Posts tagged: Becoming a CPA

CPA Study Tips – What to do when you’re in a study rut

May 6, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Denise H. for the Gleim CPA Exam Blog.

Studying for REG has been going well for me, but I have definitely cranked it up a notch this past week and a half. I have also decided to take the multiple-choice quizzes after I have read the knowledge transfer outlines instead of before. I made this change because the low scores were very discouraging. This approach also gives me a better idea of what areas I really understand and what areas need a little more work. I am currently getting through an entire study unit (and some of the next one) each night. I expect to complete all 20 study units before this weekend so that I can begin my final review. Some of the things that I was struggling with earlier are starting to make more sense now as I complete the later study units. I’m hoping that the review this weekend will go smoothly.

After some unproductive study hours, I realized that a change of environment was just what I needed. Luckily, I live in a college town, so the library is open until midnight Sunday through Thursday. It has been enough of a change that I can still come home from the library and study for a couple of hours without falling asleep or being distracted. In the past, I have studied in dead silence because any music from the radio would distract me (I love to sing along). But I found these custom music stations that play easy-listening music. They offer a wide variety of music, from relaxing/soothing to a blend of jazz or rock (and a fair number of them have no vocals). If I find I am getting drowsy while studying, I just change the channel to one that isn’t as relaxing. Studying with headphones on at the library has kept me focused so much so that I am finding myself putting them back on when I get home. This focus is helping me get my daily studying to-do list done. I am no longer frustrated or discouraged with my progress, nor am I stressed about how close my exam is.

 

72 Hours Only – Flash Sale on 2013 CPA Auditing Review Systems for Q1-Q2

April 30, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Customers will receive immediate online access, so CPA applicants will be able to commence studying right away.”

 

For 72 hours only, Gleim, the leading provider of CPA review materials, is holding a flash sale for the Q1-Q2 edition of our 2013 CPA Auditing Review System!

 

This sale will run from May 1, 2013, through 11:59 p.m. (EST) on May 3, 2013. CPA candidates sitting before July 1, 2013, can take
advantage of our limited-time 33% discount. The total cost of the 2013 Q1-Q2 CPA Auditing Review System during the flash sale will be $184.22*.  Save now!

 

Gleim is holding this sale for our 2013 Q1-Q2 CPA Auditing Review System (which includes a book, Test Prep Online, Audio Review, Gleim Online, Practice
Exam, Simulation Wizard, and access to a Personal Counselor) in order to encourage CPA hopefuls to take the Auditing exam before the new Clarification Standards become testable.

 

Customers will receive immediate online access, so CPA applicants will be able to commence studying right away.

 

If you’re sitting for the exam on or after July 1, 2013, you’ll need to prepare with the Q3-Q4 edition of our CPA Auditing Review System (not
available at the flash sale price).

 

Questions or concerns? Want to talk about Auditing? Contact us today at accountingteam@gleim.com or 800.874.5346.

 

Happy studying!

 

Team Gleim

 

*Discount on 2013 Q1-Q2 Gleim CPA Auditing Review Systems does not apply to previous purchases, or the price of the full review system (consisting of Auditing, Business, Financial, and Regulation).

 

Only candidates who are sitting before July 1, 2013, should purchase the discounted Auditing review system. The Gleim Replacement Guarantee does
not apply to purchases made during the Q1-Q2 flash sale; candidates may upgrade Q1-Q2 editions of the CPA Auditing Review System purchased during the
flash sale to the Q3-Q4 edition simply by paying the difference between the flash sale and retail price (plus any applicable shipping charges).

 

April Deadline to Sit for BEC

April 29, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Jennifer K.

Another week gone by, and I am now through Study Unit 7. I have not gotten as much studying done as planned, which is definitely putting my April deadline to sit for BEC at risk. Based on the past few weeks of studying, it appears that I am getting through only about three study units per week. This would result in completion of the study material in four weeks. It has been difficult for me to find time to study during the past few weeks. I have been operating as a single mom with my husband out of town taking care of a family emergency. He will be home this week though, which should free up a significant amount of my time.

During the past week, I had some time to review the audio files and found that I really appreciate the succinct nature in which the information is communicated. However, I continue to spend most of my time practicing the multiple-choice questions and reviewing the notes in the study guide. I have also taken to writing out my own note cards. They are an easy way to cram in some additional study time no matter where I am.

When I passed BEC back in 2009, I only spent about two weeks studying. However, I was not working at the time and was able to dedicate the entire two weeks to studying. Comparing my comfort with the material, I find that I actually prefer the reduced, concentrated study method. The longer you draw out the study time, the more likely you are to forget the information you covered in earlier study sessions. I am definitely hoping that with the return of my husband this week I will be able to follow my own advice and tighten up my study schedule. One of the best parts of studying for the BEC section of the CPA exam is that much of the material is practical and most likely relevant to your work.

 

 

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.

 

 

Introducing CPA Exam Blogger Jennifer K.!

April 1, 2013, by No comments yet

 

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

Hello, my name is Jennifer K. I graduated with my accounting degree over 15 years ago and completed my Masters in Information Systems and Operations Management 5 years ago. I am married, work full-time as a finance manager, and have a 13-year-old boy who keeps me very busy. I have always wanted to get my CPA designation, but life always seems to get in the way. Four years ago, I started studying for the exam and passed two parts, but I have let them expire due to starting a new job. I thought I was doing well. I thought that I was going to push right through and complete the exam, but before I knew it I was learning a new job and had no time to study.

 

In January of 2012, I started re-taking the exams. I already passed two parts (REG and FAR) and have until July 2013 to complete the two remaining parts (BEC and AUD). My original plan was to have completed all of the exams by January 2013, but unfortunately, AUD has become a barrier to completion of my goal. Now, I am in a bit of a time crunch. I have tried using several study guides [competitor names removed] but continue to have problems with AUD. Most of my experience is in risk management, finance, and accounting, but I have never worked as an auditor or even in an accounting firm. I believe this has hindered my success on AUD. The AUD section of the exam also seems to have much smaller study guides in all of the well-known programs. This leads me to believe there is much less subject matter, which allows the exam preparer to be far more persnickety in creating exam questions. I am hoping that Gleim will give me the tools I have been lacking in my prior attempts to pass AUD. I truly believe that most accomplishments in life are garnered through determination and perseverance.

 

 

BEC Studying: Week 1

March 21, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Erica T. for the Gleim CPA exam blog.

I’m no stranger to studying for the CPA exam. For the longest time, I was studying for REG but just kept hitting setbacks. I finally had a monstrous meltdown and decided to give it a break and move on to the next section. I was really having a hard time grasping the material. Perhaps it was the less than effective studying habits that led me straight down the road to being certifiably crazy.

This time around, I have taken my current schedule into consideration. I am a staff accountant and I have to work wild and crazy hours during tax season, so that is one area where I cannot cut time. I have realized that for the next few months of my life, as I prepare to take BEC and AUD, my social life will be nonexistent. This was a tough pill for me to swallow, but I do understand that it will be worth it in the long run. I will be happy to make that sacrifice for the time being. My exam dates are scheduled for April (BEC) and May (AUD). I have scheduled out 3-4 hours each day from now until the exam to use solely for exam preparation. It has proved difficult to stay on track with this study plan, but with the help of my family, I’ve been able to stay dedicated to it.

I feel a lot more confident going into this section than I did when I was studying for REG. I feel like this material is a little easier for me to understand. I am so thankful for that. So my advice to others studying for the CPA exam is to block out your time and use it efficiently. If you just try to study here and there when you get a chance, you’ll never get it done. This does require sacrifice, but it also cuts down on the chaos in your life.

 

CPA Scoring & Juggling Studying

March 14, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By Guest Blogger Jaime C. for the Gleim CPA Exam Blog.

I just read an article today about a CPA Exam scoring error affecting the simulation parts of the REG and FAR exams in 2011 and 2012. Apparently, students who initially received failing scores are now being told that they passed. That is incredible news for those particular candidates! I picture them jumping for joy and sighing in relief after hearing about their corrected scores.
Another week has passed without much to report. However, my commitment to continue studying and pass the exam is faltering. All my greatest intentions have nearly been destroyed. I have been completing the work of two people at my office and my motivation has tanked. I continue to be told that the area we live in is an employers’ market, but each resume that comes across my desk is worse than the last. I work all day to meet strict deadlines and manage the employees in my department, only to lug my laptop home, grab a quick bite for dinner, and resume working on the couch for several more hours.

My exam is scheduled for four weeks from now, and the anxiety of not covering all of the material sufficiently is mounting. I carry my book and my iPod with me everywhere I go, just in case there is a chance to study or listen to the audio reviews. By the end of a long work day, my mind is not ready for reading or answering multiple-choice questions. I was doing great with listening to the audio reviews, but with so much on my mind from the office, I can listen to a whole study unit without hearing a single phrase. I know this is a dilemma for many CPA candidates trying to juggle studying with everything else in their lives. This was the whole reason I had placed the CPA exam on the back burner for so long.

 

Studying Through My Vacation

March 5, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger David G.

Studying through my vacation was extremely tough. It was more difficult than I imagined it would be, but I was able to keep my head above water. I read all twenty study units, made notes, and continued to review while also enjoying the company. During all this, I was still able to set aside some time every day to study, even if it was only for just a few minutes. The best studying opportunity for me was at my mother-in-law’s house. She teaches accounting and is familiar with the CPA exam. So when I got to her house, it was acceptable to spend time alone reading in a separate part of the house. That was the best visit that I have ever had there.

 

I hope to be ready to sit for the Audit exam in two weeks. When I finished reading the study units, I also took the true/false exams for each one. Several of these exams resulted in scores that really had me concerned, so I reviewed the section again and retook the exam. Each time I did this, my scores improved. I make an effort to read the explanations for all the answers in each study unit, even the ones that I get correct. This seems to help the information stick with me a little better. The questions are the same when you retake the true/false exams, but if you read the explanations and understand it, you are gaining the knowledge that you need.

 

This has turned in to a long process, and I am ready to get on with it. I long for the time that I can come home after being gone at work for 12 hours and not have to study or worry about not studying enough. I’m beginning to respect the CPA title a lot more.

 

 

CPA Studying Over A Long Road Trip

February 20, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Jaime C.

My husband and I recently took a long weekend trip to visit family eight hours away.  I knew my study time over the weekend would be limited and I can easily get carsick while reading.  Therefore, I downloaded the CPA Auditing Audio Review to listen to on the road.  The files downloaded quickly to my laptop and I simply added the files to iTunes.  After syncing and charging my iPod, I was ready for a long road trip across four states.

While my husband drove and listed to football coverage, I listened to the CPA Auditing Audio Review.  I enjoyed listening to study units I had already covered, as well as some new ones.  Recapping older material helped reinforce my knowledge, and beginning new information was motivating.  I discovered that when I listen to new material, I would prefer to have a small notepad to jot down things to look up later in the book, as well as acronyms and lists.

Since I didn’t have a notepad in the car, I kept a mental list of items to look up when I got home.  For instance, I opened the AUD book to Study Unit 5 to familiarize myself with the commonly used flowchart symbols.  Additionally, I looked over the flow charts for Study Units 6 and 7.  Fortunately, Study Unit 6 lists the page numbers of the flowcharts, which made them easy to find.

If fellow CPA Exam candidates have not done so already, I encourage everyone to download the Audio Review and always have it readily available on your iPod or other portable device.  You can listen in the car, at the gym, and while doing household chores, etc.  The opportunities to listen and learn are endless!

 

Ready To Start CPA Studying!

February 19, 2013, by No comments yet

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Written By Guest Blogger Allison H.

“And They’re Running.”  We’re out of the gate.  My first Gleim CPA book and materials came on Monday, and now I feel like a racehorse with the gates thrown open.  I’m going to earn this license. Maybe I’m a little too excited, but it’s been three years since I finished my Master’s Degree, and I’m so ready.

I opened the box and got started.  On page 1 of Gleim’s “CPA Review, A System For Success” it reads “Follow These Steps to Pass the Exam.”  Suddenly, I’m not a jockey on a horse, I’ve become cartoon Batman, ready to punch it out.  If the steps to pass are so straightforward, then bring them on.

·Read the Introduction of my CPA Review book – got it!

·Scan the “A System for Success” booklet and make notes of items to revisit later – zap!

·Take the Diagnostic Quiz  – bam! (75%)

·Know and use the Study Plan – pow!  I see that this pattern is the same one I used with the EA exam, except that I was asked to complete two 20-question quizzes in test mode and to complete all of the tasks in the simulation section.  I’m glad to have this extra support.  When I was studying for the EA exam, I used the study mode quizzes more than the test mode quizzes. I’m glad to have specific direction on the pattern that will ensure that I pass this exam the first time.

·The last two steps are to take the practice exam shortly before my test date, and then to take and PASS the exam (Sock! Biff! Kapow!)

I can do this.  I wonder if the kids will worry about me if I start wearing a Batman mask around.  Maybe wrapping up in a fleece Batman blanket during study time wouldn’t be too kooky.