[Noct]

I’ve found what I consider to be the most efficient study method. I don’t expect this would work for everyone, but has worked for me so I thought I should share.

First off, the only study material I’ve used is the Wiley books (which can be bought in a set for relatively cheap from Amazon).

Now for the strategy… First thing, before doing any reading, I answer all of the multiple choice questions at the end of each module. I do this very quickly and don’t spend more than a few minutes on any question. If I don’t know it, I flag the question and move on, and I also flag the question if I was unsure and had to guess.

At the end of each module, I review the questions I got wrong and the ones I flagged to make sure I understand why I got it wrong. I usually find the brief descriptions in the answer section sufficient, but I will go to the reading material if necessary.

Once I’ve gone through each module, my strategy changes slightly. I pick the module I was weakest in and I do the MCQ for it again using the same method as before (flagging guesses/skips). And again, I review any questions I got wrong/guessed/skipped (a bit more thoroughly than the first time). Then I move on to my next weakest section and repeat. Note that my ‘weakest’ section is constantly changing as new scores replace old ones, so I may end up doing one module four times, and another module only once.

I continue this process until I get at least an 85% in each module (or I run out of time). If I have time to spare, I repeat the process with the practice exam at the back.

I’ve found this method automatically forces me to spend more time on my weaknesses, and prevents me wasting time on my strengths.

Overall, I found I can go through 6-10 modules per weekend, and maybe 1-2 modules per weeknight in a pinch. You may have noticed I do not do any practice simulations. I’ve found that the same info is covered in the MCQ and that doing MCQ is a more time efficient method. I also do very minimal memorization unless it applied to several MCQ in a given module.

I hope someone finds this helpful. I would have saved myself weeks of work studying for my first exam if someone had suggested this strategy to me.

FAR - 79 - 07/2012
AUD - 65, 78 - 11/2012
BEC - 76 - 11/2012
REG - 78 - 01/2013
ETH - 98 - 01/2013

Material: Wiley books

[MCLKT]

I think there is a big difference between reading a Becker book compared to Wiley or Gleim cover to cover.

@tncincy – are you using Becker?

A:[73]97 F:[74]85 R:86 B:[74]82
*NINJA 10 Pt. COMBO & Yaeger*

[Keely]

I have never seen a Wiley book, but I've heard they are huge, so yes, I do think there is probably a big difference between reading the two. My understanding about Becker material is that it is as consolidated as it can be already, so skipping anything in Becker is a big no-no.

@Noct, I wasn't knocking your approach, just adding my thoughts on what works for me. I am kind of tired of people saying they study to “just pass,” though, and think any other method is unproductive. Like I don't just want to pass as well? I am not going for the EWS award or anything, and I have never thought a 90 is better than a 75. And there are many people on here with way higher scores than mine. But there is nothing counter-productive about getting high scores. Someone else posted this once: if you study “just to pass” or “just to get a 75,” you have to be perfect on exam day. Not likely. If you study for a 99, there's an extremely likely chance that you aren't going to actually GET a 99, but you will have a lot of room to work with. Obviously, I don't have “complete understanding” either, or I'd have 99s everywhere.

There's a difference between saying you just WANT to pass, and saying you study to “just pass.” I study to give myself the best possible chance of not having to retake the exam.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Jsmi77y]

I generally have the same strategy. I don't read the entire book, not even close. I'm bad at note taking as I think I understand something (and I generally do) but then I forget it because I'm all “oh, that's easy and makes perfect sense” then it comes up from a different angle and I get slapped in the face for it.

That said I do countless MCQ. That's my main strategy, and I also never practice sims. I've got a little better about note-taking and finding as many sources of MCQ as I can and things have got a lot better.

REG - 68 | 71 | 88 | 86
FAR - 72 | 74 | 79
AUD - 66 | 70 | 77
BEC - 62 | 74 | 80

Guess that means I'm a soon-to-be CPA!

[Keely]

@Jsmi: what review course do you use?

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Tncincy]

I have cpaexcel, I have wiley books Vol 1 and vol 2 (huge), I have the wiley test bank, and ninja audio and notes. I am trying to cover as much material as possible by 2/23, but I am still in the basic theory and can't seem to move on. In the cpaexcel it is so many little sub-topics till I am afraid to not cover something but it is time consuming. Then they have the test planner where you put in the date you want to take the test then it calculates how much time per week needed to reach the goal, but I noticed that there is no real review time…it gives you a day. I think far has too much information to review in one day, so I want to have at least a week to review before the test. I was doing the mcq's but I was getting them wrong so I thought maybe I need to go to the book, but again I get too caught up trying to read everything. I need a plan, I thought about switching to roger, I cant afford becker( 3,000?). How do I stop feeling overwhelmed.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[MCLKT]

@tncincy, move on from the basic theory and circle back to it in your final review. When I first studied for FAR I spent waaaaay too much time trying to grasp the full concept before I moved on. Only left myself a week or so for final review. Big mistake. I wish I had gone through the material lightly first to get a big picture idea of what all there is. Then go back thoroughly, lots of MCQs, rewriting notes, and reading from the text (Wiley) where needed.

This time around I am going to leave 2 weeks for final review, and nonstop MCQ/SIMS.

I think SIMS are a great to practice. They cover a topic in detail and prepare you for the format to expect on test day.

A:[73]97 F:[74]85 R:86 B:[74]82
*NINJA 10 Pt. COMBO & Yaeger*

[GACPA2K13]

Noct,

Thanks for the great post. Just curious: how many hours do you spend per section? I think this method can help save a lot of time, like you said, by not spending so much time on material we already know.

[Noct]

Roughly 60-80 hours per section.

FAR - 79 - 07/2012
AUD - 65, 78 - 11/2012
BEC - 76 - 11/2012
REG - 78 - 01/2013
ETH - 98 - 01/2013

Material: Wiley books

[Tncincy]

Noct is that wiley modules or weak sections?

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Tncincy]

nevermind I miss read your post.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Noct]

Sorry, I meant exam section. As in AUD/BEC/REG/FAR…

FAR - 79 - 07/2012
AUD - 65, 78 - 11/2012
BEC - 76 - 11/2012
REG - 78 - 01/2013
ETH - 98 - 01/2013

Material: Wiley books

[Ag12thman]

Bump on this study strategy. Has anyone else been implementing this sort of study strategy? I'm about to crank up the studying (using Becker) pretty heavily and am considering giving this approach a shot.

FAR: July 2016

[Tncincy]

@Ag12thman,

I'm glad you revived this topic. I found that rereading my previous posts lets me know that the insecurities I had a few months ago are the same insecurities I have now. I thought changing review materials was the key….it was until I got too caught up in the video lectures and now it boils down to the same thing…..mcq's. Doing a ton of the MCQ's, taking notes, and if you just have to read the book, then read the book. You are bound to catch on if you keep doing the questions. I do have some accounting knowledge, I have a BS and MS in accounting, so as I do the questions everything floods back from the archives. 21 or 22 days til testing, ditching the videos, and doing the mcq's, and rewriting notes; mine, ninja and any others I can find that's helpful. Bottom line?…..tired of going around in circles, and really don't want to fail.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Noct]

I'm so glad to see that others have benefited from my experience. When I first wrote this guide, it was as much for myself as anyone. It helped me boil down my thoughts regarding study techniques into a cohesive strategy.

When working toward a goal as daunting as the CPA exam, it is easy to become overwhelmed and lose focus thus wasting time. I think any strategy can be viable if it does two things: 1. Divide the large goal into small, manageable tasks. 2. Provide tangible confirmation of progress.

FAR - 79 - 07/2012
AUD - 65, 78 - 11/2012
BEC - 76 - 11/2012
REG - 78 - 01/2013
ETH - 98 - 01/2013

Material: Wiley books

[Author]

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