[NBA.Louisiana]

Just some background…I’m taking the exam for the first time (finally!) and I have a 14 month old. Balancing work/studying/everything else is a little intense…any pointers from parents who have successfully completed the exam?

Also…wanted to share these tips my aunt sent me. 🙂 She didn’t take the CPA exam but she is a doctor and has 4 kids so I think her advice is pretty legit.

Thanks in advance!

B

Tips for My CPA Exam:

1. Make cue cards for that really nagging thing that wants to slip from my memory. The “Oh! What’s that called?” thing. That way I can carry that card around and pull out that card and read that card until I remember it. Having it on a cue card gives me the opportunity to write it, read it over and over without extra things around (I can focus only on it), and then recall it in THAT moment.

2. I will get 8 hours of sleep. No matter how much studying I got in that day.

3. I will smile at my son while quoting exam material to him.

4. I will ask him challenging questions that I try to ignore because I really don’t get it or want to get it. Thus challenging myself into learning it.

5. I will suddenly ask (insert name of someone you live with…she used my sister lol) the concept of something I want to remember but I can only think of it in the middle of my bath and cannot look it up or write it down so (insert name) must now be my receptionist with a notepad and pencil so that I will be able to look it up once my much needed soak is over.

6. I will eat right. I know what I need.

7. I will not OVER CAFFEINE as I am too smart for that.

8. I will not forget my Savior. I will pray each morning – before studying – while studying – after studying – for proper rest – for proper digestion (of material and bodily nourishment).

9. I will actually stop and go in the sun or shut my eyes while experiencing the world around me.

10. I will call my Aunt – who loves me more than I will ever know – before – during (if possible) – and after my exam.

11. I will walk in and take this exam with no fear – no regrets.

12. I will not over think or under think – for I am smart.

13. There is no failing this exam. There is only experiencing it.

14. The hard work has been put in. Now it is time to just take the exam and learn how to improve my focus and studying for the next one.

15. And if I get the score that gets me out the door – I need not study forever more!

Decided to FINALLY take this beast of an exam...5 years out of college AND with a 1 year old...so here it goes!
REG 05/28/14 -- 85!
FAR 11/24/14
AUD 10/07/14
BEC 08/28/14 -- 81!

[Anonymous]

I have a 4 year old and an 18 month old, and refuse to sacrifice time with them. My solution is to sacrifice sleep. I get 6 hours in a night, and study morning, noon, and night.

[vlc1982]

I'm a single mother of a toddler, I work full-time, and I commute about 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours a day for work. I think the most important rule above is #2. You will feel guilty for sleeping, but it's necessary for your brain to actually work properly. You can't study effectively when you're tired. If you're studying and get sleepy, take a nap and don't feel bad about it. Also, I disagree with the rule about caffeine. Caffeine is your friend. Just don't drink it right before bed and you'll be fine. I drank a lot of caffeinated tea instead of coffee. Not as powerful but still does the job. Finally, flash cards are a must, in my opinion. They are portable and you can pull them out anywhere you have a couple of minutes to cram. OH, I also take cod liver oil pills and they drastically improve my memory.

FAR 66, 80
AUD 86
REG 76
BEC 74, 77 - DONE!!

Yaeger, Ninja MCQ for BEC
TX Candidate

[Spur]

I love the posts on this forum where people admit that if they can pass so can anyone else. I hope that this gives all of you a point of reference during your studying. Today I stand a few days away finding out my REG score which is my last section. I have 2 kids (under 4), an amazing wife (who works more than me and travels often), a house, a large family, etc etc. since my first pass over a year ago plenty of things, good and not so good have affected me and my family an thus have affected my study time/quality. After all I've been through I know for a fact anyone can pass this exam. One thing you need to consider before doing so is how bad you want to be a CPA. If it's something that you tell yourself would be nice to have, quit now. It it's something that you're passionate about you'll be fine. It's my opinion that if you tell yourself this test is impossible you'll make it so, but if you convince yourself that you will pass, you'll get that first pass and then I feel you'll know what it takes.

Good luck to everyone. I hope you all find the motivation/inspiration you need to complete this life test.

FAR - Bad Fail '11, Fail '12, Fail '13, PASS It's a miracle!
AUD - Fail, PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEC - PASS!!!!!!!!
REG - PASS!!!!!!!! And I'm done!

[ahugemistake]

When I see that people have one more exam to go, it makes me want to pass these exams even more. It's pure motivation for me to hear stories about people passing. I hope to be in the same place as Vlc and Spur in the next year!

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[UHC2005]

I'm with CMaxwell, I'll catch up on sleep the first year I'm dead.

Using Ninja MCQ, NINJA Notes, Audio, Flashcards and BLITZ, and 2014 Wiley Text

FAR - (61,63)
AUD - (68)

Keep Calm and RTMFQ

Accountant, what is best in life? To crush your MCQs, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their SIMS!

[Author]

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