[DandyDoge]

I think one of my biggest problems is reading the text efficiently, since I spend too much time trying to retain information. While I read, I also make flashcards and write notes in my textbook. This is becoming such a time-consuming process, as I spend 2-3 days just to finish reading when I should focus more on MCQs & TBS. I’m thinking of ditching flashcards and notes until I get to MCQs. Any suggestions?

FAR: TBD
BEC: TBD
AUD: TBD
REG: TBD

[Mamabear]

I agree. I ditched the text and started working MCQ, taking notes as I go along. There is so much detail in the text that it is hard to keep your notes from becoming overwhelming and like you said, it's time consuming. You'll notice as you go through MCQ that you see a lot of the same concepts and explanation links so you can really know what to focus on.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[JMOR]

@Mamabear, so you don'd use a text or video course or anything? Just MCQ's and ninja notes?

REG - 86
FAR - 74,
BEC - 72,
AUD -73,

[DandyDoge]

@Mamabear Thanks! I'll give this a try and see how things work out.

FAR: TBD
BEC: TBD
AUD: TBD
REG: TBD

[Anonymous]

I was taking notes as I read and decided to skip the notes and go to straight reading. I have a hard time reading the text as I'm a slow reader and it's dry, but my first pass MCQs are in the 80s rather than the 30s and I think I truly understand the concepts. While I'm working the questions (after reading) I dissect the question and tell myself why the answer is right. If I get one wrong or even if I get one right off a guess, I'll read the answer explanations for both the right and wrong and read the question again explaining to myself why the right answer is right. The way that works best for you is the right way though. A lot of people don't seem to read the text and for me that seems impossible to understand it, but everyone is different.

[Mamabear]

@JMOR–I've done it every way, but when I passed FAR without watching videos and only reading half the book I decided to get rid of both for REG. I learned more by going through the MCQ and making notes on the explanations that I did watching lectures. It also helps keep me awake because I am more interactive. I take the ninja Notes and combine any other notes I have available (for FAR I had Becker outline Notes and for REG I have CPAExcel Notes) into the Ninja Notes and put them in Word. As i go through the MCQ I add more detail to my notes. I go through each section at a time and make sure I get through all the MCQ for each section before I move on to the next section. I am now going back through everything a second time. Read ALL the notes I took on a section and then go through all the MCQ again that I got wrong the first time. I don't look at my notes as I go through the MCQ and I make sure to tell it to mark it wrong if I'm guessing so even if I get it right I have to go back through it again. We'll see in a month if this works, but I do feel like I'm learning much better this way and it isn't as boring. It has also saved a lot of time. I spent 20+ hours watching the lectures for BEC and I really don't think it helped that much at all.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[JMOR]

@Mamabear, That's awesome and revolutionary! I had a tough time staying awake reading the Wiley book for REG and it took way to long to read it. With it behind me I am not sure how much it helped. I feel like I have learned soo much more from the Ninja notes, audio and the MCQ's. I may try this for FAR in August.

REG - 86
FAR - 74,
BEC - 72,
AUD -73,

[Mamabear]

I wish I had realized how I learned best before I took my first test. I feel like I wasted so much time on unneccessary steps because I thought I had to do everything by the book. Good luck on Tuesday!! You can do it!

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[JMOR]

Thanks! I think I'm figuring that out too, it's just great to see you have success going against the grain.

REG - 86
FAR - 74,
BEC - 72,
AUD -73,

[Author]

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