[cyn3]

NINJA CPA

I only used ninja. My strategy i would not recommend to most people.

I downloaded the audio and listened it one time over for each section with the notes open to follow along visually and with audio. After that, I just did multiple choice for each section, and thats it. I’ve never opened one practice SIM or did one practice or mock exam or whatever.

For REG, I studied 70 hours total and got a 80 first try.

Next quarter, I studied for FAR BEC and AUD. I studied 100 hours for FAR only multiple choice and got a 74, i did the same for BEC for 50 hours and got a 74 and AUD i studied 7 days for about 20 hours and got a 72. Basically I failed all 3.

Then this quarter was busy season, and my strategy is to take each test every quarter no matter what, even if I barely studied, just to get a try in.

I studied another 60 hours of multiple choice for FAR and ended up getting an 82. And studied BEC for 50 more hours and got a 79. I only studied AUD for 5 days and got a 76. However, i’m a senior auditor, so perhaps thats why I was able to get away with it.

So TLDR: Only Ninja multiple choice, passed all 4 exams in 6 months.

AUD: 72, 76

BEC: 74, 79

FAR, 74, 82

REG: 80

[ahugemistake]

What kind of experience do you have with accounting/auditing and tax? I'm impressed by your strategy but I can say that the Ninja Audio and and Notes are great for cramming.

FAR: 78*, 75
REG: 76*, 85
BEC: 79*, 76
AUD: 79*, 93

All scores expired, let's try this again.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[shakil127]

@cyn3 I could never do that and pass. Congratulations in your success. But I think it is probably good to take the exam in short window which leaves little room to forget the material. If I had to redo this whole thing again, I would have done what you did. I do think having solid knowledge base is important else you need more time to build that foundation.

AUD - 81
BEC - 83
FAR - 78
REG - 78

Need to pass REG and AUD

BEC-77
AUD-66,72,82
REG-66,64(Q3 2015),80 (11/30/2015)

[Tncincy]

I agree with Cyn3 because I can't do long term study. I am going for the 6 month strategy. I have constantly canceled, rescheduled, and let so many unnecessary things hinder me from getting this done. I think cram is better for me. I am also doing Ninja only. If they can do it and pass, so can I.

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

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

[Tncincy]

Hey did anyone use the Ninja Flash cards? Will I have to create them?

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

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

[jeff]

The flashcards come with the NINJA Monthly…

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[jeff]

Thank you for the write-up Cyn3! Did you take notes over the MCQ as you did them?

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[cyn3]

@ahugemistake I'm a senior auditor for a mid size firm. I start an engagement from beginning to end, so i've seen all types of funky stuff like discontiued ops etc. Therefore, i think it gave me an advantage in regards to studying for FAR and AUD.

I have ZERO tax experience however, so REG was definitely hard and I was lucky to pass it first try without too many hours into it.

Yes, the ninja notes and audio give you a good high level summary of the concepts and that's all i really needed. However, there was no way I was going to read a darn textbook, I did not do that in school and didn't plan on doing it now. I told myself, I either pass using this lazy method, or do not pass at all. Luckily I was able to pass pretty quickly 😀

AUD: 72, 76

BEC: 74, 79

FAR, 74, 82

REG: 80

[Tncincy]

@Cyn3, LOLLLLLL. I can't stop laughing. So many of us tried using the lazy method and it didn't work, so congrats on passing again. I'm calling it the cram method. So keep those fingers crossed for me. My daughter told me the other day, she wish I would go on and study or stop wasting my money because she really wants an apple watch. No apple watch, and I am cramming.

@Jeff, I know flash cards come with the Ninja monthly, but how do I access them?

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

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

[cyn3]

@tnincy You never truly feel ready in my opinion for these exams. Which is why, even for AUD, I only had studied 5 days for my 2nd try as I got extremely busy at work and had just taken BEC a week and a half prior and was feeling lazy. However, instead of pushing it back or cancelling, I still went and took it because in reality, you only get one try per section no matter what. I'd rather TRY and fail, than not take it at all and lose that quarters attempt (obviously this only applies when you've passed one). Basically once you pass 1, you have 6 tries for the remaining 3 section. If you do not attempt one every quarter, you're basically giving up an attempt. Obviously $200 is a hefty price for an attempt, but I felt like it was worth spending $200 per try on an exam I will never take again in my lifetime once i pass.

google “lazy man strategy”. that is basically what i did using Ninja.

@jeff

I just googled concepts if the explanation for a wrong answer wasnt enough. Most of the time the explanation on the MCQ did a good choice of explaining it though.

AUD: 72, 76

BEC: 74, 79

FAR, 74, 82

REG: 80

[Cruz818]

Going off what Cyn3 has said…

For what it's worth, I'd strongly consider looking at the AICPA blueprint before you take each test and at least going through the AICPA's sample test for each section.
Sample Test

Your nerves are going to be shot on exam day, so anything you can do to get ‘familiar' or ‘comfortable' with what will be on the following screen after you type your launch code will only help. Even the layout, formatting, where the buttons are, how to flag a question — all of that needs to be understood before you begin so that all the screens, layout, are not new. Give your brain a chance to focus on the actual question, not the layout/format of the tests or how to click/read documents during the SIMs.

My last accounting class was in 2005 – I took a few beginner/intermediate classes in 2017 to get familiar with accounting and get to my 150 units. Doing the above was, without a doubt, the reason I was able to pass each the first time.

Four months and out!

Wiley for FAR/BEC.  Wiley + Ninja for REG/AUD

FAR - 77 (2/2018)

BEC - 79 (3/2018)

REG - 78 (5/2018)

AUD - 86 (6/2018)

[Tncincy]

@Cruz818 That's a good suggestion. I forgot about the AICPA sample test. Looking for what ever works.

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

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

[jeff]

tncincy…it's in the study materials on the left sidebar of the dojo. Shoot me an email if you don't see it.

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Author]

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