10 Little-Known Facts About Passing the CPA Exam

1. When to Take the Exam

Sit now, don’t wait! There are many compelling reasons to sit for the CPA Exam sooner rather than later. One reason is to pass quickly before starting a new job at a firm. Many firms offer generous incentive bonuses for passing the CPA Exam, which decreases the longer it takes for you to become certified. Imagine how impressed your firm will be knowing that you’ve already taken the initiative and passed the CPA Exam before your start date, which will allow you to obtain the largest bonus possible. And, you won’t have to try to manage your time learning about your new position while studying for one of the most difficult professional exams. Also, you’ve just graduated from college and there is a big advantage to taking the CPA Exam when you’re still accustomed to a study routine. Your knowledge from school is still fresh and you’re still very clear on topics that are tested on the CPA Exam. So, why not take it right away?

2. Write Out an Exam Timing Schedule and Follow It

This is probably one of the most helpful pieces of advice you can use during your exam process. Write out a schedule of how long each Testlet should take you, from the moment you start the exam to the end. Figure out exactly how far along you should be and make sure you keep on track.

Here is an example of scheduling your time during the AUD Exam (4 Hours – 5 Testlets): Time (in hours counting down):

• 4:00 – 3:15 Testlet #1
• 3:15 – 2:30 Testlet #2
• 2:30 – 2:00 Testlet #3
• — Halfway Point: 15 Minute Break–
• 2:00 – 0:60 Testlet #4
• 0:60 – 0:00 Testlet #5
  By listing out your time, you are able to get an idea of where you are during each point of the exam. For example, if you’re at 1:45 and you haven’t finished Testlet #2, you know that you need to start picking up the pace.

4. Keep it on the Down Low

Unfortunately, when you begin to tell others you are taking the CPA Exam, your friends and family may want to become “involved”. Find out when you’re taking the exam, what part, how many sections you have passed, etc. Therefore, if you are up to explaining why you canceled your CPA Exam section or why a 74 is not considered a passing grade, go ahead and let everyone know. But, if you would prefer not to add the additional pressure of everyone wanting to know if you passed or failed the exam, you do not need to divulge this information. Keep it to yourself. That way, if you decide you’re not ready to take on AUD next week, it’s okay; you’re allowed to change your mind. If you failed FAR twice, nobody needs to know this, and you can continue preparing to pass the exam.

5. Study with Purposeful Multiple-Choice Questions and Task-Based Simulations

Once you start studying with a CPA Review course, don’t sift through tons of practice questions aimlessly. Make sure you’re practicing with questions that are focused on strengthening your weak areas. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself just guessing at 60-70% of them. This tactic will NOT help you properly prepare for the CPA Exam. This is where SmartPath Predictive Technology really comes into play. This data-driven platform serves you the questions you need based on your performance, eliminating the guesswork out of preparation. This helps you reach the target goals for each section until your knowledge base of all the topics has been fulfilled. SmartPath helps you focus on learning and applying the actual material and topics presented.

6. Figure Out If You Are a Morning, Day, or Night Person

This advice will be extremely helpful when you are planning the times to take your CPA Exam. For those of you who are morning people, take the test at 8:00 am, right after a fresh cup of coffee. If you’re not a morning person, you may prefer to take the exam around 5:30 pm to ease your nerves. Whatever time is best for you is when you need to schedule your exam.

7. It’s Okay to Schedule Your Test…Last Minute

Most people think the best thing to do is schedule their CPA Exam as far out as possible. This way it forces them to study because they know they are limited on time. But, as always, things happen, and most people just go into the exam, having not finished the material, and come out with a 74 or less. Instead of going down this path, have an overall goal of when you plan to take the exam in your head first. Then schedule the exam when you are ready to take it. Note: This tip will only work if you live in an area that has multiple Prometric testing centers. If you only have one testing center near you, then it’s more likely that your time slots will fill quickly. However, if they do get filled, most of the time people end up canceling their exam five days out and slots will reopen. Just keep checking the availability in your area to make sure you get your desired time and date.

8. Reward Yourself for the Little Triumphs

The more time you spend studying for the CPA Exam, the less time you have for everything and everyone else in your life. Therefore, squeeze in some time to breathe and have a little fun. Use this time as a reward for completing milestones in your study material and especially when you pass a part of the CPA Exam. Just make sure you celebrate the small victories to stay motivated.

9. Just Because You Don’t Feel Confident During the Exam, Doesn’t Mean You’re Going to Fail!

Think positively! One way to ease your mind during the exam is to remember that the AICPA includes pretest questions on the CPA Exam. So, if you’re really struggling with one of the questions, it could possibly be a pretest question that won’t count against your score. Also, always keep in mind that the better you are doing on the exam, the more difficult the material becomes. If the material seems more challenging, then you’re answering the questions correctly.

10. And Finally, Remember the Clock is Ticking

Once you passed your first exam section, remember that the clock has started to count down. You have 18 more months from the time you pass your first exam to finish the remaining 3 parts. 18 months sounds like a long time, but it will come sooner than you think. So, be sure to plan your CPA Exam strategy accordingly. We continue to wish everyone the best of luck on their CPA Exam journeys! Be sure to let us know when you pass, so we can celebrate your success!