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Subject Topic: I passed, so here are some tips! (Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post ReplyPost New Topic
  
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Hax.
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Joined: 05 Oct 2009
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Posted: 20 Dec 2009 at 18:53 | IP Logged  

So I found out I just passed the CPA exam (yay!) and I just wanted to write out what worked for me and random things that may help others who are looking for some guidance.  For some reason, I'm not like super happy about passing. I think it hasn't hit me yet......Anyways!

 

Random background information to keep in mind while reading:

 

My prep tool was Becker, I was not working for three of the exams, and I was a 3.5 GPA student. I luckily did not need any retakes and I took all my exams in 2 windows. . After each exam, with the exception of REG, I felt very unsure if I passed.  

 

 

My Study Strategy:

 

  1. Watch all the lectures and writing the notes that the lecturers told me to do.
  2. Go through the book and make notes on white paper of what I thought was important.
  3. Do the homework questions and mark anything that I got wrong or took longer than 2 minutes to finish.
  4. Do 1-3 for all chapters then go through each chapter to memorize the material.
  5. Attempt to do all the HW questions a 2nd or 3rd time.
  6. Do the final exams MCQ 3-7 days before my exam. Did not touch simulations

 

My random tips (they may work for you or not!):

  1. The test is generally not super specific, so look at the %s that material is most likely to be tested and study that. For example, for Audit, you know that most of the test is going to be Planning, Substantive Procedures, and Internal control, so focus on that first, then if you have more time to spare, do the specific stuff.
  2. Try to take the exam in the time between graduating and starting work. You’ll thank me later.
  3. Get in the habit of studying. Just tell yourself you have to study on x day and make sure you do it. My biggest motivation was that I did not want to study + work at the same time.
  4. Your time may be better spent away from studying simulations. I touched FARE simulations, but after taking FARE, I never studied the sims again. I felt the simulations were not very representative of what would remotely be on the exam. This is just my opinion, but I may have been lucky.  
  5. When you take the test, give yourself XX minutes per testlet and be STRICT about it. Once time is up, move on. It’s better to get through the test than to struggle over 1-2 problems.

 

My results (ranked from hardest to easiest):

 

AUD – 12 Days (6 weekends) – 6 hrs a day – 78 –My best advice – focus on planning, substantive procedures and internal controls (A3, A4 and A1).

 

FARE – 1.5 months – 6 hrs a day 6 days a week – 85 - My best advice – Don’t go nuts over governmental/NFP.

 

BEC – 5 days – 8 hrs a day – 80 - My best advice – focus on B3-5.

 

REG – 4 weeks – 5 hrs a day – 95 – My best advice – I heard tax was a big part of the test, so I focused on that and it paid off.

 

This website was a big help! It made passing so much easier. I took from what many others did, so I thought I'd at least share what I did.

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lelik
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Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: United States
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Posts: 1396
Posted: 21 Dec 2009 at 13:37 | IP Logged  

Hax, congratulations!

Though, I don't agree that people should necessarily try to take the exam before finding a job. :-) Not having kids is much more important. :-) I worked full-time (though, 8:30 to 5, not a single day of overtime) while taking the exam, and it didn't disturb me in any way. I would say that it was a nice "change of scenery". Just studying can be too boring. :-) 

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Hax.
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Joined: 05 Oct 2009
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Posts: 15
Posted: 21 Dec 2009 at 16:04 | IP Logged  

lelik - Thank you!

Ohhhhh, I should fix that point.

I meant more as those who already have job offers and are
waiting to start work. Those people should try to take the
test before starting work.

If you don't have a job and you need to work, then that is
the priority! Not the CPA!

Ahhhhh, no overtime, that's the life. Can we trade jobs? :D
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lelik
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Joined: 21 Mar 2006
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1396
Posted: 22 Dec 2009 at 09:25 | IP Logged  

Hax, it's all in your own hands. :-) One of my requirements to ANY job is absolutely NO overtime - never (well, once a year is o.k.) and no stress (dying at 35 from a heart attack is not my top-priority). My life is too precious to me, and as much as I adore my colleagues (great people! really!), I still prefer spending time with my family, friends, and books.
So, I have never wanted to be in public accounting, and I will never be.



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olegkatz
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Joined: 30 Sep 2009
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Posts: 62
Posted: 25 Dec 2009 at 13:33 | IP Logged  

hey, quick question here, i do pretty good on my BEC homework questions for becker, but i dont understand some of the concepts most of the questions i did right because i just memorized the concepts/formulas. do you think its enough to pass the BEC section? thanks< id="gwProxy" ="">< ="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" ="">
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