[CPAPASS]

I have always studied by taking notes while reading. I hate this habit but can’t seem to get myself to stop doing it.

I’ve realized that most of the time I go so overboard that I am almost rewriting the Becker book. I know that I learn better this way but it is way too time consuming and my hand hurts honestly lol.

So I wanted to ask, what are some effective ways you study while reading the textbook or how do you pick what to take notes on. With the CPA, I feel like everything that I am reading in the textbook can potentially be tested so I make notes on almost everything and it has become very frustrating.

Please share what works for you to retain information. Thanks

[samdiegoCPA]

I typed up all my books into word docs when I studied. Each chapter had it's own doc. Took awhile but I was reading EVERYTHING and typing it up in a way that made sense to me. Also, this would help me when doing MCQ cus I could ctrl+f quickly through it and then add in the MCQ answer if it wasn't in my notes already. Also, I could take my notes anywhere on my flash drive or iPad and I could edit them at anytime (unlike handwriting notes where you literally have no room to add anything). Never had to carry around huge books or binders.

AUD: 84
REG: 84
BEC: 79
FAR: 83

[rzrbkfaith]

I am using Becker and I watch all the lectures, then do all the homework. If I was weak (less than 80%) in an area, I will go back and read that section only and rework all the homework for that section. Any SIMS that I found particularly tricky, I flag to review before I take the exam. I do cumulative practice tests at the end of each chapter. When all the chapters are done, I review all the chapter outlines provided by Becker. After review of the outlines, I take Exam 1 and assess my weak areas. I study those and take Exam 2 the night before the actual exam. I only take 4-5 days to review between the end of all the homework and the actual exam. It seems to keep the information fresh and has worked for me so far.

AUD - 99
BEC - 97
REG - 91
FAR - 1/8/16

[Anonymous]

@rzr, where can these Becker outlines be found? also, that plan seems good for studying!

[rzrbkfaith]

Well, ours are always posted on the options tab under “files.” You can also get them on the “study roadmap.” There is a little icon up top that says outlines. You can print them from the popup. They really are great and summarize the chapters well. Also, if you have Liliana as your instructor, I read everything she sends handout-wise. She does a superb job of summarizing information and concentrating on the hardest to understand areas.

AUD - 99
BEC - 97
REG - 91
FAR - 1/8/16

[ignacio]

I recommend typing the most important details and examples to help you remember. It was the best approach for me. Handwriting is too time consuming and very inefficient.

REG-84
BEC-87
AUD-74,99
FAR-85

[Anonymous]

@Rzr, you spending your friday night studying too?

[Anonymous]

@willpass I have the same habit as you. Sometimes I feel like I am rewriting the whole becker book. But what I do is follow along with the ebook as I read the textbook because the ebook has the highlighting or underlining. From that, I determine if it is worth taking notes on it. Some pages on the ebook do not have any highlighting or underlining, and I just skim those pages.

Like many people said, everyone learns differently. If taking notes is how you learn best and it has worked for you, I would stick to it. I stuck to my method and even though taking handwritten notes is time consuming, it works for me, and it helped me pass AUD and BEC on my first try. I am currently doing the same for FAR

[Kimboroni]

I tend to not take very many notes until towards the end of my studying, and then I take notes on things that I'm having trouble remembering at that point. Then I use those notes as my last minute study guide before walking into the test center.

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. 🙂

[WANNABE_CPA]

@willpass… looks like i wrote that post…i cant help myself in this too as i just cant concentrate and understand it too good until i write it down by myself, no matter i am just rewriting whats in the book… lol..i dnt know why is it like that…I did that in my first section that was FAR and takes too long and in the end for last revision i was still using the book. Then i decided i wont do that for BEC and try to just do it all from the book, but i couldnt help it..didnt make notes for all topics but most of it. I have started REG now i am going to see how it works for me because i pushed myself alot for not making notes for BEC at first which was a waste of time. So i am just going to be open and see which topics to make notes for, something i really need to write.

FAR : 68, 74, 83 Thank you God 🙂
BEC : 78 (8/27) 🙂
REG : 72 ,80 (2/25) 🙂
AUD : 69,67, 07/23

[Author]

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