I started studying beginning of May. I made this decision on my own with desires for improving myself and open doors of opportunities. Paid out of my pocket to get Becker.

My background: BA and MA in accounting, graduated 7 years ago. Mostly worked for government. I have a full time job, not married, no kids yet, relatively new here at this city and still haven’t made any friends. Which means, i have a plenty of mental space and time to tackle this.

My study planner was 8 weeks or 9 ish. 1 chapter a week with 2 weeks of exam prep in the end.

After first few modules of F1 FAR, I felt a bit demoralized because how rusty my knowledge was. It was challenging but I kept going and thankfully it was coming together.

I went for 100% EDR on all main courses, I postponed doing Mini exams until after completion of last chapter. Inside mini exam, Becker explained that they were used to reinforce weak areas. This didn’t make sense to me as reinforcement will decay by the time I’m done with the main courses.

So my scores, chronologically taken, were:

•Mini exam 1: 57% (June 24).

•Mini exam 2: 60% (June 25).

•Mini exam 3: 44%, 100% (June 26).

•Simulated exam 1: 44%, 95% (June 29, 30).

•Simulated exam 2: 67% (July 4).

I believe I’m in the minority that I consistently do better with TBS than MCQ.

Total time spent: 190 hours 25 minutes

•Concept videos: 66h 55m

•MCQs: 37h 56m

•TBSs: 32h 49m

•Practice tests / flash cards: 9h 35m

•Mini / simulated exams: 18h 16m

•Others: 24h 58m

“Others” looks like tracked time spent in study planner, skill builders, and digital textbook.

Sat for exam today on July 8. My experience taking the CPA test for the first time, starting with FAR section. My first impression was surprised to see how similar if not identical Becker interface to CPA interface.

My CPA exam’s contents…couldn’t be more comprehensive. All the major topics. There was one MCQ that I haven’t really see before. Unusual question too. Wish I could specify. I finished first two test lets of MCQs in approximately 1h30m. I burned all the remaining time on TBSs. My impression of CPA TBS is mostly similar to what Becker gave me. Most of them had similar # of exhibits. However, the reason I burned all the remaining time was because there were 2 of them that had a lot of info and things going on. I had to move on on one of them as I was running out of time.

The worst part was one of the last TBS….had me completely stumped. I knew what the topic is about. But the options down below wasn’t clear. Inside my mind, I had the accounts but wasn’t seeing them distinctly. I’m afraid that one I completely flunked. Here at my place, I looked and found in the Becker book, it’s not the same. I think it’s safe to say I didn’t understand the question.

I am expecting my score to be 70 to 82, not sure because I flunked one TBS. I’m grateful for the positive experience I studied and it gave me a solid better foundation to do better rest of my journey.

My advices/takeaways: 1) 50 MCQ a day practice tests wasn’t enough. Will try 75 next time if not 100. It would help me improve with MCQ 2) Becker’s Adapt2u (sp?) setting. I believe it works better with more MCQ per test. i noticed my wrong answers tend to be clustered in sequence. If practice test was too short, the setting wouldn’t be effective. 3) I had zero rest days. Had a burnout run, don’t forget to do self care! Don’t neglect it! 4) I think it’s better to take both simulated exams closer to CPA exam day. And do last of brush up on remaining weak areas. 5) anticipate and plan ahead in case of family get together or the likes. Catching up was much harder than I thought. Too much info to study.

Suggestion to Becker: I studied with one monitor, adjusting exhibit windows can be traumatizing. Lol. CPA exam interface adjustment was smooth.

To those of you busy with family, friends, more than 40-45 work hours a week, you are strong and I’m amazed. Keep it up what you are doing.

Let’s do this!! Onward to REG next! Let’s go!