Written by Guest Blogger Amy W.
I finished Chapter 7 this past week. Hooray, I’m actually 1/3 of the way through studying for Part 2 of the EA exam! What I’m noticing at this point is that the material I’ve learned so far doesn’t feel as firmly anchored and well-organized in my brain as I’d like. So rather than push on to Chapter 8, I’m going to pause to organize my Notebook and review everything I’ve learned so far. I think this will help cement my understanding of the material, which will create a firmer foundation – not to mention increased self-confidence – for the work that lies ahead. I like to review by re-reading the Gleim book, section by section, checking my notes for thoroughness and then taking the test prep exam, also section by section. I think it’ll take about a week to get this review accomplished.
In looking back over the past seven chapters, I’m seeing that working on the study session problems from the test prep software is what really helps me understand the material. The real-life situations presented by the study session problems move the concepts from purely theoretical into the real; for me, sitting down with a calculator and working through the math is a big help.
On a lighter note, one of the things I get a kick out of in studying for the EA exam is the sometimes hilarious use of language. My husband, Gary, is a Stanford graduate in English literature, so he shakes his head at some of the sentences that come out of the tax and accounting world. For example, the phrase “tangible but not real” makes sense to anyone who studies taxes, but it’s pure nonsense to the rest of the world. “Tangible but not real” had Gary baffled last night, but when I explained the difference between tangible and real, he said, “I guess that actually makes sense – in some strange, weird, crazy way.” It’s fun to share what I’m learning with someone else, even if it’s just for a quick laugh!
