Studying for an exam is such a stressful time. Whether you are a last-minute type of person or someone who likes to be prepared well in advance, there will always come a time when exam prep stress gets the best of you. That’s why we have developed this 5-step CPA study plan that will lead you towards success with minimal stress.
Structured Online Revision Sessions
The first step towards revising for the CPA exam is to have a look at online revision sessions. The structured approach is a great way to get your mind into revising mode. With so much information to retain, it is important not to overload your mind with information. That is why some of the best cpa prep courses are online. You can start and stop as you wish, meaning that if you feel like the revision session is getting too overwhelming, you can pick it back up at a later date.
Know The Exam Content
The second step is knowing what the exam is going to be about. The questions on the CPA exams change each year, so there is no telling what exact questions will be on the test. You will, however, be able to find out the key subjects that will come up on the exam.
It is important to start with your weaker areas first. You can usually pick these out by looking at your exam content and seeing which ones you are least confident in. There is no point going over subjects that you already know well you, and you can save them for last.
Get Comfortable With Exam Environments
Thirdly, you need to be confident when sitting down and taking an exam. It is not uncommon for even the smartest minds to crumble under exam conditions. So, after completing a revision session, get someone close to you to create a mini-exam. Sit at a table as you would in the exam and time yourself.
Determine Your Study Plan of Attack
Next, it is important to come up with a plan of attack. Are you going to study in a relaxed manner, doing a few hours each day? Or, will you aggressively study right up until the exam date? If you usually leave things until the last minute, your plan of attack will need to be aggressive. If you are willing to begin your prep a few months before the exam, you can take a more relaxed approach. If you know there are a few areas that you aren’t confident in, don’t leave them until the last minute.
Find Yourself A Study Buddy
Finally, it is so much easier to study when you know someone who is preparing for the same exam. You can plan structured revision sessions, create mini-tests for each other, and help each other stay off track to get a good grade. A study buddy is great for those days where studying is the last thing you want to do. They can help give your motivation a boost!
Conclusion
While the CPA exam is known to be hard, it can be made easier by using excellent revision resources and allowing yourself enough time to revise. Make sure that you give yourself enough time to go over all of the exam content. Tackle it as you feel most comfortable and give yourself plenty of time!
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