[Miles]

To those whom have taken and passed any of the exams,

Looking back on your experience, What is the best piece of advice (other than studying hard) you would give candidates studying to take their first exam?

[Jdn9201]

My #1 piece of advice would be (especially to recent college grads) is know how you learn, and try to tailor everything you do to prepare and take the exams around that. You will see many tips on this board, from study program teachers, and many other people about the exams. Some tips are good, and some aren't – people learn differently. Some tips will work for you and some won't. For example – especially under the old format – I read on here to not take breaks while taking the exam. However, I perform much better when I work for short, intense periods rather than extended periods. By the time I took FAR (I left it last on purpose), I took a break during every testlet. I am also not a morning person. Every exam I took was at 1:30 pm, either on Sundays or Mondays. My point is that chances are, how you studied in college probably hasn't changed from how you should study now. I think you give yourself the best chance to pass by doing as much as you can to tailor the material and the testing itself to your personal learning style, rather than copy someone elses's.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Miles]

Thank you for your response. Yeah I've been studying for about 3 weeks with Becker for BEC.

Rather than attempt to just memorize everything off the bat, I've been moving through the sections taking good notes to “trim some of the fat off”. Once I finish 90% of the sections, I'll go back and review my notes in-depth a few weeks before the exam.

[A]

Try to ignore the “THIS IS SOoooOoo HARD” hype. While it's not a walk in the park, the CPA exam isn't impossible. Put in quality study time and you can pass.

B - 77 (2.27.16)
A - 81 (4.18.16)
R -
F -

Roger Review + Ninja MCQs

[TommyTheCat]

good luck Miles. I agree with mecrushya. Don't let the exam psych you out. That being said, don't take it lightly. If you give it enough time and study diligently you will do well. My advice is don't take it lightly but don't also put it in your mind as some insurmountable task.

I put off the exams for nearly 10 years while I worked myself up the ranks and moved from Big 4 to various other jobs, thinking the exam was some crazy insurmountable juggernaut that I'd need to put my life on hold for a year or two to pass. Now that it's the only thing holding me back from making partner I have gotten serious about it, started studying back in September and have two under my belt already. I have realized the exam is difficult but not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Proper preparation is the key to achieve that mindset. It's not a test of intelligence, just a test of how good you are at studying and preparing and retaining knowledge across a vast subject matter, without having to get TOO deep into the details of it all.

I am using Roger and working his plan. His study outlines and calendars are great and if you put in the time and dont rush things you'll do just fine. Whatever review course or approach you decide on I strongly suggest putting together a realistic study calendar or plan and sticking to it. I find that 2 hours a night ever other day works best, with it getting racheted up the week or two prior to exam.

Kick its ass man welcome to the process good luck.

[Author]

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