How to Pass a Section of the CPA Exam in 20 Days

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 22 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #292267
    msgaillard03
    Member

    So the key is MCQ's huh??? Im using Becker. Since I am behind with FAR, I will use that approach becasue I sit in 25 days. Though I have already done the lectures, I dont remember much so now its time for me to DIVE into MCQ's.

    FAR-8/28/11

    #292268
    jeff
    Keymaster

    Yep – MCQs are the key.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #292269
    msgaillard03
    Member

    Well about the simulations?

    FAR-8/28/11

    #292270
    jeff
    Keymaster

    I'm not a fan of practicing sims – only to the extent that you can navigate the research on exam day (cpa-exam.org).

    I am of the belief that if you know the concepts well enough to do the MCQs – you know them for the sims.

    Long story short – you can practice 10 sims and get none of them on exam day. You KNOW you'll get the MCQs, though.

    Just my opinion…everyone should do what they feel is best.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #292271
    kb24
    Participant

    It's good to familiarize yourself with the formats you are likely to see by doing some SIMS such as those on the AICPA website or the Wiley test bank. However, once you've done that you're better off with the MCQ. There are so many possible SIM questions that you're unlikely to have a practice one like those you'll see on the exam. The best way to prepare is to solidify your knowledge by doing MCQ.

    FAR 4/1/11 - 89
    AUD 4/15/11 - 85
    REG 4/29/11 - 80
    BEC 5/13/11 - 85

    #292272
    yankeeaccountant
    Participant

    Great post Jeff. I think this can help alot of people who have been heeming and hawing on studying. It is so timely! Not to mention it is hopeful. And with this exam, we all need a bit of that.

    Thanks.

    #292273
    WhyEvenTry
    Participant

    Jeff is correct!

    Don't waste time studying the Sims, especially if crunched for time. Just know how to navigate the Sims and Research tab. Other than that, do MCQs until you pass out, then wake up, and do more. The MCQs will be on the exam!!

    BEC - 71, 74, 77 (Feb - 2011)
    FAR - 73, 78 (Feb - 2011)
    REG - 83 (Nov 2010)
    AUD - 71, 84 (May 2011) - Done!! CPA licensed in TX (July 2011)

    #292274

    just my opinion, but i think that people who suggest practicing sims isn't worth it are wrong. successfully solving a sim requires more than knowing the rules or concepts behind the material – you have to know the mechanics and steps of solving a problem. ive only taken one section with sims so far, but not practicing more for them was my biggest regret. plus, i think the reason that many people get frazzled by sims is simply because they are not familiar and comfortable with solving a problem in that manner, not that the material itself is too difficult.

    for far or reg, i'd suggest using an old accounting textbook to solve long and complicated problems by hand. if I have to retake reg, that'll be how i spend a lot of time preparing.

    REG - 81
    BEC - 88
    AUD - 85
    FAR - 81

    #292275
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Great advice! Even during crunch time I try to do some Sims just to get the feeling of it or see how I score, but I feel mcqs are key, and try to get in as many as possible. I also read through the answers and see why one's correct and the others not. On at least one exam I remember coming across a few mcqs that were very similar, if not the same, as ones I had practiced, so it's good to get as many mcqs done as possible, and practice them over and over again.

    #292276
    WhyMe23
    Participant

    I'm taking FAR in 28 days and just started studying. Thanks for the advice Jeff! My plan is to listen to the lectures still but I will be going through them very quickly and just do MCQ until I am sick. I like the idea of taking notes as you go through the MCQ. No time for going back and reading the text post-lecture though when there is so much material.

    B - 85 (5/31/11)
    A - 93 (7/1/11)
    R - 87 (7/29/11)
    F - 77 (8/31/11)

    #292277
    WhyEvenTry
    Participant

    @valueofnothing

    The bypassing of studying Sims for doing MCQs is the approach recommended for those in a time crunch. Don't waste time on Sims if you only have 20 days to study. If you're only taking one exam per window, then have at it. Do all the Sims you want. If you know the concepts behind the MCQs and why each answer is correct, you should have no trouble translating that knowledge to be applicable to most Sims thrown you way. Like I said before, do a few Sims to get familiar with the format of the questions. But don't expect to see a Sim you practiced as one of your actual Test Sims.

    BEC - 71, 74, 77 (Feb - 2011)
    FAR - 73, 78 (Feb - 2011)
    REG - 83 (Nov 2010)
    AUD - 71, 84 (May 2011) - Done!! CPA licensed in TX (July 2011)

    #292278
    jeff
    Keymaster

    My recommendation to skip sims for the most part is in the interest of efficiency given a finite amount of study time.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #292279
    senbi575
    Member

    I couldn't agree with this method more. I actually believe that focusing on multiple choice, reviewing your answers and understanding how to solve the questions is the best approach, cram or not. I would do 60-100 multiple choice questions a day, and review all my answer choices and have managed to pass the CPA, CMA & CIA exams using this approach. All my college buddies that passed the CPA exam used this approach as well. As for SIMS, I think doing them as practice to get your mind in gear to work them is a good idea, this is exactly what I did for the CMA part 4 (old exam) section, which was 3 hours of just SIM questions, but nothing can replace grinding through multiple choice questions.

    #292280
    HazeEastwood
    Participant

    I agree with the comments about the SIMs. Never really studied for those. For the most part the I skim over them and the answers. I will say for FAR you may want to at least look at the JEs and I would also say review the SIMs a little more for REG

    FAR-81
    BEC-84
    AUD-91
    REG-89

    #292281
    Peanut
    Participant

    How many MCQ's can you guys pull off in a day? How much is too much?? I try to do around 200 a day to feel satisfied. I do this in study mode, take my time and read all of the right/wrong choices. I read on here recently that someone was doing around 500 per day. I guess it depends how much time you spend on each reviewing. A friend of mine who has passed all his parts told me not to do a billion MCQs a day because it will burn me out. So I'm just curious how much constitutes “too much.”

    AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
    REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
    FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
    BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 22 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.