Everyone who takes the challenging CPA exam would like to pass on their first attempt. But unless you have studied hard and used the right resources and prep material, you will be disappointed in your test score, and your future will be on hold. However, if you study smart, you can smash the exam. Here are four proven tips to help you do just that.
1. Choose the Best CPA Review Course for You
Because you will be spending hundreds of hours studying for the CPA exam, it is vital you select the right CPA review course at the start of your journey. However, with so many CPA study materials on the market, it can be challenging to find the right ones for you. Each prep course is tailored differently, so you should spend a lot of time comparing each course to find study materials that suit your learning style. Great CPA review course features to look out for include:
· Video Lectures
· Simulations
· Test Bank Questions
· Unlimited Access
Most CPA review courses have free trials available, so make the most of those to determine which course material is best for you. Start comparing by checking out this CPA review courses list.
2. Evaluate Online Resources Before Using Them
There are many free resources online to help you pass the CPA exam. However, it is of the utmost importance that you only use accredited and trustworthy sources. In this day and age, anyone can create online content, so it can be difficult to determine whether the resource is authentic or not. Evaluating the authenticity of online information should be a regular part of your online research.
Just imagine how many wasted hours you will have put in, and how distraught you will be to fail the CPA exam if it is all down to the fact that you studied unreliable information.
3. Choose the Right Amount of Study Time
Studying for the CPA exam can feel like a full-time job, and it should do. According to CPA review courses, it is recommended you spend between 350 and 800 hours in total studying for the examination. If you have other commitments in your life, it can be challenging to find the time to study. So, to avoid drastically altering your lifestyle, you may consider spreading those study hours over three or four months for each section. But if you are seriously committed to passing the CPA exam, that is the wrong approach.
By maximizing your short-term memory over a short period, you will be much better placed to pass the exam than if you were to draw out the study time over long periods. Therefore, your lifestyle should change when you start studying for the exam! Aim to spend eight weeks studying for each section, and you will be ready to take on the rigorous CPA examination.
4. Create a Study Plan
Before you can dedicate a certain number of hours over specific study timeframes, you need to create a workable study plan. If you do not organize, you are setting yourself up for failure from the start. Most candidates know how important being organized is, but in reality, few actually implement it.
Given the number of sections and the variety of subjects covered in the CPA exam, it is vital you study the whole syllabus in easily manageable study times. Use an Excel spreadsheet or a calendar to plot each day’s allotted hours. And do not just create a rigorous study plan. Make sure you stick to it!
Founder Dinis Guarda
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