[samchi008]

I’m looking for any suggestions, ideas, extra materials, etc that I can get. I have been out of college since 2001, thus no study habits left in my body at all. I started studying in Jan 2010, took REG, and passed on my first time with a 76. It was a great feeling. Next up, FAR…2 years later I have failed every single part at least once. I failed FAR 3 times. End result was I lost my REG score last year. I used Becker until my license ran out. I’ve purchased all the NINJA notes. I also use Wiley Test Bank now and CPA Excel. Just got my AUD score last night….52. Any suggestions on study habits? I haven’t been able to get 80s or above on my practice questions, EVER. But I take the exams hopeful I might get lucky. I try to put in 3-4 hours a night, but it’s tough during a tax accountant’s busy season. I write the NINJA notes at least once, and I use them as my “study bible”. Please any help or insight anyone can provide would be must appreciated.

[Topsya]

Have you actually read a book?

AUD - 90
FAR - 83
BEC - 81
REG - 80
ETHICS - 100

[samchi008]

@norwoodal – Thank you so much for your insight! That was great and exactly the type of information I was hoping to get from the members on the forums. I too learn better through doing and not just reading. Taking notes seems to help me stay focused on what I am writing. I did not buy the audio for all the parts. I have it for FAR though. It's gonna be awhile before I get back to FAR. How many hours a day did you spend studying and writing the notes? I find that I want to write my notes over and over, but I never seem to have enough time to do it. I've also decided that I won't even schedule my exam until I am getting over 80% on the MCQs because I feel like I am spending so much money. I also have to fly to Miami from the Cayman Islands every time I have to take an exam and stay in a hotel and rent a car…so it's getting intense and I find that I'm getting pissed off. HA! That might be a good thing. I do have the cpaexcel flashcards on my phone and iPad and I found that I did a lot more for AUD this time around…but that 52 score says otherwise. Thanks again for your help. I might take you up on your offer to talk to you some more about this!

@Topsya – not sure if you are asking me that, but I do have all the Becker books. After going through each of those parts and doing the lectures, then buying NINJA notes, I go back to the book for extra guidance on the parts I don't understand for more detail.

[samchi008]

@norwoodal – Thank you so much for your insight! That was great and exactly the type of information I was hoping to get from the members on the forums. I too learn better through doing and not just reading. Taking notes seems to help me stay focused on what I am writing. I did not buy the audio for all the parts. I have it for FAR though. It's gonna be awhile before I get back to FAR. How many hours a day did you spend studying and writing the notes? I find that I want to write my notes over and over, but I never seem to have enough time to do it. I've also decided that I won't even schedule my exam until I am getting over 80% on the MCQs because I feel like I am spending so much money. I also have to fly to Miami from the Cayman Islands every time I have to take an exam and stay in a hotel and rent a car…so it's getting intense and I find that I'm getting pissed off. HA! That might be a good thing. I do have the cpaexcel flashcards on my phone and iPad and I found that I did a lot more for AUD this time around…but that 52 score says otherwise. Thanks again for your help. I might take you up on your offer to talk to you some more about this!

@Topsya – not sure if you are asking me that, but I do have all the Becker books. After going through each of those parts and doing the lectures, then buying NINJA notes, I go back to the book for extra guidance on the parts I don't understand for more detail.

[norwoodal]

@samchi008. When I finally reevaluated everything, I spent at lease an hour before work, an hour during work (which my wonderful boss gave me), my lunch hour, and then a while at home everyday. I made sure to take a day off from the intense studying, but if I ever got a break, I answered a question or two.

I, myself could not do the wait for 80% on questions before scheduling. I like to have a timeline and make schedules. Its probably uncool, but I set alerts on my phone and tablet that told me what I was supposed to get done that day and the alarms would go off every couple of hours if it wasn't checked off.

I failed audit miserably the first try, then made a 50 in 2012, and brought that up to a 74 in November. I think for me it was all in my mindset. I knew that I had failed prior to that test and just did not think I could do it. My new years resolution in 2013 was to complete this test. I made calendars, set due dates for myself, and did everything possible to hold myself accountable. I would even give myself little rewards for a good job. Like treating myself to a movie if I checked everything off my to do list for the week. There is nothing as motivating as knowing you have a reward waiting. That's what most of us parents do for kids right? Why not do it for us too. Then when I actually passed a section, my husband and I would celebrate.

Again, My advice would be to find a way to erase the past failures. Don't look at the material like, I have done this before and it hasn't helped. Try to find the way to make it work for you. My studying and retaining knowledge completely changed when I started writing down the reasons behind right and wrong answers. That is when I really began understanding the materials.

And another thing, I graduated from college in 2004, so its been a while since I studied also!

🙂

REG 75
BEC 81
FAR 75
AUD 82

I AM DONE!!!!!

[norwoodal]

@samchi008. When I finally reevaluated everything, I spent at lease an hour before work, an hour during work (which my wonderful boss gave me), my lunch hour, and then a while at home everyday. I made sure to take a day off from the intense studying, but if I ever got a break, I answered a question or two.

I, myself could not do the wait for 80% on questions before scheduling. I like to have a timeline and make schedules. Its probably uncool, but I set alerts on my phone and tablet that told me what I was supposed to get done that day and the alarms would go off every couple of hours if it wasn't checked off.

I failed audit miserably the first try, then made a 50 in 2012, and brought that up to a 74 in November. I think for me it was all in my mindset. I knew that I had failed prior to that test and just did not think I could do it. My new years resolution in 2013 was to complete this test. I made calendars, set due dates for myself, and did everything possible to hold myself accountable. I would even give myself little rewards for a good job. Like treating myself to a movie if I checked everything off my to do list for the week. There is nothing as motivating as knowing you have a reward waiting. That's what most of us parents do for kids right? Why not do it for us too. Then when I actually passed a section, my husband and I would celebrate.

Again, My advice would be to find a way to erase the past failures. Don't look at the material like, I have done this before and it hasn't helped. Try to find the way to make it work for you. My studying and retaining knowledge completely changed when I started writing down the reasons behind right and wrong answers. That is when I really began understanding the materials.

And another thing, I graduated from college in 2004, so its been a while since I studied also!

🙂

REG 75
BEC 81
FAR 75
AUD 82

I AM DONE!!!!!

[Study Monk]

@norwoodal. I used almost that same strategy for Audit(including exercise!). I hope it pays off. Either way, based on my humble opinion, your comment has some of the best advice I have seen on this forum in regards to study strategy.

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]

@norwoodal. I used almost that same strategy for Audit(including exercise!). I hope it pays off. Either way, based on my humble opinion, your comment has some of the best advice I have seen on this forum in regards to study strategy.

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"

[samchi008]

@norwoodal – Thanks again! It really is some of the best study strategy advice I've ever received. Thank you for taking the time to share it with me. I consider myself to be an organized person and I like having lists and I love checking things off of them. I need to implement this plan a bit more into my study habits. Make lists of what I want to accomplish. I don't really have the time to wait to get to 80%s either, but I wasn't even hitting 60 in some cases. I feel like if I can't get over 75 in practice how can I do it on an exam, you know? I am all about rewarding myself as well. Although I usually do it after I take a test. I think I should wait until I get the score to really enjoy myself. I wanted to pass 3 parts before getting married this July, but my fail of AUD may have put a damper on that plan.

[samchi008]

@norwoodal – Thanks again! It really is some of the best study strategy advice I've ever received. Thank you for taking the time to share it with me. I consider myself to be an organized person and I like having lists and I love checking things off of them. I need to implement this plan a bit more into my study habits. Make lists of what I want to accomplish. I don't really have the time to wait to get to 80%s either, but I wasn't even hitting 60 in some cases. I feel like if I can't get over 75 in practice how can I do it on an exam, you know? I am all about rewarding myself as well. Although I usually do it after I take a test. I think I should wait until I get the score to really enjoy myself. I wanted to pass 3 parts before getting married this July, but my fail of AUD may have put a damper on that plan.

[norwoodal]

Small rewards could keep your spirits up. I'm not talking huge celebrations. I'm talking like milkshakes when your on a diet. 🙂 Or watching your favorite tv show that you have been missing for a year.

REG 75
BEC 81
FAR 75
AUD 82

I AM DONE!!!!!

[norwoodal]

Small rewards could keep your spirits up. I'm not talking huge celebrations. I'm talking like milkshakes when your on a diet. 🙂 Or watching your favorite tv show that you have been missing for a year.

REG 75
BEC 81
FAR 75
AUD 82

I AM DONE!!!!!

[Kimboroni]

Samchi, I just posted this in the other thread where you asked about this, but, yes, I was thinking the ELL plan might really help you out, too: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-study-plan/

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

Samchi, I just posted this in the other thread where you asked about this, but, yes, I was thinking the ELL plan might really help you out, too: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-study-plan/

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Not a Quitter]

@Topsya People have different styles of learning. Not everybody can retain information by reading a whole book word for word. Some are more interactive learners.

FAR- 85 I'm DONE!
BEC- 75
REG- 60,60,75
AUD- 74,74,83

CPAExcel used for BEC, AUD, REG
Exam Matrix used for FAR plus NINJA Blitz, cpareviewforfree and a little CPAExcel

[Not a Quitter]

@Topsya People have different styles of learning. Not everybody can retain information by reading a whole book word for word. Some are more interactive learners.

FAR- 85 I'm DONE!
BEC- 75
REG- 60,60,75
AUD- 74,74,83

CPAExcel used for BEC, AUD, REG
Exam Matrix used for FAR plus NINJA Blitz, cpareviewforfree and a little CPAExcel

[Author]

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