[GoingToBeCPA87]

Hey all,

So I woke up this morning at 4:30am….unfortunately am learning to be a morning person. My alarm makes me solve 2 math problems before I can turn it off. I’d probably go right back into bed if I simply had to hit the snooze button ANYWHOOOO.

So this is the best CPA community I know and I want to know your opinion on my first day of studying. It may be too early to actually critique but any help is more than welcomed.

STUDY MATERIALS

2014 Wiley CPAExcel FAR book

Ninja flashcards

Exam date: 4/14/13

So i began with reading the first module and it took me about 1.5 hour to get through 10 pages while taking notes and trying to understand. Is this too much time? While on the treadmill I reviewed the flashcards relevant to the section, which was not easy at all but I got through them twice.

I plan on going to through the whole module and then doing the multiple choice questions at the end of the chapter to ensure that I am retaining the information. If I were to use the NINJA method of reading the whole book and then start doing multiple choice, I do not think ill have any confidence that I am grasping the material. Then again this is going to be a very timely process.

As of now I budgeted about 170 hours to study before the exam.

Any feedback would be really appreciative.

FAR: April or May 2014
AUD:
REG:
BEC:
Scared: 100

FAR first and only attempt: 2014 Wiley textbook, 10 Pt Combo, and WTB

I only get one try to have to give it my all and try to get 75 on my first go around.

-The only thing that stands between you and what you want out of life is the will to try and the faith to believe it's possible.

[Guti]

If you wake up at 4:30Am, how many hours are you sleeping? Do you work full time?

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Guti]

If you wake up at 4:30Am, how many hours are you sleeping? Do you work full time?

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Anonymous]

I used becker so I cannot comment on your material. But if you are just starting studying, I would give the following advice:

1.Give yourself extra time, don't schedule a test in 8 weeks if your material says you should. The first couple weeks will entail a lot of trial and error in how you study. Figuring out what works best for you….

2. Over study for the first test, try to learn everything and don't schedule the test until you are ready. If you pass, then you can work back from there. Aka instead of doing 100% of the MC you can now only do 80%.

3. Buy flash cards don't try and make them, complete waste of time.

4. Don't get down on yourself if you are getting a lot of the questions wrong. I passed FAR and never got a passing score on any practice test, MC test or simulation…

5. Never take more than 3 days in a row off of studying while you are preparing for an exam. You want to keep everything as fresh as possible.

I hope all this helps

FAR 84

AUD 83

BEC 81

[Anonymous]

I used becker so I cannot comment on your material. But if you are just starting studying, I would give the following advice:

1.Give yourself extra time, don't schedule a test in 8 weeks if your material says you should. The first couple weeks will entail a lot of trial and error in how you study. Figuring out what works best for you….

2. Over study for the first test, try to learn everything and don't schedule the test until you are ready. If you pass, then you can work back from there. Aka instead of doing 100% of the MC you can now only do 80%.

3. Buy flash cards don't try and make them, complete waste of time.

4. Don't get down on yourself if you are getting a lot of the questions wrong. I passed FAR and never got a passing score on any practice test, MC test or simulation…

5. Never take more than 3 days in a row off of studying while you are preparing for an exam. You want to keep everything as fresh as possible.

I hope all this helps

FAR 84

AUD 83

BEC 81

[Study Monk]

It sounds close to what I do. I personally would not take detailed notes on the cpaexcel material because you risk writing out half the book. I would just write down enough notes to keep active with the material, and this might not even include complete sentences.

I came to the realization that a lot of the review programs give you a lot of extra information that does not appear to be tested. So your goal in the early stages of your review, in my opinion, should be to read through the material just to get a big picture perspective. You should then immediately move on to the related multiple choice questions and spend your time really understanding the explanations.

You will then have an understanding of what is mostly tested in the material you just read, and this will allow you to go back and take efficient notes on the applicable material. I think taking notes on the fact nuggets that are on the multiple choice solutions would be a time saver in this regard.

I personally wanted to understand everything in my review course before moving on to the multiple choice questions but this proved a real time waster. If you want to try to master every detail in your review course you are better off starting with the key concepts, reflected in multiple choice and sims, and then branching out from there to pick up all of the associated little fact nuggets that have a smaller chance of being tested on the exam.

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]

It sounds close to what I do. I personally would not take detailed notes on the cpaexcel material because you risk writing out half the book. I would just write down enough notes to keep active with the material, and this might not even include complete sentences.

I came to the realization that a lot of the review programs give you a lot of extra information that does not appear to be tested. So your goal in the early stages of your review, in my opinion, should be to read through the material just to get a big picture perspective. You should then immediately move on to the related multiple choice questions and spend your time really understanding the explanations.

You will then have an understanding of what is mostly tested in the material you just read, and this will allow you to go back and take efficient notes on the applicable material. I think taking notes on the fact nuggets that are on the multiple choice solutions would be a time saver in this regard.

I personally wanted to understand everything in my review course before moving on to the multiple choice questions but this proved a real time waster. If you want to try to master every detail in your review course you are better off starting with the key concepts, reflected in multiple choice and sims, and then branching out from there to pick up all of the associated little fact nuggets that have a smaller chance of being tested on the exam.

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"

[mla1169]

A couple of things. I know there are things in the NINJA method that you feel might not work for you. I balked at the NINJA suggestion to rewrite notes thinking there would be no value added for me personally. However I gave it a shot after my 2nd AUD fail, and it got me an 84. Just know those NINJA suggestions are tried and true for hundreds of exam takers.

Your time strategy seems solid, 170 hours and 8 weeks.

And don't discount ANYTHING in your material no matter how insignificant or “mostly tested” you hear it is. Anything is fair game, even a SIM on something mentioned once in the ancillary material at the end of the book. After my last exam it took me hours to go back and find any reference to one SIM that gave me a hard time. It's all fair game.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mla1169]

A couple of things. I know there are things in the NINJA method that you feel might not work for you. I balked at the NINJA suggestion to rewrite notes thinking there would be no value added for me personally. However I gave it a shot after my 2nd AUD fail, and it got me an 84. Just know those NINJA suggestions are tried and true for hundreds of exam takers.

Your time strategy seems solid, 170 hours and 8 weeks.

And don't discount ANYTHING in your material no matter how insignificant or “mostly tested” you hear it is. Anything is fair game, even a SIM on something mentioned once in the ancillary material at the end of the book. After my last exam it took me hours to go back and find any reference to one SIM that gave me a hard time. It's all fair game.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Amay]

Why not try the NINJA method? It has worked for so many of us. Whatever you decide, just make sure you are doing all (or most) of the homework questions and you review 1-2 weeks before exam and you should be golden. Make sure you take notes/write flash cards, don't just read the material.

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[Amay]

Why not try the NINJA method? It has worked for so many of us. Whatever you decide, just make sure you are doing all (or most) of the homework questions and you review 1-2 weeks before exam and you should be golden. Make sure you take notes/write flash cards, don't just read the material.

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[Study Monk]

I personally think flashcards are a better study tool than note taking.

Highlighting Is a Waste of Time: The Best and Worst Learning Techniques

The key is to not waste time creating the wrong flashcards. Buying them is a good way to save time as previously mentioned.

Mia's comments are valid as anything can be tested. That being said a very very very small amount of candidates go into their FAR exam with full comprehension of every fact. You maximize your chances of passing by making sure you understand all of the material that is commonly tested as reflected by your test bank before moving on to lesser tested material. If you still have time for the facts that are not reflected in the multiple choice and sims of your review course then you should learn them. However I would think 250-300 hours is closer to what you need to accomplish that feat for FAR.

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 personally think flashcards are a better study tool than note taking.

Highlighting Is a Waste of Time: The Best and Worst Learning Techniques

The key is to not waste time creating the wrong flashcards. Buying them is a good way to save time as previously mentioned.

Mia's comments are valid as anything can be tested. That being said a very very very small amount of candidates go into their FAR exam with full comprehension of every fact. You maximize your chances of passing by making sure you understand all of the material that is commonly tested as reflected by your test bank before moving on to lesser tested material. If you still have time for the facts that are not reflected in the multiple choice and sims of your review course then you should learn them. However I would think 250-300 hours is closer to what you need to accomplish that feat for FAR.

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"

[Amay]

Why not try the NINJA method? It has worked for so many of us. Whatever you decide, just make sure you are doing all (or most) of the homework questions and you review 1-2 weeks before exam and you should be golden. Make sure you take notes/write flash cards, don't just read the material.

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[Amay]

Why not try the NINJA method? It has worked for so many of us. Whatever you decide, just make sure you are doing all (or most) of the homework questions and you review 1-2 weeks before exam and you should be golden. Make sure you take notes/write flash cards, don't just read the material.

BEC: 73, 81
AUD: 85
FAR: 71, 77
REG: 74, 75...finally DONE! 😀

*This is my 2nd attempt at the CPA exam. For all of you who have failed this exam many times, given up on it, or taken a break like me, remember that it is still possible to finish what you started...failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently 🙂

[GoingToBeCPA87]

Thanks all for the feedback. This is exactly what I'm looking for. I have purchased the Ninja flashcards so will not be making any unless you all were referring to buy some in addition to the cards.

I have yet to schedule my exam. April 14th is based on the timeline I gave myself.

@CR7 I do work full time, fortunately I'm in public and my company has a 9/30 year end so my busy time is behind me. I'll be sleeping anywhere from about 6 and 7 hours Do you think I should be pushing for 8?

@bartman12234 My material actually didn't mention any time frame to take the exam. I'm using 8 weeks as that's what Jeff suggest. I agree with you I want to be overprepared and want to ensure that I pass on my first try due to financial constraints. Also my Q2 filing period begins on April 14th so if I don't take it this day i'd have to wait until mid May and won't be able to study during my filing period. Do you think its worth pushing to May?

@Study Monk that's exactly what happened with CPAExcel 4 pages of notes for 8 pages of materials…I definitely do not want to half of this book. I can't see how this would be efficient. I will be planning to take less notes and when i get to the sections that note “Now do multiple choice 1-10” I'll tackle them and take applicable notes.

@mla1169 and @Amay I actually am planning to re-write my notes and do a ton multiple choices after im done taking my initial set of notes. I might have confused you guys in my initial post, in my review book after a few pages it tells you to go and do some questions that are part of the material and this was what I was wondering if I should do.

THANKS ALL!!!!

Putting my son to sleep in 10 minutes, fitting in an hour to an hour and a half while he naps!!! Here I come FAR!!!!

FAR: April or May 2014
AUD:
REG:
BEC:
Scared: 100

FAR first and only attempt: 2014 Wiley textbook, 10 Pt Combo, and WTB

I only get one try to have to give it my all and try to get 75 on my first go around.

-The only thing that stands between you and what you want out of life is the will to try and the faith to believe it's possible.

[Author]

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