[jeff]

Hey! The NINJAs are giving away 3 pair of Powerbeats 2 Wireless earbuds – your choice of color.

In the video, I said that they were $200-$300, but they’re actually $150-ish (the mall walker distracted me, I think and I was thinking of the over-the-ear headphones). SO … I’ll give away 3 pair instead of 1.

To Enter: Post your best advice or “tip” for anything CPA Exam or accounting related…it can be CPA Exam, Busy Season, Resume, Big 4, Interview, Getting Hired/Fired, etc. Please label your tip.

Example:

[CPA Exam Tip]: Always take the 1pm exam – never the 8am. You’ll have more time to study and there’s no risk of oversleeping

or

[Big 4 Tip]: During networking events – don’t be the dude throwing back the beers. Nurse it. You can pound beers later when it won’t matter if you make a fool out of yourself.

etc.

**Please do NOT post something like “buy company ____ and you’ll pass” … that’s spam, not a tip***

(Unless it’s NINJA – then NINJA spam is always welcome, encouraged, and appreciated.)

Who Wins? On Friday (1/29 – deadline to enter is 12pm Eastern), I will randomly pick three posters from this thread. I’ll use the RANDBETWEEN function in excel to pick the post(s).

No purchase required to enter…void where prohibited…must be 18 to win, etc.

I will also toss in a NINJA Audio of the winners’ choice – since it goes so well with the earbuds 🙂

One entry per person, please 🙂

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

[Whit]

[CPA Exam Tip]: Read each question carefully!

[Anonymous]

[CPA Exam Tip]: Make sure you have enough time to study, if your not ready you can move your exam back for FREE. But make sure your within the time frame to finish all the exams if you started them.

[CPAfit]

[CPA Exam Tip]: try to get to the Prometric at least an hour early to avoid traffic and getting late.

[Carrie]

[CPA Exam Tip]: You can never do too many MCQs! Make sure you understand why an answer is right/wrong and don't memorize the answer. You'd be surprised how easily and quickly you can have the answers memorized.

[Anonymous]

[Busy Season Tip]: As I am going through my second busy season right now, my advice is to really engage with you team and get to know them. The stress of late nights and work overload eases a little when you can take a break and sing songs like “Let it Snow”, “Don't Worry, Be Happy” together haha. Seriously though. Create an environment that allows you to be you while getting the work done, or you'll just sit there and be miserable. Trust me I've seen it!

[denivathar]

[CPA Exam Tip] If you come across an AMT question on REG and you are completely unsure what the answer is here is a tip if you guess. Unless you can eliminate it, the answer that will result in the highest AMT liability is usually the correct answer.

REG - 94 (2/1/2016)
BEC - 88 (2/27/2016)
FAR - 86 (5/7/2016)
AUD - 89 (5/31/2016)

Using Becker Live Classes plus Ninja Audio

[Pass and get mo money]

[CPA Exam Tip]: Mcq is the best resource you can have. If you're short on time and cannot get through all the material, pound the mcq and take notes after reading the question's explanation (including why the wrong answers were wrong). I highly recommend Wiley Test Bank and Ninja Mcq due to the quantity of mcq they provide and descriptive explanations they contain

REG - 86
AUD - 78
BEC - 80
FAR - 6/9/16

[myuse]

[CPA Exam Tip]: Don't forgo exercise for studying. Set up a strict exercise schedule, the activity will help with stress as well as discipline.

[NinjaMark]

[CPA Exam Tip]

If you are not affected by busy season, schedule your most difficult test in Q1-Q2. Most other people will have the disadvantage of longer hours and may not perform as well on a busy window.

[letitbe2015]

[Exam Prep/Life Tip Directed at parents of young kids]

Don't feel guilty when you have to leave your kids with your spouse/significant other to go to the nearby library to get some studying done for a few hours…studying at home with a very active toddler that will watch Caillou 24/7 if allowed = stab me in the ears!!!!

Remember why you started this journey. Don't beat yourself up for not getting it done before starting a family. You are not alone. Breathe…don't start a pity party and by all means stop finding excuses!!! Buckle down and give it your all and give it some more…your spouse and kids will thank you when instead of being stuck in 35″ of snow, you can treat them to a tropical vacation.

[shan_rub]

Taking the CPA exam is a huge commitment for not only yourself but your family. Be sure to let them know how appreciative you are through this grueling process. With a family and full time job, I find studying early each morning (4 am) is the easiest. It's quiet and kids aren't up yet. Find the best time that works for you and commit. DO NOT GIVE UP! There is a light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to keep going forward to reach it!

[vtecgreen]

[CPA Exam Tip] – Take it as close to graduating as you can. I can promise you that waiting, thinking you'll have time when you start your career is not good advice (coming from a 33yo father of 2 with a full time job).

[Gigi1605]

First of all, I am very different as many people that posted their passing scores. I had been struggling for two years tow pass the even one part of the CPA exam. I had study with different software, I had spend a lot of money and then at the end I am so afraid to fail that I decide to postpone the exam. I just took audit one time and of course I fail. I had never feel connected with they way the Cpa software teach. No information stick into my head plus the nervous kill me. Finally I discovered ninja and the way Jeff shows the concepts and emphasize on the important topics make me feel more secure. I had my test on February 27, and the only advise I can give so far is that find the best match between you and your way of learning. Finally I think I found mine which is Jeff with the Kansas accent and the funny jokes that make interested. I got the email for the audio MCQ's and I am getting them before Friday for sure. Jeff thanks for keeping us motivate it in different ways. I hope I win some thing so I can listen to your audios. You are the best

[Oimie]

[CPA Exam Tip]: To those whom have yet to pass the AUDIT exam; Go through all the lectures and the entire textbook within as short amount of time as possible. And by short, I mean within a few days; best within 3; no more than a week. Push and skip all MCQs until you are entirely done with the lectures and textbook.The main reason for this method is because it will improve your chance of understanding audit better. Let me elaborate. Audit is much like a food recipe; you go from one step to the next until you are done with the entire thing. If you are learning multiple steps, details and side information each day for 30 days straight, you're most likely going to forget what you learned 2 weeks ago. You will end up mixing up the steps and confusing yourself, getting lost in all the little details. Instead find a good time where you can camp at home for 3 days straight and go through the entire thing. By the end of 3 days, your brain will remember clearly what you learned just 2 days ago. You will see the big picture clearly, which is the audit procedure, as well as all the small details and side information.

FAR 85 June 2015
AUD 80 Nov 2015
REG 83 Nov 2015
BEC 79 Feb 2016

[Anonymous]

You don't have to drop $3000 to study for the CPA exam. I'm 3/3 so far and only have REG left (taking 4/6/16). My strategy has been to give myself 3 months to study for each section. I use Ninja MCQ and old 2013 Becker Books as reference material. A friend of mine has been loaning these to me. It has been cheap and very effective. I just keep drilling myself with MCQ until I feel confident. I have also taken 3 days off work prior to each test to “cram.” Sounds too easy but it works!

[Author]

Replies