Anyone who is thinking about the CPA exam will likely be worried and need to spend time preparing. It involves more than studying for the exam. The exam is a big deal, and you don’t want to fail. You should be assessing how you learn best as well as make a plan for your study process.
Study with Tutorials and Sample Tests
When you’re studying for the certified public accountant exam, you’ll want to use a study guide online or books on the exam itself. Along with study guides, there are sample tests that will help you learn what you don’t already know. For example, if you answer a question incorrectly, it’s vital to understand why you were wrong, and what the correct answer actually is.
Many tutorials and sample tests online have an app, which will work like a downloaded set of index cards. These work like flash cards to test yourself wherever you are. You don’t have to worry about finding time to study. The flash cards are available while you’re on the train, commuting to work or school as well as laying in bed at night unable to sleep. With flash cards, you can have friends and family help you study too.
Learn to Manage Your Time
The exam is a computer-based test that takes 14 hours to complete. The test is broken into 4 sections, which include Auditing and Attestation, Business Environment and Concepts, Financial Accounting and Reporting and Regulation. The total time of the exam is 14 hours, but each section can be taken at different times.
Once you sit for one part of the exam, you have an 18-month window in which to take the rest of the sections. You’ll need to learn how to manage your time effectively to ensure that you take all four sections within that window of time. This means planning out each section with enough time before to study.
Exam Partners Through AICPA
The AICPA is one of the best resources for those who will be sitting for the exams since they are the ones who created it along with the input of NASBA. On their site, they have free practice exams and study guides, but you can also use the platform to find others who will be studying too. This is the best place to find others who can help you study.
You need a study buddy if you hope to pass the exam. While friends and family might be willing to help, they won’t be able to study with you as much as you need. This studying can become like a full-time job, and you’ll need someone who is as dedicated as you are. There’s a candidate group with a LinkedIn connection that will give you resources and connect you with others.
Plan the Exam
Each section is a certain number of hours. It can last throughout an entire day, which means that you’ll need to keep track of your timing to ensure you finish before the deadline. Imagine that you spend too much time in the morning on section 1, and in the afternoon, you’re racing to finish.
It’s better to pace out each part of the exam and time yourself, so that you’re able to finish on time. Practice this timing while you’re studying to ensure you have the rhythm down and are able to finish the tests on time.
The CPA exam can be intimidating because it’s so vital to the next step in your life. It’s hours and hours for the exam alone. This doesn’t include the study time leading up to each section. Plan ahead and find a study friend to ensure that you pass each section the first time.
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