[NYCpat]

I was going to buy one of the bigger name ones but my company is offering ExamMatrix for free.

Any have any experience good or bad with them as a review course?

BEC - 82
AUD - 65; retake Feb 2013
FAR - April 2013
REG - July 2013?

[LittleMoe]

I use ExamMatrix and supplement with Wiley books (I don't like the ExamMatrix books that come with it), Ninja Notes and Audio. It has worked well for me so far. It is a lot more self taught so if you feel like you need lectures, I don't recommend it at all. But, if you can learn by doing MCQ's it is really a great program. Saves a ton of time from having to grade your own work and try to figure out your weak areas. If your work is paying for it and you think you can “teach” yourself by doing MCQ's and even through supplementing with other materials, go for it. Passing 2 parts on the first try, I have no complaints!!

AUD 4/12/12 79
FAR 5/29/12 76
REG 8/2/12 82
BEC 8/30/12 72 Retake 10/18/12 76!!! DONE!!!!
ExamMatrix, Wiley Books, NINJA notes and audio
LICENSED ALABAMA CPA 11/30/12

[ihatestudying]

so far exammatrix has helped…pretty cool system they have … might want to supplement ninja notes and that kind of stuff..i dont like exammatrix text book at all..but the software so far helps, and the “personal professor” automatically hits questions that it thinks you need extra attention on.

AUD - 2/27/12 - 76
REG - 5/31/12 - 78
BEC - 8/31/12 - 77
FAR - 12/6/12 - 76

[StephyCPA]

Hi everyone!

I am so happy to see that other people are using ExamMatrix on here. I was beginning to worry.

I have taken all 4 parts in 2009 using Becker. I came very close on all 4 exams, I do believe, however I should have supplemented my studies with Wiley or another test bank.

Anyways, after taking a couple years off to get married I am back at it and ready to pass and achieve this huge goal.

I decided to ditch Becker this time around. After careful research I came across ExamMatrix, mainly for the money back guarantee. I figured this product must be decent if they are willing to give me my money back if I fail. So I started the end of May. So far it is going OK. I have been taking one section at a time. I do each question first by using the book (which is awful) to answer the question. I read the section the question applies to and then answer the question. If I get the question wrong, I take notes. Then I do the questions without the book. I do not go forward until I get 100% and know that I have understood the concepts. After I am done with ExamMatrix MC I am going on to the Simulations. I have also purchased Lambert's Cram that I decided to do 2 weeks before the exam and then Wiley Test Bank which I will do my final week. I also purchased Jeff's notes that I have been reading before each section and in between doing multiple choice questions for further clarification. Not sure if I will have time to write and re-write the notes but I would like too.

I hope this works. I DO NOT want to take this exam again!!!! As I am sure no one else wants to either 🙂

If anyone has any feedback or tips for using ExamMatrix, please respond! I am interested in hearing how you are implementing ExamMatrix. I am unsure as to whether or not I am using it to its full benefit.

Thanks and good luck studying!!!

REG - 7/21/12 - 73 / 10/20/12 - 83 (Expires 4/30/14)
BEC - 1/14/13 - 75!!
AUD - 4/17/13 - 74 :(((( Re-take 8/26/13
FAR - 7/20/13 - 70

I WILL BE A CPA IN 2013!!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study, Wiley Testbank, NINJA Audio & Notes

[LittleMoe]

@StephyCPA, you might want to buy a Wiley book. It helped me tremendously. I just can't read the Exam Matrix books. I have been getting them on Amazon for a pretty decent price. I want to say they have all been under $40 (they retail in stores for about $65).

I will give you my plan for REG (just started studying this week):

Work MCQ's in Wiley book – I learn better by reading the MCQ and looking up the answer than just reading. I highlight important things in the book that pertain to the MCQ's.

Rewrite Ninja Notes – It is time consuming but I like to do this once I am done reading through the Wiley book. I take anything I have highlighted and add it in to those notes. I also squeeze in Ninja Audio when I can.

ExamMatrix MCQ's – I do these without looking up the answers. If I have to look something up (like if it is a calculationa and I want to practice it, or a concept I haven't seen yet) I mark it as a guess. I add things that I have trouble with in MCQ's in a different color pen to my notes. That way, my trouble areas are more noticeable and break up the original notes from the things I am picking up from MCQ's while keeping all the info in the same place.

ExamMatrix SIMS – I do as many of these as I can but more as a test of how well I know the concepts as opposed to expecting them to be similar to what I see on the exam (so far, they are not). It just gets you thinking about the material in a different way that will better prepare you to work the SIMS you get on test day.

If I have time, I would like to rewrite the notes again toward the end.

Hope this helps!

AUD 4/12/12 79
FAR 5/29/12 76
REG 8/2/12 82
BEC 8/30/12 72 Retake 10/18/12 76!!! DONE!!!!
ExamMatrix, Wiley Books, NINJA notes and audio
LICENSED ALABAMA CPA 11/30/12

[StephyCPA]

Thanks @LittleMoe for the advice!

Good luck studying! Is this the same process you have used to pass AUD & FAR???

REG - 7/21/12 - 73 / 10/20/12 - 83 (Expires 4/30/14)
BEC - 1/14/13 - 75!!
AUD - 4/17/13 - 74 :(((( Re-take 8/26/13
FAR - 7/20/13 - 70

I WILL BE A CPA IN 2013!!!!!

Using Becker Self-Study, Wiley Testbank, NINJA Audio & Notes

[LittleMoe]

Yeah pretty much. It is a little more organized now that I have figured out what works for me. Also, I will mix it up some. I don't necessarily complete one before moving on to another. I get bored just thinking about reading through the whole book before moving on. I may mix in some MCQs or note taking at any time to break things up. But I do try to get through each as quickly as I can while still focusing on the material. You just have to figure out what works for you. For me, I learn by doing. Writing notes and working MCQ's work better for me than just reading or listening to lectures/audio. I tend to zone out. Don't get me wrong, I do have the audio and I like it to squeeze in extra study time. But, I know that I won't originally learn the concepts that way. It is more to emphasize the big things and to reinforce what I am learning through repetition.

A good rule of thumb is that if it worked for you in your worst (hardest) grad/undergrad classes, turn it up a notch or 12 and use the same methods for the CPA exam.

AUD 4/12/12 79
FAR 5/29/12 76
REG 8/2/12 82
BEC 8/30/12 72 Retake 10/18/12 76!!! DONE!!!!
ExamMatrix, Wiley Books, NINJA notes and audio
LICENSED ALABAMA CPA 11/30/12

[Author]

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