The Gleim Blog: Helping You Pass Your Exam on the First Try!

Here you will find helpful tips for the CPA, CIA, CMA, EA, and RTRP exams. We'll post exam updates, helpful hints, CPE information, and the study habits of fellow exam candidates. If you'd like to write about your studies for the Gleim blog, please email us at gleimblog@gleim.com.

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Idealistic CPA Study Plans

April 16, 2013, by No comments yet

 

The reality is that it will always be easy to find a reason not to study.”

 

Written By Guest Blogger Jennifer K. for the Gleim CPA Blog.

Things didn’t go quite as I had planned over the past week. Of course, I have to admit my plan was a little presumptuous. I wanted to get through nine study units over the weekend, leaving me halfway through the study material. This ridiculous plan is part of my attempt to complete the last two parts of the CPA exam, which I need to do by July 2013. In July, I will lose my REG exam credit if I have not passed all four parts by that time.

To all of you out there preparing for the exam, please use my situation as a warning to stay focused on your CPA goal. In hindsight, there really is no reason to spend more than 18 months to pass all four parts of the exam. My reason/excuse is that life got in the way. The reality is that it will always be easy to find a reason not to study.

Despite studying enough to get reasonably good results on the multiple-choice and true/false questions, I find that I don’t have the depth of knowledge required to compose good responses for the written simulations. I continue to enjoy the ease of the Gleim Review System. I like the easy online access, but I feel like I need to make more use of the audio files. I have a few friends who have used the Gleim Review System and they all swear by the audio files. My attempts thus far have been focused primarily on the multiple-choice questions and the knowledge transfer outline. The audios I have already listened to online are broken down into small, easily digestible segments. They are a great way to reiterate what you read in the book and knowledge transfer outlines. I believe repetition is key to absorbing the amount of material required for these exams. Repetition was definitely a factor in my passing REG and FAR.

Over the next week, I plan to see if I can finally complete the other seven study units I had meant to complete this past weekend. While it may put me a week behind, it is far better to delay the exam a week than risk a wasted exam window.

 

 

Beginning To Study For The EA Exam

April 11, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Katherine S. For the Gleim EA Blog.

I just received my Gleim EA Review materials and have begun my studies. I was very happy to find out that I will be able to take an Exam Rehearsal for EA prior to taking the actual exam. In addition, there are over 3,600 EA questions that can be used and studied within practice exams throughout the EA study materials. I am already feeling relieved. In past studies, I have discovered that the more you go over the materials and the more you can practice, the better you understand the material. It has to be more than just memorizing facts. I have found that in order to be successful, you really need to gain an understanding of the material by going over it more than once and using the information. I like the fact that I can do more than just read a book. I know that the practice exams will make a big difference for me. I am truly excited about studying and using this system!

The Gleim A System for Success book explains the complete process of studying and preparing for the EA Exam. It is always nice to have someone “hold your hand” when embarking on a new adventure, and that is how I feel having these materials. From what I have studied so far, I can see that the materials are well presented in an easy to understand format. The language is not unnecessarily complicated.

I am currently extremely busy because it is tax season and I am a tax preparer. I have already prepared 200 tax returns this tax season. I have been asking the more experienced EAs and CPA in my office many questions. I look forward to the day when I don’t have to ask them any questions. I believe getting through the Gleim EA Review will accomplish that for me. I have always worked to be the most competent I can be and I am counting on these materials to help me accomplish that.

I took my first practice exam recently. It was very eye-opening, and I now have a better idea of what is expected and what I need to study. I was able to grade my exam immediately and study the questions that I missed. Over the next few weeks, it will be hard to get my study time in (while preparing taxes), but I plan to study as much as possible. I know I will need to be disciplined to get through it!

 

 

Challenging Week For CIA Review

April 11, 2013, by No comments yet

 

 

Written By Tracy C. For the Gleim CIA Blog

Studying this week has been a real challenge. It’s been an extremely hectic week, and I haven’t made as much progress as I would have liked. I have had a lot going on at work and it has forced me to shift my focus somewhat. I only managed to get through Study Unit 1 this week. I should be able to get back on track this weekend and next week. I just need to regroup over the weekend and get my focus back. One of the biggest issues I have had over the last year and a half is figuring out how to juggle client work, non-client work, studying, and a personal life. It seems to be the biggest issue most young professionals face now. I think I’m still in the process of figuring out how to make it all work. However, I am surely getting there.

Even with my hectic schedule and time limitations this week, I’ve been able to squeeze in studying wherever I can with Gleim’s easy-to-use format. This is my first experience using Gleim to study for an exam, and it is by far one of the most user-friendly study formats available. I like that my study content is accessible online as opposed to being software based. I have a work laptop and a personal laptop, so being able to access my study content from either computer is very helpful. This also allows me to do a little studying while eating lunch at work. I also like the fact that everything is clearly laid out for me. My life can get very crazy sometimes, so it’s great that I can log in and see right where I left off and where I need to pick back up. My goal for this weekend is to wrap up what I need to on Study Unit 1 and to get through Study Units 2 and 3. My exam is scheduled for mid-May so I am at about the six week mark for study time. I think that I have given myself enough time to study and I have complete faith that the Gleim CIA Review System will prepare me for the exam.

 

Tax Preparers – Articles Of Interest

April 10, 2013, by No comments yet

 

As busy season comes to a close, here are two articles EAs or EA candidates, and RTRP candidates may find interesting:

 

 

 

Welcome EA Guest Blogger Katherine S.!

April 10, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written by Guest Blogger Katherine S. for the Gleim EA Blog.

 

I decided to take the EA exam after meeting other Enrolled Agents with successful tax preparation businesses. I could see the immense value of having such a credential. I also saw a co-worker fly through her studies with Gleim, so I knew I could do it too!

 

I recently purchased the first part of the study materials and was very impressed with the ease and thoroughness of the course as I went through it. The opportunity to take practice tests was extremely helpful! I loved the way I could study by reading, listening, watching, and taking as many tests as needed. I was even able to contact a Personal Counselor at Gleim (with a fast response time) to clarify some of the materials!

 
I have work experience in tax preparation and have recently begun my 6th tax season. I am currently a CTEC in California. Prior to becoming a tax preparer, I ran small construction businesses with my husband in Oregon and Washington. With our kids grown up, I decided to go back to school and learn as much as I could about my new career in accounting. I attended Eastern Oregon University from 2009-2010 with a major in Business. I soon found out that getting a full degree in accounting was not necessarily what I wanted and saw that there were other opportunities to get where I wanted to go.

 

I have a very good idea now what it takes to obtain a CPA certificate. I also know that I would rather work in tax preparation, helping clients overcome their problems with the IRS. I also know that the fastest way to that career is obtaining an EA certificate after studying with Gleim. I am very excited about my new career and know I will make it as a tax professional. If I ever do decide to become a CPA, I know having an EA certificate will only make that journey easier, and I know that I will be back with Gleim getting the help I need to obtain that certificate.

 

CMA – Making Good Use of Your Time

April 9, 2013, by 3 comments

I like to be prepared by having note cards and study materials with me at all times.”

Written by Guest Blogger Leslie M. for the Gleim CMA blog.

Greetings! This week I am focusing on the concept of making good use of my time. Everyone has their own unique work, school and personal schedules, with a limited amount of study time. Personally, I work full-time at a demanding job, and balance that with a busy and rewarding family life. Plenty of my scheduled activities are required and necessary, but some uses of time are optional. I have found that it helps to stop and think about which of my activities are optional. I can live without some of the mindless TV watching and Internet surfing. I have also been bringing my lunch with me to work so I can study during the lunch hour. My goal is to maximize my time without cutting into activities that are more important.

By making good use of my time, I can still enjoy life. I can get my job done and study without feeling like I am missing out on anything important. The key for me is to stay motivated and realize that making a few sacrifices will help me to pass both exams. This will be extremely rewarding and worth it in the long run. I have, however, been struggling to stay on task this past month. I am updating my CMA study plan though to include any small amount of free time so that I have more time to study, especially during evenings and weekends. I like to be prepared by having note cards and study materials with me at all times. This is another good way to use your time wisely. If you find yourself waiting on an appointment or if you have a break between activities, you can use that time to learn. Be creative and you can add a few extra hours to your study time. These hours add up over the long haul.

I hope you are all having a good study week, and I encourage you to refine your study plan and adapt to what works best for you. Cheers!

 

Week 2 of Studying CIA

April 8, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By Guest Blogger Bev. M for the Gleim CIA Blog.

This week has been a little crazy. Who am I kidding? Every week for me is crazy. I was in the process of selling my house, and of course, it took some time to finalize the deal. Everything went through last week, and I had a week to find a place to live since they take possession of the house on Saturday at 6pm. I could not commit to a place until after everything went through so I would not lose my deposit.

Anyway, CIA studying has been going well. I went through Study Units 3 (Internal Audit Ethics) and 4 (Managing the Internal Audit Activity). I follow Gleim’s suggestion of taking the quiz first to see what areas I am strong in and what areas I need to work on before reading the book. I listen to the audios during work and scribble my little notes. It did take me a while to realize that I needed to work the extra questions that I had downloaded on my laptop instead of constantly working the online quizzes because I was starting to be familiar with the questions. I had to call my Personal Counselor because it just was not clicking at the time.

This week, I am going to work on some cumulative questions from Study Units 1 through 4 and see what areas I still need to focus on before moving on to Study Units 5 and 6. With the move to my new place, I probably will not get as much new material covered this week as I would like. I also got a summons to appear for jury duty this week. My time management is really being tested.

 

 

Focusing on CIA Exam Studying

April 8, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By Gleim CIA Exam Blogger Tracy C.

Hello fellow CIA Exam candidates! It’s been a busy week trying to get my study plan together. I finally registered to take my first part of the exam this week. I’m going to be taking it at the end of April, so I need to make the most of my study time. My goal is to do the bulk of my studying on the weekends. I want to get through at least two to three study units on the weekends and one study unit during the week. I have a busy few weeks coming up since I will be working on another new client. It will be important for me to devote as much time as possible to studying over the upcoming weekends.

I have been working on Study Units 1 and 2. It has been hard to get back into studying mode after being out of it for so long. I have been focusing solely on work for the past several months, so it has been a while since I’ve had to spread my attention between work and studying. I tried, unsuccessfully, to take the CPA when I first started working. I graduated with my MBA two weeks before I began working, so I didn’t have a lot of time to focus on the CPA between graduation and work. I tried to manage my time, but I was traveling non-stop for work. I found out that I couldn’t devote as much time to studying as I wanted, and I chose to focus on work. I’m now ready to get back to studying. I am not traveling for work and the busy season is over, so I will have more time. I have chosen to take the CIA now to focus on something more specialized. It is also specific to what I am currently working on. After I pass the CIA exam, I will go back to studying for the CPA exam, but for now I want to focus on CIA.

 

Deadlines – 4 Months To Prepare For BEC and AUD

April 4, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Jennifer K. for the Gleim CPA Blog.

I received my study guide and login for Gleim last Friday. I was excited to have a new method of preparing for the BEC exam. I have very little time to prepare because on July 31, 2013, I will lose credit for REG if I have not taken and passed both BEC and AUD. This leaves me a little over 4 months to prepare and pass both BEC and AUD.

I have to admit I am getting a little stressed. Sadly to say, I do have the added pressure of having been in this position before. I am determined to not let my passed sections expire without some serious efforts. I took and passed BEC back in early 2009. However, I started a new job in April of 2009 and my focus shifted to learning my new job responsibilities. Despite the fact that this was necessary, it still stings that I let my initial excitement and effort wane. Now, I look back and feel like I lost 4 years. I am hoping the Gleim CPA Review System will help me finally complete this lifetime goal.

So far, I have only worked through the first study unit of BEC – Corporate Governance. I received a 75% on my first attempt at the multiple-choice questions. I was feeling pretty good, then I answered the True/False study questions. I guess a 60% isn’t the worst I could get, but it sure didn’t instill a whole lot of confidence in my understanding of the material. Luckily, I have since taken several more multiple-choice tests, receiving scores between 75-90%. I am feeling pretty good now and ready to move on to the next study unit. I definitely need to find a way to get through them more quickly if I am going to make my deadline. Of course, I believe a more consistent study schedule will help.

My initial plan is to spend most of this weekend studying. My son will be starting his spring break, and we will have a break from his school/sports schedule. I am looking forward to being able to dig in and spend sequestered time with my new best friend. My plan is to attempt to work through Study Unit 10. This would put me in a good place for scheduling BEC in April. So far, my experience with the Gleim CPA Exam System is very good. I like the way the practice exams are setup. They have an authentic feel to them. I like all of the options that you have in setting up and following your study plan. I am still familiarizing myself with the Gleim System and hope to get an opportunity to use the audio portion of the system over the weekend.

 

CMA Prep – Getting Started

April 3, 2013, by 1 comment

Written By Guest Blogger Leslie M. for the Gleim CMA Blog.

Hello CMA candidates and interested readers – my name is Leslie, and I will be writing about my experiences pursuing the CMA certification. I finally decided to pursue my goal of obtaining the CMA certification in 2013! So far, I have completed several steps to get started, including the following: 1) Applied and paid for membership in the IMA through IMA’s website 2) Enrolled in the CMA certification program and paid entrance fees through IMA’s website 3) Submitted experience documentation which was accepted by IMA (I have 7+ years continuous experience in accounting/treasury/finance) 4) Requested college transcript to be sent to IMA, which satisfied the education requirement of a bachelor’s degree in any area (I have an MBA in Finance) 5) Researched test prep materials and decided to pursue blogging through Gleim in exchange for the full CMA Review System, which I plan to use as my primary study tool. With these steps completed, I have begun my journey in studying to take the CMA Exam Part 1 in May and the CMA Exam Part 2 in September!

After finishing the “easy” steps, I am now on to the “hard” part… studying for the exams! However, after researching test prep materials thoroughly, and after hearing about Gleim from several colleagues and reading success stories online, I am confident that Gleim’s full CMA Review System will work for me. I received my Gleim CMA Review books and online access last week. I spent a couple days reading through the CMA Review: A System for Success, which helps provide a feel for the exam itself, the process, how to create a study plan and many more useful tips. One of the recommended steps is to take a Diagnostic Quiz at www.gleim.com/GleimCMADQ or use the Gleim Diagnostic Quiz App for iPhone, iPod touch or Android, BEFORE you begin studying. I decided to take the diagnostic quiz online, which I thought was a great idea to gauge my strengths and weaknesses, so I can focus my efforts in the right areas. I received a detailed email from my Personal Counselor (assigned for free with Gleim’s full CMA Review System) indicating percentages correct for each of the test areas. I also created my own personal study plan with the help of my Personal Counselor, detailing how many hours per week I plan to study and which areas to focus on. I am planning to work through each Study Unit in detail until I feel I have mastered each unit to my satisfaction.

Even though I am just getting started with Study Unit 1, I am happy that I spent some time up front to get some important steps taken care of. I feel confident that I have the necessary tools along with a good plan to succeed. Look for my upcoming blogs as I continue to document my study path, and feel free to ask questions, as I will respond to them in future entries. Cheers!