The journey to passing the CPA Exam is certainly no easy feat, but it is very doable. This article will lay out some of the strategies and tools to help you pass the CPA Exam.
First and foremost, ask yourself: why am I taking the CPA Exam. If you can find just one reason why, then you WILL pass. How? It will be the first thing you think of anytime you feel like giving up. If the money isn’t enough motivation, find what it is for you that will motivate you to study. My motivation was the amount of credibility that would be next to my name as well as being able to do something that I love doing, which is to help people get to where they need to be, especially financially.
Now that you’re all motivated, you must establish a plan. Without a plan, it’s extremely difficult to get to your destination. The CPA Exam is one of the most important things in life to plan early. It is critical to ask people about their journey, find out which exam to take first, what review course to study with, and simple things similar to that. Just doing that will help to keep you on track. FAR is my recommendation to take first as it establishes a great foundation and BEC is a great section to take last because it is a great recap. Lastly, make sure that you meet all of the educational requirements before scheduling any exams. The application process itself can be stressful without proper planning. Once this is taken care of, schedule your exams in advance so that you know your final destination. It will help keep you motivated.
Now to the studying. I used Becker’s CPA Review Course which was a tremendous help. There are other great review courses out there, but Becker knows what they’re doing. If you’re using Becker, follow their study plan, practice as much as possible, and don’t get discouraged. This is a marathon, and not a sprint. Ensure you get enough rest each night and don’t make the mistake of pulling an all-nighter. Understand that if you put in the time required, you WILL pass the CPA Exam.
And of course, exam day. Exam day is clearly the most important day, but it should be the least stressful day. By the time you get to the exam, you know the material. You just have to recall it one more time and simply perform. Guess where you may and WATCH THE CLOCK! Time management is probably the most important aspect of the CPA Exam (and life in general). When you’re done with the exam, be patient in waiting for your scores and don’t let it affect the rest of your exams. If you pass, make sure you celebrate. If you fail, it’s not the end of the world. Go back and show them why you deserve to pass.
So to wrap up, all it takes is motivation, dedication, preparation, a well-defined plan, and a set destination. One final point is to know yourself and know what works best for you. Remember these simple things and you will pass the Exam.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
