[ahugemistake]

I know how much Jeff stresses to take notes and retake notes, but I am definitely guilty of not taking any notes at all through this entire process. I feel like it will slow me down. I read the book and underline important things as I go but dont rewrite them. I take the exams and learn from the wrong answers and move on. Anyone else struggling with this, how did you get yourself into the note taking habit?

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[Ajaz0810]

It sucks. I didn't take notes and failed FAR and AID thinking I can just do just mcqs. I was wrong. Taking notes gets it to stick in your head. Rewriting your notes makes it stick even more. I'm studying for my retake of FAR and taking notes. It seems to stuck more while taking notes.

FAR 62, 66, 78
AUD 66, 55, 74, 72
BEC 79
REG

[ahugemistake]

I will be done with the wiley book for FAR in a few weeks, is it a bad idea to take notes during the review process?

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[ahugemistake]

I was thinking of buying ninja notes so I can do those instead.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[UHC2005]

The Ninja Notes are a good, high-level view of the information. If you want, you can rewrite the Ninja notes and then supplement any additional information from the Wiley text.

Using Ninja MCQ, NINJA Notes, Audio, Flashcards and BLITZ, and 2014 Wiley Text

FAR - (61,63)
AUD - (68)

Keep Calm and RTMFQ

Accountant, what is best in life? To crush your MCQs, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their SIMS!

[Anonymous]

Taking down notes slows you down, especially when you're gleaning over the details of the each concept. But in the long run, it strenghtens your studying experience and gives you a solid and comprehensive foundation. You don't have to keep going back to those pages over and over again, especially during final days of review close to the testing day. Above all, your own notes are extremely useful for your retakes (if applicable).

[Anonymous]

OP

When I started this journey I didn't take notes – after failing AUD 4 times I started the whole note taking process more seriously. I have passed the CPA exams now so I can tell you taking notes works. Esp when you make your own notes in your “own” words.

Had I done this from the very start I would have been able to finish the CPA journey a lot faster 🙂

[samdiegoCPA]

I type my notes. I always say writing them is a huge waste of time. I type up the entire book in my own words and formatting and then do MCQ off of those notes. Easy to ctrl + f if I need to find a specific area or add the answers into my notes. I can add/delete without erasing or writing tiny to fit. I highly suggest it.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[ahugemistake]

Thanks for the responses guys, I will definitely try to figure out a method where I can take notes and study from here on out. I will also get Ninja notes and rewrite those as a last minute boost and revision. I regret not being organized for the start but the days are numbering down and reality is starting to set in.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[Anonymous]

What I hate most about taking notes is how futile it feels as I stare at my stack of 80 pages, front and back, of notes. I'm probably not going to re-read through my 80 pages of tiny, almost illegible, sloppy notes.

I still think it's immensely helpful, though. I mean, I've been doing comprehensive reviews every few days, gradually adding more and more topics to sets of 20-30 MCQs, and scoring an average of 80%. I think I'd be doing much worse if I wasn't taking notes.

Somehow, even though I have yet to reread any of my notes, just the action of writing the notes “grounds” the material in my mind, is how I'd put it. It gives me some type of frame of reference, even if I don't reread them 10 times in an attempt to completely memorize them like I might've tried to do in college.

[Anonymous]

I didn't take notes and passed both FAR and AUD first try. What scares me tho is my AUD score was dangerously close to failing. I'm studying REG now and i am taking notes on everything, its a slow process but i'm also getting 75-85% on my first pass through MCQ's. The thing about notes is to put it in your own words to where it makes sense to you and you will remember the information much more efficiently.

[stag]

You need to focus on what works for you. I know people who passed without taking any notes. And I also know people who passed by taking notes and listen to audios. I think it all depends on how you learn.

FAR - Aug 2013 Passed
REG - DEC 2013 Passed
BEC - FEB 2014 Passed
AUD - MAY 2014 Passed

BSEE = who needs accounting degree to pass CPA exams?

[MrsBing]

I didn't take notes for any of the exams. I hate taking notes and can't take concise notes. For me it would me a waste of my study time because I would be spending too much time deciding on what's important and not important to write down. Instead I just bought the Ninja notes and also found some really good notes online. The only “notes” I actually wrote myself were formulas, mnemonics or copying/pasting the becker pass keys into a word document. Also copy/pasting wrong mcq's.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Anonymous]

I don't take notes either. That, to me, is a time killer. What I DO do is copy and paste the explainations from the MCQs if I am unclear on something or if I get something wrong. Seemed to work pretty well with AUD. Also, on occasion I will write some note cards but not often.

[teeteenounouche]

Best advice from Jeff is taking notes…I'm still rehabbing my index finger but it was worth it lmao 🙂

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Anonymous]

I can't, and don't do it. I highlight my textbook and make little notes in the margins. I find that to be much better than trying to read my chicken scratch later on.

[Author]

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