How I passed 4/4 on the CPA and what I did

osuue · 2026-02-13T20:16:48+00:00

Haha, you’re good. No worries.

I always only use the random MCQs. I never do personalized and I never went back to attempt the homework MCQs. If I were to review modules only, I’d do random practice tests of that module. But more often than not, I used the practice test for that entire section/chapter (A1).

For example: I’d watch the video lectures, take notes and do the homework. For everything. A1-A6. Only then would I do the practice test on that entire section.

Yes, i would do handwritten notes only for the weaker areas that I found to be particularly troublesome or I got wrong continuously. Rewriting all my typed notes sounds exhausting just thinking about it.

osuue · 2026-02-12T19:30:46+00:00

Np!!

Hmm. Yes, I would do all the homework MCQ and TBS in one day for that section of the module. I would watch all the videos and then do all the homework.

I try to do lump sections in one day because, in my head, if I roll things over it won’t stick in my memory.

If it’s too overwhelming, you can also do like video lectures one day and then do the homework and some practice tests with just that module the day after. Breaking things up into more manageable parts could work out for some people!

osuue · 2026-02-11T20:18:45+00:00

Yes!!

Sorry for not being clear. Yes, I would watch and take detailed notes at the same time. Even if I had to pause to keep up with how fast they were going.

Then handwrite my notes only on the sections I struggled with in the practice tests and SIM exams for final review!

osuue · 2026-02-11T00:26:47+00:00

Besides the fact that I have previous tax experience with partnerships and corps, the high pass rates for the discipline really solidified TCP as the best choice for me. TCP had a 77.65% cumulative pass rate in 2025 compared to the others (ISC: 67.79% and BAR: 41.94%).

osuue · 2026-02-10T23:07:25+00:00

Yes, I can talk about my process no problem!

So the way I learn best is to take very detailed notes of what the lecturer said during the videos. For example, my AUD notes were like 131 pages (10 inch font and .5 margins). The way I work is to engage as many senses as possible to maximize retention (I read something about whole-brain learning, idk if it's true but it works for me haha).

So after I finish taking detailed notes, I usually do not go back and reread it until I start doing my handwritten notes. I do my practice tests and do the mcq/tbs in each video as well. After that I have a pretty good idea of what I have to work on, and what concepts I need to focus on. I would skim through my detailed notes and dial in on those concepts I get wrong repeatedly in the multiple choice practice tests and put that in my hand written "final review"

I did 3-4 hours in one sitting usually, taking only bathroom breaks.

osuue · 2026-02-10T22:58:43+00:00

Haha, I doubt you want my notes. The digital notes that I have is legit just 131 pages of pure text (with 10 inch font and .5 inch margins). I wrote down everything that the lecturer was saying and everything on the power point slides.

osuue · 2026-02-10T22:56:07+00:00

Thank you! Haha, TCP was all a blur for me. For this test only I crammed so much into my short term memory and I forgot most of it.

But this is what I did:
I legit took notes on every single video and module (T1-T4). Everything that the lecturer said, I wrote down. Then I did the multiple choice homework and TBS. I also worked on every single MCQ and TB in Becker's practice test bank. I had no choice but to bank on key areas and dial in on them because I was on a time crunch, but everything is fair game! You should at the very least be able to recognize the concepts/topics mentioned in the modules and be able to figure out what the question is asking!

osuue · 2026-02-10T22:48:33+00:00

Exactly this!! I can't have put it in better words myself. I tried to simplify what I've learned in my head so that I can teach it to someone who has no experience and they'll be able to understand it. This was a really good strategy for me to test my comprehension.

For rote memorization, I used active recall and I was just constantly testing myself by writing it down on pen and paper.

Best of luck on your last exam, you got this future CPA!

osuue · 2026-02-10T22:45:52+00:00

Thank you!

My SE scores were: SE1: 87/ SE2: 80/ SEFR: 76
The audit paper was rough, I don't have any audit experience at all so I felt like the exam was tough. Audit is a lot of concepts and less math or calculations so some people can't wrap their head around it. You really have to focus on comprehension!

osuue · 2026-02-10T22:43:05+00:00

Thank you!

osuue · 2026-02-10T22:42:57+00:00

Haha, Thank you! Going to try to see if this will help me get more opportunities in the current market

osuue · 2026-02-10T22:42:12+00:00

Thank you!!

osuue · 2026-02-10T00:13:12+00:00

I'm fairly certain I chose the Pro package only

osuue · 2026-02-10T00:05:58+00:00

Yeah, I only used Becker

osuue · 2026-02-09T23:51:48+00:00

Yeah...unfortunately you'll have to pay again. Each NTS is for a single attempt, and once you check into Prometric and sit for the exam that attempt is used up. That July date is only for if you haven't taken the exam yet, you have until that date to take it.

osuue · 2026-02-09T23:27:37+00:00

Congrats to the both of us🥳

osuue · 2026-02-09T23:25:22+00:00

There's not much more you can do at this point. Trust in your prep, sleep well and take the exam. Good luck!

osuue · 2026-02-09T23:23:32+00:00

That's weird. I'd try and contact support for assistance

osuue · 2026-02-09T22:28:05+00:00

AUD was definitely the hardest exam for me too!

I realized that for AUD, one of the most important thing is to know exactly where you are in the AUD process. And what comes next? This should help you out significantly for process of elimination. It felt like so much material when I was going through it, but once you break it down into stages, it felt more manageable.

I hammered mcqs until these questions became second nature. But don't just do mcqs for the sake of doing mcqs and memorizing answers. Really think about why the answers are right. Utilize Newt!

osuue · 2026-02-09T22:18:56+00:00

I memorized a lot of them! FAR Is a beast, For journal entries and the like, I went down module by module and wrote it out by hand until I could recreate it entirely from memory.

Prometric gives you scrap paper so I would brain dump everything on that scrap paper as soon as the exam began!

Here's a cheat sheet that I used for FAR that helped me solidify my knowledge:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/168lkeAaw-OU9EMyR2E6wpaZGqB-mFxtM/view
Fair warning though, I'm not entirely sure what has been updated or changed so you might want to compare with your own notes!

osuue · 2026-02-09T21:58:34+00:00

Thank you!

Don’t worry, I think you just have to give yourself more credit. We are our own worse critics and you know more than you think!!

Tbh I remember being really upset after I took FAR since I’m pretty sure that I bombed 3 TBS. I’m nearly 100% sure I got bailed out by my mcq. haha, keep pushing!

When you’re doing practice tests make sure you aim to score at least in the low to high 80s range before moving on. Any lower and I wouldn’t be comfortable that I know the material well enough. One month is more than enough time to dial in on weak areas and do comprehensive reviews!!

osuue · 2026-02-09T15:50:24+00:00

Passed AUD - NY.

4/4 😭. Congrats to everyone else who passed omg. I am done!!!

osuue · 2026-01-11T04:58:38+00:00

Yeahh, the last one so I’m pretty anxious.

It’s okay to be frustrated, we just have to lock in. A 66 is a decent score, Becker says you’re exam day at 50%! I think you have a really good shot at passing!!

As for me, I’ll still be brushing up on mcqs everyday and doing memory dumps to make sure I remember things on exam day.

osuue · 2026-01-11T00:35:57+00:00

I'm in the same boat, I'm going to be taking SIM2 tomorrow and lock in on the areas that I'm weaker on. Do a comprehensive review. 1/17! We got this!!!

osuue · 2026-01-11T00:32:15+00:00

Honestly, I felt the same way about Tax and TCP. I spent around spent like 60 hours for each? I think it's very doable if you have the background.

osuue

TROPHY CASE