[paigenicole628]

All of next week, I will be on an all girl beach trip with my future in-laws (already stressful enough), but I really don’t feel like I can take a week off of FAR and have any chance of catching back up. Since it’s with people who aren’t really MY family and they are being gracious enough to not charge me for any of the accommodations, I feel weird about ditching everyone for 5 hours a day to go study. Plus, you guys know how it is with people who don’t understand how the CPA exams work – they’ll say: “it won’t be a huge deal to take a whole week off, you’ll be fine, don’t worry! How hard can it be?!”.

Anyone have any tips for studying on the go or for fitting in quality review when on vacation or on the road? I’m thinking of bringing my flashcards to the beach, but I’m hoping some of y’all might have some better ideas! Thanks!

[turo9992000]

They will probably take it bad if you leave 5 hours a day to study. What time of the day were you planning on studying? If its early morning and late night, you could be ok. If its during the day, I would rather you not go. Tell them you appreciate them, but you have to pass the exam.

My friends and family know that I have to study, but they also think I could take days off to go to parties and stuff, I've had to be the bad guy that hates their family a lot during the last year.

[jombe]

when are you planning on taking the exam?
i was going to say, if you feel burnt out from studying, it's actually not that bad of a idea to take a week off.

i always studied for 3 months per section, 3~4 hours a day, 6 days a week, 1 day off.
after taking an exam, i took 1~2 weeks off depending on how burnt out i was.

FAR - 94 (10/4/15), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
AUD - 99 (1/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
REG - 96 (4/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ
BEC - 91 (7/19/16), Local Prep Online Lectures, BISK & NINJA MCQ

581 days of listening to lectures, reading texts & 10,000+ MCQs...

[paigenicole628]

@turo9992000 I am thinking of sneaking off for a couple of hours in the morning before everyone gets up and around. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has had to be the bad guy and leave parties early and whatnot.

@jombe I am trying to finish all exams before I start my Big 4 job in September (I've already taken REG & I'm halfway through FAR), so I'm a little pressed for time. It won't be the end of the world if I have to finish one up in the Fall though. During your days off, were you able to actually relax and recharge? I have tried taking Sundays as my rest day, but I always just end up in my head thinking about “how much I could do” during those hours that I am “relaxing”. I may just be too high strung, though.

[Anonymous]

I think you could sneak in some MCQs on the beach and maybe listen to some lectures without feeling like you are abandoning everyone. And then maybe read the textbook while in the hotel at night to feel like you are being somewhat productive.

[Recked]

I would probably try to spend at least an hour a day going over cumulative MCQs on stuff you have studied to date so at least you don't LOSE the information.
If you can't make progress, at least keep yourself from going backward.

Flash cards at the beach doesn't really sound like it will work out.
It was all or nothing for me. I tried to listen to audio while I walked on the treadmill or drove the car, never worked for me, nothing stuck.

[Tim]

I agree with Recked. I've kind of been on a studying hiatus myself (due to wedding and other stuff) but I've done a couple study sessions of MCQ's from the material I already covered in the meantime just to make sure it doesn't fall out of my head.

Also, breaks can definitely be a good thing and make your studying more effective, as long as they aren't too long. A week of light studying may be beneficial over the long run.

[Fred]

“Plus, you guys know how it is with people who don't understand how the CPA exams work – they'll say: “it won't be a huge deal to take a whole week off, you'll be fine, don't worry!” haha I've gotten that one before.

I would say if you don't think you'll enjoy the vacation even if you didn't study during it then study in the morning and at night this way you won't be rude or sneak it in somehow. Maybe listen to lectures when nobody knows.

If you feel like this vacation will be a stress relief if you don't decide to study during it then maybe its best to take a break.

[Anonymous]

Invest in an iPad. Do MCQs on the beach as well as read the chapters. You can also read for about an hour in the morning and an hour at night and then squeeze in 2 hours of MCQ while on the beach and you've had a productive week.

If someone gives you a hard time about the exam make sure you tell them that FAR has a 42% pass rate and half of that 42% is retakes.

[Author]

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