[TaxGod]

This post is not for the people who study by the book. I was just wanting to hear everyone’s styles of studying that worked for them, and is different from the norm. Here is mine:

My friend who recently passed the CPA exam taught me a bit of an unorthodox study method that I tried out for FAR, and it worked. Basically, for the first week you go ahead and watch all the lectures and get them out of the way. The remainder of studying comes from MCQs since that is where most of my learning comes from. For audit I did the common study method since it was my first exam (watch every lecture and do the homework and nail it down before moving on). Clearly i got a better understanding of audit, but it required more study hours.

I thought I would share my slightly different study method since i felt it has helped me, and was wondering if anyone else has some unorthodox study methods they feel works?

AUD: 02/28/15 - 89
FAR: 05/29/15 - 80
BEC: 08/03/15 - 81
REG: 08/27/15 - 76

[Thrawn]

I would get drunk and watch lectures, that way although my notes were illegible I would enjoy the experience more.

BEC 87 Feb 14
REG 84 Apr 14
FAR 82 Nov 14
AUD 86 Feb 15

[TaxGod]

@Jeff I was able to listen to your BLITZ for FAR and your audit lectures, it is much more efficient. I feel like Becker over kills information when all you need is to get down the core concepts and understand the rest with questions. I like Becker but watching four hour lectures can be daunting and you lose a lot of the core concepts you were suppose to learn in the first place! That is why I started this study method.

AUD: 02/28/15 - 89
FAR: 05/29/15 - 80
BEC: 08/03/15 - 81
REG: 08/27/15 - 76

[TaxGoddess99]

@TaxGod I find it best to get laid before I study just like in the movie Wimbledon. If you want to win the match, you need sex. Simple as that.

BEC: 98

AUD: 90

FAR: 95

REG: 8/27

[Anonymous]

How's this for unorthodox? I smoked pot when I studied. Kind of like what Thrawn said – you feel better about being stuck studying for hours upon hours. Of course, it's legal here.

PS – stick to sativas/hybrids.

[Maddie P]

I would use dry-erase markers and write important points on my bathroom mirror so I can review while I brush my teeth and curl/straighten my hair. One of my friends came over and went to use the bathroom and thought it was hilarious.

B-passed! (4/2013). Lost Credit. Passed again (3/2015)
A-passed! (2/2014)
R-passed! (8/2013). Lost Credit. Passed again (6/2015)
F-Passed! (4/2015)

The Great Lakes State
Using Wiley/CPAExcel

[June2016]

@Club300 I agree with your MC method. If I don't know an answer rather than guessing, I like to search for it within textbook or online and then try to answer. This helps me remember the info much better then just guessing and then reading the answer/explanation.

[gtg179i]

I started reading explanations to answers out loud in a Long Island accent, and then I switched it up to a Boston accent.

It's keeping things interesting, to say the least…

[mminichan]

@gtg179i – Your post crack me up!! Thanks for bring a smile to my boring studying day. I am currently studying for REG. Just took AUD yesterday and I wanted to say how tricky examiners are!!! SLOW DOWN and read the questions and choices carefully!!

I also found out I failed BEC (69,64) and FAR (61,70) last week…so I plan to re-take those again in Oct/Nov.

[Author]

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