[Anonymous]

I started my CPA exam journey in August and took my exam in November. 3 straight months of studying. I studied almost every single day for about 3 hours a day, sometimes longer. I still felt like I wasn’t prepared at all. I used the Wiley textbook (read 2x and did all of the problems in it once), the WTB (all questions and simulations done at least 2x). Listened to NINJA audio every day during my commute (probably 15 complete times total), watched the Blitz videos twice, read the NINJA notes at least weekly and rewrote them 2x. I still failed with a 64. I’m really not sure where I went wrong. I feel like there is no excuse for failing after studying that much.

I want to retake the exam in January, but I’m not sure what I need to do differently this time. Do I just keep doing what I did and pray that I get better results next time?

[Pria D]

I feel the same, you and me share the same story, I studied for 3 months straight for more than 3 hours everyday. Got 65, I feel nothing is enough, I am scheduling my exam in January again but I am scared even after studying so much what if I do not pass again!!!.

FAR - 10/28/2012
REG - TBD
AUD - TBD
BEC - TBD

[Pria D]

I feel the same, you and me share the same story, I studied for 3 months straight for more than 3 hours everyday. Got 65, I feel nothing is enough, I am scheduling my exam in January again but I am scared even after studying so much what if I do not pass again!!!.

FAR - 10/28/2012
REG - TBD
AUD - TBD
BEC - TBD

[Anonymous]

I spent 6 weeks to study far while working FT. Just got my score today. 94. Here is my study plan

Study material – roger, Wiley test bank, ninja notes

Study time- 3 hr on workday and 5-6 hours to study on weekends

Book read- roger book once / Wiley book never read

Homework- 50% Wiley books and 70% on test bank

Week 1 – listen to all video once while taking tons of note

Week 2-4 – read roger book , take second notes like you are preparing PowerPoint to teach someone so you have to understand concept and use your own wording, then do few MCQ and SIM

Week 5 – listen to video again and take notes third time , this time you will feel all concept finally make sense and all inter grate together not piecemeal any more. It is extremely important for SIM because test questions integrate all concept together. You have to have whole understanding to answer SIM.

Week 6- do practice test as much as possible to build real test feeling and time management skill. Better same time as your test time so you sit on real test your brain will adjust automatically to test model.

[Anonymous]

I spent 6 weeks to study far while working FT. Just got my score today. 94. Here is my study plan

Study material – roger, Wiley test bank, ninja notes

Study time- 3 hr on workday and 5-6 hours to study on weekends

Book read- roger book once / Wiley book never read

Homework- 50% Wiley books and 70% on test bank

Week 1 – listen to all video once while taking tons of note

Week 2-4 – read roger book , take second notes like you are preparing PowerPoint to teach someone so you have to understand concept and use your own wording, then do few MCQ and SIM

Week 5 – listen to video again and take notes third time , this time you will feel all concept finally make sense and all inter grate together not piecemeal any more. It is extremely important for SIM because test questions integrate all concept together. You have to have whole understanding to answer SIM.

Week 6- do practice test as much as possible to build real test feeling and time management skill. Better same time as your test time so you sit on real test your brain will adjust automatically to test model.

[Pria D]

Thanks Carats, I was referring CPAexcel review. I am thinking to change my notes, which notes would you refer??

FAR - 10/28/2012
REG - TBD
AUD - TBD
BEC - TBD

[Pria D]

Thanks Carats, I was referring CPAexcel review. I am thinking to change my notes, which notes would you refer??

FAR - 10/28/2012
REG - TBD
AUD - TBD
BEC - TBD

[Anonymous]

To me, the true measurement of how much I've prepared for an exam is not how many hours I have put in…..it's how many times I have gone through the homework questions. For me, only going through the homework 2 times is NOWHERE near enough to really actually grasp the concepts. I go through the homework questions over and over and over again until I'm at the point where I can fly through them because I know the concepts like the back of my hand.

IDK – My observation is that a lot of people get caught up in the “Well I studied “X” amount of hours” or the “I did all of the homework questions once” and then they expect to have success – but what I've learned is that getting through this exam is really about being honest with yourself – You might have gone through the motions necessary, but do you TRULY understand everything?

FAR overwhelmed me so much and I did not think I'd ever cover it all – but eventually just like AUD and BEC, one day everything clicked and it all made sense.

Hang tough, and BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF – Grind and grind and grind and I PROMISE you will get through it.

[Anonymous]

To me, the true measurement of how much I've prepared for an exam is not how many hours I have put in…..it's how many times I have gone through the homework questions. For me, only going through the homework 2 times is NOWHERE near enough to really actually grasp the concepts. I go through the homework questions over and over and over again until I'm at the point where I can fly through them because I know the concepts like the back of my hand.

IDK – My observation is that a lot of people get caught up in the “Well I studied “X” amount of hours” or the “I did all of the homework questions once” and then they expect to have success – but what I've learned is that getting through this exam is really about being honest with yourself – You might have gone through the motions necessary, but do you TRULY understand everything?

FAR overwhelmed me so much and I did not think I'd ever cover it all – but eventually just like AUD and BEC, one day everything clicked and it all made sense.

Hang tough, and BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF – Grind and grind and grind and I PROMISE you will get through it.

[Anonymous]

The purpose of taking first and third notes while listening vedio is just help u study more efficient. The outcome is totally different between listening and listen + writing. Write as much as you can while listening.

The second notes is your own notes while reading book. Try to summarize and make chart. And review it by the final week.

[Anonymous]

The purpose of taking first and third notes while listening vedio is just help u study more efficient. The outcome is totally different between listening and listen + writing. Write as much as you can while listening.

The second notes is your own notes while reading book. Try to summarize and make chart. And review it by the final week.

[Kls238]

I'm retaking after getting a 70. My steps to restudying are watching Blitz videos, reading NINJA, and doing flashcards every chance I get. If I am not clear on something, I rewrite that portion of the notes. I do as many MCQs as I can and really try to understand why I got the problem wrong. I'll make more flashcards if there's something important in the explanation that I don't understand.

Also, one really important thing I read in the CPA Survivor Guide by Jeff was to really attack those areas that I wish I don't see on my exam.

Keep studying! Don't give up. I failed my first two exams, but I'm determined to pass on my retake of FAR despite feeling really defeated at times.

Passed all sections.

[Kls238]

I'm retaking after getting a 70. My steps to restudying are watching Blitz videos, reading NINJA, and doing flashcards every chance I get. If I am not clear on something, I rewrite that portion of the notes. I do as many MCQs as I can and really try to understand why I got the problem wrong. I'll make more flashcards if there's something important in the explanation that I don't understand.

Also, one really important thing I read in the CPA Survivor Guide by Jeff was to really attack those areas that I wish I don't see on my exam.

Keep studying! Don't give up. I failed my first two exams, but I'm determined to pass on my retake of FAR despite feeling really defeated at times.

Passed all sections.

[ymmit]

I agree acg5000. Hours mean nothing. I firmly believe the ultimate key to studying properly and passing is doing multiple choice questions. Never read the book, don't take notes. Do multiple choice questions over and over and over. You need to train your brain to recognize certain scenarios and fact patterns. On each multiple choice question make sure you know why the correct answer is correct and why each wrong answer is wrong. And even after you know it, do it again, constant reinforcement. Get to the point in which all multiple choice questions you have in your study program are simple and you will pass no problem. Good luck!

Licensed CPA!

[ymmit]

I agree acg5000. Hours mean nothing. I firmly believe the ultimate key to studying properly and passing is doing multiple choice questions. Never read the book, don't take notes. Do multiple choice questions over and over and over. You need to train your brain to recognize certain scenarios and fact patterns. On each multiple choice question make sure you know why the correct answer is correct and why each wrong answer is wrong. And even after you know it, do it again, constant reinforcement. Get to the point in which all multiple choice questions you have in your study program are simple and you will pass no problem. Good luck!

Licensed CPA!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all of the advice so far! You all are great!

[Author]

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