[Study Monk]

Hey guys,

I will be taking my first exam(FAR) at 1:00 pm on January 7th in San Francisco. My commute will be about one hour on the ferry which will allow me to study. I should be reasonably prepared.

I cannot decide which philosophy I believe in? Do I relax on the day of the exam and try to preserve brain power? Or do I wake up and start cramming until I take the test?

I have allocated a good amount of study time to this exam, so my question is geared more towards what to do for the reasonably prepared candidate who is neither super star student or freaked out didn’t prepare guy.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated?

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"

[Iron_Victory]

For BEC pass I crammed like mad day of the exam cause I felt under prepared.

For AUD pass I did a light review day of the exam cause I felt like I had a decent grasp on everything.

I personally like to get that last bit of review and it has helped out. It is not required and it isn't for everyone.

AUD - (74),78
BEC - 85
FAR - 86
REG - 84

[Iron_Victory]

For BEC pass I crammed like mad day of the exam cause I felt under prepared.

For AUD pass I did a light review day of the exam cause I felt like I had a decent grasp on everything.

I personally like to get that last bit of review and it has helped out. It is not required and it isn't for everyone.

AUD - (74),78
BEC - 85
FAR - 86
REG - 84

[Languistic]

If you feel reasonably prepared, I'd just relax. If anything a last minute cram session might throw you off or trip you up.

CA Candidate

FAR - 71, 75
REG - 80
BEC - 73, 79
AUD - 51, 73, 70, 77

Ethics - 90%

[Languistic]

If you feel reasonably prepared, I'd just relax. If anything a last minute cram session might throw you off or trip you up.

CA Candidate

FAR - 71, 75
REG - 80
BEC - 73, 79
AUD - 51, 73, 70, 77

Ethics - 90%

[Anonymous]

I usually did a set of MCQs (anything between 10 and 80 depending on how I was feeling 😛 ) primarily for a confidence boost. I'd usually go through the questions that I had previously gotten wrong and seeing that I could do better on these now was always encouraging, even if it meant nothing. (Train of thought went something like this: “I got an average of 72% right the first time around. I just re-did the ones I got wrong and got 75%. This means I've correctly answered over 85% of the questions at least once.” Yeah, that doesn't mean I currently would get 85%, but I could still make myself feel better thinking that way. 😉 )

However, I'm of the opinion that you don't want to wear your mind out too much before the exam. I had an hour and a half drive to the testing center, so I'd sometimes listen to Ninja Audio on the way. but mostly used it for a mind-break time. When I'm practicing MCQs, I can tell that my scores go down after doing too many in one way, so I try to avoid that for exam day!

[Anonymous]

I usually did a set of MCQs (anything between 10 and 80 depending on how I was feeling 😛 ) primarily for a confidence boost. I'd usually go through the questions that I had previously gotten wrong and seeing that I could do better on these now was always encouraging, even if it meant nothing. (Train of thought went something like this: “I got an average of 72% right the first time around. I just re-did the ones I got wrong and got 75%. This means I've correctly answered over 85% of the questions at least once.” Yeah, that doesn't mean I currently would get 85%, but I could still make myself feel better thinking that way. 😉 )

However, I'm of the opinion that you don't want to wear your mind out too much before the exam. I had an hour and a half drive to the testing center, so I'd sometimes listen to Ninja Audio on the way. but mostly used it for a mind-break time. When I'm practicing MCQs, I can tell that my scores go down after doing too many in one way, so I try to avoid that for exam day!

[MintsRGood]

Don't do anything that will undermine your confidence! If your last minute cram goes sour it may exacerbate your nerves and do more harm than good. Do a few sets of MCQS and a SIM or 2 to get your brain going before you leave and take your study guide/notes and flashcards along with you on the ferry. Read through it, do some flashcards, etc. but if it begins to make you nervous then stop. If you are reasonably prepared, which you are BTW :), then nervous cramming won't do you any good. See how you feel on test morning and go from there!

I hope you have a strong final review week and kill it on the 7th!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

Don't do anything that will undermine your confidence! If your last minute cram goes sour it may exacerbate your nerves and do more harm than good. Do a few sets of MCQS and a SIM or 2 to get your brain going before you leave and take your study guide/notes and flashcards along with you on the ferry. Read through it, do some flashcards, etc. but if it begins to make you nervous then stop. If you are reasonably prepared, which you are BTW :), then nervous cramming won't do you any good. See how you feel on test morning and go from there!

I hope you have a strong final review week and kill it on the 7th!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[Anonymous]

I normally only go over the ninja notes the day of the test. If you don't have the ninja notes I would suggest just reviewing your own notes (at a high summary level). Trust your brain to know the material. If you've put in enough study time you should be just fine 🙂

I like to stop my studying once I leave my house, although I do bring all of my notes with me and sometimes glance at them immediately before going into the testing center. The car ride I use to listen to some pump up music to get me amped so I'm feeling good (as good as you can) upon entering Prometric. Make sure you leave early. I once left 2 hours before my test to go to a testing center 15 miles from my house. Several road closures later I barely arrived on time.

Best of luck!!

[Anonymous]

I normally only go over the ninja notes the day of the test. If you don't have the ninja notes I would suggest just reviewing your own notes (at a high summary level). Trust your brain to know the material. If you've put in enough study time you should be just fine 🙂

I like to stop my studying once I leave my house, although I do bring all of my notes with me and sometimes glance at them immediately before going into the testing center. The car ride I use to listen to some pump up music to get me amped so I'm feeling good (as good as you can) upon entering Prometric. Make sure you leave early. I once left 2 hours before my test to go to a testing center 15 miles from my house. Several road closures later I barely arrived on time.

Best of luck!!

[Anonymous]

I browse through my ninja notes on test day but that's it. Need to save brain for the four hour haul.

[Anonymous]

I browse through my ninja notes on test day but that's it. Need to save brain for the four hour haul.

[Anonymous]

I glance over my Ninja notes and my condensed study guide 2 hours before the exam.

[Anonymous]

I glance over my Ninja notes and my condensed study guide 2 hours before the exam.

[TXgurl]

I limbered up my brain by doing a 20 or 30 MCQs and reviewing my notes of crucial formulas. Not exactly cramming but a quick refresher.

REG 75
FAR 88
AUDIT 82
BEC 74, 12/4/2013 84 Thank You Lord Jesus !!!

[Author]

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