[Anonymous]

I am beginning to study for the CPA exam and i do well for the first 2-3 weeks then I will go out one night and my whole routine moving forward gets messed up. I am now very far behind (like 20 chapters using Wiley) and my BEC exam is 10-31-17.

Can someone provide tips how they are able to stick to their routine and pass these exams!

I feel like, i should not go out at all so I can pass.

Thanks.

[Bourne]

A tip – your feeling is correct. You have to want to become a CPA more than you want to have a social life. This long, stressful time of constantly studying will be worth it in the end, if you can convince yourself that your social life can hold off until the exams are over. I live in NYC and am 23 years old. Trust me, I know the struggle of wanting so badly to go have fun, but your willpower of wanting the CPA designation has to temporarily outweigh the social life.

[Anonymous]

This exam requires a lot of sacrifices, including your social life. That being said, I think it is also important to take time for yourself and do something fun. For example, once a week I have date night with the bf. No studying happens on those days and it makes him feel less neglected too. It's usually on a Thursday or Friday evening so that I still have my full Saturdays and Sundays to get some good studying in. If I want to see my friends or extended family, I put it on my calendar and plan around that event so that I still get my 20-25 hours of studying in every week.

What has really helped me maintain a study schedule is create an excel calendar and write out what I plan to do each day leading up to the exam. If I miss a day due to something unplanned for, I try to make up for it on another day. Setting daily goals helps me stay focused, but maybe even setting weekly goals will help. For example, set a weekly goal to complete one whole chapter in that week. If you miss a day of studying to go out on Friday, make up for it on Saturday.

[Bourne]

I think that is his/her problem. A lot of people say “I'm just going to go out and make up for it tomorrow” and they never make up for that missed day, then all of the missed days add up and you're two weeks behind. Some people have it in them to buckle down and make up for that day missed, but others don't. You have to decide if you're capable of actually making those days up and if not, do everything in your power to not skip a day.

[Missy]

Treat studying like a job. Make a schedule and the ONLY way you deviate from that schedule is if you are literally too ill to even go to work.

You can still have a social life, but just like you go to work the day after you go out with friends, you study the day after too.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Anonymous]

All great tips!

This is a long and disciplined journey.

[Wannafree]

@cpa002,what you are going through is normal.I feel you can go out ,just next day (as you know now that next day onward it messed up) try doing some Ninja MCQ or any other MCQ .Make sure you do some MCQ ( 30 for FAR ,90 for MCQ ) and keep doing it till your brain says okay enough MCQ ,please read some text. I have learned this methodology hard way ,now it's work .I am a married man with kids and can't put their life on hold.The night I go out ,next morning I wake up do 30 MCQ in morning and 30 in evening.

[Matt]

You can schedule things out as best you can.

There is nothing to really be said, studying for the exam is a sacrifice.

FAR 74

[nalratoss]

I have found out that, due to the difficultly of some chapters (such as government and NFP in FAR), the recommended schedule doesn't work. Our schedules are constantly altered whether we like it or not to catch up or avoid falling behind too much.

Get a good backup support, whether it is your friends, family, spouse (loved ones), or your favorite music playlist on Spotify (that's what I used), to cheer you up from time to time. Or take a walk or running exercise outside.

[Scared-cpa]

You lack the discipline you need in order to successfully study for these exams. You're going to have to force yourself to buckle down.

You're using Wiley CPAexcel? That's what I used and it kept me on schedule. You have to force yourself to do the assignments that are scheduled that day in the software. If it is listed as something you need to complete today, you have to complete it. You can still go out and have a social life, but on your study days, you have to take it serious. For example, I took both Wednesdays and Thursdays off. I'm not joking, I didn't study at all on those two days and this is while I was in grad school for my MBA. In Wiley you can customize your planner for the days you want to study and the days you don't, so my planner skipped those two days and I just had more to do on the other days. Staying on schedule is less about the material and more about discipline. It is up to you to make it work.

[kdawg22]

In general i think it is okay to go out every once in a while studying, but like it has been mentioned you need to make sure you aren't falling behind. Since you are behind I wouldn't go out until after you take the test at the end of October. If you are using the Wiley Planer make sure you are still giving yourself enough time for to review (this should be at least 2 weeks.) So you should really have all the chapters done by the 15th.

[murd]

I tried preparing for the exam twice…and for some reason I was not mentally ready. Just worked and raised/grew my family. Then something at the beginning of this year clicked, and it was go time. Since the middle of Jan until now, I wake up b/w 4 and 5, head to work, and study in my office for a few hours each day. In order to get enough sleep, I am in bed by 7:30 or 8. It has been a tough year, but I am 3 for 3 so far. I had many reasons to slow down…and at some points I did (baby, 2 weddings, etc.). I'd just be patient with yourself! And remember, you just need a 75.

[Anonymous]

Good Points!

I love this…the motivation is coming back!

Thanks,
CPA002

[Anthony]

Don't have a social life. Problem solved!….just joking.

Studying is the most easiest thing to keep pushing off. The sacrifice isn't even that bad IMO because there are way worse things out there. You just need to schedule and have self control. If you cannot control yourself than you clearly obviously don't care about coming a CPA.

[zccpa]

I know it's hard, but after two fails I decided to take this bull by the horns. I'm a single mom and work full time. I did a schedule in excel for my daily study time and put a check mark next to it once I'm done everyday. Wake up at 4 am and study at least 2 hours before starting my day, drop daughter to school and head to work. Then in the evening, after dinner, study again 1 to 1.5. Go to bed around 9. However, I take Fridays and Sunday evenings off to do something with my daughter. Saturday and Sundays get up around 7 and study until 11-12, and after running errands, come back to it in the afternoon for 2 hours. Hope this pays off!!

I would say discipline is the key. Let's do it!!

[Anonymous]

Think about after you pass all sections and get your license, it will give you a chance to get promoted and how better your life would be. Be motivated.

[Author]

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