[Anonymous]

I am currently going through the CPAexcel lectures and study text, and honestly, there is just way too much information to finish and finish in a reasonable amount of time with enough time for review. I do not feel like I am making progress. I am thinking of just ditching CPAexcel lectures and the study text and just do a mixture of following. Is this a good plan?

-write Ninja Notes

-CPAexcel and Wiley MCQ and simulations

-flashcards

-review Ninja notes and Ninja audio

[Juliemiddle]

Hi, @determined. I'm using a combo of CPAExcel/Ninja Audio for my exams, and it's worked out for AUD & BEC. I took a peak at FAR and there really is a super dense amt. of material – but, I think that might be the same for any review? I think it's a good review guide, just VERY.VERY. thorough. I skipped the videos for AUD/BEC (I'm only using them on REG, b/c tax is so confusing to me – I need more explanation than the text)…just reviewed and typed notes on the text and did the practice questions after each lesson.

AUD: 84 - Oct. 2013
BEC: 83 - Feb. 2014
REG: 91 - May, 2014
FAR: 68, 96 - Oct. 2014...DONE

CPAExcel, Ninja Audio (all sections)

[Juliemiddle]

Hi, @determined. I'm using a combo of CPAExcel/Ninja Audio for my exams, and it's worked out for AUD & BEC. I took a peak at FAR and there really is a super dense amt. of material – but, I think that might be the same for any review? I think it's a good review guide, just VERY.VERY. thorough. I skipped the videos for AUD/BEC (I'm only using them on REG, b/c tax is so confusing to me – I need more explanation than the text)…just reviewed and typed notes on the text and did the practice questions after each lesson.

AUD: 84 - Oct. 2013
BEC: 83 - Feb. 2014
REG: 91 - May, 2014
FAR: 68, 96 - Oct. 2014...DONE

CPAExcel, Ninja Audio (all sections)

[Anonymous]

I used CPA Excel for REG and didn't for AUD, and my scores are evidence of the effectiveness of reading, videos, and questions. I recommend the 60 or so hours for CPA Excel and then 20-40 hours for NINJA notes and MCQs.

[Anonymous]

I used CPA Excel for REG and didn't for AUD, and my scores are evidence of the effectiveness of reading, videos, and questions. I recommend the 60 or so hours for CPA Excel and then 20-40 hours for NINJA notes and MCQs.

[magatha12]

@Determined_To_Succeed,

I'm using CPAExcel also, I'm taking FAR first, and its soo much to retain. I'm not sure if I have the best strategy yet, but I have the NINJA supplements, and I'm reading through both FAR books first to get a grasp of everything- I'm skipping videos because there is just not enough time, and I am learning more by going through the books.

I am taking notes along the way and listening to NINJA audio everyday on the topics I have already read through in the book so that it stays fresh. Once I finish the book I plan to ONLY go back to it if I am stuck on an MCQ or problem on it.

I'm not sure if this is the best way, but I thought I'd share.

FAR: 79
AUD: 81
REG:5/29/15
BEC:85

Using CPA Excel, NINJA notes and audio, NINJA MCQs

[magatha12]

@Determined_To_Succeed,

I'm using CPAExcel also, I'm taking FAR first, and its soo much to retain. I'm not sure if I have the best strategy yet, but I have the NINJA supplements, and I'm reading through both FAR books first to get a grasp of everything- I'm skipping videos because there is just not enough time, and I am learning more by going through the books.

I am taking notes along the way and listening to NINJA audio everyday on the topics I have already read through in the book so that it stays fresh. Once I finish the book I plan to ONLY go back to it if I am stuck on an MCQ or problem on it.

I'm not sure if this is the best way, but I thought I'd share.

FAR: 79
AUD: 81
REG:5/29/15
BEC:85

Using CPA Excel, NINJA notes and audio, NINJA MCQs

[005]

keep pushing through!! just remember, plenty of people have passed using CPAExcel, you can too!

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[005]

keep pushing through!! just remember, plenty of people have passed using CPAExcel, you can too!

BEC - ✔
REG - ✔
AUD - ✔
FAR - 11/29/14

CPAExcel, Ninja MCQs, and a sh*t ton of coffee

[Anonymous]

I used CPAExcel for all 4 sections, plus NINJA Notes and Audio for everything but REG. I liked the CPAExcel videos because they are broken down into a lot of smaller pieces which helped me plan out a set schedule to study and I found it easier to stick with it. Yes, it took a lot of time, but I personally thought listening to the videos was better than just flipping through the book on my own since it made me listen to everything and didn't give me the chance to just skim like simply flipping through the book would have.

Side note – I didn't do enough MCQ the first time I took FAR because I was trying to get through videos. Even though I think the videos were really helpful, MCQ are too important to skimp on. I ended up with a 74 because of a lack of MCQ practice.

[Anonymous]

I used CPAExcel for all 4 sections, plus NINJA Notes and Audio for everything but REG. I liked the CPAExcel videos because they are broken down into a lot of smaller pieces which helped me plan out a set schedule to study and I found it easier to stick with it. Yes, it took a lot of time, but I personally thought listening to the videos was better than just flipping through the book on my own since it made me listen to everything and didn't give me the chance to just skim like simply flipping through the book would have.

Side note – I didn't do enough MCQ the first time I took FAR because I was trying to get through videos. Even though I think the videos were really helpful, MCQ are too important to skimp on. I ended up with a 74 because of a lack of MCQ practice.

[GuitarSalad]

Keep plowing through. I used CPAExcel for all 4 sections, and FAR has the most material hands down. However, I thought the REG material (particularly tax) was far more dense and difficult to soak in. If you got through the REG material, you can make it through FAR!

BEC 7/12/13 - 84
AUD 8/31/13 - 86
REG 4/11/14 - 84
FAR 5/30/14 - 88

Licensed AZ CPA - 10/2014

[GuitarSalad]

Keep plowing through. I used CPAExcel for all 4 sections, and FAR has the most material hands down. However, I thought the REG material (particularly tax) was far more dense and difficult to soak in. If you got through the REG material, you can make it through FAR!

BEC 7/12/13 - 84
AUD 8/31/13 - 86
REG 4/11/14 - 84
FAR 5/30/14 - 88

Licensed AZ CPA - 10/2014

[matt]

I'm taking FAR next week and used CPAexcel, Ninja notes, Ninja audio, and Ninja MCQ. Before I started with the Ninja products I watched every CPAexcel video, took notes (2 full notebooks worth!), and did every MCQ and TBS in the CPAexcel program.

I know a lot of people criticize CPAexcel for being too detailed, but I don't think it's a bad thing. There are few topics in hindsight that I think they way too far on (pensions come to mind), but on the whole I think it's a very robust program.

I know everyone's experience is different, but I've consistently scored 80%+ on the MCQ, so in my experience it's a good program. I hope the remaining three sections are as thorough!

FAR: 89
BEC: 88
REG: 81
AUD: 76

CPAexcel, NINJA 10 point combo, & NINJA MCQ

"Pain is temporary, it may last for a minute, or an hour, or a day, or even a year...but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit however, it will last forever."

[matt]

I'm taking FAR next week and used CPAexcel, Ninja notes, Ninja audio, and Ninja MCQ. Before I started with the Ninja products I watched every CPAexcel video, took notes (2 full notebooks worth!), and did every MCQ and TBS in the CPAexcel program.

I know a lot of people criticize CPAexcel for being too detailed, but I don't think it's a bad thing. There are few topics in hindsight that I think they way too far on (pensions come to mind), but on the whole I think it's a very robust program.

I know everyone's experience is different, but I've consistently scored 80%+ on the MCQ, so in my experience it's a good program. I hope the remaining three sections are as thorough!

FAR: 89
BEC: 88
REG: 81
AUD: 76

CPAexcel, NINJA 10 point combo, & NINJA MCQ

"Pain is temporary, it may last for a minute, or an hour, or a day, or even a year...but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit however, it will last forever."

[Anonymous]

Initially, I used Gleim for my first FAR attempt and thought that Gleim was wayyyy too detailed. CPAExcel's section on FAR (which I'm currently studying for) is an insane amount of material, but I don't think you're going to get around that one way or the other no matter what study material you're using.

For FAR I constantly find myself having to take 3 steps forward and one step back on the “blocks” of information in CPAExcel. I did the same for REG but not as much. Comparatively, the material in BEC and AUD is a blimp compared to FAR but that's why FAR is da beaaaasssssttttt.

Good luck studying to all for FAR and hopes that the passing rate exceeds its very generous (sarcasm) Q1 passing rate.

[Author]

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