[kc524]

So I plan to take the CPA in November this year. And I wonder if my studying technique is going to work.

First off, some information about my education background. Not an accounting major, but have taken Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting as my college requirement. Plan to take some more accounting classes at a community college. Decently intelligent. (SAT was in the 15 percentile)

This is how I prepare for my CPA exam: I bought Wiley’s CPA prep books, and I rewrite the notes before I start doing the questions(to help me remember them better). Then I write down all the questions that I did wrong. Currently this is my second month into studying. So my questions are: 1) Do Wiley’s prep books have a good coverage of the test materials?

2) Since I’m not an Accounting major, I use Wiley’s prep books to build up my ” accounting foundation”. I plan to do drill other test banks once I finish Wiley’s prep books. So please give me some feedback on my study plan. Thank you guys!

[Minimorty]

Why are you starting so early?

[Anonymous]

Have you checked with your state board to find out which accounting classes are required to even sit for the exam? I cannot speak for all states but Louisiana is pretty specific about which accounting classes we are required to have in order to sit for the exam. Some states, including Louisiana, also require you to have 150 college hours, some require it before you can even apply and others allow you to get the additional hours before you are licensed. I am not trying to squash any dreams here or be a damper of any kind, I just don't want you to waste a lot of time, money and energy without really doing any research.

[Witchkizzle]

I thought that was strange too. Nine months of prep. You know you can take the tests one at a time right?

Texas CPA
Licensed 03/12

[kc524]

So additional information: I plan to sit for the exam in California, which requires 120 hours and they do not have any specific requirement on the content of accounting classes taken. The reason why I use 9 months is because I'm a full time student, and I can't devote more than 2 hours each day, so I figure I need to start it early.

[kc524]

So additional information: I plan to sit for the exam in California, which requires 120 hours and they do not have any specific requirement on the content of the accounting classes. The reason why I use 9 months is because I'm a full time student, and I can't devote more than 2 hours each day, so I figure I need to start it early.

[Minimorty]

If you are only a full time student you should have like 5-6 hours a day to study. It's not going to get any easier, trust me.

You are starting too early. Start 2-3 months before your first exam.

[Witchkizzle]

What is your current daily schedule like?

For example:

Wake up x:xx am

Go to school x:xx am

Come home x:xx pm

Go to sleep x:xx pm

It's hard to believe you only have 2 hours a day free from school responsibilities. When I was in the grad portion of my degree, I was taking 15 hours a semester and working sometimes up to 35-45 hours a week on top of that, and I know others had it worse than me.

Texas CPA
Licensed 03/12

[mla1169]

I fit in 2 hours a day of studying while working full time, going to school half time, working a part time job and raising 2 kids. You may be underestimating the time you have available.

I'm not sure Wiley books are the best choice to use as a foundation, pretty in depth detailed information to digest. How are you planning to take the exams? More than one per window?

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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