[Anonymous]

Assume I havent studied (even tho I have, but nowhere near as much as I would like). Which is the best material to use for 20 days of studying?

[CPAlife04]

I was the same position last November, I used NINJA to complete a 3 week review. It worked great but I fell short by 3 points. I feel that was on me because I did not study as much as a should have during that time due to having two small children and an extremely demanding job that had me working 12 hour days.

In short, go with NINJA and view Jeff's 21 day video.

Audit: 11/28/15 (72) April 2016
Regulation: 2016
Financial: 2016
Business: 2016
NINJA

"The CPA exam is not a test of my ability, it is a test of my will. I have the will!"

[Anonymous]

Books. When I took the exam, Wiley was the only one with a really good book; NINJA's book wasn't written yet, nor was Roger's. Which book doesn't matter, though; any book will do, as long as it's intended to be comprehensive, so probably whatever book you already have will suit. Point is, for a 20-day review time, a book is your best friend. Read the book from start to finish. You can read way faster than a lecturer can talk. So, in 5 hours of reading, you can cover a lot more material than you can in 5 hours of watching lectures. Then after you read the book cover-to-cover (well, not including indexes and such, but you get the point), do practice questions.

[Tncincy]

has anyone had any success going the 20 day route? I'm sure it's possible, but there will be no room to breathe. Wiley is a dull book, can anyone stand a 5 hour reading marathon?

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Anonymous]

My problem with Wiley is also that it is so dry. But if it works Ill bare through it

I have done the 20 day route but it was with BEC. I dont see how that section isnt closer to an 80% pass rate. It expired and I will be taking it again soon so ill do the 20 day route again if I run out of time.

[Anonymous]

I've done approximately 20 days with Wiley…and I did my reading in 5-hour stints if I didn't work that day (weekends etc.). Most of the books took about 4 5-hour reading days, though I think FAR took 6 if I remember right, then I'd do a couple weekends of MCQs and be ready for final review week.

I took AUD less than a month after FAR, and I took a week off in between, so that would've been about 20 days for it. REG was about 20 days of study, too – officially was studying it for more like a month, but started a new job at the start of that month, so for the first week or two of the month, was really just working on the new job and didn't do much at all with REG, so basically 20 days of study. FAR I did more like 6 weeks for, and BEC was my first so I studied off-and-on through tax season, then studied for 3-4 weeks after tax season before taking it, cause I was too scared to try anything short with it. 🙂

I wouldn't generally recommend the 20 day route, but it is possible. And…Wiley's books surely are not interesting, but they are thorough. If you can stomach them, they'll teach you everything you need to know. Whether you can learn it from their dry style is another question, but they'll teach it at least.

[Missy]

Personally I think the Ninja material is most concise for trying to squeeze a lot into a small window. But I'd focus more on putting in the time for each section that is required if you're finding yourself trying to knock sections out without adequate preparation over and over again.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[silvercamaro77]

NINJA MCQ's hands down. If you're really struggling with a topic after working a lot of MCQ's read up on it some in the book, but MCQ's are really where I've gotten the bulk of what I've learned for all the parts.

AUD- 95
FAR- 75
BEC- 83
REG- 85

Officially done! Exclusively used NINJA for BEC, REG, and FAR

[silvercamaro77]

NINJA MCQ's hands down. If you're really struggling with a topic after working a lot of MCQ's read up on it some in the book, but MCQ's are really where I've gotten the bulk of what I've learned for all the parts.

AUD- 95
FAR- 75
BEC- 83
REG- 85

Officially done! Exclusively used NINJA for BEC, REG, and FAR

[nib]

when i analyze my failure , i guess i should have given more study time to problem areas .

so i will suggest you the same .I guess read your notes again so that you wont forget it ., but focus more on weak areas ,formulas , sims …formulas give ur easy marks . sims will give you more confidence .weak areas study will make you strong in that areas .

[Anonymous]

Ninja Blitz videos helped me. My last FAR attempt, I watched the Becker videos for F1 and F2 and then got lazy and took a study break that lasted a month and a half. I watched the Ninja Blitz videos to understand the key concepts and looked thru my Becker book to review things I was having a tough time grasping. My review lasted about a week total. I ended up coming out with a 74. I didn't pass, but the Blitz videos gave me a better chance than I would have had. I think they cover the most material (and most important) in the shortest amount of time.

[Author]

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