[Demha]

Hey everyone, I just started my CPA grind using Gleim. I love it so far and believe I got great value for what I paid. I want to know what study strategies you all use. I’m studying for FAR and plan on sitting in April. Any tips? I’d greatly appreciate it!

Gleim baby!
Grand Valley State University - '15
Accounting & Finance
FAR - 2nd Window '16

[Andyred04]

You might not want to listen to me because I'm a little of a bad influence since I don't really follow the Gleim suggested study approach but rather follow the Ninja approach. First I read a subunit of the text taking notes on anything that stands out to me, then watch the lecture on the subunit I just read while adding to my notes anything that I haven't already wrote down. I continue this process for the entire study unit then on my way to/from work or to/from the library that I study at I put on the audio lecture just to refresh myself on what I just read. I usually try to finish each study unit (reading, lectures, and audio) within 1-2 days.

When I am done with all of the study units I then go back through and do as many MCQs as I can leading up to my exam. For FAR I also supplemented with Ninja Notes and Ninja MCQs (the MCQs were just as a confidence booster because, as you'll soon find out, the Gleim MCQs are HARRRRDDDD). Ninja Notes is very effective to reinforce the main points covered in Gleim.

Remember this is just my approach. As you'll learn from reading some posts on this site everyone has a different approach that works best for them; find yours! Good luck studying!

FAR: 80 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
REG: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
BEC: 87 (Gleim, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs)
AUD: 8/27/16

PA Candidate

[rp 12]

I agree w/ Andyred04. I remember using Gleim's suggested approach for BEC and felt really overwhelmed. That being said their approach works for other people.

I also use Gleim for CPA exam prep. This is how I study using Gleim:

1. Watch lectures, and take running notes while watching lectures.
2. Do MCQ's and textbook reading simultaneously (open book solving type).
3. For the MCQ's I got wrong and detailed explanations I take down notes so I can try understanding better.
4. Do all the MCQ's again (closed textbook)… If am stuck I will take out my notes and just refresh it again.
5. SIMS.
6. Do all MCQ's for 3rd round (closed book and no notes).
7. 5 days before exam – just read/skim textbook again and solve 90 MCQ's per day along w/ random 7 SIMS.

Note: I also read my weak areas by maintaining an excel workbook so I know I have to comeback and re-read the chapter/subtopic and solve more MCQ's from such area(s). I hope this helps. Good luck!

"Success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacles, failure, and loss act only as motivation"

AUD: 68, 62, 77✔ (expires 10/31/16)
FAR: 53, 48, XX (retake 6/16)
REG:
BEC: 53

[sarah40460]

For AUD, I would read a section of a study unit and take fairly thorough notes, do the corresponding MCQs in the book for that section and take notes for the ones I missed, then move on to the next section of the study unit until that study unit was complete. I would then do two sets of 20 MCQs for that study unit from the Gleim test bank. For AUD, I didn't even have enough time to have a review week, but I did try to do cumulative MCQ sets and SIMs as I went along if I had time (which wasn't that often).

For FAR, I would read the entire study unit and take notes based on the core concepts they give you and anything else that I thought was critical from the book. I would do the first set of 20 MCQs (taking notes on ones I missed), watched the videos and take additional notes, and do the T/F, second set of 20 MCQs, and the SIMs (again, taking notes). I did have a week to review for this one, and I basically just kept working sets of 30 MCQs and did some SIMs on the governmental topics.

You can see how I did on AUD; I'm still waiting on my FAR score. However, in hindsight, I would actually say that I was more prepared for AUD than I was for FAR. Taking notes out of the book that were in my own words made retention better than taking them from videos/the core concepts. I'm approaching REG the same way I did FAR, but I might revert back to my method for AUD depending on my FAR score I get March 9th. I really don't feel like the videos add much outside of reinforcing the book.

AUD: 95 (11/2015)
FAR: 88 (02/2016)
REG: 89 (06/2016)
BEC: 90 (07/2016)
Ethics: 93

I'm never studying for anything ever again!

[Vanessachy]

I have to agree with Andy. I stopped doing T/F questions, also I skip some Sim questions. For example, I wouldn't do any sim questions for CPA responsibility for REG section, it is wasting my time. I think their FAR book is fine, but I hate their REG book, too boring and no concentration. I started passing after I used Becker book and NInja MCQ.

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[mtaylo24]

My approach

Learning

Start with ch1. read 1.1, stop and head over to the testbank and complete 1.1, back to text and do 1.2, repeat. Do this all the way until the end.

Tips on making the reading easier. Play the audio and read along (it matches the text). You can do the audio-visual presentation if you want, which is the same as the audio, it just aligns a little better than the text.

Final Review

You can do performance reviews of your previous tests, and just review those rather than guessing on MCQs again.

Hit the sim wizard about 2 weeks out if you're a slacker like me, or you can factor this in from the jump.

I didn't really like the video review, I skipped the T/Fs (Focus questions), and MCQ quizzes. I just use the test bank and sim wizard.

Oh yeah, if you need condensed studying, like Ninja notes, use the “Summary of Core Concepts” for each chapter. They get you the quick and dirty.

Have fun

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Ny]

Did anyone find NINJA Notes helpful with Gleim prep? I am trying to figure out a solid method to get the material rooted in my system?

[Skynet]

DO NOT IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE BLOW OFF STUDYING THE DRS SIMS!

They are very useful in understanding and learning the materials for the Unit.

The SIMS played a major part in my passing of the CPA exams.

[Runklug]

Don't waste your time with the diagnostic MC. I read the chapter outline first, then hammered out EVERY SINGLE MC question. I didn't touch a SIM after unit 6 (not recommended). The instructor lectures read almost verbatim at times from the chapter outline, so it's your call on whether to use them. One very important tip is to utilize the customizable options in the test prep area (where you create your MC tests). I did study mode, which gives you immediate feedback when answering no. In addition, using customize instead of the gleim suggested approach lets you see all questions and you can filter questions by those you've never seen, never answered correctly, and all available. The performance history is a useful tool as well. History show you the breakdown of each quiz. Summary displays all the units, total questions available, and how many you've answered in total. Great tool for determining where you're spending most of your time with questions.

One thing I did was keep a word document going while answering MC. I'd copy and paste answer explanations that I thought were important.

I think gleim is a solid study program. Like anything, you get out what you put in, so take the time to work through the material as possible.

[RE2PECT]

I'm only using the test bank for my REG retake, but I like it so far. I mainly bought it for the sims because I struggle with them and scored weaker on my exam.

It's a bit of a confidence killer in the beginning because their mcq's are way harder than other review courses. I normally do sets of 20 and usually there's like 3 or 4 off the wall questions during each one. I'm only averaging 67% after getting through about 1500 questions.

Did anyone else who passed REG have similar scores?

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[Ny]

Runklug,

I have been using only Gleim thus far and I am retaking BEC for the second time. The first time I made a 64 and I want to somehow incorporate the NINJA notes. (Obvious failure has me freaking out) I take BEC again Jan 20. My plan is read the outline, do questions, and write NINJA notes in my free time. This should suffice for the exam right?

[LCMAU]

I follow the suggested Gleim approach and it seems to be working for me so far. I have not had to use any other supplemental materials.

[Anonymous]

I recently passed my last section and I passed them all on the first attempt using nothing but Gleim. I modified the Gleim approach to suit what worked for me.

1. Read the chapter from beginning to end. Do not spend too much time getting hung up on topics you don't quite understand at this point,
2. Watch the videos. Rewatch difficult topics a second time if you need to
3. Do the Focus Questions until you get a score above 80%
4. Do every MCQ at least once in the CPA test prep area. The area where they give you feedback after you select an answer choice. You can use the filters to make sure you get every question.
4. Keep doing the MCQ over and over again until you have a chapter score above 80 in the CPA test prep where you get instant feedback. If you miss a question focus on why you missed it. I would usually do a set of 20 or 30 questions, and then redo the questions I missed in the previous set of questions.
5. Once I have my score for that chapter at 80 or above I would do the two test required to pass the section where you don't get feedback immediately after you answer. Once I have passed both test above an 80, I moved on to the practice sims and did those and kept redoing them until I had a score of 80 in the SIMS.
6. Do a set of 30 questions from all chapters you have passed to refresh your knowledge before going on to a new chapter.
7. Move on to the next chapter… repeat the process.
8. Leave yourself at least a week to review all chapters and do sets of 30 questions at a time from all chapters. ( I did over 10,000 MCQ in preparing for REG, lol)

I hope that helps.

[Author]

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