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qualler
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Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 153

Posted: 29 Jun 2009 at 13:16 \| IP Logged

My study plan for REG, as refined by my successful plans for BEC and FAR:

1. Get through the lecture portion of my review course in 4 weeks, working through as many assigned MCQs in between lectures as possible (I am using Yaeger HomeStudy but this could apply to any review course).
2. Take extensive notes on all the lectures and take notes on each MCQ that I get wrong or get right but guessed. (THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP!)
3. Once through with steps 1 and 2, take a practice exam. At this point I should have 2 weeks left before I take REG.
4. Do a second run-through of the review material in a condensed format. For me, that means using the Yaeger CRAM course for REG.
5. Work MCQs and study handouts / prior notes / anything else for the final week leading up to the exam.
6. GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE THE EXAM! And for that matter, get a good night's sleep for the last few days before the exam. Be in a great mental state.
7. Go into the exam room and PASS. If you have completed steps 1 through 6 successfully, step 7 should feel like a relief and a reward for all the hard work you put in.

The way I think of this process is like this. The thorough review of all the material is like paving a road. You need the road to get to the exam. The condensed review is like building the car you need to get to the exam -- you have the road, now you tweak the car to make sure it's ready to go. Actually taking the exam is just the process of driving that car down the road you built. It's all about how hard you worked leading up to the exam that will make a difference on your score.

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS. Only your hard work will get you passing scores. I should know...it's taken me multiple tries to get passing scores, and the only way I've gotten passing scores is by truly putting the work in.

__________________
FAR - 56, 65, 67, 71, *78*
BEC - 60, 69, 71, *81*
AUD - 54, 67, 72, 74, *81*
REG - 49, 51, 66, 65, *78*
Ethics - *90*
Qualler, CPA
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TryingCPA
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Joined: 01 May 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 425

Posted: 29 Jun 2009 at 20:28 \| IP Logged

Qualler,

Your post above is wonderful. I'm taking REG 7/2/09 and I'm thinking through everything you just said. Good luck to you with REG!

__________________
FAR-85 (5/01/09)
BEC-83 (5/30/09)
REG-81 (7/02/09)
AUD-84 (8/03/09)

Daisycpa
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Joined: 14 Aug 2006
Location: United States
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Posts: 157

Posted: 30 Jun 2009 at 21:15 \| IP Logged

Thank you for your post Qualler. I will follow your studying techniques.

skiCO267
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Joined: 19 Jun 2009
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Posted: 04 Jul 2009 at 00:24 \| IP Logged

Agree with qualler. I printed off every single MCQ (Becker) and if there were answers I got wrong, I'd write down why in my own words, or rewrite a mneumonic if applicable. I feel like if you go through the questions a few times with this strategy, you form mental patterns (this was especially effective for me in FAR) and you'd know what to look for. Even if you don't know an answer exactly, you'd have a much better chance at a correct educated guess.

For the other nit-picky details I'd print off class notes on Becker (similar to Cliff's Notes) and would add my own detail to the outline. I found on the two exams I've taken so far that there are some questions the material hasn't emphasized so it's good to go over even what seems to be the most trivial of topics.

__________________
FAR - 95
AUD - 95
REG - 73, 93
BEC - 87

CPA, Colorado Board

Becker 2008 (AUD & FAR)
Becker 2009 (REG & BEC)

Nan - Louisiana
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Joined: 15 May 2009
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Posts: 699

Posted: 04 Jul 2009 at 00:58 \| IP Logged

Qualler - good plan.

I would add one step: Pre-calculate how many minutes you are going to spend on each testlet so that you can pace yourself effectively during the exam. This step made a LOT of difference - I kept myself from getting bogged down anywhere, and I also knew when I had time to take a final look at certain questions because I was ahead of my pre-determined pace.

I did everything you recommended except for 2 steps.

I never took any of the practice final exams. I made another pass through the MCQs instead until I was comfortable with the lot.

I stayed up all night to cram before every exam. I also reviewed my pre-calculated test pacing. The last-minute run-through added an extra 5+ points to my scores. What the heck ... I was too keyed up to sleep anyway, so might as well make the time productive.

I scheduled all my tests in the afternoon (it's when I focus the best on stuff), so I walked into each exam after having been continuously awake for 28 hours or thereabouts. Crazy, I know, but I did make sure I got a decent late breakfast first. Sudafed helped too.

I managed to pass anyway. Whatever works, works. Know thyself....

__________________
FAR - 85 - Nov 08
AUD - 98 - Feb 09
BEC - 88 - Apr 09
REG - 90 - May 09
Do it once, do it right, get it over with

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