Best Way To Study For Cpa Exam

Dont Stress Waiting For Cpa Exam Results

And the wait does begin after your test is done: but it shouldnt consume you. If youre finished with even one section: take a breath and congratulate yourself. If you have more sections to complete, take a short break, then begin studying for those. If youre done your last section, its time to celebrate.Either way, dont stress out over your score release. It is not a long window. You shouldnt worry about or try to guess your CPA exam score while you wait.

CPA exam scores will be released on set score release dates. The exam data is sent from Prometric to the AICPA within 24 hours and released on a specific date after that receipt. You can find score release date examples on the AICPA website.

For example, if you took the test on or before January 20 and the AICPA receives the exam data file the same day, you will get your score by February 4.

Hopefully, your preparation will pay off. If not, you can retake that portion of the test.

How Do I Pass The Cpa Exam On My First Try

If you commit the right length of time to studying, you can pass the CPA exam on the first try. There are many methods that can help you succeed.

Most CPA review courses focus extensively on huge banks of multiple choice questions and task-based simulations. These reflect as closely as possible both the content and the delivery style of the test itself. This practice is the core of studying for the CPA exam.

Our CPA Course Comparison page has more information about the relative benefits of the top four CPA courses on the market: Surgent CPA Review, Roger CPA Review Course, Gleim CPA Review, Wiley CPAExcel, and Becker vs Roger CPA.

The knowledge itself can be learned through video courses, audio content, live lectures, flashcards, and textbooks. Review courses usually provide various formats, so you can find one that best suits your preferences.

Because many students are also working full time while they study, some courses offer micro-learning opportunities, which break the material into bite-sized chunks. For example, Surgent CPA Review uses 10 to 20-minute video segments. Each one comes with relevant practice questions, slides, and notes for quick and effective study sessions.

Whichever study path you choose, intensive, concentrated study is the only way to pass the CPA exam on the first try.

Line Up Studying With Your Exam Date

At this point, you know how many weeks you have to study until your exam. Create a study schedule that gets through the materials two weeks or so before your exam date so you can have a few weeks for a final review and practice exams. If you purchased CPA Exam study materials with a built-in study planner, ensure you put in your exact exam date and the software will create a study plan for you.

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Am I Required To Be A Us Resident To Sit For The Cpa Exam

No. The accounting profession is becoming increasingly global in nature, and the AICPA recognizes that accountants from outside the U.S. may find it professionally advantageous to hold licensure in the states. These individuals have two options: off-site locations for the CPA exam, or an alternative exam geared toward practicing accountants in foreign countries.

Non-U.S. accountants may sit for the entire exam in some overseas locations. NASBA has partnered with Prometric to establish testing sites in Japan, Brazil, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. Registration logistics are similar to those experienced by stateside CPAs: applicants must examine potential jurisdictions’ eligibility requirements and choose one. Even though the physical testing site is outside of the U.S., all applicants must identify a jurisdiction that will grant CPA credentials after exam completion.

All U.S. jurisdictions participate in international CPA exam testing except:

NTS accommodations are for those taking the test in the U.S. and its territories. International locations might not be able to provide accommodations. International surcharges are nonrefundable if you switch from an international testing location to a domestic one.

The following countries have mutual recognition agreements that allow accountants to sit for the IQEX:

Difficulty At Or Above Exam Level

On the CPA Exam, the AICPA typically includes one or two answer options meant to distract you from the right answer. Getting these questions right can be tricky if you dont have the right practice materials! At UWorld, our dedicated team of experts invests thousands of hours in developing statistically-valid, high-quality questions that mimic what students will see on exam day.

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Cpa Exam Final Review

The final review is essential to knowing if you are ready to take the CPA exam.

A CPA review course may provide a final review for you. Either way, be sure you engage in final studying to review everything youve learned before you take the test.

This should include a thorough review in each of the four exam sections and revisiting all of your multiple choice questions, task-based simulations, and flashcards.

Learn What To Study For The Cpa Exam

Resource

If you’re preparing to sit for the CPA Exam, youll want to learn more about whats tested and how youre tested. For Exam content, look no further than the CPA Exam Blueprints. We encourage you to review this highly-important resource that contains valuable information to aid your studies. The Blueprints are typically published one to two times per year and detail the minimum level of knowledge and skills you must have to qualify for initial licensure. Download the appropriate Blueprints below and use in conjunction with other Exam preparation materials available to you.

Within the Blueprints, you will find the following information for each Exam section:

• Content organized by Area, Group and Topic along with score weighting

• Sample task statements that represent what you may be asked to do when testing

• Skill levels at which tasks are tested

• Reference materials that support the sample task statements

• Number of item types you must complete

• Score weighting of each item type

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How Much Does The Cpa Exam Cost

NASBA has established a fee schedule for each exam section, but keep in mind that fees are managed by boards of accountancy in individual states and jurisdictions check carefully for variations. Additional fees may be charged for transcript reviews or online license verification. Generally, future CPAs can expect to spend about $1,000 on all four sections of the exam.

A Steady Study Pace Wins Every Time

Heres some important advice: space out your studying. Dont cram, and absolutely dont wait until the last minute to start reviewing the material.

When it comes to studying for major exams like the CPA Exam, scientists have found that studying in short bursts over long periods of time is much better than studying for long hours over a short period of time . For most of us, we can only effectively absorb information for so long. If we sit and study for too long, we start to lose focus, and our brains simply cant retain as much information.

Study in the Morning

Scientific studies show that most people are at their peak productivity in the morning. I know that for me personally, if I have important tasks to take care of, I do them first thing in the morning. We tend to have a clear mind in the AM. Our brains arent cluttered with the stresses that build up during the day. For that reason, most people retain information better in the morning rather than the evening.

Of course, we all have busy lives. Your personal, family, or work commitments might prevent you from studying in the morning. In fact, I know a lot of CPAs who had to stay up late after everyone else in the house had already gone to bed. If you have to study in the evening, at least find a quiet and dedicated space that you can use on a daily basis.

Develop a Realistic Study Plan

Plan Your Schedule

Your CPA Exam Review Course Can Help

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Thinking About A Cpa Tutor Fill Out This Form To Get More Information

Stephanie Ng is the Executive Committee member responsible for Finance at New Sight Eye Care, a charity registered in the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. She oversees the financial aspect of New Sight in Hong Kong, including accounting, taxation, financial management, and compliance.

She began her career as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers in New York and Morgan Stanley in Hong Kong. She later joined her client to work in the Group Finance Department, where she spent five years specializing in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and debt refinancing. She also extended her role to management accounting and financial accounting and obtained her U.S. CPA qualification.

Stephanie also is a published author of the book How to Pass the CPA Exam. Additionally, she createdI Pass the CPA Exam, the first CPA help site in 2010. Her guidance and mentorship have helped hundreds of thousands of candidates pass their exams.

Stephanie graduated with Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Chicago, majoring in economics with a second concentration in public policy studies.

You can find Stephanie on and on Twitter where she writes under the@ipassthecpaexam handle.

Form A Support Network

Your Exam journey doesnt have to be a solo act. Look to others to support you during this important time. Get advice and encouragement from your personal network of colleagues, mentors, study partners, friends, and family.

Your employer can also play a valuable role in supporting you. Some employers provide time off to study, financial assistance, or just general guidance throughout your Exam journey.

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Cpa Exam Hacks And Shortcuts

These two simple strategies saved me 45 hours of my life and regardless of how you learn best there are ways to refine your studying habits and do the same. If you have been using a CPA study materials that arent aligned with your personal learning preferences then I highly suggest you take a look at my CPA Review Course Comparison Chart to compare alternative options that will increase your chances of passing. Then make sure to get the best deal with Crush the CPAs exclusive discounts.

If you know of any other study hacks, shortcuts, tips or techniques that have helped YOU study more efficiently, please share with everyone in the comment box below. People helping people thats what its all about folks so share your knowledge and help out your fellow colleagues!

Find A Cpa Exam Community

Finding peers who are a few steps ahead of you in the CPA exam process is crucial to saving time and avoiding rookie mistakes.

But dont just find any CPA exam community.

You want one that is moderated by CPAs and is full of positive people who understand how to pass the CPA exam.

Kesler CPA Review has one of the largest and most active private study groups available that has all of this.

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Dont Give Up When Prepping For The Cpa Exam

At many points during this arduous journey you may feel discouraged.

Avoid completely losing steam by adding rest periods to your schedule, and celebrating wins along the way.

Get excited about conquering new material. When you pass a section of the exam, give yourself a few days off, celebrate, and get back at it.

And if you fail a section of the exam, dont beat yourself up.

After all, over half of the people who take the CPA exam dont pass it the first time. Thats not a good reason to give up. Some review courses specialize in candidates who are taking another go after an unsuccessful attempt.

You can do this.

Give Yourself A Break

Study regularly and study efficiently, but give yourself a day of rest. If you dont, youll quickly burn out and not get the most from your study sessions. Pick one day a week to do anything, as long it is completely non-CPA Exam related. Itll help revitalize you and make you look forward to something on a weekly basis thatll make the months of study much easier to knock out.

Utilize these tips to ensure you get the most out of your study time and go into each section of the CPA Exam completely ready. Remember why youre putting so much time and effort into this venture. Stay positive and good luck! You can do it!

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Ready To Start Studying For The Cpa Exam

Committing to a course of study and having all of the right tools is essential to passing the CPA exam. Gathering all of your study resources, choosing a CPA review course, and dedicating time and energy to your studies will be the vital components that contribute to your success.

Ready to shop for the best CPA review course for you? Learn the pros, cons, costs and inside scoop for the top CPA review courses on the market, and get started!

How Many Hours To Study For The Far Cpa Exam

FAR is widely considered the one of the most difficult sections of the CPA exam due to the sheer volume and range of topics covered on the exam. Even if you have a strong foundation in financial accounting you should be prepared to spend as much or more time studying for FAR than any other section.

FAR generally covers everything that would be included within a set of financial statements: Every main balance sheet and income statement account, the statement of cash flows, statement of equity, notes to the financial statements, and more. None of these individual topics are particularly difficult, but remembering everything is nearly impossible. The key is to stay sharp enough on most of the material to give yourself the best chance of passing.

Heres what youll see on the FAR exam:

• 66 multiple-choice questions
• 8 task-based simulations

Given the breadth of content covered by the FAR exam, most prep companies recommend studying 100-120 hours for the FAR section of the CPA exam.

TOP FAR CPA Exam Study Tips

• As you progress through your CPA review course, periodically quiz yourself on the earlier sections so the material stays fresh in your mind
• If you didnt take any governmental accounting courses in college , set aside extra time to study this material for the CPA exam.

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What Does The Cpa Test Consist Of

The CPA test consists of four individual test sections. These cover each of the main categories in public accounting:

Each section of the CPA exam will take one hour. You have to pass all four sections within 18 months. For each section, you have to score a minimum of 75 to pass. You can retake failed sections but you will have to wait until the next testing window.

Most of the test consists of multiple-choice questions and task-based simulations . The questions are simply answered by selecting the best choice answer.

The simulations require critical thought and problem-solving. It will be essential to become familiar with the question delivery style and possible tasks you will have to perform to pass the CPA exam.

Far Updated For Cpa Exam Blueprints

The Board of Examiners with the AICPA periodically publishes updated CPA exam blueprints.

Updates can include new content, adjusted skill levels, changes to the number of items on the test, and the addition of new reference materials.

A good CPA review course will update their material regularly, so youll be covering everything you need to know for the latest version of the FAR test.

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Plan For Your Journey To The Prometric Center

Have you ever been to Fort Knox?

If not, you will have a somewhat similar experience visiting your local Prometric Testing center.

They take cheating that seriously .

Prometric is a national standardized test taking center that works with NASBA to proctor your exams.

Here is a quick list of everything you need to know before entering a Prometric Center.

Watch The Video Lectures

The Becker courses include instructor-led videos that are reputable for the thoroughness of their content. Therefore, I suggest watching all videos in your course.

If you take notes, youll stay more engaged in the lectures. Although the videos are 10-60 minutes long, they are presented in 2-5 minute sections. So, pause the lectures when needed to get caught up on your notes.

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Aicpa Recommends You Study Between 300

My recommendation is that you should ignore that recommendation and just focus on your personal situation, your work schedule and your family life.

If you are a slower learner then you are going to need more time and you will need to adapt.

Passing the CPA exam is all about maximizing your short term memory so the quicker you can sit for the exam the better.

This may sound counter intuitive but the less time you give yourself to study, the more pressure you are going to feel to get things done and the faster you will get through the material and the more fresh it will be on exam day.

Think of it this way.

If you give yourself 16 weeks to study, you will burn yourself out.

You won’t feel pressure to get studying done early on.

You will also have a much harder time remembering what you taught yourself in the early weeks because it will be stale by exam day and out of your short term memory.