Came to USA after marriage on dependent visa. Joined at a CPA firm to voluntary the accounting and taxing work. Worked there for 18 months. CPA was not at all in my mind as my career. Was planning to learn software testing, take H1 visa and jump in to job which takes less time and less effort. It was that CPA for whom I worked suggested me that I should go for CPA certification as I am good in accounting. Then I thought about it not yet determined. But my husband determined that I should do…

Roger said during his course that all the time spend studying would be worth it, and it was.  It is such a relief to finally be done.

I have been so busy; I still haven't looked up to find out about the ethics test or the actual licensing. I still have a few months to go before I am eligible to get my license, and the way time is flying by, I really need to put that on my priority list.

I am going to have to admit that I sort of miss studying and my time watching Roger's…

Complete understanding of a subject versus the ability to memorize and regurgitate facts are really interlinked.  I've thought of them as different for some time, but now I can see how these two skills are linked and how come standardized exams use them as a way to measure knowledge.

Complete understanding of a subject and seeing how it works hand-on is a skill dominated by the right brain.

Whereas the ability to memorize and regurgitate knowledge uses the left…

Hi Everyone - I know I have reached out to many, individually. Thank you very much for your kind words. Some say "Breathe & Relax" and some say "Once you start, everything will just automatically click". So start somewhere and do the work diligently and so on. Although I understand all these points very well, planning well and attacking the CPA exam (one at a time) is going to be a real challenge for me. Please keep in mind, I graduated 20 years ago. In other words, I'm hardly in touch…

Unless you have a photographic memory or amazing recall abilities, don't wait until the last minute to study.

Having gone through several years of schooling and taken bar exams (and passed), I have developed some study habits that have helped me successfully pass these exams. First, I do not procrastinate. I know people who start…

These CPA exams are truly a test on how much you've practiced making difficult decisions about how to spend your time.  There is so much to enjoy in this world, but not all those things contribute to our goals in life.

Much like the apple pie that tempts someone trying to lose weight, there are so many distractions that tempt the CPA candidate.  Truly whittling down and choosing where to spend…

"My name is Jonathan, and I am a chronic test taker." I can imagine myself standing up and saying that at some meeting for examinees anonymous. I have already taken and passed the bar exam in more than one state, and now I’m taking the CPA exams. Having always been good at numbers (especially…

I took the CPA exam many years ago, right after college.  I didn't study at all, thinking I would "wing" it.  Of course, I failed all 4 parts.  Since I got a job in the auto industry, I didn't feel I needed a CPA designation, so I never looked back.

I switched careers about four years ago.  I work as an auditor for the government in Specialty Tax, so I feel I would benefit from obtaining the CPA designation, especially since my work experience would actually go towards getting my…

Wow, I remember another blogger saying how she was actually excited to get her NTS.. and now that I finally have mine (first applied on 2/27), I feel the exact same way.  That's definitely a load of stress off my back.  I have 2 sections on this NTS (AUD and FAR) and will get BEC and REG a bit later on.  Just didn't want to schedule all 4 exams in one NTS and…

Hello everyone.

It's been a week into my studies for FAR.  I decided to start with Government Accounting,  it's an area that I haven't touched in a few years and frankly whatever I once knew about it has long since gone.  In the last week I've been reminded why I don't work in government accounting; I respect anyone who chooses this as their…

It's usually when you are in the middle of REG that you find problems. I always take Business Law part easy and put emphasis on the Tax part-mainly because I am a number person and I like calculation than memorization. Plus doing problems with number makes more accomplished. 

But I know this feeling is wrong. It resulted in a failure in AUD as it's purely memorization and I…

Hello to all my fellow CPA candidates! 

Although I'm not a superstitious person by nature I do tend to look for "signs" to sort of guage whether I'm on the right path or not. I think to some extent we all do it in one fashion or another.  My sister, well she's a little extreme in her need for external answers, often seeking out the assistance of psychic's.  I laugh (but quietly) when she…

Hello everyone! 

Today I decided to squeeze in some study time during my lunch hour.  I began by watching a video on FASB Standards (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLNPUDUWkSg&list=PLAF87E4335AFBFB90).  Within a few moments I had to pause it, “what?!.......new codification…. hu?  Oh my gosh, have I…

It's been several weeks since I took AUD last time, and I am swimming in the REG book. Lots have happened, and I have just got accepted by a graduate program with funds-which would extend my stay in US so I don't have to return to my country before my first CPA section gets expired. 

REG is less painful than FAR and AUD since it's not purely calculation or memorization, but a combination…

Just like everyone else who ever decided to take the CPA exam, I had questions about the BEST review material.  I wanted something that would guarantee that I would pass each section on the first try. At one point, I  may have  researched more on that subject and other exam takers study systems than actually studying (sad, but probably true). One thing I have learned is that…

I've purchased my multi-colored pens, highlighters and sharpie felt tip markers, mechanical pencils, lead and ring bound index cards.  I've organized my binders, drawn up an ambitious study schedule with careful planning of each section.  Without a formal review package yet purchased, I've gone online and downloaded various articles and bookmarked youtube videos covering the first…

I am not much of a blogger but I decided to share my battle with the CPA exam.  I started off using Bisk in 2010 and have taken the exam off and on…changing material…changing sections.  The only thing that didn’t change was my failing scores…and the fact that I was not studying the way that I needed to in order to pass the exam.  It took a lot for me to realize that it wasn’t NASBA and it wasn’t the software.  It was my procrastination and inability to stay focused and stay on…

This is something we all have equally, but how we choose to use it can make us successful.  I've mastered my awareness at minimizing distractions - this was a long road with two children and technology access everywhere and living in beautiful, San Francisco with so much to offer.

More recently, however, thanks to a blog post I've been trying to use it as a motivator.  I've been logging my hours and tracking the time I spend studying.  Though it's not growing as fast as I'd like it…