How to Pass the CPA Exam - Guaranteed!

The CPA Exam is known as one of the hardest professional licensing exams period. It is also one of the biggest steps you can take to boost your career and be recognized in the community. The one thing every CPA remembers well is the moment they got their passing grades for the CPA Exam.

What can you do to guarantee your success on the exam?

I loved the advice from a young CPA in his post on Ledgerlink titled, Six Attributes That Will Guarantee Success on the CPA Examfrom CPA blogger Lie Dharma Putra:

1. Knowledge of the material
2. Commitment to the exam preparation
3. Take a solutions approach
4. Grading insights - maximize each question's potential score
5. Develop an examination strategy
6. Examination confidence

Think about it like you are training for a major athletic event, a marathon is a great metaphor. Knowledge of the content is just one piece. Mental and physical preparation are almost as important as the knowledge of the core material.

From all of us at New CPAs & CPA Success - Best of Luck to all of you exam takers.Are you a CPA candidate member (get discounts on CPA exam prep and more)? Sign up here

For students - pay attention to all of your classes now - it is the beginning of your CPA exam preparation.Are you a member of MACPA's student community (it's free), join here at www.tomorrowscpa.org and sign-up for our Facebook fan page.

Read the full advice on his post at Ledgerlink

And when you are done (In Maryland and many states), don't forget to attend the offical swearing-in ceremony- The Maryland New CPA ceremony is scheduled for the evening of June 28th, 2009 at the BWI Hilton Hotel. Registration is free and details can be found here.

Maryland CPA exam educational requirements

Comments

[Rebecca Tervo, CPA]

I have fond memories of spending every weekend for the entire weekend in Dekalb IL at the Univesity of IL where they offered a live CPA exam training class. My key to success was spending the whole weekend at class and doing the problems/reading just like the professors advocated. Then, spending several dedicated hours at my local library every single evening with earplugs doing more problems/studying. I had a 3 and 1 year old at home at the time, and promised my husband I'd pass it in the first try. The reason I passed it the first time came down to one thing: BURNING DESIRE TO DO IT! If you don't have the desire, you won't be motivated to find the path to get you there! Good luck to all the new CPA to be's!

[Stephanie]

I agree that the burning desire to pass the exam does help!

Here is my 2 cents based on my experience:

* Have a good and realistic study plan that suit your own schedule and work/home commitment, an stick with it;
* Sign up for a review course that fit your style of studying;
* Find out the hot / difficult topics for eachof the 4 sections and prioritize your study accordingly
* Focus in working on exam practice questions, and redo the wrong ones at least twice to make sure you get them right and for the right reason;
* Understand what the examiners are trying to test (or trick!) you;
* Learn how examiners grade written communications -- it can be the easiest 10 points if you know the tactics.

Would love to hear the thoughts from the rest of you.

Cheers, and for the candidates, best of luck to the exam! Stephanie

[CPA exam courses]

Just like in life...goals get us through hard times. You'll be more eager to save money for that new car versus just saving money. Same thing applies to passing the CPA exam. That end result is what makes it all worthwhile!