[Anonymous]

I took handwritten notes for FAR and rewrote some of the chapters but to be honest during my last days of review since I was running low on time I started to type them then print out and review. Does anyone think this would be just as effective as handwriting the notes? I took FAR on Friday so I don’t know how effective retyping was but I’m trying to take AUD by the end of the window too and handwriting the notes while studying would take up a lot of time.

[jeff]

Search for it … lots of past posts on it

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

[Anonymous]

I am a firm believer in handwriting your notes! Typing may be more efficient time-wise, but I find it easier to recall something I have written down, rather than something I have typed. But then again, everyone is different. If you feel it is too time consuming perhaps you should type, or allow yourself more time before your exam to write them!

https://lifehacker.com/5738093/why-you-learn-more-effectively-by-writing-than-typing

Just some food for thought.

[Anonymous]

@Jeff I will search it, thanks!

@Accounting is my LIFO I understand that re-writing really puts it in your brain and honestly I would hand write them but taking AUD before the window closes was really a last minute decision as of yesterday lol I am doing becker online classes and next one starts in mid September so my thought was to knock AUD out since I still haven't started working FT and no current job (besides studying). I would hate to start reg online in mid September then have to test in October for Reg and AUD and BEC in November. It just seems too crazy to do that lol

[Anonymous]

I can sympathize with ya on that one, I am trying to fit in BEC before August 30! Perhaps with AUD you can get away with typing the notes. I would just make sure to look them over a few more times! Good luck with your studies

[Anonymous]

I can sympathize with ya on that one, I am trying to fit in BEC before August 30! Perhaps with AUD you can get away with typing the notes. I would just make sure to look them over a few more times! Good luck with your studies

[evesocal]

I typed notes whenever possible as I can barely read my own handwriting lol.

Of course some things are a pain in the ass to type, like formulas. Those I wrote by hand.

Whatever you are most comfortable with is what you do. Best of luck!

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[mla1169]

I've read that handwriting notes is better for memory retention, but that was not an option for me. So I typed them, and managed to pass 🙂

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[foreverstudying]

If you're pressed for time I would type everything but hand write any part you're struggling with so it really sticks in your mind. Good luck!

FAR - 70, 83
REG - 82
BEC - 78
AUD - 76

[Anonymous]

I typed all my notes. After writing them the first time my hand couldn't take rewriting them so I typed them up. Depending on your concentration level typing can definitely be as helpful as handwriting in my opinion. Concentration is the key.

I re-wrote my REG notes by typing. When I typed all I did was focus on typing – no distractions. Pretty good score.

For my first FAR attempt, I generally ended up typing my notes while I was sitting in front of a Patriots game on TV. I gave up watching all football, except for Patriots games, while I was studying. But to not run out of study time (since work was getting busy at the same time) I typed while watching the Pats games. I failed by 1 point. Typing while watching football may or may not be the reason I failed, but I tend to think that could be the problem.

FAR attempt 2 – I did a bunch of MCQs and rewrote the NINJA Notes by hand. I don't necessarily think I learned much more by hand writing. FAR was just my weak one.

AUD – went back to typing notes, although I never finished rewriting them since I took the exam late January right while busy season was in high gear.

BEC – went back to my REG approach of rewriting all my notes by typing, and while not distracted. Another good score.

So I'd say as long as you concentrate on what you're doing, typing is helpful too. Personally my hand just couldn't handle all the rewriting.

[Never_Give_Up1]

I type the videos from Becker into my own thoughts… and then go back and hand write my notes when I am reviewing… That way I have the chapter way more condensed in the typed notes… and I can also use the search function to locate the information I want to hand write or look up.

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[Anonymous]

the only exam section I failed was AUD, and that was the one time I didn't hand write all the chapters and hand write my own note cards. Every other time I did the hand written stuff I passed.

I went so far as to read it out loud as I wrote it. The more senses engaged in an activity, the likelier you are to retain and comprehend more info.

[smp73]

I hand write my first set of notes and type them later. I get the benefit of handwriting them and then by typing them up later I see them all again.

I do like the suggestion of typing notes and going back and handwriting sections you are struggling with. Might be a good option too!

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

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[smyoung0521]

My biggest problem with note taking is that I have arthritis in my elbow and tendonitis in my arm which makes taking notes quite painful….yet another reason to take the exam when you are young (although I am still young….35 is young right? ;-). I hope typing can be as effective. I have even thought about saying them into a recording….kindof a supplement for ninja audio but haven't gone past thinking about that yet.

Restarting my journey!
Using Rogers and supplementing with Ninja

[evesocal]

35 is young!

I also recorded voice memos on my iPhone. Not a lot of them, but I did some of the reports for AUD that way. I think it helped a bit although writing (or typing, to me there is really difference in the effectiveness) notes helped much more.

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[klink24]

I just started typing up my notes, but I'm typing them in Excel to be better organized. I just felt like the information for FAR had to be organized better for my understanding. I have a tab for each statement (Balance Sheet, Income Statement, etc.), a tab for the Conceptual Framework, a tab for the Fair Value framework, a tab where I transfer any disclosure rules I come across, a tab where I transfer any accounting rules I come across (i.e.: how to apply fair value option), a tab where I'll transfer any accounting estimates/principle (so I can keep up with what's changing and account for it accordingly), a tab for transaction scenarios to keep track of major journal entries, and a tab for calculation examples (i.e.: depreciation, amortization, etc.). I'll keep everything on the tab it belongs under so I can tie it all together under the same umbrella, but will then copy it to one of these specialized tabs for easy digestion. The specialized tabs are based on re-occurring themes I noticed while listening to the Ninja Audio.

On each tab I also have a GAAP column and a IFRS column for easy comparison between the two. While studying as I come across things, I plug it in where it goes. I'm sure I'll have many more tabs when all is said and done, but this is the best way I could figure to organize everything. Once I'm done maybe I can publish it or sell it to Jeff, lol!

FAR: 4/19/2014 - 85!
AUD: 5/27/2014 - 90!
REG: 7/18/2014 - 81!
BEC: 8/13/2014 - 84!

4 up, 4 down, in 4 months.

Licensed 9/22 in NC.

[Author]

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