Posts tagged: Blog for Gleim

Seeing Improvements in EA Review Scores

May 20, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Gleim EA Guest Blogger Katherine K.

Wow! I was able to improve my Section 1 test scores from 60% to 100% over the last 2 weeks! The questions in the true/false section and the multiple-choice sections helped me to find areas I needed to focus on and review. Just when I thought I knew all about it, the quizzes opened my eyes to the need to review particular subjects. I plan to do a quick review of Section 1 before moving on to Section 2.

I am still recovering from tax season. I still have many questions about tax code that I encountered while preparing this year. I did my best to look up what I needed to look up at the time I was preparing the returns, but I want to review the information to ensure that I know it and can apply it when it comes up next time. I am so happy to have the Gleim materials to do this!

The questions in the Gleim EA Review are well written and make me think. I am very fortunate to have been preparing taxes while studying, as I feel I have been able to learn much more by using and applying the information. That is what is so helpful about the Gleim Review System, you get many opportunities to take tests on the information in many different ways. I have been able to read the book in bed at night and test myself immediately on each section. I have been able to take true/false and multiple-choice quizzes during breaks and during lunch at work.

I also have been using my EA Review book as a reference guide while preparing. I was able to refer a client to the information in the manual regarding meals and entertainment substantiation.

Now that tax season is over, I plan to spend much more time studying, especially over the next 2 weeks. I plan to finish Section 2 within the next week and be well into Section 3 by the end of the month.

 

 

Getting Down to the Wire

May 7, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By CIA Exam Guest Blogger Bev M.

I was planning on completing CIA Part 1 Study Units 7 and 8 last week, but it was a short work week for me, so I decided to complete Study Unit 9 instead. I worked until Wednesday and then flew to Tampa with my boyfriend to visit his grandparents. I did not bring my laptop, but I did have my book with me just in case I got the urge to study. It was definitely a very relaxing weekend. I got lots of rest and got to go to the beach one of the days. Their house is only 3 miles away from one of the local beaches. I feel recharged and ready to tackle the rest of the study units before I take my exam at the end of April.

The main reason I chose Study Unit 9 during my short study week was because I had completed the engagement planning section when I was studying for the Audit part of the CPA exam. I took the quiz online and scored a 75%. I was quite excited about that. The last few times I took that quiz, I scored 50% each time. One area that gave me a little trouble was the preliminary survey. After going through the material, I realized that the preliminary survey is the same as our pre-planning activities where we review past audits, personnel interviews, and discussions with management. It’s all the activities we do during the planning phase of an audit to come up with the objectives. I also had to keep reminding myself that the working program was similar to our audit program. Study Unit 9 also came in handy because I have been working on two projects where I have taken on the role of a senior and have had to be involved in all the planning activities and coming up with the initial draft of the audit program (working program).

I plan on going through Study Units 7 and 8 this week and then tackling Study Unit 10 by Saturday at the latest. That should give me at least three full days of final review before I take the CIA exam. I plan on staying in this weekend and studying both days.

Happy studying!

Bev

 

 

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.

 

 

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!

 

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!

 

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.

 

 

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.

 

 

Structure Review Time Around Tax Season

March 1, 2013, by No comments yet

 

Written By Guest Blogger Patti G.

I’m now working on EA Part 1, Study Unit 2. I also listened to the Audio Review for the third time. This section is harder than the last two sections for me. I took multiple-choice quiz #2 and received a score of 75%, which is still too weak. I’m now concentrating on answering the questions in a timely manner and not lingering on questions that I am unsure of. Instead, I am marking those questions so that I can review them later.

TIP: I noticed that you can easily check the number of minutes it takes to answer each question when you grade your quiz. This is important when it comes to taking the test. You must manage your time or you will not be able to finish in time to review any marked questions.

Repetition is good, so I went through the review of last quiz for a second time. At the end of a quiz, I go over my mistakes again and again until I can answer all of the questions correctly and understand the concepts.

I created a couple of study sessions in EA Test Prep and then started a test session. Then I took a break. A cup of hot tea or a latte relaxes me. It takes planning and perseverance to keep at this. You also need to read the answers to the questions that you missed very carefully.

TIP: The Notes Button is very useful. I’m talking about the button at the top of the page within the study units. I began writing notes on items I need to review. You could just have a Word document open and write the notes that way; however, when I printed out the Gleim notes, they printed in outline format with the study unit shown in the header. Nice!

I’m beginning to be more careful about reading the questions. There can be one word or phrase that changes everything! I read the question to find out what is asked BEFORE I begin reading the answers. This seems to save time.

My tax job begins this week, so I will have to structure my time carefully to complete EA Part 1 by the end of February.

 

 

Get Back to Study Mode!

February 26, 2013, by No comments yet

Written By Guest Blogger Lynn L.

This is my third week, and I’m finally in study mode. I am now planning to take Part 1 by the end of this month. I was not sure if it would be possible to finish Part 1 in 4-6 weeks, but based on what I have done so far, I should be able to finish in time.

The shortcut that brought me to study mode was Gleim’s “suggested steps” for studying. I was happy that I could see obvious improvements after I followed these suggested steps. I believe many candidates may have a common question before they start studying–where to start? I also had that question at the beginning, but CMA Review: A System for Success helped make everything clear. I wrote down the suggested steps from that book on an index card and brought it with me, so that I could refer to it whenever I forgot what the next step was.

My studying started with a diagnostic quiz, which helped me to find my weak areas in the study unit. Then, I usually watched the audiovisual presentation for that study unit. I found that these presentations were the most helpful. I typically watched the presentation twice and tried to memorize the concepts right away. Even though watching it twice takes longer, I think it’s worth it. The next step is to answer the true/false questions. They are generally pretty easy questions, and they help you remember what you just learned from the presentation. Then it is time to study the book. Gleim suggests 60 minutes for this part, but I always spent more than 3 hours here. I guess this depends on how familiar you are with the materials. While studying the book, I also discovered that I was better at calculating-based questions than reading-based questions. This was especially true of the four standards in Study Unit 1. I spent around 45 minutes memorizing them but still got some relevant questions wrong. After I realized my weakness in memorizing concepts, I started listening to the audio review every night before I went to sleep. So far, it has been working well. I could easily recall most of the concepts the next day and it became easier when answering the essay questions.

Anyway, it is definitely a good idea to follow the suggested steps when you have no idea where to start. I believe that once you have a big picture of what is going on with the CMA exam and the study materials, you can make some adjustments based on your own study pace, just like I did. I also hope that everyone can get back into study mode really fast after the long holiday!

Lynn L.