[Anonymous]

Hello everyone,

I just finished up with my exams and I thought that I would share some of the tips that I feel like helped me pass all parts of the CPA exam on the first try.

1. Study, study, study…. but not for too long… I felt like the longer I spread the learning process out the harder it was to retain all of the information. For my best score I studied like crazy for about 4 weeks. My other study experiences were 6-8 weeks long.

2. Listen to music while you study… Notice I said music and not songs… lyrics take up some of your brain power. If you really want the stuff to stick in your brain get those neurons firing with some good Classical music or my personal favorite VIDEO GAME SOUNDTRACKS… This is for real, the designers of video games input music that is designed to not break your concentration…

3. Cram before the exam by doing as many multiple choice questions as you can… Not only do the questions, but try to understand how to come up with the right answer as well as why the other answers are wrong. For questions you are having trouble with you should print the question off and create a book of questions that you will review the day before the exam… my question books were approx 50-60 questions per exam. It is my personal belief that if you have an understanding of how all of the multiple choice questions are solved then the simulations/written communication only require the same type of application of your understanding.

While I can’t tell you that these tips are the reason that I passed (i.e. I don’t know exactly how well I did on the multiple choice vs simulations) I will tell you that you can make yourself feel like an accounting superhero while you are studying listening to the same music you did the first time you conquered Super Mario Brothers.

Good luck everyone!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tips, and congrats!

I agree with you on music. My personal undergraduate favorites were Danny Elfman scores (Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands being the best, IMO.)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tips, and congrats!

I agree with you on music. My personal undergraduate favorites were Danny Elfman scores (Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands being the best, IMO.)

[vanadium3]

3 girls and a cpa huh?

congrats, I'm glad you got it all done 1st try. usually people can get it done in 6-8 months if they pass on 1st try, otherwise it's 1-2 months extra for every fail.

funny comment on the video games music.. except you don't break your concentration when you are playing anyway. when you are studying? you still gonna get distracted, but this is personal preference.

CPA

[vanadium3]

3 girls and a cpa huh?

congrats, I'm glad you got it all done 1st try. usually people can get it done in 6-8 months if they pass on 1st try, otherwise it's 1-2 months extra for every fail.

funny comment on the video games music.. except you don't break your concentration when you are playing anyway. when you are studying? you still gonna get distracted, but this is personal preference.

CPA

[Author]

Replies