[Anonymous]

How did you go about studying?

I had trouble finding the motivation to study early on because I hate tax. It’s my first section, and I’ve already pushed the exam date back twice. Now I’m scheduled to take it in early October. According to CPA Excel’s scorecard summary, I’m only 26% of the way through the material.

I’ve stopped watching the videos and reading the review book altogether, and now I’m just completing the MCQs for each section and reading the explanation if I got the question wrong. For those that studied in a similar way with CPA Excel, did you find this sufficient?

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[Anonymous]

I am using CPA Excel and Wiley Test Bank. Like you, I had a really hard time getting motivated to study, and had a number of aborted attempts to get started, before I finally was able to establish a rhythm. For me, I have two kids and a full-time day job, so I have to be extremely focused during the time I set aside to study. I have found waking up early helps. I'm not a morning person, but trying to study in the evening after the kids are finally in bed was just NOT happening. I get up at 4am everyday and put in 2 hours of lesson time. CPA Excel is really useful in this regard, because it has kept me feeling motivated along the way by allowing me to complete 1 or 2 lessons every morning, which helps with the feeling that you are accomplishing something. Maybe it's just me – I like checking things off a list.

Anyway, here's my method. I watch the videos and I copy the notes from the powerpoint slides word-for-word WHILE watching the video. This obviously means that sometimes I have to pause the video to get everything down, if I'm not fast enough at typing before the presenter moves to a new slide. Having my body engaged keeps my mind “on-task”. I don't bother typing out all the examples problems they work, but I do make sure I fully understand the example problems and solutions presented in the video. Once the video is done, I very briefly skim through the Study Text to see if anything jumps out at me that wasn't covered in the video or sometimes the presenter refers you to the study text for more in-depth information on a particular point. After that, I MOVE TO THE NEXT VIDEO. I do NOT do any MCQ, flashcards, TBS, etc. For the most part, it is VIDEOS only, w/ note-taking until I finish every video. I plan my schedule so that I finish all the videos about 5 weeks prior to my exam date (so, for REG, took me about 5-6 weeks to watch all the videos).

THEN, I start with intense MCQs. I use Wiley Test Bank, which I think is pretty good. My last 5 weeks of studying is just MCQs, and eventually TBSs, once I have a good handle on MCQs. Then re-evaluating where my weak areas are and reviewing my notes, text, videos to refresh what I know. I have not taken REG yet, so can't attest to the effectiveness of this method, but I am feeling fairly confident based on my Wiley practice tests.

I had a different method when I studied for FAR, and it didn't work out so well. For that, I didn't watch any videos, just copied the powerpoint slides. Then I did MCQs with each lesson as I went through the material, and read through the study text and flashcards etc AS I WENT. The result is, by the time I had reached the end of the FAR material, I was nearly out of time to do any heavy-handed reviewing, and I'd forgotten all the MCQs I had done in the earlier lessons.

When using CPA Excel, the NINJA method is especially right on. Watch all the videos and take notes while you do so. THEN start with MCQs.

I don't pay ANY attention to CPA Excel's score card. They only update your score when you do questions in exam mode, which is BS if you ask me. Use Wiley for your MCQs. (Although the CPA excel smartphone app is a must. Do MCQs while you're on the john or waiting on the doctor's office or whatever…)

[Anonymous]

I am using CPA Excel and Wiley Test Bank. Like you, I had a really hard time getting motivated to study, and had a number of aborted attempts to get started, before I finally was able to establish a rhythm. For me, I have two kids and a full-time day job, so I have to be extremely focused during the time I set aside to study. I have found waking up early helps. I'm not a morning person, but trying to study in the evening after the kids are finally in bed was just NOT happening. I get up at 4am everyday and put in 2 hours of lesson time. CPA Excel is really useful in this regard, because it has kept me feeling motivated along the way by allowing me to complete 1 or 2 lessons every morning, which helps with the feeling that you are accomplishing something. Maybe it's just me – I like checking things off a list.

Anyway, here's my method. I watch the videos and I copy the notes from the powerpoint slides word-for-word WHILE watching the video. This obviously means that sometimes I have to pause the video to get everything down, if I'm not fast enough at typing before the presenter moves to a new slide. Having my body engaged keeps my mind “on-task”. I don't bother typing out all the examples problems they work, but I do make sure I fully understand the example problems and solutions presented in the video. Once the video is done, I very briefly skim through the Study Text to see if anything jumps out at me that wasn't covered in the video or sometimes the presenter refers you to the study text for more in-depth information on a particular point. After that, I MOVE TO THE NEXT VIDEO. I do NOT do any MCQ, flashcards, TBS, etc. For the most part, it is VIDEOS only, w/ note-taking until I finish every video. I plan my schedule so that I finish all the videos about 5 weeks prior to my exam date (so, for REG, took me about 5-6 weeks to watch all the videos).

THEN, I start with intense MCQs. I use Wiley Test Bank, which I think is pretty good. My last 5 weeks of studying is just MCQs, and eventually TBSs, once I have a good handle on MCQs. Then re-evaluating where my weak areas are and reviewing my notes, text, videos to refresh what I know. I have not taken REG yet, so can't attest to the effectiveness of this method, but I am feeling fairly confident based on my Wiley practice tests.

I had a different method when I studied for FAR, and it didn't work out so well. For that, I didn't watch any videos, just copied the powerpoint slides. Then I did MCQs with each lesson as I went through the material, and read through the study text and flashcards etc AS I WENT. The result is, by the time I had reached the end of the FAR material, I was nearly out of time to do any heavy-handed reviewing, and I'd forgotten all the MCQs I had done in the earlier lessons.

When using CPA Excel, the NINJA method is especially right on. Watch all the videos and take notes while you do so. THEN start with MCQs.

I don't pay ANY attention to CPA Excel's score card. They only update your score when you do questions in exam mode, which is BS if you ask me. Use Wiley for your MCQs. (Although the CPA excel smartphone app is a must. Do MCQs while you're on the john or waiting on the doctor's office or whatever…)

[tomq04]

2nd not paying attention to score card.

I watch every video and do the “diagnostic exam” for the “section” i finished watching all of the videos for (2 questions / section) until i finish all videos and start doing MCQ like crazy for 3 weeks, while waking up early to write and rewrite the ninja notes.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[tomq04]

2nd not paying attention to score card.

I watch every video and do the “diagnostic exam” for the “section” i finished watching all of the videos for (2 questions / section) until i finish all videos and start doing MCQ like crazy for 3 weeks, while waking up early to write and rewrite the ninja notes.

REG- (1) 76
FAR- (2) 64, (5)74, (7)83 (Over achiever!)
AUD- (3) 70, (4) 75
BEC- (6) 75

[Jennifer241]

3rd to not paying attention to score card.

I watch the video's, pausing to make my own notes. This takes 4-6 weeks. Then I do non-stop WTB questions and I go through the simulations of CPA Excel.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Jennifer241]

3rd to not paying attention to score card.

I watch the video's, pausing to make my own notes. This takes 4-6 weeks. Then I do non-stop WTB questions and I go through the simulations of CPA Excel.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Shan]

For REG, since I am not an expert on tax, I went through the book as well as all the videos on this section. I also did MCQs after the videos (to be honest, I skipped some practice questions, focus more on the old test questions). It took me about 8 weeks to go through all the materials. But I failed twice…:(
So what I ended up doing was I went through all presentation slides instead of going through the video again, doing MCQs in CPA excel and used Ninja notes to remember the key points of the test. It worked well on me and I finally passed it!

For AUD, with the previous experience, well, I didn't read most part of the book but only special report and other assurance services parts. I focused on going through all the slides in the CPA excel.I bought CPA review for free for MCQs and updated Ninja notes. So I did tons of MCQs to practice… I have to say, I thought I can pass at first try but I didn't. I took four times to pass this one! What really helped me this time is Wiley test banks. It really gave me all the details I needed for my tests. But generally, I think, to pass AUD, you really need do a lot of questions…

For BEC, I passed with a little luck! The same as AUD, I didn't read the book apparently. I went though the slides instead and also, I used Ninja notes for the important points. I cannot give you more suggestions here since I really didn't know how I passed this one…

For FAR, firstly, I have to say I love Pro Pam!! Her videos are very clearly and cheerful! I went through all her videos and all government videos after I failed at first try. I didn't have time for other topics so I did same thing as AUD and BEC. I used Wiley test bank for it also but it was little hard on the practice questions so made me a little frustrated when I did the questions. But it worth it!

So generally, I focused on going through the slides instead of watching all the videos. I focused on doing old test questions instead of doing all the practice questions and read the explanation of the wrong questions. I used Ninja notes, Wiley banks and CPA review for free as supplemental materials for MCQa and Sims.

Link: Current CPAexcel Discount Codes

AUD-73, 73, 73, 79!!
BEC-77!
FAR-60, 83!
REG-66, 72, 75!

MA CPA license

[Shan]

…

AUD-73, 73, 73, 79!!
BEC-77!
FAR-60, 83!
REG-66, 72, 75!

MA CPA license

[Author]

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