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What are your tips on passing your CPA exam?

Hey, my name is Taylor and Im a senior in high school planning to major in accounting and finance. With that I am looking to get my CPA.

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Jessica’s Answer

To pass the CPA exam, it's best to start early and aim to finish quickly. Waiting too long makes it harder because work and life get busier, leaving less time to study. Many people I know say they wish they had taken the exams soon after graduation when the material was still fresh in their minds.

Consistency is more important than studying intensely. It's better to study a little each day rather than cramming. A structured CPA review course with a study schedule helps you stay on track. Focus on understanding concepts instead of just memorizing answers, as the exam tests your ability to apply knowledge. Practice questions are crucial; doing many of them helps you understand the exam better and boosts your confidence.

Treat your study time like a job: set clear goals, reduce distractions, and keep track of your progress. Don't worry if your practice scores are low at first; what's important is improving over time. Remember to take care of yourself with enough sleep, exercise, and breaks, as these can enhance your memory and performance. You've got this!
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Lauren’s Answer

Hi Taylor, a few tips to share:
- Make a study plan. There is a lot of material but take it in stride. If you are confident in your study plan, it will help greatly.
- Utilize all available material including practice tests, reviewing material more than once, etc.
- Find friends, study groups, etc. Try to make studying fun as well to break up the independent study time.
- Create milestones in studying and celebrate as you pass each exam! You can also plan some ways to reward yourself for these milestones to keep you motivated.
- Think about the big picture and stay focused on your desire to pass the exams. Work hard and don't give up!

Best of luck with the CPA exams!
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Caitlin’s Answer

Hello Taylor,

Focus on discipline by tackling each section one at a time. Plan your schedule and work backwards to set aside study time each week. Stick to this plan, even if it means cutting back on watching TV or going out. It will be worth it when you finish. Start with the hardest section first and aim to complete your study in no more than four weeks. By dedicating a few hours each week, you'll find it less overwhelming and be less tempted to procrastinate.

Take plenty of practice tests to identify areas where you need more study time.

Join a study group for accountability, whether with friends or colleagues, even if they are studying different sections.

Celebrate your success after passing each section. Treat yourself to something small like your favorite coffee or something bigger like a new piece of work clothing. Recognize each milestone in some way.

Caitlin recommends the following next steps:

Make a study plan based on when you plan to take each test.
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Allie’s Answer

Hi Taylor! The CPA exam can be overwhelming, but it's important to take things one day and one test at a time. Try your best to not get overwhelmed by the volume of material - you will get it done. To set yourself up for success, create a study plan/schedule and do your best to stick to it. Also, take lots of breaks! Your brain is working hard. If you have access to study resources and courses, I highly recommend Becker. One thing I avoided at the start of my CPA studying journey that I quickly learned was extremely impactful - PRACTICE QUESTIONS! You will learn a lot reading study material and listening to lectures, but practice questions help to solidify your understanding of the concepts. You got this!
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Jeff’s Answer

Make a study plan and commit to sticking to that study plan, even on weekends. Take practice exams and seek a review course, I personally used Becker many years ago and found it very helpful in my passing the exam. If you put in the right amount of time and effort, you will find success in passing the exam as well!
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Kerry’s Answer

All the advice is great! Try to take the test while you're still in study mode and before work becomes too hectic. Set clear goals, establish boundaries, and create a study plan. Remember to reward yourself for reaching your goals, like studying for a certain number of days or passing a section. Celebrate these small milestones to keep your motivation up. Good luck—you’ve got this!
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Alison’s Answer

Hi Taylor,

You’re already on the right path if you’re thinking about taking the CPA exam. The exam can be challenging, but plenty of people have passed it successfully. First, make sure you have the right study tools. Becker is an excellent option, and many CPA firms will cover the cost once you accept an offer.

Taking the CPA early in your career can be extremely helpful. As you move forward in accounting, your responsibilities and pressures increase. If you complete the exam before you start or within your first few years at a firm, you may even qualify for a bonus.

Build everything around a routine. Think about when you learn and study best. For me, studying in the morning worked better than trying to study after work when I was already tired.

Lastly, remember this phase is temporary. You may feel tired and have to miss a few weekend events, but it’s worth it once you pass the exam.
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Robert’s Answer

Hello!

I think the easy answer is to stay dedicated, but it's more complex than that. Creating a system that works for you and allows you to actually stay dedicated and put in the work is the better answer. Studying every free moment will promote burnout, while allowing yourself too much flexbility will promote not studying. The actual studying format varies by person so don't just take the advice of one person or one program, though using a program to give you an idea of the formatting that can help is a great way to organize yourself. The best advice I can give is to allow yourself time and grace to figure out what works for you to truly understand the material, study as much as you can while allowing yourself to still maintain an active life and do plenty of practice exams/questions - nothing prepares you like actually simulating the environment you will have while taking the exam. Good luck!
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Seleene’s Answer

Hi Taylor! Wow, a double major sounds really tough, kudos to you! Since that seems like a lot already, maybe it would be good to wait until you start working - not going to lie, it is tough to balance that plus workload depending on the job you get out of college but I was glad I took a CPA prep course and my employer covered the cost of it. My other advise is to try and take all of the parts close together and soon after finishing the CPA prep course - I waited along time to take some of the parts so I had less time and more pressure to pass. Good luck!
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LaChauon’s Answer

Review old exams, study material out loud to yourself over several days to move it into long term memory and use flash cards to revisit weak spots.
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Lewis’s Answer

I personally think if you can get your CPA completed before jumping into your career, it would be less stressful to complete.
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Amanda’s Answer

After finishing school and before starting my job, I studied for the CPA exam. My top tip is to stay focused and stick to your study plan. I used the Becker CPA study course, which was really helpful. Flashcards were great for remembering important facts, and I did lots of practice tests to get used to the question style. Keep practicing, and stay positive and calm!
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Ally’s Answer

Find a structured program (Becker is one of the most popular) to help you stay on track with studying, practice exams, and resources. Having a friend or classmate working toward the same goal and studying with you helps with accountability and allows you to work through questions and scenarios together to ensure understanding. Plan to study for and take one exam/part at a time, and leverage resources like AI to help summarize key concepts, create flashcards, etc.

Take breaks and make sure you plan some fun milestone moments during your study plan. It's important to stay disciplined and in a structured routine but you also want to have things on your calendar to look forward to. Work towards studying and passing your exams prior to starting full-time if possible. If you can study and pass exams during your senior or masters year, do it! You will already be in the mode of studying, going to class, etc. Plus - many of the public accounting firms offer incentive bonuses for those new hires who can pass the full exam within the first year of starting full time.
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