[Anonymous]

My review course gives the following approach:

1. Video and MCQs/SIMs done on video.

2. Work assigned MCQs and SIMs homework problems for each video

3. Repeat 1 and 2 above until you finish all videos

4. Once finished with all videos and assigned homework then work remaining MCQs and SIMs provided with course material

To use the NINJA method, should I ignore #3 and do all the assigned homework (#2) and remaining MCQ’s and SIMs(#4) after watching ALL the videos?

[Gerg, CPA]

you got it. your don't do any MCQ or SIMs until after you are through all of the videos, unless they are included in the video

FAR - 1/26/2012 - PASSED (78, but Lost credit), re-do 11/27/2013 - PASSED (87)!
AUD - EPIC FAIL, 71, 69; 68; 5/25/2013 - PASSED (85)!
REG - 10/1/2012 - 72; 7/1/2013 - 73 UGH, 10/1/2013 - PASSED (85)!
BEC - 2/28/2013 - PASSED (82)!
Licensed CPA!

Used Becker self-study materials (just this for FAR original & REG #1), WileyTestBank, NINJA notes/audio, and Roger cram course for AUD #5, REG #3 & FAR reboot. CPA!

[ImaCPA168]

Yes. Since you're not doing step 3 (MCQS and SIMS after each video lecture) you should be able to watch and get through more than 1 lecture a day. Do as many as you can a day and try to watch them all as quickly as you can. Don't forget to take notes. Then start practicing MCQs and SIMs.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for the responses!

I have been skipping the homework questions and taking intense notes. So far, I am not getting through the videos as quickly as I anticipated. I am going to have to speed things up.

[K_Sunshine5]

Is the NINJA method better? I have been doing the steps that the OP first stated (doing the MCQs between videos). I guess I thought that made sense. Watch the videos then do the MCQs to make sure I understand the material before moving on to the next section. What are the pros to watching all the videos for all the sections then doing MCQs?

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Anonymous]

Hi kreibsome08 I'm hoping it is…I am trying it out but needed to get clarification first. Hence this post/thread. I am also using Yaeger. So far I have been paying careful attention to the MCQ and SIMs that are shown in the video lectures since I am attempting follow the NINJA method.

[K_Sunshine5]

I think I'm going to try the NINJA method too. Let me know how it goes for you! Good luck with studying!

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Anonymous]

I will…let me know how it works for you also! Happy studying!!!

[ImaCPA168]

The NINJA method has you doing all the MCQs after watching all the lecture videos to maximize the knowlege confirming effects of doing practice questions and minimize the waste of your precious study time. Jeff says that when you do the MCQs right after you finish a lecture, you'll do great because the info is fresh. But when you're done with all the lectures and MCQs 2-3 weeks later, how much do you remember? Most people have to re-do the MCQs from beginning to end again. So you end up doing them twice (at that point) and only get the benefits of going through them once. The NINJA method has you skip that part. You can get through the lectures more quickly. Then completely focus your concentration on tackling the MCQs. With how many times I sat for the 4 parts, I definitely can attest that NINJA works!

I've used Becker, Yeager, Roger, Wiley.. and followed their study plans. I was successful in some sections but struggled in others. Sections I passed kept expiring. I struggled for 5 years…giving up and getting back on the wagon several times. When I got serious, I started following NINJA and supplementing with NINJA notes and audio. I was able to pass all 4 sections in a 12 month period. So I'm a firm believer that NINJA works.

I will additionally add that the most effective part of the NINJA plan (and it was what pulled everything together for me) is the J part. “Just re-write it”. I consolidated my intense notes I took while watching the lectures and notes I took while I was going throught the MCQs (after the lectures) into one portable spiral notebook. I took that thing with me everywhere and read it over and over.

My last section was FAR. The first time I failed, I didn't study. The second time, I studied following NINJA but I was busy at work and didn't have time for the J part. I failed. The final time I did everything over. I re-watched all the lectures, Took new notes. Did the MCQs. And I made sure I did the J part. Taking a week to organize and re-write my notes improved my level of understanding of the material. It also helped me remember more of it. I added NINJA audio to my regimen because I couldn't risk losing another section…and it worked. I finally finished.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Anonymous]

Thank you ImaCPA168! The real live testimonial is extremely helpful. I am working on the N. and the I.

Funny though…somedays I wonder if my notes are too Intense…I feel like I am taking way too long to get through each video. Any tips on how to take speedy notes?

[ImaCPA168]

@ AugDawn75

I think everyone is different. You might think you're slow. But perhaps it's just that you underestimated how long getting through the lectures while taking good notes would take. I tried to take notes that had enough detail so that I would rarely have to go back to the book after I was done with the lectures. This usually took me 3 to 3.5 weeks (studying 3 hours a night after work and 6-8 hours a day on weekends). So you can see that I took my sweet time. Areas that I was strong in, I took “lighter” notes. Areas that I had to learn from ground up, had really intense notes. And it took me a long time to get through the lectures/materials for those sections because I would have to pause, rewind, re-watch, and read the book…to get through and learn the material. I'd say that if you have the time, use it and get yourself a great set of notes that you can use.

For another section that was shorter, I tried something different. I I highlighted the book and took light notes while I was going through the lectures. I got through the lectures much more quickly…but then when I got to the “Just re-write it” part, I had to put in a lot of time to organize/condense the highlighted info from the book, the notes from lectures, and notes from MCQs into one notebook. So it all worked out to be the same. Either put the work/effort in up front or do it later. You just have to try…and see what works for you.

Hope this helps.

B - 83 Done
A - 88 Done
R - 81 Done
F - 77 Done

Ethics - Done
Attest Hours - Done

Licensed-May 2013!

[Anonymous]

Incredibly helpful…thanks ImaCPA168!

[Anonymous]

Incredibly helpful…thanks ImaCPA168!

[PuffinMonster]

Hi,

I'm a newbie here, I want to say hello to the community and thank Jeff for having this site. I failed FAR last time with knowing that I didn't study enough and didn't study correctly. I'm trying the NINJA method this time. Would love to hear more stories of veterans that used this method, I'm tempted to open the book but I think it's probably better to just do the Videos and take notes for now. Silly question but how does everyone use the NINJA audio? Do y'all just listen to it, let what sinks in sinks in, or do y'all really concentrate to follow as much as you can? My videos are not all parallel with the audiio so I don't want to confuse myself. I'm using CPAexcel and yes, I want to be a CPA 🙂

[UHC2005]

@PuffinMonster – How long do you have until your retake? I'm the in the same boat coming off of a FAR failure. If you want to retake it soon, I think you can bypass the videos and go straight to the note taking. I have the Wiley CPA Excel book and it follows the Ninja Audio pretty closely, format-wise.

I usually listen to the audio as much as I can, but I don't always focus on it. Most often, I listen passively, and some things have stuck with me during my previous FAR review, even going as far as saying, “Hey, Jeff mentioned that in the audio!” when doing some MCQs.

Using Ninja MCQ, NINJA Notes, Audio, Flashcards and BLITZ, and 2014 Wiley Text

FAR - (61,63)
AUD - (68)

Keep Calm and RTMFQ

Accountant, what is best in life? To crush your MCQs, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their SIMS!

[lude4life13]

People just do what works for YOU. The ninja method is a proven technique, but it would never work for me, so I don't follow it. If you are just starting your journey on this exam, try out a few different things and eventually you will know what the best method for you will be.

[Author]

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