[Randomness]

Wiley Question –

Hi all,

I guess I could use advice from anyone, but because I am using the CPAexcel system I am most interested in knowing how others have used it…

Background:

1)Out of college for about a year (wow it is amazing how fast that knowledge disappears)

2)Just started studying for FAR…plan/hope I’m ready to take it in July

So…I originally started studying using the method suggested by CPAexcel

-Read/highlight the text

-Watch the videos (I do this only if I am unfamiliar with a topic, or else I skip it)

-Do Proficiency Questions

-Do Past Exam Questions

-Move on to the next topic

I did this for about two weeks, and found I was moving REALLY slowly through the topics, and just like it was going to take forever just to make it through all 239 topics.

During this time, I’ve been on various CPA Exam forums, another71.com being one of them (love this forum by the way, great community feeling I don’t find in other sites). I watched Jeff’s “How To Study” video, and I loved the idea. So this is what I’ve been trying this past week…

1)Don’t highlight the text, but write out my own notes

2)Skip all PQ & MCQ till I finish the notes…then hammer them

3)Re-write notes

The only problem is…I’m slower than I was before! I’m finding it is taking me about 2 hours per topic JUST to write out the notes…if this follows for 239 topics, I’m going to be over 400 hours, just on taking notes!

That is my story. I love Jeff’s theory of studying for the exam, I just don’t feel it works well with CPAexcel. So I would love to hear from others about how they found the right stride with their studying.

Thanks!

FAR - Studying [4/1/2013 - ???] Test [??/??/????]
AUD - [Who Knows]
REG - [Don't Panic]
BEC - [Can't think that far ahead]

[Tncincy]

@Randomness,

I feel you, I went through the same thing. I had to switch to yaeger for far because it was taking too long and too tedious to get to the meat of the course. FAR is long, but yaeger videos helped me at least feel better about progress. It's just one of those things. I know someone passed with CPAexcel though. I hope they respond.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Anonymous]

My study Strategy = Pandora (Accounting Radio station) “I know I am a geek” + 3 Red bulls + 1 pack of Beef Jerky = 8 hours of study time gone on a Saturday with out even noticing…

[rspencer2121]

I'm using CPAexcel too. I'm in the same situation for FAR though. It feels like I'm not getting anywhere with all of the material. I don't have the video option so I usually read a section while taking notes and then answer the Exam Questions, I don't do the Proficiency Questions. I review the questions I missed and possibly take more notes, depending on if I get it or not.

This method has worked for BEC and AUD I just fear I'm not retaining it all with FAR. I don't want to spend money on a different review course though. Guess I'll keep at it and see what happens next month. Good Luck!

Note- I added Wiley MC questions to my review process for BEC and AUD. I'll probably do the same for FAR once I get through the material.

AUD Passed!! 7/2012
BEC Passed!! 10/2012
REG Passed!! 10/2013
FAR Passed!! 12/2013

[Getting a CPA]

CPAExcel is slowly becoming the most popular review course after Becker I think?

I haven't passed a part yet (FAR score pending), but I spent a few months studying FAR with CPAExcel!

The book, study text, and videos are just repeats of each other.

Suggestions:

1) Skip the video lectures cause they are so boring OR skip the textbook (my preference)…

2) I skipped the PQs because they are in the form of T/F. EQs are the MCQs and obviously better.

3) I skipped the flash cards and and power points cause they repeat what is in the lectures (others would say the exact opposite).

4) Repeat all sections once (others would agree).

I guess the consensus on CPAExcel is that it repeats information using different formats (book, study text, lectures, power points, etc.). Take your pick and focus. No need to study every little thing….

[Randomness]

@tncincy – Thanks for the insight

@monty – LOL…unfortunately my wife and 15 month old wouldn't appreciate that

@rspencer2121 – Well, at the very least, its good to know it worked well for you for AUD and BEC. I decided to take FAR first because I knew it was going to be the biggest, I just didn't realize how big. I do the PQs, but maybe I will start skipping them and see if it helps any. I also really want to supplement, I actually really want the NINJA system, but I just don't have the money right now, so CPAexcel is it for me.

@Getting a CPA – I appreciate the spot on info, and I agree that a lot of the course repeats (of course, repetition does help sometimes)! I actually make my own flashcards (from the study text) using Anki (I feel the flashcards from CPAexcel are just too wordy). I have a couple of followup questions. 1)So you skipped the Study text and just watched the videos?, 2)What do you mean by repeat all sections once? Do you mean watch all of the videos (or read the study text) a second time through? 3)I would love to know how you end up doing on FAR, good luck!

FAR - Studying [4/1/2013 - ???] Test [??/??/????]
AUD - [Who Knows]
REG - [Don't Panic]
BEC - [Can't think that far ahead]

[Getting a CPA]

So I spent a few months on FAR. Way too much time and I started forgetting stuff. I say 8-10 weeks max. I read both books and watched the lectures. I skipped the study text for the most part. I say repeat the MCQs once at least and even watch the lectures twice (especially your weaker points). Find what works for you within an 8-10 week timeframe.

Good luck!!!

[Jaimcpa]

Many of my peers in school used CPAExcel and this is what they did:

-Skipped videos. They were pointless. I feel the same.

-Wrote out/studied power points hardcore.

-Anything they were confused on they would reference the study text (they rarely had to do this).

-Multiple choice like crazy (always in study mode).

They all scored in the 80s range and within 4-6 weeks time frame. You might wanna shoot for 5-6 weeks but depending on your load you might need a little more time. I recommend no more than 6 weeks for any exam.

FAR- 73, 10/07/2013
REG- 8/31/2013
AUD- TBD
BEC- TBD

MAcc
Main: Becker Self-Study 2013. Supplements: Ninja / Wiley TB / CPAExcel (Bought before I received an offer).

[tsokoberst]

Made concept maps of the lectures. It will help a lot.

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[Randomness]

@Getting a CPA – Thanks for the update. What do you mean by “read both books?” I have the online only version, and I thought the books that they physically send (if that is what you are referring to) were word for word the same thing as the study text.

@Jaimcpa – Great info here! I've been skipping the powerpoints (what I believe CPAexcel just calls “slides” within each section), but after reading you post I went back and looked at them. They do seem to be well condensed versions of the full study text. I think I am going to try using the slides more now and see how it goes. Anything else your friends who used CPAexcel could pass along?

@tsokoberst – What do you mean by concept maps? Kind of like idea trees? I've never actually worked with concept maps, and when I looked them up that was the first thing I thought of. Do you have a sample you wouldn't mind sharing?

And again to EVERYONE, thank you so much for posting, I've gotten useful info from every posting.

FAR - Studying [4/1/2013 - ???] Test [??/??/????]
AUD - [Who Knows]
REG - [Don't Panic]
BEC - [Can't think that far ahead]

[tsokoberst]

something like this [https://images.plurk.com/gvlI-6kkcYRcjsGVqB6gYd3SG1y.jpg].. I apologize for the crappy image

*will give you less stress on your eyes rather than reading the whole study text for the second time.

"It's not about the hours you put in, It's about what you put in the hours."

F-94,A-93,R-91,B-88 ->HELL!

PH CPA exam -87.57 -> DEEPER HELL!!

[teeteenounouche]

Hi Guys, I've just discoverd that CPAExcel has a free app for smartphones to go with your website access, it's so cool and I have been using it everyday for the past 6 days when I cannot get to a computer and get to the website. It has pratice quizes, flashcards, and study mode questions. I wish I had known about it a few weeks ago…

Florida:
AUD: 73, 81! Thank you Lord!
BEC: 73, 77! Thank you Lord! and WTB
REG: 71, 82! Thank you Lord! and A71
FAR: 72, 78! Thank you God and my Mommy in Heaven!

CPA Excel, Ninja Notes & Audio, Wiley Test Bank, CPAreviewforfree

[Randomness]

Hey teeteenounouche,

I've known that CPAexcel has the flashcard/MCQ app for a while now, I just rarely find myself using it. I make my own flashcards using a program called Anki, and I find I retain them better because I'm making the cards. I probably will try the app more as I get deeper into the material.

FAR - Studying [4/1/2013 - ???] Test [??/??/????]
AUD - [Who Knows]
REG - [Don't Panic]
BEC - [Can't think that far ahead]

[smp73]

I used CPAExcel for all four parts (failed REG on the first try but that was more me than CPAExcel).

I read the book, no video (painful in my opinion), took notes on the book. I did the EQ's always. I only did PQ's if I was weaker in the particular topic. I kept a list of my weaker areas and went back and re-read my notes or the book in the week leading up to the exam. I did tons of practice MC in study mode through out the process.

FAR has so many topics but they are not all terribly long. In fact there are a lot that are fairly short so you should be able to get through those quicker. It gets better for AUD and BEC. I use the iPhone app to do practice questions when I was not near a computer. I also hardly ever looked at the powerpoint slides…too much repetition of the book.

Like the others have said…pick which works for you book/study text (fairly certain its the same), lectures or powerpoint and stick to it. You can do it!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[Anonymous]

Ahhhhhhhhh so much information. My FAR study experience is very similar to Getting a CPA. I spent 3 months on it (wasn't ready to take the exam at the end of February so I waited until April). I feel like CPAexcel's bite-sized lessons are not well-suited for FAR, cause there's so much content. I am supplemented it with Ninja Notes/Audio and Wiley Test Bank, and that's what I'm gonna do with the other 3 sections as well. The Ninja notes/audio, along with CPAexcel, don't expire until you pass all 4 parts. Unfortunately, I am still waiting for my FAR score, so I cannot attest to how well the products or methods have served me (May 6 cannot come soon enough).

@Getting a CPA Man you weren't kidding about changing your schedule up. Now I really think you're my doppelganger lol.

[zooyuka]

I just wanted to comment on the people saying not to do the proficiency questions since most are T/F. I had the same thoughts when I first started doing them, but I as I continued I've found them to be very beneficial. I find that they really force you to analyze the situation when answering the questions. I revisit the text after each question to make sure I understand why the given answer is correct or incorrect.

Link: Current CPAexcel Discount Codes

BEC 71,77
REG 65,85
FAR 7/1/13
AUD 8/24/13

[Author]

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