[Ran16]

When you get to problems that you have no idea how to solve during the MCQ is it ok to search the book for formulas? Or should you just guess, read the explanation, and work the problem the next pass? I’m just looking for opinions on the most effective use of time and most useful in terms of learning the information.

[mylifeisover]

I was considering this while studying BEC but then again the book sometimes does not give examples of what I encounter in the MCQ so I just guess and then study the explanation.

[So FAR So Good]

I think you're doing yourself a disservice by looking for the answer. I find it useful to approach the MCQ like a live test environment. Take your time with the questions, think them through, and provide a best guess answer. If you're right, don't just move past it – read the description for not only the correct answer, but also why the incorrect answers are not correct, then take notes as you go. Maybe that's not an approach that works for you, but I've found it to be the only accurate way to check whether I'm absorbing material.

F - 91 (6/5/2016)
A - 7/30/2016
R - 10/8/2016
B - 12/10/2016

[ZombieMouse]

It really depends on how you learn. Personally, I let myself use the book while working MCQ's because I know I'll retain more if I work through the material and apply it to the problem to come up with the correct answer myself, than I will if I guess and get it right, or get it wrong and skim through the explanation.

[RE2PECT]

If I really have no clue then I will refer to the book. I don't feel like you get anything out of just randomly guessing and would rather find an answer and apply it. I did this a lot for BEC when I would get to a problem that required using a formula. If I didn't have it memorized I would find it and write it out before doing the question.

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[Wanna_B_TXCPA2014]

I think it depends on how close to the test you are. Inside of two weeks to an exam I look. I used to beat myself up for not having it memorized, my 3 passes since 4/2016 have showed me how wrong I was.

[sancasuki]

Yes, but not for every question. That would take too much time. I looked at the textbook a lot while doing Ninja MCQs for FAR and REG. Didn't feel the need to look at the book much at all for AUD. I was in a time crunch for BEC, so I didn't look up stuff as much as I did for FAR and REG. Also the Ninja MCQ were very different from CPAExcel, so looking up stuff was less helpful.

And to save time I made mental notes, rather than writing stuff down. I did write all the common formulas for BEC, so I referred to that much more than my textbook. After a while, I ended up approaching the problems in a different, more intuitive way than what I had on my paper. Through repetition it becomes second nature.

[Missy]

Agree with wanna b, depends on if you're going through the material for the first time or in review. Personally I think you're more likely to retain the information if you research it in the book and may even pick something else up in the process.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Author]

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