[GSU-CPA]

School has always come easy to me i would go to class pay attention ask questions take notes then study for 1-2 hrs before exam and get an A. As you know accounting is no joke and most of my friends/classmates had to study alot more but as i said school has always come easy to me.

Anyway I am starting to study for CPA REG and i managed to get the ninja note cards deal for $1 during the recent promotion. I will be ordering Wiley next week and start full out study sessions but even right now i am trying to study the notecards and am finding my self fighting not to go read yahoo articles, post on forums , text etc etc. Seems like my focus keeps going down after about 30 mins of reading the note cards.

Can you guys give me some tips ?? Do i need to go to the doctor and ask for some adderal … I want to be ready to tackle this test when i get that Wiley material in.

REG-77
BEC -Waiting on score May 5th
AUD - May 30
FAR - Q3 depending on if i pass above two in Q2

[mystical guy]

@fsugirl2005

I couldn't agree more. I used the trick with REG and BEC.. alternated them and I ended up passing in a short time. Seems like switching from one thing to another keeps the mind interested.

CPA - Since 2015
CISA - Smashed 2012
CIA - Passed 2015

[Anonymous]

@CPAattheBeach,@fiona and @Amay mentioned Promodoro technique yesterday, so I searched on the internet.

Since I am using my laptop, I am using web-based timer and it works great!

I used a kitchen timer a while ago and the habit didn't stick(because my old school kitchen timer keeps ticking and te noize was annoying).

This app you can mute the ticking till the end of the session, and you can preset the time for the break.

https://www.focusboosterapp.com/live

I am not sure if it works, there are tons of youtube videos for “brainwave”, that supposely keep you focus.

They sound nothing but humming of the fridge, or chopper, but you might give it a try…

I prefer real music. So I listen to “study music” on youtube.

Some video have 6 hours of classical music in it. keep the sound low so you barely hear it.

make sure you don't get distracted by “the funniest prank!” video or “the greatest moment in ___(fill the blank)”, you'll get distracted forever 😉

[Anonymous]

@CPAattheBeach,@fiona and @Amay mentioned Promodoro technique yesterday, so I searched on the internet.

Since I am using my laptop, I am using web-based timer and it works great!

I used a kitchen timer a while ago and the habit didn't stick(because my old school kitchen timer keeps ticking and te noize was annoying).

This app you can mute the ticking till the end of the session, and you can preset the time for the break.

https://www.focusboosterapp.com/live

I am not sure if it works, there are tons of youtube videos for “brainwave”, that supposely keep you focus.

They sound nothing but humming of the fridge, or chopper, but you might give it a try…

I prefer real music. So I listen to “study music” on youtube.

Some video have 6 hours of classical music in it. keep the sound low so you barely hear it.

make sure you don't get distracted by “the funniest prank!” video or “the greatest moment in ___(fill the blank)”, you'll get distracted forever 😉

[Amay]

@beatcounter I was using this: https://timer.onlineclock.net/timers/25minutes/off.html

But I am going to give focus booster a try right now! Thanks!

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]

@beatcounter I was using this: https://timer.onlineclock.net/timers/25minutes/off.html

But I am going to give focus booster a try right now! Thanks!

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 🙂

[Anonymous]

It is easy to be distracted when you don't have a plan of what you want to accomplish for the day.

1. Pray: Pray to God for discipline.

2. Set a specific plan for your day: Eg: I will read XX number of notecards today and have a solid understanding of each notecard. Set a realsitic amount but it shouldn't be too flimsy either. Push yourself!

3. Hold yourself accountable: You cannot do anything else until you've accomplished your goal. You can't go on CNN or Yahoo, not even for a second.

4. Treat yourself: Since you say you enjoy reading CNN or Yahoo. That could be your treat for the day AFTER you have accomplished your set goal. You think you enjoy reading CNN or Yahoo articles, you'll enjoy it even more when you've earned it.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

It is easy to be distracted when you don't have a plan of what you want to accomplish for the day.

1. Pray: Pray to God for discipline.

2. Set a specific plan for your day: Eg: I will read XX number of notecards today and have a solid understanding of each notecard. Set a realsitic amount but it shouldn't be too flimsy either. Push yourself!

3. Hold yourself accountable: You cannot do anything else until you've accomplished your goal. You can't go on CNN or Yahoo, not even for a second.

4. Treat yourself: Since you say you enjoy reading CNN or Yahoo. That could be your treat for the day AFTER you have accomplished your set goal. You think you enjoy reading CNN or Yahoo articles, you'll enjoy it even more when you've earned it.

Good luck.

[Amay]

Today I have been the most productive I have ever been on a weekend day following the Promodoro technique. It works like magic! My time on this site and others have not eaten at my day like usual! I am so proud of me!! How are you guys doing?

By the way, my special treat tonight will be dinner out with the hubby. Trying to do it as late as possible so I can get as much study time in as possible!

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]

Today I have been the most productive I have ever been on a weekend day following the Promodoro technique. It works like magic! My time on this site and others have not eaten at my day like usual! I am so proud of me!! How are you guys doing?

By the way, my special treat tonight will be dinner out with the hubby. Trying to do it as late as possible so I can get as much study time in as possible!

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 🙂

[Guti]

Amay, I just got the iPhone application from Promodoro. You do the 25 minute intervals with a 5 minute break and the 15 minute break after 4 promodoros? I read the original Instructions that were in Italian, and it's pretty much the same as the English version. You do anything different ? You feel that is working in turns of retrieval from memory?

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Guti]

Amay, I just got the iPhone application from Promodoro. You do the 25 minute intervals with a 5 minute break and the 15 minute break after 4 promodoros? I read the original Instructions that were in Italian, and it's pretty much the same as the English version. You do anything different ? You feel that is working in turns of retrieval from memory?

FAR-84
AUD-
REG-
BEC-

[Study Monk]

I have been doing 45 minute study sessions followed by 10 to 15 minutes breaks. 30 minute breaks every 3 study sessions

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 been doing 45 minute study sessions followed by 10 to 15 minutes breaks. 30 minute breaks every 3 study sessions

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"

[GoingToBeCPA87]

I am so happy I ran across this post. Will be learning more about the Promodoro method.

Something I am also using to keep focus is to buy noise cancelling ear muffs so that I can completely remove any noises in the background. I have to fight distraction at all options since I can only afford to take the exam once.

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.

[GoingToBeCPA87]

I am so happy I ran across this post. Will be learning more about the Promodoro method.

Something I am also using to keep focus is to buy noise cancelling ear muffs so that I can completely remove any noises in the background. I have to fight distraction at all options since I can only afford to take the exam once.

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]

Replies