[WhyEvenTry]

This is how I passed the exam, while working FT and with a pregnant wife:

1. Listened to all the Becker DVD lectures, while hitting pause quite frequently to take really good notes. This helped me as I tend to recall more after writing it down. (review the book in more detail, page by page)

2. Attended Becker Live courses (basically review the book in a more rapid, and condensed format)

– this was a good method for me because it was a review of every chapter.

3. Completed all the homework questions at least one time before moving on to the next Chapter. Read and understand the correct AND incorrect answer choices for each question.

4. Repeated this process for each chapter and section

5. Read over my handwritten notes periodically while moving through the book so that no material was stale in my mind.

6. After finishing the entire book; go back and do countless more MCQ, take practice and simulated exams to get a feel for what a 4 hour exam requires both on your body, mind, spirit, etc. (Once you are consistently getting 80+ on the MCQs, your are getting the material down quite well.

7. Attended Becker Live FInal Review Cram Session (this was a 12 hour cram course that took all day on a Saturday)

8. Listed to the Becker Live FInal Review DVDs (a more detailed Final Review)

9. Read and review my notes and final preparation for exam (should be scheduled no later than one week after your final review)

10. Get a good night sleep the day before your exam, don’t drink too much fluid so you don’t have to go to the bathroom. I pretty much dehydrated myself the day before, then gulped down a 5-hour energy before my exam. I am 3 for 3 on 5-hour energies and not bathroom breaks. Time is precious with this exam! Btw….Not paid for this endorsement either : (

11. Try not to dwell on the exam after you walk out of Prometric b/c it will distract you from your next exam; move on to the next exam and repeat the process.

Note: I used Becker b/c my employer paid for it, but there are good alternatives. They all pretty much have the same MCQ test bank questions. If you put the time in, you will pass. There are NO shortcuts to winning this exam. You have to work, have no life, get not sleep, and drink LOTS of coffee/tea. Once you are in routine of studying, it gets easier. Once you get you fist passing score, and realize “I can do this,” it gets easier. You will gain confidence with studying and testing. Now quit reading and study!

Those that have passed; share your routine for those that are trying to get it done.

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)

[WhyMe23]

Hmm the 5 hour energy intrigues me….I was crashing hard in my AUD exam after just having coffee. I've never tried one but maybe I will give it a test run before the exam to see if I am actually focused on it or just jittery.

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

[WhyEvenTry]

Yeah! I was on the coffee/hot tea regime while studying for sure. But come test day, too much liquid = lost exam time. I learned my lesson after taking my first couple exams. With the 5-hour, start out with half a bottle and see how you react, and move up from there. Just don't over indulge, bc I have heard you can build up a tolerance. I think I used one a week or so. I aslo took a practice 4hour exam on one to see if I was alert and not jittery. You need every advantage you can get while reading over those AUD questions, lol!

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)

[GK]

Hi,

I need some inputs…. How is CPA Excel Review course… Is it enough or is to be supplemented with some other material ?

[WhyEvenTry]

Someone else would have to chime in here. I haven't really heard anything bad about any review course. It is finding what fits your studying method. I am pretty adaptive so it wasn't hard for me to change my ways. I think regardless of the provider, the real determining factor is how hard the individual using the material will study.

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)

[GK]

@ WhyEvenTry : Thanks for the prompt reply….. I definately agree with you.. was wanting to have a feedback on CPA excel because have heard a lot about Becker, Yaeger etc bt not much abt CPAexcel….. I just read how u managed to clear it…

[ews500]

Thanks for sharing.

Question: did you read the textbook chapter first and then watch the lecture video and attend class?

[WhyEvenTry]

@ews500

No, I did not ever read the textbook. I feel that would have been a waste of time. The video/class lecture will go over the important material page by page. Make notes and then go back and read those rather than the entire book. The books are too long and there is simply not enough time to read the whole book, watch all the videos and do MCQ etc.

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)

[T-rex]

@WhyEvenTry,

I am using Becker, but really struggling to retain all of the info for FAR. I understand a section when I do it, but by the time I've gone through a few more sections, I forget everything.

How many times did you do each MC question and sim?

Can you share any tips specifically for FAR?

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[WhyEvenTry]

@ T-rex

FAR was the hardest exam for me, hands down. The amount of material is overwhelming, especially for only 90 MCQs. You may spent a week looking over bonds and leases, and only see 2 or 3 questions about it.

Your scores are great so far, so I wouldn't change anything in your study habits. If you are just having problems with previous sections as you move through that huge book, then take a day to strictly review your handwritten notes, and take mini progress tests over the sections already covered. Are you taking handwritten notes? I would re-read my notepad with the notes from the previous lectures before I began the subsequebt lecture. I wouldn't necessaryily hit the books or attempt more MCQ, because my notes had the concepts included.

I did all the homework MCQ once, but when back and reviewed all the ?s I marked for review. And, I completed many 100 question progress tests, and simulated exams. I briefly skimmed over the Sims, due to the fact that getting a similar one being slim to none. From all the exams I have taken, I can recall many MCQs from Becker that resembled MCQ from the actual exam. I do no recall that same experience for the Sims. I spent more time reviewing notes and doing MCQ. I think knowing the concepts and JEs helped me prepare for the Sims more than practicing Becker Sims would have.

For FAR…you MUST know:

1. Accounting changes

2. Bonds amortization; Leases (OWNS)

3. Govt and NFP accounting (the different fund types, JEs, etc.) (BAE-BAE)

4. Contigency rules

6. Ratios

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)

[fizzle406]

Heres how I passed (using Gleim)

I gave myself 3 weeks for each exam and would go over a chapter per day (2 for the shorter chapters). after each section i would go over the multiple choice questions in the book. At the end of the chapter I would do 20 questions on my software and repeat the process until i was happy with my score. At the end of each week i would do 20 questions on the material i had covered to keep it fresh. I probably spent about 4 hours a day doing this

I found the exams I used lots of flashcards on were the ones i failed. So i tried to keep flashcards to a minimum usually just for formulas and definitions I wasnt clear on.

I also did this while working full time and with a pregnant wife. No matter your situation, as long as you dedicate the time, you can do it

[IwannaBaCPA]

I love using flashcards. It is especially working for my Audit studying…I took Becker's cards and added my own notes and additional cards. I feel like this has really helped me prepare for this challenge tomorrow! I think this shows that everone is different…there is no “Magical” method to passing these exams…

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[T-rex]

@WhyEvenTry,

Thank you so much for sharing! I agree that Becker sims aren't reflective of the sims on the exam. They're not even remotely close in terms of difficulty, for REG anyway. I think I need to spend less time on sims on more time on MCs and note. I haven't handwritten my notes yet, but I've typed them, and I continue to refine and whittle them down. I'll spend time during my last week handwriting them. I do learn best by writing things out. Thanks, again!

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[WhyEvenTry]

@ T-rex

You're welcome! I can tell you that the feeling you get after your last exam is complete is amazing. Like a huge bolder lifted off you shoulders. The pressure and anxiety is gone. It's like oppurtunity and confidence automatically spills in. I haven't been looking for new work at the moment, but two job oppurtunities have already come my way in the past month, just based on referrals from people in my network knowing that I got my CPA. Both paid more than what I currently make, but required relocating. Put in that last month of hardwork, to make sure this is the last CPA exam you will ever have to take. Then kick back and enjoy.

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)

[Author]

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