[mperez102204]

Hey Everyone. I just recently received my FAR score – 63. This is the first test I have ever taken. I am thinking of retaking at the end of October, so 5 weeks away. I am at a loss. I work full time can allow about 20-25 hours a week to studying.. Best plan of attack??? Do I start from scratch? Or re-write my ninja notes, do MCQ and flash cards? Basically, is this score so low that I have to revamp my study methods or just crash down on areas I believe I am lacking in.

Suggestions?

[mperez102204]

Thank you sooo much for the advice. Should i go back to wiley test bank or get Ninja Mcq? I have about 800 left out that i have not seen.

Also, see if this is a solid plan. Sorry, first ever test was Far and i want to make sure i am studying correctly for the retake.

From today to end of month, go through the wiley material and take the quizes. If i do not get at least 80%, read the material and make flash card (i am a horrible nite taker). When this is completed review in the morning for about 2 hours doing 20-30 set of mcq in wiley test bank without selecting sections. Write fact nuggets on question i did not get right or did get right but guessed. In the evening after work, do a section of mcq. Repeat process of the morning. When each section is on average 80% move onto strickly 30 sets of mcq on all material. This is going to be a lot of work and paper, but with 20ish hours a week i think i can do it. Does this sound okay for a 5 week process? Or am i not using my time wisely?

[cpaMD86]

@mperez102204

Measure your progress and adjust. As you read what others have done take some of the pieces that sound that will work for you and build your ‘study puzzle'. Set goals, measure your progress every few others, and adjust where you need to adjust.

FAR: 9/3

[mperez102204]

@cpaMD86 – thank for the advice. I think will have to do this because some information I know this way I am not wasting time. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Hey man you'll get it next time! I'm a horrible at studying but by the miraculous grace of the omnipresent I am a fabulously excellent test taker. I just passed REG and BEC on my first try and I don't think that I could tell you the first thing about taxes as it is so confusing to me.I struggle mightily with missing problems, so when I take Becker's mcq sections I about have a fit when I get things wrong. This leaves me in a tough spot because the CPA exam is not an aptitude test, but a knowledge test. However, like any MCQ test, the answer is right in front of you giving you a huge opportunity to AB test your work unlike tests requiring writing or such.

What I have found to be useful for studying for the CPA exam is variety. I become very discouraged if I struggle with a topic, so I have found that I can either get angry and quit or I can find another section to try out that may come easier for me. Once I find a section that I do well on the tangent increase in confidence helps me to go back to a difficult section, understand it better, and come away feeling like ‘hey, that wasn't too hard.'

[Jakecpa]

I use an app called italk, at the end of each chapter I record myself explaining the concepts I know very well and the things I know I will forget. In other words I explain to myself the concepts or MCQ's I had issues with. I do a recording for each chapter and I try to make them no more than 30 minutes, because I listen to them on my commute to work everyday. Sometimes I listen to them before I go to sleep. But I only do this for the concepts I know I will not remember the details a week from now, its a great way to keep the material fresh and with an explanation on my own words.

[Author]

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