Pass the CPA Exam With These Preparation Tips

Passing the CPA exam may be a discouraging undertaking, especially if you have heard of the vast number of people that have had to sit through multiple sections a number of times before finally passing the CPA exam. Below are several CPA preparation tips that have helped me in the past, and I am certain that they'll help you also. You will pass the CPA exam, finally – unless you give up, it is inevitable.

1)Obtain the Appropriate Mindset
Nobody said passing the CPA was easy. Passing the CPA is a large undertaking that can take a lot of time and tenacity before you will accomplish. Some people fail more than one sections several times before eventually passing all four sections of the CPA exam. Brace yourself for the possibility that you may fail several sections before you can pass them, and accept that as a normal part of the journey of preparing for and passing the CPA. On the other hand, remind yourself of past accomplishments that serve as concrete proof of your mental capabilities, for example having a college degree. Innumerable other people have studied for and passed the CPA exam finally, and so will you.

2)Ask for Help From Family & Friends
Passing the CPA is not an easy undertaking, however you do not have to attempt it by yourself. Start enlisting help from your family members & friends by telling them why you need to pass the CPA and how time-consuming and complicated this undertaking is. If they are supportive of what you're trying to accomplish, they may assist you with some of your current duties (e.g. chores such as cleaning), and will understand if you can’t be present at every social gathering.

3)Be Physically Healthy
Poor health can have hurtful outcomes on mental acumen, which can greatly impact on your capability to study & think. Eat a balanced diet, get enough exercise, and above all, sleep for at least six to eight hours each night, and take a 15-30 minute nap in between if you must. As Well, do not forget to schedule regular study breaks – they'll help you to stay focused and refreshed, and as well help you to absorb knowledge more easily when you resume after the study break. Preparing for the CPA exam can be quite a battle. In order to pass the exam, you need to keep both your body and mind in great condition.

4)Purchase a Solid CPA Review Program
The best CPA exam review programs on the market are equipped with DVD lectures that teach materials a lot better than books can. The better CPA review materials even comes with lists of exam questions for you to focus on, that are most likely to be found on the live exam. The top CPA exam review programs include phone support to allow you to call in to ask for further explanation on the study materials, and obtain immediate feedback and detailed explanations from course instructors. All in all, investing in a good CPA review course can drastically cut your exam prep time and inflate your odds of passing the CPA exam.

5)Find a Study Buddy - Or Two
Locate people that are also preping for CPA exams where you live and invite them to study together. CPAnet.com has a forum where you can find study partners in your area. Create a strict schedule and request for everyone to commit to it by putting studying ahead of other obligations. Studying with others can help you to be more disciplined, and two heads are better than one when it comes to solving difficult concepts or questions. When you're feeling frustrated, your study buddies may be able to give you the emotional support you need to continue – after all, they’re in the same boat you are and should understand how you feel.

6)Take On One Section At a Time
People find it overwhelming when trying to tackle all four CPA exam sections at any one time. There's just too much material to cram into your brain at the same time. A more manageable strategy would be to only focus on one single section at a time, do the exam for that section, take a break, and then start studying for the next section and so on. Another suggestion would be to try for the most difficult section first (the one that is most difficult for you – this will vary from person to person), because as soon as you pass the first section, you only have 18 months to pass the other 3 sections. Getting that most difficult section out of your way first will minimize your chances of running out of time and having the 18-month window expire on you.

7)Concentrate on Weak Areas
Reviewing materials you know the best may give you that good feeling, but it certainly won't help to increase your exam scores finally. To get the best ROI for your study time, spend it on materials you have the most trouble with. Look through all of your learning materials, identify your weak areas, and stay focused on them until you have conquered them.

8)Remember to Take Notes
It is crucial to take lots of notes when you’re studying, so that you’ll have something to review during the last few days before the actual exam. Since your short-term memory is, well, short-term, materials you study during those last few days will be remembered best on your exam day. This small window is simply not enough for you to study all your materials from beginning to finish, so be sure you have a complete set of study notes that you can refresh your memory with during the last few valuable days before your exam.

9)Use a Stopwatch
When doing practice problems, time yourself like you're actually doing the exam. This will train yourself to work under pressure and better prepare you for the actual exam. Furthermore, by training yourself in this way, you’ll be less likely to panic on exam day when you have trouble coming up with the answer to a question.

10)Practice Makes Perfect
Try to do as many practice problems for as many times as you have time for. By doing this, you will know the material better, and also feel more confident about passing the exam – both of which will help increase your actual score!

Find out about how Dave Bryant's ultimately managed to pass 3 previously-failed CPA sections over the course of just ten months, with impressive scores, in his blog http://www.PassTheCPAExam.org.