[barelystayingsane]

I’ve gotten a couple requests for my study strategy, so I figured I’d post one thread. I solely used Becker for FAR, REG, and BEC. I supplemented with Ninja Notes and WTB for AUD, since I am a tax guy and didn’t “get” audit right away. Keep in mind that I am notorious for overstudying, and I was not working at the time I was studying. I’ll post my study plan for BEC and AUD (6 modules each) and FAR (10 modules) and you can interpolate for REG (8 modules).

BEC and AUD (6 modules)

Day 1: Cover the first half of B1 (I first read the book for a specific module. Then I watched the lecture for that module. Then I went back and tried to memorize what I had highlighted in the lectures. Then I did the MCQs for that module, taking notes on what I got wrong. Then I started on the next module.)

Day 2: Pretty much the same as Day 1, except covering the second half of B1.

Day 3: Go back over the entirety of B1 and drill the highlighted information into my head once again. Also, do any “Optional MCQs” Becker had for that chapter, as well as the sims (I didn’t bother with the WC for BEC).

Days 4-6: Same as Days 1-3 for B2

Days 7-9: Same as Days 1-3 for B3

Day 10: Go back over B1.Drill the information in my head again. Do 50 MCQs on B1.

Day 11: Go back over B2. Drill the information in my head again. Do 50 MCQs on B2.

Day 12: Go back over B3. Drill the information in my head again. Do 50 MCQs on B3.

Days 13-15: Cover B4.

Days 16-18: Cover B5.

Days 19-21: Cover B6.

Days 22-24: Same as Days 10-12 for B4-B6.

Days 25-30: Cover a chapter a day again. Write notes. Do 50 MCQs a day based on the chapter covered.

Days 31-36: Cover a chapter a day again. Do 50 MCQs a day based on the chapter covered.

Days 37-38: Take a breather and do one Becker Final Exam a day.

Day 39 (day before the exam): Review handwritten notes.

FAR (10 modules)

Days 1-3: F1

Days 4-6: F2

Days 7-9: F3

Days 10-12: F4

Days 13-16: Cover F1-F4, doing a chapter a day (like BEC and AUD’s Days 10-12 above).

Days 17-19: F5

Days 20-22: F6

Days 23-25: F7

Days 26-32: Cover F1-F7

Days 33-35: F8

Days 36-38: F9

Days 39-41: F10

Days 42-44: Cover F8-F10

Days 45-54: Cover a chapter a day again (F1-F10). Write notes. Do 50 MCQs a day based on the chapter covered.

Days 55-64: Cover a chapter a day again. Do 50 MCQs a day based on the chapter covered.

Days 65-66: Becker Final Exams

Day 67 (day before the exam): Review handwritten notes.

I followed the same strategy for REG, but I covered the first four chapters (the tax chapters) before going back to review. Then I moved on the business law chapters. If I’m calculating correctly, REG would take 51 days following this strategy.

[Study Monk]

If you failed a test five years ago I guess you don't qualify for EWS?

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

If you failed a test five years ago I guess you don't qualify for EWS?

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[sarita]

Congrats, Barely!! I KNEW you would get the EWS award!

FAR 7/3/13 - 82
BEC 8/21/13 - 82
AUD 10/2/13 - 92
REG 12/3/13 - 88

DONE!!!! CA Candidate
Beat the 12/31/13 clock!

[sarita]

Congrats, Barely!! I KNEW you would get the EWS award!

FAR 7/3/13 - 82
BEC 8/21/13 - 82
AUD 10/2/13 - 92
REG 12/3/13 - 88

DONE!!!! CA Candidate
Beat the 12/31/13 clock!

[tough_kitty]

Barely, congrats on your perfect score! Do you think it is worth spending time on SIMS from WTB for AUD? I didn't do many SIMS for other exams but AUD is so different from others so I'm wondering whether I should practice more SIMS. I know research isn't helpful in WTB.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Barely, congrats on your perfect score! Do you think it is worth spending time on SIMS from WTB for AUD? I didn't do many SIMS for other exams but AUD is so different from others so I'm wondering whether I should practice more SIMS. I know research isn't helpful in WTB.

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[barelystayingsane]

@tough_kitty I actually burned out in my last week and barely did any MCQs and absolutely no sims. I think I did a total of 8 sims from the WTB in addition to the Becker ones. In retrospect, I wish I would have done more sims. I would have felt a lot better walking out.

[barelystayingsane]

@tough_kitty I actually burned out in my last week and barely did any MCQs and absolutely no sims. I think I did a total of 8 sims from the WTB in addition to the Becker ones. In retrospect, I wish I would have done more sims. I would have felt a lot better walking out.

[Study Monk]

Hey barely I don't know if this is to personal, but I am curious of you educational background. Trying to figure out if you were an average Joe who made the most of his study material, or if you were a recent grad with honors.

You must of really mastered the material going into these tests. I would assume than when you were studying your last week before these exams you must of been able to fly through questions. I am just curious if you finish test-lets and say to yourself I might of missed one on that test-let. When you are prepared for these exams do these tests seem kind of basic to you?

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

Hey barely I don't know if this is to personal, but I am curious of you educational background. Trying to figure out if you were an average Joe who made the most of his study material, or if you were a recent grad with honors.

You must of really mastered the material going into these tests. I would assume than when you were studying your last week before these exams you must of been able to fly through questions. I am just curious if you finish test-lets and say to yourself I might of missed one on that test-let. When you are prepared for these exams do these tests seem kind of basic to you?

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[tough_kitty]

@barely, are you saying you didn't feel confident leaving the test center and you scored 99?!?! In any case, your feedback is reassuring. I hope I do ok. I will be happy with a 75. I just need to make sure I get a passing score! The evidence topic is killing me!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

@barely, are you saying you didn't feel confident leaving the test center and you scored 99?!?! In any case, your feedback is reassuring. I hope I do ok. I will be happy with a 75. I just need to make sure I get a passing score! The evidence topic is killing me!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[Anonymous]

Well done barely, thanks to the feed back!

[Anonymous]

Well done barely, thanks to the feed back!

[barelystayingsane]

@Study Monk I graduated college with a 3.95 GPA. During the exams, I could usually tell which questions I may have gotten wrong, but I wouldn't say I found the exams to be basic at all. Quite opposite…I thought they were incredibly difficult at times.

@tough_kitty I felt very confident about the MCQs. There were two sims I wasn't comfortable with. AUD was the most confident I felt after an exam, although that worried me because I had felt terrible after the other three haha. You will do great!!!!!!!!

[Author]

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