Tips For CPA Exam Prep

When it comes to your CPA exam prep, the methods that you used in college might not be the best choice. Cramming is a bad idea when preparing for this exam and you need to know what the best method will be. If you are setting out your study plan, there are some tips for CPA exam prep that you need to know.

Have A Plan

Planning your studying is often easier said than done, particularly if you are not used to scheduling your life. However, you need to have a study plan that you stick to. Without a plan, you will end up procrastinating and having to cram for your exam.

When planning, you need to start early. You have to start studying for the exam months before your test date. You should also plan what material you will cover and plan your studying in easy to manage blocks.

Short Study Sessions

The start and end of your study sessions are when you are absorbing the most information. This is why you need to keep your study sessions as short as possible. When you plan your studying, you need to keep this in mind and look at blocks of 30 to 45 minutes.

Each of these blocks should have a 10 to 15-minute break between them. If you have longer study sessions, you are more likely to forget some of the information that you study. If you feel that you are not absorbing anything you study, you need to take a break.

Use Flash Cards

A lot of people think that flash cards are something that children need to help them study. The truth is that flash cards can be very helpful when preparing for your CPA exam. Flash cards cut down large amounts of information into bite-size pieces that are easy to digest.

Flash cards have also been found to improve retention of information. When it comes to using flash cards, you do not have to make physical ones. Digital flash cards will work and they are easier to access during any dead time that you have such as waiting for a bus.

Do Not Forget To Practice

You need to start taking practice tests as early in your studying as possible. This allows you to determine where your strengths and weaknesses are. Once you know this, you will be able to determine what you need to focus on in your studies.

When you take practice tests, you will need to simulate test conditions. This means you need to have a time limit to complete the test and stop when that time is up. This will not only provide practice for the questions, but for the test conditions as well.

There are many tips that you can use to prepare for your CPA exam. Starting as early as possible is important, but you also need to have a plan that you stick to. Short study sessions are better and you need to make use of flash cards. You also need to schedule practice tests into your study sessions.