[Anonymous]

I’m having trouble staying focused on my studies. I literally sit at Starbucks from noon till 11pm everyday, yet I only get a few hours of studying done. Most of the time I’m messing around on the Internet, checking forums, youtube/twitter/facebook, etc., or taking smoke breaks or talking to people I run into.

I even installed a website blocker on Google Chrome so that I’m only limited to 10 minutes of “play” time. However, I can easily circumvent this by using another web browser when I feel like slacking off.

What are your guys’ suggestions on staying focused? Don’t tell me to study at home because it’s a poor studying environment for a multitude of reasons.

Also, how do you guys study? I’m using Becker and currently, I’m watching the video lectures for all the topics in a given chapter (F1, F2, etc.), this will usually take an entire study day. Then the next day, I will read the book for each topic within a chapter and then tackle the homework until I get 100%. I’m only getting about 50% correct (if I’m luck), and achieving 100% after a few retakes (this is easy because I just end up memorizing the answers). Finally, I do all the supplemental questions and do those until I achieve 100%.

However, I don’t think my study method is efficient. I haven’t tackled any simulation questions yet nor have I made many flashcards (they take forever!)

Could anyone share some wisdom?

[mla1169]

I set mini goals then make them bigger. I'll tell myself “study and nothing else for 15 minutes then you can reward yourself with 5 minutes of facebook time”. As the day goes on I'll increase the study time up to “study for an hour and a half and nothing else then you can go get a snack”. It helps. Like everything else, if you look at the BIG picture you will lose it but break it down into manageable small steps and you'll get there.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Peanut]

Well, some people might be able to focus at a Starbucks, but for me that's wayy too distracting of a place to study for the CPA exam. I would go to a library, switch up the scenery. There you're surrounded by other people studying, it can be motivating at times. I see this is your first exam, I think as you start to get the hang of how to study for these, your studying sessions will be more focused. When I lived in NYC I could only study at a library, the apt was off limits and filled with too many distractions. You really have to cut out those distractions! My first exam I ever took I got a 58, boy let me tell you how fast all distractions quickly went away. Now, that I live in a different state, I have a big desk where I am, and I know how I need to study for these so it's easy for me to sit here and study all day. For me this website is my biggest distraction (lol) so I set up limits for myself. Meaning, I won't let myself check the forum til I do a 50 MCQ practice exam or something along those lines, I have to parent myself ha. Things like that. You could do that for the sites that you look at most often, but just in my opinion, Starbucks might not be the study place for you!

FAR is pretty difficult, but as you go through it, it will become more familiar and easier. The first time I studied for FAR I was lucky if I got in the 50s first time through homework. Just keep at it.

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Herbieherb]

Disable the WiFi on your laptop and turn off your cell or put it on airplane mode. Then reward yourself with studybreaks full of Twitter Facebook and YouTube 🙂

NEW YORK- DONE

[jomarie]

I do what Herbieherb recommended. When it's my time to sit down and study, I get done what I planned to, or close to, then I have a bit of Facebook time before bed.

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[Anonymous]

It is very difficult to stay focused on this type of material for long periods of time. When I was studying I would do 30 minutes of studying then I would take a 5-10 minute break.

Don't feel bad about taking breaks, they are necessary. Plan to take breaks. I couldn't go for more than 1/2 hour with out some type of break. Otherwise my mind would wander and I my studies were not efficient.

The most important thing is to Plan breaks as a part of your study time. Don't feel bad for taking breaks, make sure you manage your time, and know what interval of study to break works best for you.

[KasiaS]

I try to study in small chunks to keep myself from getting the “deer in headlights” feeling. I'll try to study 30-45 mins and take a 15 minute break. If you're having trouble focusing, force yourself to study in a place that has very little visual stimuli and I recommend studying with ear plugs in rather than with head phones when you're not watching/listening to lectures.I found that removing even the sound of the refrigerator kicking on and off helped me think more clearly and it prepared me for the actual testing environment.

Another thing that helps me tremendously is an herbal supplement called Rhodiola (available at GNC, though you can probably get it cheaper elsewhere). It calm your nerves, boosts your energy and increases your ability to focus and concentrate. Hope this helps.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[snick722]

I love the idea of disabling wifi, half the time, when I'm studying I'll randomly remember something else I was supposed to do earlier (write on someone's fb wall) and I jump to do that right away, before i forget again 🙁

I find it soooooooooo hard to focus on boring material!!!!!

BEC - 65 (4/10), 83 (8/10)
AUD - 64 (10/10), 73 (2/11), 93 (8/11)
REG - 47 (7/09), 80 (10/11)
FAR - 84 (11/11) Texas. I'm done!!!

[ROACH]

Sometimes I would study for a good 30 minutes and “reward” myself with 5 hours of Call of Duty.

…

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the great tips guys! Disabling the Wifi is a great idea, I don't know why I never thought of that. I'm definitely gonna try that today when I hit up Starbucks.

Starbucks can be distracting at times..but it's one of the only places that's open late night and has electrical outlets for my laptop. I always wear earplugs (not music headphones) when I'm there, so that definitely helps me to concentrate. I'm currently in the habit of taking a table that's facing the coffee line/entrance and exit doors so I've developed a bad habit of looking through my peripheral vision to see if there are any cute girls walking by. Total distraction, I need to take a seat that's facing outside so I'm less distracted.

@roach I'm sad my computer isn't good enough to run COD, otherwise I'd be on it all day. I do attend a local PC Cafe sometimes and when I do, my addiction is Heroes of Newerth 😉

[ROACH]

@Cannot, man I use to play counter-strike way back in 2001 era. Smoke pot and play all day and night at PC Cafes here in Socal. Nowadays, I actually play COD on my PS3.. not much of a PC person anymore. I don't know what Heroes of Newerth is but I'm assuming a MMORPG? I'm glad I never got addicted to WoW or Diablo… tbh I can't afford the monthly fees haha.

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[misanthrope87]

Go somewhere with out wireless internet.

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[letsfixthis]

@ROACH, you are back! I occasionally run into the same problems you were having with respect to mixing studying and other activities (and staying awake after said activities, not talking about pot).

BEC: 87 (7/13/11)
FAR: 86 (8/31/11)
AUD: 99 (10/6/11)
REG: 88 (11/30/11)
Ethics: 100
(Illinois)

Used Becker for all four parts. Supplemented it with Wiley Test Bank for FAR and REG (HIGHLY recommended) and NINJA notes.

[Author]

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