[jeff]

The NINJAs are giving away 3 Ten Point Combos

What: Three (3) Ten Point Combo sections will be given away … 3 winners … each winner will get their choice of a Ten Point Combo section ($397). If the winner is a current Ten Point Combo ninja, they will get their next one free – or can give it to a friend/co-worker/enemy.

When: The random drawing will take place at 5pm Central – this Wednesday (9/28). If I’m late to the drawing (life happens)…the cutoff for entries is 5pm Central.

Where: This forum thread

How: To enter – simply post advice that you think will be helpful in one of the following areas and please designate the topic:

CPA Exam
Public Accounting
Career/Resume/Interview (i.e. general career tips)

***

Example:

[CPA Exam] When you’re stuck on a question during the exam, pick B or C on your exam and move on.

***

Please Note: You will need to be on the NINJA email list to win. The 3 winners will be emailed via the NINJA email system.

Sign up for that here: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-study-plan/

Other Details: Must be 18 to enter. Void where prohibited. No cash value. One entry per person.

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

[SomeSomeCPA]

[CPA Exam] If a full time worker, try to schedule your test for a Monday. Take a vacation day for the test. This lets you defuse from the work week and refocus and cram over Saturday and Sunday.

I can't remember where I read it but the pass rates for Monday and Tuesday test takers is much higher than Saturday test takers. I believe this is why.

FAR: 39,59,TBD
BEC: 74,79
AUD: 77
REG: September

[Christine]

[CPA Exam] Always, always, ALWAYS look at the date in a question at least 3 times. A half year has thrown me more times than I care to count.

[uglyduckie]

[CPA Exam] When taking the AUD section (and probably other sections), check your work on the simulations by using the authoritative literature. This was extremely helpful for me.

REG - 72, retake 2/11/2017
AUD - 7/30/2016
FAR - 10/08/2016
BEC - 12/10/2016

[Hannah]

[CPA Exam]: Do NINJA MCQs by lowest subsection, and master that subsection. It will be easier to retain if learning in smaller batches, rather than an overflow of material.

[Anonymous]

[CPA Exam] If you're unsure of a MC question, flag it and move on. Another question might spark your memory and help you answer your flagged question 🙂

[cmb224]

[CPA EXAM]: Ask for a physical calculator at the testing center. Sometimes the on screen (in test) calculator can get funky (not clear when you thought it did, etc.)

[Dantrick]

It is not the quantity of time you study. It is the quality if time.

[F_CPA]

[CPA Exam] – make sure you read the tips in this thread. They are the most useful ones.

[VirginiaHughes]

{CPA EXAM}

I have had quite a bit of experience with the CPA Exam. I think my most important advice would be to not stick with the traditional class setting. When I first started with the review I watched videos and then answered the questions associated and then after I had mastered the MCQs I would move on. I went all the way through AUD this way and by the time I was doing my review I didn't remember the first thing about the first chapter. The exam stresses so many different topics that it is hard to focus on one and move on to the next. You have to have all the topics in the forefront of your mind so it makes more sense to keep all topics relevant. The way that I did this for the next parts was I watched all of the lectures, not focusing on any MCQs, and then after all lectures and videos were completed I focused on MCQs and multiple choice. I did Ninja MCQs non stop with Simulations thrown in there too. Every moment I had free I do MCQs. It helps refresh everything I have watched and learned and keeps all topics rotated in. That way you are not focusing on one topic and losing time on the rest. I also use Ninja Audio non stop within the last 2 weeks before the exam as well as rewrite the notes once. It does not hurt to try every medium that is offered. I think the combination of it all is what has given me success. This technique has helped me increase my score in AUD to passing and pass BEC and REG on the first try. As you all are aware, this is not an exam that you can just coast through. This is an exam you have to work at, and using every tool at your disposal is the best chance you have to pass!!!

BEC: 78
AUD: 74, Retake 7/25/16
REG: 79
FAR: TBD

[So FAR So Good]

This one can fall in either public of career, but I'll go with:

[Career/Resume/Interview] Going the public accounting route is not the be-all/end-all career path in order to have a successful career in accounting. This is advice I wish I was given earlier in my career, as I spent the first few years unsuccessfully chasing a role in public accounting, only to eventually find myself in a great position with an investment firm doing something I love.

There are plenty of opportunities within industry that are available to folks who have not gone the public route, you just need to show that your direct experience (along with knowledge, of course) trumps the experience you would get in public (ex: prove that five progressive years of accounting and operations provide you more transferable experience than, say, two years in public where you're reconciling cash and managing the confirmation process). Believe it or not, there are plenty of hiring managers out there that value direct experience more than public (as one hiring manager described to me, he viewed it as being a referee without ever having actually played the game).

Of course, this is not to discredit the audit profession as a very large proportion of successful accountants come out of public with great experience, but this hopefully serves as a boost to those who chose not to go down that path. I was hard on myself for years because of it, but I've quickly learned that there are plenty of options out there.

Also, having a CPA will help. 🙂

F - 91 (6/5/2016)
A - 7/30/2016
R - 10/8/2016
B - 12/10/2016

[Johnatan Milton]

[CPA Exam] after going through most/(all) ninja MCQ, doing strictly “troubled questions” really help you understand what are your weak areas and engrave those topics.

[CMW88]

[CPA EXAM] – It is helpful to create a detailed study calendar for yourself, breaking down what will be studied/reviewed each day (i.e., specific section, simulation or MCQ, video, review notes, etc.). In addition, allocate 1-2 weeks at the end of the calendar for review of weak areas and repetition of core concepts.

[myuse]

[Resume] When you're formatting your resume on Microsoft Word, and want all the dates to be right aligned (or anything else to be aligned), insert a 2×2 table, and insert your info into the table. After, click the Home tab > borders and shading > no borders > hide grid lines to make your borders invisible. Voila, now you have an aligned resume without wasting time fiddling with the space bar!

[sammie]

[CPA Exam] Pick the longest answer – Examiners make sure the correct answers are indisputably right so they tend to be longer.

[Shelleynordine]

CPA exam: make sure you cover everything, make notes on anything you are weak in and make sure you understand before you move on to the next chapter

[Author]

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