[Anonymous]

I had a minor meltdown last week (and yes, I let that be known on here while it was happening) because I’ve been having a horrible time retaining info for BEC, which I now sit for in less than 2 weeks. However, I realized the problem with my studying strategy, corrected it, and am happy to say that the information is now sticking with me and I’m on my way to finishing all of the material up this week. That only leaves about a week to hammer out all of the MCQs and WC questions in the WTB, but I’m hoping that’s enough because I have already been doing MCQs each time I finish a section.

I thought I’d share my new strategy in case it helps anyone else out. If you are a visual learner, do NOT feel obligated to watch the lectures that come with your review course, regardless of how much you think you need them because you invested in them. That has been my biggest problem thus far- watching and taking notes throughout the lectures and then having to go back and re-read my notes multiple times just to grasp the basics of the concepts covered. Obviously if you learn best by lectures this advice isn’t for you, but even Roger, as great as he is, cannot get through to my brain that way. I am now just reading the BEC book cover to cover and find that that has been the key to truly understanding the concepts for me. The lectures just feel very rushed in comparison to the smooth flow in the book and all of the mnemonics from Roger can be found in the book, so the lecture is really just a reinforcement of the book concepts. Again, great if you can learn that way, but for a visual learner the books are by far the superior method of understanding the concepts. I also have the Wiley books and I do have to say that while they’re amazingly comprehensive, they are dry enough to make straight reading difficult (at least for me), so having the Roger books to read has been a great tool.

And now my plug for Jeff’s NINJA Notes. They ROCK! Seriously- once you read through the concepts or watch the lectures or however you learn, using the NINJA Notes to tie all of the concepts together in a quick and concise way is awesome. I’m no longer focused on taking my own notes but instead supplementing the already provided NINJA Notes with info from the Roger books that wasn’t included with the NINJA Notes that I feel is relevant. But still…they’re GREAT. I cannot stress that enough.

So, in summary, as a visual learner I am now effectively employing the following studying strategy:

1) Fully read the Roger book for each section (refer to Wiley book for more info on a given topic)

2) Supplement the NINJA Notes throughout the reading with other relevant info

3) MCQs, MCQs, and more MCQs in the WTB

4) WC questions and Simulations in the WTB

5) Final review with supplemented NINJA Notes in the final days before each exam

Hopefully this strategy will allow me to pass BEC on the first try! I believe that it’s going to be the most difficult exam for me as I haven’t taken very many general business courses (I was an undergrad Bio major), so I’ll be thrilled when it’s done and passed (even if not on the first try). I’m actually looking forward to studying for REG a lot more since I actually enjoy that material. 🙂

[Study Monk]

Thanks for sharing! I came up to a similar conclusion. It is unfortunate that many people who are not auditory learners end up buying lecture focused programs like Yaeger and Rogers, when they would of been better off with a test bank program like Cpaexcel, Becker, or Gleim.

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]

Thanks for sharing! I came up to a similar conclusion. It is unfortunate that many people who are not auditory learners end up buying lecture focused programs like Yaeger and Rogers, when they would of been better off with a test bank program like Cpaexcel, Becker, or Gleim.

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"

[Anonymous]

It definitely is unfortunate. I know I've spent 3-4 hours every evening for the past few weeks watching the lectures for BEC and not getting very far at all. And then yesterday evening I got through all of the material that was scheduled on my planner for this entire week in 1.5 hours by just focusing on the book (so I saved ~10 hours). Certainly more efficient! I don't regret getting the Roger review course, however, since the books are easier for me to get through than the Wiley books. However, my boss was the one who paid for the course, so I don't feel too guilty letting go of the lecture mindset and just using the books and associated MCQs. $1,500+ is a lot to spend to just use the books and test bank, though. If I was paying for all of my materials out-of-pocket, I probably would have gone with just Wiley and the WTB.

[Anonymous]

It definitely is unfortunate. I know I've spent 3-4 hours every evening for the past few weeks watching the lectures for BEC and not getting very far at all. And then yesterday evening I got through all of the material that was scheduled on my planner for this entire week in 1.5 hours by just focusing on the book (so I saved ~10 hours). Certainly more efficient! I don't regret getting the Roger review course, however, since the books are easier for me to get through than the Wiley books. However, my boss was the one who paid for the course, so I don't feel too guilty letting go of the lecture mindset and just using the books and associated MCQs. $1,500+ is a lot to spend to just use the books and test bank, though. If I was paying for all of my materials out-of-pocket, I probably would have gone with just Wiley and the WTB.

[StephAV]

I figured out I'm not an auditory learner by listening to the NINJA audio… I think the audio stuck much better after I finally broke down and bought the NINJA notes and read and rewrote those. I also use Roger's course and I can relate, after the lectures (that I for the most part like and find entertaining) I feel like not a lot of the information is retained.

I'm tempted, but scared to try this… Maybe I should read the chapters then watch the lecture? Hmm… Totally agree on the Wiley book not being something I could read. Thanks for sharing I will have to consider this method.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[StephAV]

I figured out I'm not an auditory learner by listening to the NINJA audio… I think the audio stuck much better after I finally broke down and bought the NINJA notes and read and rewrote those. I also use Roger's course and I can relate, after the lectures (that I for the most part like and find entertaining) I feel like not a lot of the information is retained.

I'm tempted, but scared to try this… Maybe I should read the chapters then watch the lecture? Hmm… Totally agree on the Wiley book not being something I could read. Thanks for sharing I will have to consider this method.

FAR - 7/13 - 72, 11/13- 74, 2/14- 82!!! Best score ever (for me)!!!
BEC - 1/14 - 75!!! Perfect score! First Pass! YAY!!!
AUD - 8/14 - 80!!!
REG - 5/14 - 72, 10/14 - 66, 1/15 - 78 - DONE FOREVER!!!
I did 5 of the UNA and CPAExcel classes to earn units.

[fiona87]

” Maybe I should read the chapters then watch the lecture?”

This is what I did in school and what I do when I study [DISCLAIMER: I've only passed FAR and I've taken AUD but don't know my results yet]. I don't READ the chapter before the lecture, but I look over the handout and I skim through the chapter to get a little bit comfortable/have a passing familiarity with the topic that'll be covered. THEN I watch the video, and I rarely take notes while watching unless they REALLY emphasize something. Then I read once more and take notes and review the questions in the book (even though Jeff says not to) to get an idea how well I grasp the concept.

Once I do that with EVERY chapter/section, I take a practice test in the Wiley Test Bank and I look at the evaluation to give me an idea of how solid I am with each section. Then I re-read/re-write notes for any section I'm weak on and do MCQ after MCQ after MCQ in the WTB until it feels good. I occasionally do a 30-question set from “whatever” section Wiley feels like grabbing to brush up and keep sharp on the topics I had a good familiarity with already.

…and I have Audio going constantly in the car/at work.

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[fiona87]

” Maybe I should read the chapters then watch the lecture?”

This is what I did in school and what I do when I study [DISCLAIMER: I've only passed FAR and I've taken AUD but don't know my results yet]. I don't READ the chapter before the lecture, but I look over the handout and I skim through the chapter to get a little bit comfortable/have a passing familiarity with the topic that'll be covered. THEN I watch the video, and I rarely take notes while watching unless they REALLY emphasize something. Then I read once more and take notes and review the questions in the book (even though Jeff says not to) to get an idea how well I grasp the concept.

Once I do that with EVERY chapter/section, I take a practice test in the Wiley Test Bank and I look at the evaluation to give me an idea of how solid I am with each section. Then I re-read/re-write notes for any section I'm weak on and do MCQ after MCQ after MCQ in the WTB until it feels good. I occasionally do a 30-question set from “whatever” section Wiley feels like grabbing to brush up and keep sharp on the topics I had a good familiarity with already.

…and I have Audio going constantly in the car/at work.

FAR - 79 (11/27/13)
AUD - 76 (2/1/14)
REG - 77 (5/30/14)
BEC - 88 (7/18/14)

MN Ethics - 100% (3/9/14)

AND DONE! 8/1/14

[Anonymous]

My sister share other strategy that I really liked: I”m visual as well. I bought a white board with dry eraser markers (of different colors) then, I write down my notes in the board as a way of studying. I take a pic with my cel phone and save the file in the computer. In that way I make flash cards from my own notations and I can review anytime. I clean the board and I continue writing.

My hand doesn't cry with this when cramming

Other strategy that I want to implement in AUD is mind maps.. I'm very visual so I'm thinking to put main points as a tree visual map!

🙂 I try to be the best with my mind!

I found this video very useful as well…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlU-zDU6aQ0

[Anonymous]

My sister share other strategy that I really liked: I”m visual as well. I bought a white board with dry eraser markers (of different colors) then, I write down my notes in the board as a way of studying. I take a pic with my cel phone and save the file in the computer. In that way I make flash cards from my own notations and I can review anytime. I clean the board and I continue writing.

My hand doesn't cry with this when cramming

Other strategy that I want to implement in AUD is mind maps.. I'm very visual so I'm thinking to put main points as a tree visual map!

🙂 I try to be the best with my mind!

I found this video very useful as well…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlU-zDU6aQ0

[Study Monk]

I have created a new study system and even gave it a mnemonic because I am arrogant:)

It is the RIGHT way to study(more arrogance):

(R) ead carefully over 1 section at a time

(I) mmediately go over related multiple choice to that section

(G)o over SAME problems next day and flag difficult/key questions

(H) arvest notes/flashcards on flagged questions

(T)est yourself frequently on flagged questions and flash cards/notes

This study system is based on my conclusion that the CPA exam seems to test on core concepts and these core concepts are explained well in the multiple choice solutions. I also feel that only 40 percent of the material in the book is applicable to answering the questions, so its best not to waste to much time reading over extra info. I also think that doing multiple choice questions once and moving on is a waste of time, because it ignores reinforcement which is the key component in learning. Another key difference is flashcards and notes are created(harvested lol)for info that is used to answer multiple choice questions. I hope this helps some people.

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]

I have created a new study system and even gave it a mnemonic because I am arrogant:)

It is the RIGHT way to study(more arrogance):

(R) ead carefully over 1 section at a time

(I) mmediately go over related multiple choice to that section

(G)o over SAME problems next day and flag difficult/key questions

(H) arvest notes/flashcards on flagged questions

(T)est yourself frequently on flagged questions and flash cards/notes

This study system is based on my conclusion that the CPA exam seems to test on core concepts and these core concepts are explained well in the multiple choice solutions. I also feel that only 40 percent of the material in the book is applicable to answering the questions, so its best not to waste to much time reading over extra info. I also think that doing multiple choice questions once and moving on is a waste of time, because it ignores reinforcement which is the key component in learning. Another key difference is flashcards and notes are created(harvested lol)for info that is used to answer multiple choice questions. I hope this helps some people.

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"

[Ajaz0810]

I am using gleim after I tried yaeger for far. Yaeger videos were so boring and I got nothing out of them. Videos are overrated in my opinion. Reading and practicing MCQs and SIMs and studying the ninja notes work for me. But that's just me and it looks like you are a similar learner to me.

FAR 62, 66, 78
AUD 66, 55, 74, 72
BEC 79
REG

[Ajaz0810]

I am using gleim after I tried yaeger for far. Yaeger videos were so boring and I got nothing out of them. Videos are overrated in my opinion. Reading and practicing MCQs and SIMs and studying the ninja notes work for me. But that's just me and it looks like you are a similar learner to me.

FAR 62, 66, 78
AUD 66, 55, 74, 72
BEC 79
REG

[Anonymous]

The reason none of us learned anything about accounting in college compared to what we learn while doing the CPA prep is because college professors like to lecture and give you a book to read. This is passive learning where you just hope to “get it” based on someone cramming information into your head.

Using a test bank or software make you prove to yourself you understand the material and is a more active approach to learning. Plowing through the book to get a decent understanding and getting to the MCQs is a good strategy. I haven't used lectures but I could see myself zoning out and not having them being very beneficial.

[Author]

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