12:43 a.m. - 2010-06-04
Passing the CPA Exam - Some Helpful Tips
Passing the CPA exam may be a daunting project, especially if you have heard of the number of people that have had to sit through more than one section several times before finally passing the CPA exam. What follows are a number of CPA prep tips that have helped me pass the CPA, and I'm certain that they will serve you well too. Pass the CPA exam you will, finally ¨C unless you give up, it is inevitable.
1)Adopt the Correct Outlook
This is a large project that will call for lots of time and effort in order to accomplish. Numerous people fail multiple sections multiple times before eventually passing all four sections of the CPA exam. Brace yourself for the possibility that you may fail multiple sections before you can pass them, and accept that as a normal part of the process of preparing for and passing the CPA. But then, you'd want to remind yourself of earlier accomplishments that serve as concrete validation of your capabilities, for example getting your college degree. Countless other people have persevered and passed the CPA exam at last, and you will also.
Attempting the CPA is not a simple project, however you do not have to go about it alone. You should ask for assistance from your friends and family by telling them the reasons why you want to pass the CPA and how time-consuming and complicated this undertaking is.
3)Stay in Great Health
Poor health has harmful effects on mental acumen, which in turn can seriously impact on the ability to think and study. Eat a nutritious diet, get adequate exercise, and most importantly, get a minimal of 6-8 hours of sleep every night, and take a 15-30 minute nap in between if you need to. In order to pass the exam, you need to keep your body and mind in great condition.
4)Purchase a Useful CPA Review Program
The best CPA exam review courses on the market today come with DVD lectures that teach difficult concepts much better than printed words can. In short, investing in a good CPA review course can really cut your exam prep time and better your chances of passing the CPA exam.
5)Find a Study Buddy Or Two
Create a strict schedule and ask everyone to commit to it by scheduling other obligations around it. Studying with other people can help you to stay focused, and two (or three) heads are often better than one when it comes to solving tough concepts or questions. When you're feeling frustrated, your study buddies may just give you the support you need to keep going - after all, they're in the same position you are and are in a position to understand how you feel.
6)Concentrate on One Section At a Time
There's too much material to familiarize yourself with all at once. Another piece of advice would be to study the most challenging section first (the one that is most difficult 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 the other 3 sections. Getting rid of that most difficult section first will minimize your chances of running out of time and having the 18-month window expire on you.
7)Target Problem Areas
Browse through all of your learning materials, identify your problem areas, and focus on them
It is crucial to take ample notes when you're studying, so that you'll have something to review during the last several days before the actual exam. 9)Use a Stopwatch
When doing practice questions, time yourself as if you're actually doing the exam. This will train your brain to perform under time constraints and prepare you more effectively for the actual exam. 10)Practice, Practice, and More Practice
Try to do as many practice problems for as many times as you can. By doing so, you will understand the material better, and also feel more positive about passing the exam - both of which will help increase your exam score!
Passing the CPA exam can be easy! Find out about how Dave Bryant has ultimately managed to pass three previously-failed CPA sections over the course of 10 months, with impressive scores, in his CPA Exam Blog.
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