One Week Left

I’m nervous.  I was doing great practicing MCQs online by doing 20 random questions at a time.  I was getting on average 95% correct.  So I started working on MCQs that I had gotten wrong previously, since the system keeps track.  I was still doing pretty well.  But then I worked the 40 question practice exam in the Wiley book.  These were the 2011 released AICPA questions.  They started out easy but then got harder and harder, and then I got to the last one which was on process costing and I couldn’t figure it out.  I got very close, but had one part of the calculation wrong.  I ended up with 73% correct on that sample and now I’m worried.

I know after previous exams, I said next time I would spend less time working MCQs that I already knew just so I can keep getting high scores on practice exams, and spend more time memorizing and studying my weak areas.  Taking MCQs online is so satisfying though, and memorizing is so hard for me.  And it’s worked so far.  But today I’m going to focus on areas that I struggle with, make notes and maybe more note cards.  This weekend is heavy studying and then I have next Friday off of work which is the day before the exam.  I’ve done that the last 3 times and it’s worked well.

The other scary part which I mentioned before is the writing section.  I just don’t know how to study for that except to do the samples and try to remember those concepts well enough to write about them.  I’m just going to concentrate on learning everything that I possibly can and then wing it.  I do want to have a format in mind, like opening and closing generic sentences, but I’m not going to try to memorize any concepts from the samples.

My life outside of the CPA is getting messy.  My house is neglected, I need clothes for work, I need to see people, I need to work out more and eat better, I have projects at work that need extra attention and time, I want to watch some TV.  But like I tell people, “when I’m sitting in the exam center taking the exam, I’m NOT going to be saying, ‘this is so easy, I wish I had spent more time cleaning house!'”  So life has to wait a little longer.

 

 

Only 3 Weeks to Go!

I feel like I’ve been slacking off, although I’m every bit as nervous as I was with the other exams.  And I really need this to be over after this.  Work is so demanding and I have no personal life!

I’ve been having crazy dreams.  Last night I had one about the exam.  I was in the exam center and I fell asleep right after finishing the 3rd testlet.  I woke up and realized I only had about 20 minutes left to do the 3 writing sims.  At first I thought it would be impossible, but I quickly decided I could at least do well on one and start another, and hopefully the one I couldn’t do was a pretest question.  But then the system wouldn’t let me into the testlet and I kept trying and finally called in the proctor and it was totally malfunctioning.  Well, I guess I gave up and was upset for getting this far and knowing I would have to take it over again.  I was so upset.  But then I found out it was only a sample test I was taking in preparation of taking the exam.  Then I woke up.  Gah!

With 3 weeks left, I’m reviewing the material, making some notes to cram from, and retaking all the online MCQs.  I’m through the 3rd of the 8 modules and need to hurry to get through my review of the remaining 5 in one week so I can do the practice tests in the book and do a ton of random MCQs in the 2 weeks up to the exam.  I don’t feel like I’m mastering anything and the writing section is freaking me out.  I’m much better at choosing from multiple choice than trying to write about an entire concept.  I don’t even have a good essay format in my head.  I see myself taking a day off work next week.  OK back to studying.

 

 

4th Week of 10 for BEC

This is the end of 4 study weeks already.  I’ll be finishing the 6th of 8 modules today.  But I haven’t really worked on my writing skills yet except for reading the sample question and answers in the text.  The online sims don’t have suggested answers.  I’m not sure how I’m going to prepare for these, but I think I’m going to wait until I’m through all the modules and MCQs once before I work on that.  I know how to write but I need to know a formula for the layout so I don’t choke and also I want to try to master the concepts in the samples.  I never really master any topic to the point I could elaborate orally, but I can answer from mutiple choice answers well enough.  This worries me.

I’m surprised at all of the formulas and calculations I have to know for this exam.  Some I never heard of before, but others are review, like the financial ratios.  I’m going to make flashcards of these and I think it’s in my best interest to know these really well.

I think I’ve allowed enough time to get through this in 10 weeks.  Of course there’s always stuff that comes up that gets in the way of study time, but I have to be selfish about this and put myself first most of the time.  But I have taken time out to help my husband build our giant shed, my son look for a new home (his first), and stay late at work when I need to.  I’ve been keeping up on my household chores which my husband has less time for because of the shed.  My supposed flower gardens are horrendous.  I’m bad at that anyhow, and this year I haven’t touched them once.  And with the hot dry summer, the gardens are ugly.  Oh well, so much to do once I finally get the CPA!

 

 

 

 

 

Last One – BEC!

I’m giving myself 10 weeks again.  This is the same time of year as when I first started with FAR in 2011.  I’m already signed up and scheduled to take the exam on Saturday, October 27th.

I’m already on the 4th of 8 modules in BEC.  So far, it doesn’t seem horrible.  There is a good amount of info that was covered in the other sections, just in different ways and maybe not as in depth.

I’m really worried about the essays, though.  I feel that I can write well enough, but to write about any topic at length scares me.  I can figure out MCQs and calculations, but to talk about a topic?  Heck no!  What I’m doing now is just reading the essays in the book and online to get an idea of the format, and then I’ll see how well I can write these once I feel that I know the topics well enough to write about them. 

I looked into what’s involved in the ethics exam.  It’s open book.  I read a tip on another71 that one can print a PDF of the exam and answer the questions while viewing the tutorial or material or whatever the format is.  Something else to buy – online.

Then I looked at the application for the license and continuing ed requirements.  Everyone renews at the same time, not according to one’s own schedule.  The first 3-year period from when you get your license requires no ed.  So, lucky for me, I will be getting my license right after the 3-year renewal, so I will be good for close to 3 years.  That’s good news!  I don’t know if I’ll get my actual license by the end of 2012, but that’s ok.  I’ll have my certificate.  By the time all the scores get to the right places, and the application gets processed, well, I don’t know how long that takes, but it’s OK. 

But I’m getting ahead of myself now – I need to concentrate on passing BEC!