[Anonymous]

So I took REG on Feb 25. I listened to all the Becker lectures, took notes, read Ninja Notes and did a ton of Becker MCQ. When I get my score I was devistated. I got weaker in MCQ and comparable in Simulations.

I was planning on retaking REG on April 14th. After some reflection, I feel my biggest weakness was that I didn’t understand how to disect the MCQs. So, my plan of attack was to re-write the ninja notes and my notes. I also bought the Wiley test bank and plan to do those and the Becker MCQs and write the ‘Fact Nuggets’ that I get from the explanations. So far, I have only written 40 pages from the Ninja notes….and that is it….I was really hoping to take FAR again on 5/26. What should I do?!?!

Brutally Honesty here!!

Mini and Baseball…I am serious, brutal honesty!!!

[Anonymous]

Also, are you saying to stop taking notes? Ekk haha not really, I have gotten through the tax sections already so it would just be the B.Law that I don't have re-written notes on.

[Minimorty]

Do you have the Becker book with you?

[Minimorty]

I would save the re-writing notes for later.

If you are reading the Ninjas or reading the Becker book and you think a couple of notes will help you remember a key topic, then thats fine. I just dont want you re-writing notes that you have already written unless you REALLY think its helping you retain the material. It would be better to try something new to see if it triggers a different part of your brain and helps you understand it a little better.

[Anonymous]

I do have the becker book and I will stop writing. It makes sense what you are saying.

[Anonymous]

Ok, ok, I'm back from the bar! Basketball was AWESOME! Onto my virtual family…I apologize for my absence…I went straight to the bar after work! Akb first…

@Akb — Mini gave you EXCELLENT advice…I would echo everything he said…you're focusing on quantity, not quality…who cares how many questions if you do if you don't understand!! Look, here's the deal, I want you to pass very badly, so I will do whatever I can to help you out. You have 2 options to access me:

1) post a question on here…if you don't understand a topic, post it, I will do my best to dive through my books and explain it to you the best I can.

2) if you don't feel comfortable with that, e-mail me at baseballcpa85@gmail.com and I will do whatever I can to answer your questions (kricket this goes for you too), but please be aware that I work close to 60 hours a week so if it takes me a little bit to get back to you, I apologize, but I'm trying!!!

Rule #1 is DON'T FREAK OUT…if you get in your own head, it will only destroy you

Rule #2 is DON'T FREAK OUT…you KNOW this…don't psych yourself out

Rule #3 is focus on quality, not quantity. It is so, so, so, so, important that you understand HOW to answer the questions because of your knowledge, rather than being able to because you recognize the question.

I'm sorry if I missed anything, but please don't worry. I'm piggy backing on Mini's comments because I could not have said it any better myself. I'll be online for another little while, so let me know if you have any additional questions/concerns. Or e-mail me.

[Anonymous]

I passed REG 3rd time. To be honest, I didn't study the way I should've the first two times. I skipped chapters, got distracted, etc etc…

I haven't taken FAR yet, so I can't comment on that but here's what I did for REG:

I mainly used Becker and Wiley test Bank. Read over the Ninja notes over Frank Dood act and other stuff that wasn't in Becker,

Read each chapter in Becker three times and did all the MCQs/SIMS 3-4times,

Took bunch of notes on questions that I got wrong,

Did all tax related questions/SIMS in Wiley.

Kept doing progress tests and was consistently getting above 90,

Re-read ethics portion in the parking lot before going in.

Passed with 92 (71, 72).

Good Luck, you can SO do it!

[Minimorty]

@baseball – Aren't you on the east coast? I always wonder how you can stay up so late. It's 10:45 here and I am beat. I should have been asleep like an hour and a half ago.

[Anonymous]

@Kricket — This is the thread you were looking for: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/how-were-you-as-a-student

Yes, I did mention and I will always mention that staying out of your own head is SO important when you're taking this exam. That does NOT mean that you should just assume the questions aren't as complicated as they seem, because they are…they are tricky SOBs and they will kick ass and take names! What I mean is stay OUT OF YOUR HEAD. It is so much easier said than done but it is so important. Forget the baseball analogy, this is what I mean:

Focus on the CPA, only the CPA, and just the CPA. Do NOT start stressing about time, do NOT start stressing because you don't know the answer of the top of your head. It is so important to stay as calm as possible during the exam. I'm not saying you should ignore the time constraint, but if you start worrying about how much time you've spent on a question, you're only gonna freak yourself out! I'm not telling you to forget about time, Kricket, I'm just telling you to take it one question at a time. Without panicking, if you've been on a question for longer than 10 minutes, I would skip it and move on to the next question. But if you start thinking, “omg, I skipped a question, or I don't know an answer, I'm doomed, I'm gonna fail”, It will just kill you for the rest of the exam. Ask me any questions you have either on here or at (baseballcpa85@gmail.com). Feel free to vent.

Final note: If you don't feel ready, reschedule the exam (unless you have other constraints [NTS expiring, 18-month window expiring, etc.]), it's not worth taking if you're not ready…just pay the fee and extend it until you're ready. With that said, don't psych yourself out and reschedule it because of that…you guys are both INCREDIBLY smart! You are going to ROCK this shit! Don't doubt your own abilities, you should never do that. I have a great amount of faith in both of you!!! Please reach out to me if you need any help, I will do my best. I know Mini will do his best to help too!

[Anonymous]

@Mini – lol I'm like where in the world is Carmen San Diego 😉 I don't like to pin-point myself to one geographic location, but e-mail me and I may expand haha.

[Minimorty]

@baseball – We are like the camp counselors at virtual CPA camp. Lol.

I can't keep my eyes open any longer. Hasta mañana.

[Minimorty]

Lol. “east coast” isn't exactly pinning you down. I was just looking for a time zone.

[Anonymous]

email me!!! haha I play it close to the vest on this forum…I'm lettin you in to the “circle of trust” but not on the public forum! lol

[Anonymous]

oh lord, I read mini's first post. I think I have been tackling FAR the wrong way. Better late than never =(. Though I haven't taken my first FAR exam yet, when I do the MCQs, I constantly ask myself, when did I learn this? but according to the material I covered, I should already know this = (. I guess I am not really thinking through this and thought the bull dozing technique would work for FAR. Thank you guys for the advice in general!

[HumanPiranha]

@Chand

there is no such thing as right way or wrong way when it comes to the cpa exam. the only thing that matters is if it works for you.

[Anonymous]

Ok, after dropping off the face of the earth for a few days, I am back. I hate horrible jet lag and a stomach virus since Friday night/Saturday morning. This is the first day I have really been able to eat which is awesome! I am jumping back into this thing. I am going to take the amazing advice of Mini and Baseball. I totally agree on the whole ‘quantity v. quality'. I have not scheduled my exam so I am just going to schedule when I am ready, as suggested. I am starting a practice test this afternoon and going to see where I need to work from there. Thanks for all the help and support!

[Author]

Replies