Is the CPA exam standing between you and your dream job? Will passing it provide additional income and security for you and your family? How can you pass the exam the first time? Follow these simple CPA tips to put you on the right track and give your career the big boost that it deserves.
1. Passing the CPA exam requires advance planning. Make sure that your application is turned in and approved, your prerequisite courses are completed and the Notice to Sit is in hand. Now, mark the date on a calendar and complete a comprehensive study schedule to prepare you for that challenging test. Leave the last week for a complete review of all the study materials and last minute reading.
2. Devote those preparatory weeks to studying, and only studying. Devote all of your spare time to the material at hand. That really is not unrealistic. You will essentially be trading a few months of your life for a CPA license and increased marketability in your resume. Odds are, you are already working or going to school full time. But that does not mean that you won’t have the time to study. Wake up an hour early and study before your family wakes up. Close the door and study in peace at night as well. If you can devote three to four hours of studying per day, you will give yourself a very good chance to pass. This is not one of those exams that you can pass by cramming or pulling an all-nighter at the last minute. It requires a significant devotion to the material.
3. Invest in the best study materials you can afford. Yes, the materials will run over $3,000, but that is a very small investment when you consider that the average CPA makes more than $10,000 per year over someone without that license. It is approximately three months of your expected salary increase. Additionally, the CPA exam review companies work with the AICPA as they develop their material. It is in their best interest to have you pass the exam the first time. It gives them extra marketing power to report that their students passed the exam at a much higher rate than their competitors. For that reason alone, you should have confidence that the material is thorough and is presented well enough to help people pass the exam.
4. Practice. Practice. Practice and practice some more. There are many sample tests on the internet and taking these is the single best way to get familiar with the material and to become comfortable with the writing style of the AICPA. The multiple choice tests are written in a unique fashion, and the last thing you want to do is to see the style of questions for the first time when you report in to the Prometric site. Additionally, the timed sample tests will help you gauge how long it takes to answer each question and will help calibrate the time needed for that final review before you finish the section. These tests are absolutely invaluable. Look online for CPA questions. There are many sites that provide this service for free.
5. Lastly, be confident in your abilities. You can pass the first time with the proper dedication and preparatory work. You may feel like you could have done better when you left the exam, but relax, everyone feels that way. The test is intentionally difficult, but it is likely that you will pass the first time you take it if you prepared.