By: Todd Long
Submitted: 2010-10-29 10:18:07 | Word Count: 1084
Passing the CPA exam can be a daunting undertaking, especially if you have heard of the vast number of people that have had to take several sections multiple times before finally getting their CPA. Below are 10 CPA preparation tips that have helped me pass the CPA, and I am quite confident that they will help you also. Pass the CPA exam you will, ultimately - it is inevitable unless you give up.
1)Obtain the Appropriate Mentality
Nobody said passing the CPA was easy. Passing the CPA exam is a tremendous undertaking that will require much tenacity and time before you will accomplish. Numerous people fail multiple sections multiple times before finally passing all 4 sections of the CPA. Brace yourself for the likelihood that you may fail several sections before passing all sections, and accept that as a typical part of the process of getting your CPA. But then, you'd want to remind yourself of preceding accomplishments that serve as solid validation of your mental capabilities, e.g. having a university degree. Multitudinous other people have persevered and passed the CPA exam ultimately, and you also will.
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2)Get Assistance From Loved Ones
Trying to pass the CPA is not an easy project, but you don't have to attempt it by yourself. You should request assistance from your friends & family by explaining to them reasons why you want to pass your CPA and how time-consuming this project is. If they're supportive of what you're trying to achieve, they may help you out with some of your present responsibilities (e.g. household chores such as cooking), and will understand if you can’t attend every social gathering.
3)Stay in Good Health
Poor health can cause deleterious effects on mental acumen, which in turn can greatly impact on your capability to think & study. Consume a balanced diet, exercise adequately, and most especially, get at least 6-8 hours of sleep every night, and take a 15-30 minute nap in between if you must. Also, don’t neglect to schedule regular rest breaks - these will assistance you to stay refreshed and focused, and will also help you to absorb knowledge better when you resume after the study break. Preparing for the CPA exam can be quite a battle. If you want to pass the exam, you need to keep both your mind and body in good condition.
4)Make Use of a Reputable CPA Exam Review Program
The top CPA review programs on the market come with DVD lectures that teach materials so much better than books do. The better CPA review courses will even include lists of practice exam problems spend time on, that have the highest likelihood of appearing on the live exam. The top CPA exam review programs include live support where you can call in to ask for further clarification on study materials, and receive answers and detailed clarification from live instructors. Undoubtedly, investing in a good CPA review program can drastically reduce your exam preparation time and improve your chances of passing the CPA exam.
5)Find a Study Buddy Or Two
Search out people that are also studying for CPA exams where you live and invite them to study together. CPAnet.com has a forum where you can post a request for study partners or browse requests from other people also looking for study partners. Create a strict study schedule and request for everyone to commit to it by not letting other obligations to interfere with the study schedule. Study buddies can help you to stay focused, and oftentimes two (or three) heads are better than one when it comes to working out tough questions or concepts. When you're feeling frustrated, your study buddies may be able to give you the support you need to continue - after all, they’re in the same boat as you and are in a position to understand what you're going through.
6)Only Take On One Section At a Time
People find it overwhelming when trying to tackle all four CPA exam sections at the same time. There's just too much material to cram into your brain at the same time. A more manageable way would be to concentrate only on studying for one section at a time, pass the exam for that section, take a break, and then start studying for the next section etc. Another piece of advice would be to try for the most difficult section first (the one that is hardest for you - this will vary from person to person), because as soon as you pass your first section, you only have 18 months to pass your remaining sections. Getting that most difficult section out of the way first will minimize your chances of running out of time and having the 18-month window expire on you.
7)Target Problem Areas
While reviewing materials you know the best may make you feel good, it certainly won't help your exam scores by much in the end. To get the best ROI for your study efforts, spend it on studying materials you have the most trouble with. Flip through all of your learning materials, identify your problem areas, and stay focused on them until you feel confident that you can handle them.
8)Remember to Take Notes
It is important to take lots of notes when you’re studying, so that you’ll have something to study from during the last few days before the actual exam. Because you'll be using mostly your short-term memory during the exam, materials you review during those last several days will be remembered best on your exam day. This small window of time is just not enough for you to go over all study materials from start to end, so be sure you have a good set of study notes that you can cram into your short-term memory during the last few precious days before your exam.
9)Use a Timer
While you're doing practice problems, time yourself like you're actually doing the exam. This will condition yourself to work under pressure and better prepare you for the actual exam. Also, by getting used to being timed, you’ll be less likely to panic on exam day when you don’t know the answer to a question.
10)Practice Makes Perfect
Try to do as many practice problems for as many times as you can. By doing so, you will know the materials better, and also feel more confident about passing the exam - both of which will result in increasing your actual exam score!
