[jeff]

Watch this Video (you will need to enter a valid email address for it to launch):

Official Rules:

-No purchase necessary

-Valid from 2/13/14 to 2/14/14

-Run by NINJA CPA Review, LLC

1100 SW Wanamaker, Suite 2

Topeka, KS 66604

-Three (3) iPad Minis (16 GB / WiFi / $299 retail price)

– Prize will be awarded via a $299 Apple Gift Card

-Winners will be selected using a RANDBETWEEN Excel formula, which will choose a random post within the thread. This post is post #1 and the final post will be the final post # in the formula.

-A posting of the winners will be within this thread by Monday February 17, 2014

-Void where prohibited

-U.S. Residents Only

-Must be 18 to Enter

-One entry per person. Participants with multiple usernames/entries will be disqualified.

Update – Winners: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/ipad-mini-giveaway-x-3-official-thread/page/15#post-402516

[mk28]

Best tip for REG is to practice the simulations.

If you're like me, you'll focus so much on memorizing the details of the textbook and doing the homework that when test time rolls around, you barely touched simulations. That worked for me on FAR, BEC, and AUD. Then with REG being my last one I thought I could do the same.

Nope.

Failed by 1 point and score report revealed sims were the weakest. I say if you practice the simulations enough, you'll be comfortable with the format of how to approach and think about it. I think REG simulations (next to FAR) are the hardest because the presentation along with the concepts and many rules can overwhelm people.

I practiced sims a lot and felt a lot more comfortable the second time around.

Used Becker and Wiley MC bank.

[msannamarie]

I had started to memorize all of the Becker MCQ's and I hit a plateau where I wasn't learning anything new…and then I got a 71 on AUD (boo). I'm retesting in a few weeks and decided to purchase the Wiley Test Bank from Jeff (a lot cheaper than through Wiley direct). I feel like I'm actually making forward progress and hope to pick up those 4 extra points! So my advice, if you think you're memorizing the MCQ questions from whatever study source you're using, you probably are and it isn't going to do you much good!

Woohoo, I'm a CPA!!

FAR - 82
AUD - 71, 89
REG - 87
BEC - 83

[msannamarie]

I had started to memorize all of the Becker MCQ's and I hit a plateau where I wasn't learning anything new…and then I got a 71 on AUD (boo). I'm retesting in a few weeks and decided to purchase the Wiley Test Bank from Jeff (a lot cheaper than through Wiley direct). I feel like I'm actually making forward progress and hope to pick up those 4 extra points! So my advice, if you think you're memorizing the MCQ questions from whatever study source you're using, you probably are and it isn't going to do you much good!

Woohoo, I'm a CPA!!

FAR - 82
AUD - 71, 89
REG - 87
BEC - 83

[Matt]

I wish I could offer some super-insightful and innovative advice that would revolutionize this forum, but alas, I'm not yet far along my journey, so all I can advise, particularly for those who are self-studying, is to make an Excel spreadsheet of all the materials you need to cover so that you can graphically see how much you need to cover as the test day looms nearer and get a sense of how much you ought to be doing each day. You can also add a column with notes (e.g., “had trouble with Module 5 simulations”) so that you can remember to review it later. This is particularly useful if you use a myriad of materials from different companies.

AUD: 88
BEC: 79
REG: 81
FAR: 72 » 74 » 88

Study method: 100% watching videos, including solving problems covered therein; no books, paper, or pencils

[Matt]

I wish I could offer some super-insightful and innovative advice that would revolutionize this forum, but alas, I'm not yet far along my journey, so all I can advise, particularly for those who are self-studying, is to make an Excel spreadsheet of all the materials you need to cover so that you can graphically see how much you need to cover as the test day looms nearer and get a sense of how much you ought to be doing each day. You can also add a column with notes (e.g., “had trouble with Module 5 simulations”) so that you can remember to review it later. This is particularly useful if you use a myriad of materials from different companies.

AUD: 88
BEC: 79
REG: 81
FAR: 72 » 74 » 88

Study method: 100% watching videos, including solving problems covered therein; no books, paper, or pencils

[Shan3213]

Best tip… Make study plan and actually study.

Turn off the TV. Turn off the music. Take away all distractions. If you are trying to study for say 2 hours, just give your focus to those 2 hours. You will spend double that to MAYBE learn the same material with distractions.

[Shan3213]

Best tip… Make study plan and actually study.

Turn off the TV. Turn off the music. Take away all distractions. If you are trying to study for say 2 hours, just give your focus to those 2 hours. You will spend double that to MAYBE learn the same material with distractions.

[Gsim84]

I started taking the exam in 2008 and finished in 2013. Based on my experiences here is what I learned that hopefully will help others.

1) Try to honestly assess yourself and which learning style is best for you. Just because your friends say “x course” is the BEST, does not mean that it's the best for you. Do this by reading reviews of the courses, seeing the pros and cons, and watching demos.

2) Realize that this test is probably different than the accounting tests you took in college. Think about it, in most colleges you can probably cram for accounting tests and even if you don't fully understand the material, you might not get an A but you probably won't get much lower than a B-. The CPA test isn't like that. You cannot cram for it and if you don't understand the material you will most likely fail. Basically, don't underestimate the test and realize that you might have to study significantly more and with more of a focus on understanding the material than you ever have before.

3) One of the toughest parts of the CPA prep is getting an objective assessment of if you are ready for the test. I remember when I was studying for FAR, I thought that I was for sure going to fail based on my MCQ score and how I felt that I understood (or didn't understand) the material. What helped me was having an objective third party, who was knowledgeable in the exam, speak with me, ask me some technical and conceptual questions and tell me that I was ready to take the exam. That way I wasn't tricking myself with false confidence and telling myself that I was ready when I really wasn't or feeling that I was not ready when I really was.

4) Lastly, remember there is no winging it on this test and no doing it half way. If you want to take it and pass it be ALL IN. You have to be committed which means sacrificing some things that you want to do, putting yourself in a position to focus and most of all working hard.

Hope that helps,

Gil

"Commensurate with the anguish is the reward"

Audit: 59 (didn't study seriously), 85
BEC: 66,66,66 (didn't study seriously for these first 3),73,73,71,84
Far: 35 (didn't study seriously), 76
Reg: 80

[Gsim84]

I started taking the exam in 2008 and finished in 2013. Based on my experiences here is what I learned that hopefully will help others.

1) Try to honestly assess yourself and which learning style is best for you. Just because your friends say “x course” is the BEST, does not mean that it's the best for you. Do this by reading reviews of the courses, seeing the pros and cons, and watching demos.

2) Realize that this test is probably different than the accounting tests you took in college. Think about it, in most colleges you can probably cram for accounting tests and even if you don't fully understand the material, you might not get an A but you probably won't get much lower than a B-. The CPA test isn't like that. You cannot cram for it and if you don't understand the material you will most likely fail. Basically, don't underestimate the test and realize that you might have to study significantly more and with more of a focus on understanding the material than you ever have before.

3) One of the toughest parts of the CPA prep is getting an objective assessment of if you are ready for the test. I remember when I was studying for FAR, I thought that I was for sure going to fail based on my MCQ score and how I felt that I understood (or didn't understand) the material. What helped me was having an objective third party, who was knowledgeable in the exam, speak with me, ask me some technical and conceptual questions and tell me that I was ready to take the exam. That way I wasn't tricking myself with false confidence and telling myself that I was ready when I really wasn't or feeling that I was not ready when I really was.

4) Lastly, remember there is no winging it on this test and no doing it half way. If you want to take it and pass it be ALL IN. You have to be committed which means sacrificing some things that you want to do, putting yourself in a position to focus and most of all working hard.

Hope that helps,

Gil

"Commensurate with the anguish is the reward"

Audit: 59 (didn't study seriously), 85
BEC: 66,66,66 (didn't study seriously for these first 3),73,73,71,84
Far: 35 (didn't study seriously), 76
Reg: 80

[Anonymous]

My study tip is to do MCQs till your blue in the face! also read each question very carefully making sure you aren't missing that one word that throws the whole thing off……

You can do this!

[Anonymous]

My study tip is to do MCQs till your blue in the face! also read each question very carefully making sure you aren't missing that one word that throws the whole thing off……

You can do this!

[Anonymous]

I like to re-read my notes right before I fall asleep. It's kind of a “wrap up” of the day and sometimes a concept that I was having trouble with just clicks.

[Anonymous]

I like to re-read my notes right before I fall asleep. It's kind of a “wrap up” of the day and sometimes a concept that I was having trouble with just clicks.

[Anonymous]

Career related to

for interviewing:

1. Arrive Early and dress professionally for a big 4 job.

2. Bring questions to ask the interviewer.

3. listen to what interviewer says and try to relate how you can be successful in filling the job.

4. Arrive with a smile and positive attitude.

[Anonymous]

Career related to

for interviewing:

1. Arrive Early and dress professionally for a big 4 job.

2. Bring questions to ask the interviewer.

3. listen to what interviewer says and try to relate how you can be successful in filling the job.

4. Arrive with a smile and positive attitude.

[Author]

Replies