how to pass the cpa exam: my experience & 5 study tips
Hi y’all!
Is anyone else ~shook~ that Christmas is finally here?! I remember back in March I was thinking, “Wow I can’t wait for Christmas” and now it’s.. here. I don’t have too many exciting plans for the holiday: H and I are probably going to cook something fun and watch festive movies, but other than that, lots of relaxing and lounging, I think! How about you?
This week on the blog, I wanted to share something not festive whatsoever (I felt a lot of pressure to put together gift guides like most bloggers/influencers are doing, but tbh gift giving/receiving is not my love language and I’m just not really into buying things lately, lol). As most of you know, I recently passed all four sections of the CPA exam! I wanted to share my CPA exam journey and five study tips, and hopefully I can help out one aspiring CPA out there. 🙂
my cpa exam journey
The first thing I’ll say is that everyone’s CPA journey will be so different because I know people who enter their CPA career in various stages of their lives. Becoming a CPA could be someone’s first, second, or even third careers. For me, becoming a CPA is my first career, so keep that in mind as I share my tips.
I was in a Master’s program when I started studying for the CPA. There were two things I knew I wanted regarding the exams: get as many exams out of the way before I started working full-time, and I wasn’t shooting for the Elijah Watt Sells Award (studying would have looked a lot more rigorous if I was!). So I opted to start studying in December of my academic year. This was before the pandemic so I just started studying during the holidays while I was at my parent’s house. Out of the four exams, I had heard FAR was the most rigorous, so I started with that one in case I failed so my clock wouldn’t start ticking (there’s a requirement that you must pass all four exams within 18 months, hence). I allocated CPA study time in addition to my school studying so I basically had no social life starting in January. It was really fine though because in Seattle we had another snowpocalypse that winter and then the pandemic arrived in mid-March.
I ended up studying for FAR for six months. It was, in one word, horrible. I’d say studying for FAR is do-able in three months on a part-time basis, but six months was just wayyy too long. The testing centers had closed temporarily at the beginning of the pandemic, which was around when I was first scheduled to take it, and then I was hesitant to go in when they opened up again. And then final exams in spring came along so I paused for a month before getting back into it after graduation. I took FAR in July 2020, and then from there I resumed the full grind and took AUD, REG, and BEC and finished in November. 🙂
I had a part-time job over the summer, so I think it’s do-able to have something else besides studying and still finish all the exams in six months. I’m also glad I took my exams in that order – here’s what I will say about each section:
- FAR: has the most content. Unlike most others in the profession though, I loved my financial reporting/intermediate accounting classes in college, so this section was actually enjoyable for me. A lot of it is review, except for the governmental and not-for-profit parts.
- AUD: I also didn’t despise my audit classes in college despite being in tax at work. I found a lot of the content to be memorizable (i.e. use flashcards/Quizlet!), but the real exam vs. the practice exam score bump is the lowest out of all four exams, which gives it higher stakes.
- REG: I’m just glad I got a Master’s in Taxation because without it, I feel like I would have been pretty lost. The content is the most complex in my opinion, but it’s high-level.
- BEC: a brooooad range of all the business school classes, but the Finance section was a little rough for me. There is a written communication section though, and if English is your first language, it will be an absolute b r e e z e.
My firm uses Becker for all incoming/current professionals, which I absolutely loved. The instructors are iconic and the user interface upgraded halfway through my studying and made it so much more aesthetically pleasing (which you know I love). Compared to a lot of other professional certifications and exams out there, I really do feel like the CPA exam is not that bad. If you’re just starting out, I know it feels daunting but trust me, you will get through and pass all of them. Don’t lose sleep over these exams; I don’t want to say it’s not worth it, but this’ll be just a blip in the grand scheme of things in like, a year. I passed a month ago and it already feels like a small blip! Do reach out if you have any additional questions!! I’ll finish off with my top five study tips:
1. Figure out when studying is “easiest” for you.
This obviously depends on if you’re working while studying, but if you have a relatively flexible schedule, figure out when you’re most productive and least distracted. This may seem obvious but this means prioritizing your day! So many people save studying for the end of the day, and while it works for some people, you’re physiologically likely the most tired at the end of the day. For me, I ended up studying in the morning for 2-3 hours as well as 1-2 hours at night.
2. Consistency is KEY.
I studied everyday. It’s so easy to not study one day and then just… stop studying on a consistent schedule altogether, and before you know it, you’re behind and have to push your exam to a later date (and pay the rescheduling fee). Even if it’s a short, 30-minute study sprint, do it! Your studying momentum will stay on track and the content will be top-of-mind, making it easier to pick back up the next day, and the next day after. With that being said, I know not everyone is a Google Calendar fanatic like I am, but I really do think planning out a consistent study time everyday is really beneficial.
3. Don’t get hung up on difficult topics.
I remember in the Becker lectures they advised to master each unit before you move on, but I definitely didn’t follow this advice because progress, not perfection. When I was studying for my first exam (FAR), I made the mistake of trying to get 100% on each lecture before moving on and it just takes way too long. After that, I felt like it was enough to just get through each lecture, lol. Again, keep the momentum going. Once you finish all the units, allocate time for your weak spots. Speaking of weak spots…
4. Note your weak points.
I know that the Becker software is implementing technology that tracks your weak subjects for the Final Review, so definitely take advantage of that! I allocated about 1-2 weeks for the Final Review + my own weak points review. I’m a firm believer that seeing the subject a second (or third) time makes it easier to understand, which is why I think mastering the subject during final review is more efficient. Hone in on your weak subjects during the final weeks instead of just doing a high-level review.
5. Use the Becker spreadsheet.
I referred to this spreadsheet religiously when I took my practice exams, and I’d say the median and the bump are pretty spot-on based on your practice exams. It’s helpful to see how you’re doing and if you’ll pass when you take the real exam!
In general, I’d also say use your peers – for emotional support and technical advice. The CPA exam requirements, format, and preparation feels like it’s changing pretty rapidly so definitely have peers you can reach out to. As one of the Becker lecturer says: patience, practice, and persistence (god, that was really drilled into my brain) will get you through the exams! And it’s true!!
I would be happy to talk with anyone who’s about to embark on their CPA journey – just reach out!!
Thanks for reading,
Jen x