[Taxman]

Hi All, I found reading people’s experiences helpful for me when I was studying and I wanted to write down my process for anyone to read and what things I may have done differently.

I used Surgent Review Software, I did the diagnostic test and then did questions of each broken down section until I got an 80 and then moved on to the next section. Surgent after each question gives a breakdown of how the answer is achieved and provides video clips on the subject and definitions I watched the videos when the explanation was not clear to me.

After all, sections were at an 80 within for example FAR, I think did simulations until I was at an 80, not I did not always do a simulation sometimes I would just submit with no work but to see the answer and read how it was achieved., the last 4 days before an exam I studied for 4 days straight usually I took exams on Tuesdays so I took 3 days off from work Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. I just kept doing questions and simulations 10-12 hours a day. over the 4 days before.

I studied 6 days a week for 2 hours, I used to teach your brain can not process new information after about 30-40 minutes and then you need equal downtime so I did actually study for 45 minutes break do housework, play with kids, or work-work. Then do another 45 minutes. I would for the 30 minutes in the am for me or late night in bed.

After each exam, I wrote down what I didn’t know and then waited on studying again those parts until I found out if I had passed or not, this only happened one time. Do not study while waiting for results do not restudy or start a new section was the advice I was given and it was great. However, try to take the exam close to a closing period so your wait time for results is short maybe only 10 days I waited 4 weeks for mine each time and that was poor planning on my part.

I waited to do this until I was 37 with two youngs kids a wife and a full-time tax manager job. You can do it, you just have to commit to the time to studying and you will pass, put in the work!!!!

Good luck!

[Recked]

Thanks for sharing your experience, hopefully it helps others.

Memento Mori - Kingston NY CPA & EA (SUNY Albany 2002)

FAR-93 11/9/17 (10wks, 250 hrs, Roger 1800+ MCQs, Gleim TB 600+MCQs, SIMs)
AUD-88 12/7/17 (3 wks, 85 hrs, Roger 1000 MCQs no SIMs hail mary)
REG-96 1/18/18 (6 wks, 110 hrs, 1400 MCQs, no SIMs)
BEC-91 2/16/18 (4wks, 90 hrs, 1240 MCQs)

[Professor Farnsworth]

Roger has something similar to that. It is called the Smartpath, it basically compares your performances to other Roger students who have already passed the exam and what their scores were when they were doing the practice questions. I love it because you get an immediate feedback and know what to work on, so after each set of practice questions I would go back and look at the Smartpath and then work on the areas that I scored low in. I highly recommend it.
Thank you for sharing your experience!

[Tncincy]

Thank you for sharing your experience. And congrats on passing.
@ProfessorFarnsworth, I am using roger now. I agree with your assessment. I am enjoying the lectures, but I am out of time so I am using the smart path and the cram to hit it and do well on the mcq's. I haven't had the courage to try the sims yet.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader.....time to pass

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[monikernc]

Happy news to see all these passes. Congrats! 🎈

AUD - 93
BEC - 82
FAR - 76
REG - 88

How have you been?
Ninja book and MCQs and the forum, all first try! 2016
Licensed State of Montana April Fool’s Day 2020
State of Colorado June 2020 - AICPA Ethics 93
Experience was the worst part of the journey for me. You?
If you want things to change you have to do something different.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Road2CPA]

@Taxman congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience! These stories always keep me encouraged.

I'm glad to hear that the many breaks that I take during studying are beneficial, considering a few people tried to tell me that I was taking too many breaks and should “push through even when you are tired”. When I attempted to do that when I was in college many years ago, I found myself having to restudy the material the next day because I was so exhausted from the long hours and didn't retain anything.

I definitely need to practice more SIMs this time around for FAR.

AUD - 81
BEC - 83
FAR - 75
REG - 75

Great things never come from comfort zones - Roy T. Bennett

[Author]

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