC, you must read EVERYTHING, and highlight as you work the questions.
BUT, I haven’t actually passed this section yet so that is just my opinion.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-6470 Anonymous Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:18:54 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-6470 thegreenestcpa: thanks for sharing, i really enjoyed reading it. same here, i took my REG couple weeks ago, keep thinking on one mc question i got wrong and just can't let go of this particular question... thegreenestcpa:

thanks for sharing, i really enjoyed reading it. same here, i took my REG couple weeks ago, keep thinking on one mc question i got wrong and just can’t let go of this particular question…

]]> By: thegreenestcpa http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-6468 thegreenestcpa Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:45:22 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-6468 I am sitting for REG in one month from yesterday. The panic is starting to creep in! I have passed the other three parts, so now there is this expectation from people that I will be fine, and no one will listen to my fears. Why is the last one also the scariest? Anyway, what has helped me so far (I use Becker) is to go through the lectures and then do all mcqs for each section. That is my "learning phase", and I try to do that quickly. The real work comes in the review. I spend every night going through 100 randomly chosen questions for 1 - 2 weeks. Also, sims, which really just help you understand different topics. Finally, Becker has two final exams. I take them one week apart. As I do all of this review, I keep a note pad handy, and write down everything: the stuff I got wrong, and the stuff I happened to guess correctly. I just keep this running list. I often make the same mistakes twice (or thrice!) without knowing it!! But, between doing questions and writting things out, stuff starts to stick, and I get that true understanding of the material, instead of just memorziation. A couple days before the exam, I rewrite all of those notes - just like you said! I get rid of duplicate notes and stuff that I know I already have memorized. I try to write it nice and neat. Then, I read that thing over and over - even in the car in the parking lot waiting for my exam! It's an exercise to calm my nerves. Although, so far I swear none of that stuff that I read a 100 times ever shows up on the exams! Also, remember to read all of your notes. I passed FAR, but was upset with myself when I had a question that I thought I had never seen before, guessed on the answer, only to come home and see that I once wrote it out in my notes, and I had guessed the WRONG answer after all. In the end, I passed like I said, so it was okay, but during the 2 month wait for my score, I was beating myself up the whole time. Okay, sorry for the novel. I'm just super nervous and writing about it all calms my nerves. Good luck to everyone!! I am sitting for REG in one month from yesterday. The panic is starting to creep in! I have passed the other three parts, so now there is this expectation from people that I will be fine, and no one will listen to my fears. Why is the last one also the scariest?

Anyway, what has helped me so far (I use Becker) is to go through the lectures and then do all mcqs for each section. That is my “learning phase”, and I try to do that quickly. The real work comes in the review. I spend every night going through 100 randomly chosen questions for 1 – 2 weeks. Also, sims, which really just help you understand different topics.

Finally, Becker has two final exams. I take them one week apart.

As I do all of this review, I keep a note pad handy, and write down everything: the stuff I got wrong, and the stuff I happened to guess correctly. I just keep this running list. I often make the same mistakes twice (or thrice!) without knowing it!! But, between doing questions and writting things out, stuff starts to stick, and I get that true understanding of the material, instead of just memorziation. A couple days before the exam, I rewrite all of those notes – just like you said! I get rid of duplicate notes and stuff that I know I already have memorized. I try to write it nice and neat. Then, I read that thing over and over – even in the car in the parking lot waiting for my exam! It’s an exercise to calm my nerves.

Although, so far I swear none of that stuff that I read a 100 times ever shows up on the exams!

Also, remember to read all of your notes. I passed FAR, but was upset with myself when I had a question that I thought I had never seen before, guessed on the answer, only to come home and see that I once wrote it out in my notes, and I had guessed the WRONG answer after all. In the end, I passed like I said, so it was okay, but during the 2 month wait for my score, I was beating myself up the whole time.

Okay, sorry for the novel. I’m just super nervous and writing about it all calms my nerves. Good luck to everyone!!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-5127 Anonymous Wed, 25 Mar 2009 17:17:00 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-5127 I have taken BEC twice. The first time I received a 67 and the second time a 69. I purchased the Cram set from Yaeger. My question is, when you used Cram for BEC, how long did you prepare for before you took it and passed it that time? How much time should I give myself with the Cram? I have taken BEC twice. The first time I received a 67 and the second time a 69. I purchased the Cram set from Yaeger. My question is, when you used Cram for BEC, how long did you prepare for before you took it and passed it that time? How much time should I give myself with the Cram?

]]> By: Baba http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-4140 Baba Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:05:00 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-4140 What's the possibility of NASBA uploading AUD scores tomorrow March 20? Per Jeff's twit, it's likely going to come out on Monday even though AICPA has released it.... this weekend will be pure agony! What’s the possibility of NASBA uploading AUD scores tomorrow March 20? Per Jeff’s twit, it’s likely going to come out on Monday even though AICPA has released it…. this weekend will be pure agony!

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-3752 Anonymous Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:01:00 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-3752 I more or less did the same thing with REG and Yaeger. I had a rush mentality to get them done as quick as i could. I took good notes on each lecture (2 per night). About half way through I made huge notecards on the must know topics. Then with 2 weeks to go I just started pounding out questions, reviewing my notes, and going through my flash cards before each round of questions. Learned a lot and the test was a joke for me since I was over prepared. I finished the first 3 testlets in an hour. Finished the first sim in about 25 minutes, used the research tab to figure out questions I wasn't sure of (since I had so much time). Then did the same for Sim 2. And still had too much time. <br/><br/>Yaeger and Wiley really prepare you well. If you do all the questions over and over you shouldn't have a problem with these tests. I more or less did the same thing with REG and Yaeger. I had a rush mentality to get them done as quick as i could. I took good notes on each lecture (2 per night). About half way through I made huge notecards on the must know topics. Then with 2 weeks to go I just started pounding out questions, reviewing my notes, and going through my flash cards before each round of questions. Learned a lot and the test was a joke for me since I was over prepared. I finished the first 3 testlets in an hour. Finished the first sim in about 25 minutes, used the research tab to figure out questions I wasn’t sure of (since I had so much time). Then did the same for Sim 2. And still had too much time.

Yaeger and Wiley really prepare you well. If you do all the questions over and over you shouldn’t have a problem with these tests.

]]> By: Baba http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-3735 Baba Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:39:00 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-3735 Jeff, you are very correct about making your own notes as it forces you to re-read and comprehend the material on your own level. I made notes in AUD and was comfortable with the material.<br/><br/>However, I am currently studying for BEC and I have to admit that making notes is a bia*ch!! An essential bia*ch if one wants to pass. Jeff, you are very correct about making your own notes as it forces you to re-read and comprehend the material on your own level. I made notes in AUD and was comfortable with the material.

However, I am currently studying for BEC and I have to admit that making notes is a bia*ch!! An essential bia*ch if one wants to pass.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-3733 Anonymous Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:01:00 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-3733 Anonymous - I used BISK and am 2/2 so far (AUD&FAR)... The videos were great and I followed along w/ "Bob"... I did tons of the online multiple choice questions which I feel is a great way to learn the styles of the test and only read a few chapters out of the book that I was struggling with after watching the videos and doing some of the MC ?s. Basically if you get a study program that allows you to take MC quizzes to check your knowledge as you go along it will help direct your study time... Anonymous – I used BISK and am 2/2 so far (AUD&FAR)… The videos were great and I followed along w/ "Bob"… I did tons of the online multiple choice questions which I feel is a great way to learn the styles of the test and only read a few chapters out of the book that I was struggling with after watching the videos and doing some of the MC ?s. Basically if you get a study program that allows you to take MC quizzes to check your knowledge as you go along it will help direct your study time…

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.another71.com/how-to-pass-the-cpa-exam/#comment-3732 Anonymous Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:35:00 +0000 http://www.the-nutritional-ipod.com/2009/03/pass-how-to-study-for-the-cpa-exam-and-get-on-with-your-life.html#comment-3732 So do you have a study plan for someone who ISN'T using or has no desire to use Yaeger materials? <br/><br/>This is great advice for fellow Yaeger alum but what about everyone else? So do you have a study plan for someone who ISN’T using or has no desire to use Yaeger materials?

This is great advice for fellow Yaeger alum but what about everyone else?

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