[jnnthom]

After the release of the test scores yesterday, I realized that I have to do something different. I’m not stupid, but I felt like I was yesterday. So far I have taken two exams: FAR and AUD, receiving 72 and 73. I don’t get it. I know I need to do something different, but what? Right now I’m preparing for BEC May 28. Here’s my schedule (I’m using Becker):

3 weeks learning the materials, 2 weeks of review:

Wake up before work and study for 1 hour.

Use my 1 hour lunch break for study time

Start studying again from 6:30-9pm

On the weekend, I’ll sleep in until 7 or 8 and spend 5-8 hours studying.

How I study the material:

2 chapters per week

Read each chapter once

View the online lecture

Do the multiple choice questions

Go through the simulations on the weekends

And I try to memorize flash cards at work when my supervisor isn’t looking

How I review:

Go through each multiple choice and simulation again

Do each Becker review test and brush up on weak areas

With that said, what am I doing wrong? The only thing I can think to do is to spend more time on the practice quizzes and not worry about the practice tests. I might also ensure that I have all my flash cards memorized, perhaps using the quiet time on the weekend to commit them to memory.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Although it would show consistency, I really don’t want to receive a 74 on my next exam. I’m not stupid. I did well in school and have had other accomplishments in my life. I’ve heard the CPA exam is a lot about knowing how to study and how to manage your time.

[Anonymous]

I think everyone learns differently but for me one of the things that makes a huge difference in my understanding and remembering what I'm trying to learn is to take a ton of notes – which from looking at your study plan you didn't mention doing. Taking notes on the chapters is definitely time consuming – it slows your study plan down – but it also slows your brain down – forcing you to reallly concentrate on what your trying to absorb. It's amazing the amount of detail I realize I missed when I go back and take notes. I read the chapter once. Next I watch the video lectures on the chapter. I then go back and re-read the chapter a second time – this time taking notes. I'm saving all mcqs to do all at once at the end during the last 3 weeks I'll spend on review.

[smp73]

The difference maker for me was to write down notes while doing MC questions. Especially if I got them wrong. Then I went back and typed those notes so I saw them all again. In addition, I listened to NINJA audio like my life depended on it…sometimes twice through (completely) in one day (while at work).

Take notes…until your hand hurts. Everyone is different but that made the difference for me!

Good Luck!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[Anonymous]

Taking endless notes (and reviewing them extensively) and practicing endless MCQs (Wiley Test bank for me – thousands and thousands of questions) has worked so far for me (in addition to Wiley book and DePaul online review).

[Mia]

Same thing as benkdevries for me. MCQ until I can no longer fathom the idea of looking at another question for the day. That's how sick I got of MCQs everyday when I studied for my REG test. I watched all the videos in Becker to learn the material but I felt like my “main” review was the Wiley Testbank.

It also helps with being fast at answering questions, I finished both REG and FAR with over an hour left so I felt like I didn't do everything I could and failed. But I guess that had something to do with being faster and faster at answering MCQs with more practice.

And one more thing, on the testbank, I like to do all the MCQs for a particular topic that I'm weakest on, 2nd weakest on, and so forth to make sure I don't run out of study time and just turn a blind eye on hard topics… hope this helps!

BEC 82 Nov 2012 | REG 80 Feb 2013 | FAR 76!!! Apr 2013 | AUD 69 May 2013 | AUD 83!!! Aug 2013

Done!! Thanks Jeff & A71 friends!

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam - For the greater glory of God!

[jnnthom]

Thanks for the all the advice. I'll try and focus a lot of my attention on MCQs and picking apart the questions I got wrong. I'm working on BEC and have been spending more time memorizing my flash cards before I start on my MCQs, that way I have equations and definitions memorized.

[HANH4HANH]

yep, its true what everyone says. MCQ MCQ MCQ. By the time you're done with wiley tb, you pretty much have every question memorized. just make sure you understand WHY the answer to the question is the best one and why all the other choices are wrong.

FAR 4/13 done
AUD 5/13 waiting
REG 7/13
BEC 8/13

[Author]

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