Preparing for the CPA Exam
It's almost that time of year again -- time for the CPA exam. The Uniform CPA Examination is given twice each year, in May and November, and lasts 15½ hours over two days (for all four sections taken at one time). The upcoming exams will take place on the following dates: May 2-3; Nov. 7-8; May 8-9, 2002; Nov. 6-7, 2002.
Facts and Figures
The boards of accountancy of all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands use the exam -- which is given and graded only in English -- as the primary way of measuring the technical competence of CPA candidates. The exam consists of four parts: Audit, Accounting and Reporting, Financial Accounting and Reporting, and Business Law & Professional Responsibilities. Each section is graded separately, and grades are reported to boards of accountancy on a scale ranging from 0 to 99, with a passing grade of 75 for each section. Conditional status may be granted to candidates who receive a passing grade on some but not all sections. The exam consists of three types of questions: multiple choice (four answer choices); objective questions or "other objective format" (questions that may involve matching, true-false, fill-in-the-blank, or numerical-answer questions); and essays. The only aids you are allowed to take to the examination tables are pens, pencils, and erasers.
Study Strategies and Techniques
Allocate Your Study Time to Your Weak Areas
Candidates prefer to review areas they know well. Once you enter a difficult area that has been a weakness in the past, the comfort level with the topic drops dramatically. Use this drop in comfort level as a clue that you are weak in the area and need to work until you reach a comfort level with the material.
Top Ten Tips for Passing the CPA Exam
The CPA exam is notoriously difficult, and in order to pass you must be well-prepared. From planning ahead to using up-to-date materials, there are ways to make the experience less-stressful as you get closer to the exam.
More articles on study strategies and techniques...
CPA Products
Wiley Virtual CPA Exam Review
Wiley Virtual CPA Exam Review is an exciting new multimedia, Web-based course that joins top-notch CPA review material with unmatched learning technology. Enter a virtual classroom through state-of-the-art images, full-streaming video and audio lectures, and enjoy a host of benefits.
Wiley CPA Examination Review Fast Track Study Guide
This new exam review tool from Wiley will get you on the fast track for passing the CPA exam! Its compact, outline format gives you the key points to study for each area of the exam and shows you how to prepare to do your best.
You Can Pass the CPA Exam: Get Motivated
For test takers fully intent on passing the first time out, You Can Pass the CPA Exam: Get Motivated is the ultimate exam coach. It helps you customize your own study plan, with detailed tips on cracking all sorts of questions, and, unlike other exam prep guides, gets you acquainted with the actual exam experience via a supplemental CD.
CPA Exam Structure
How the CPA Exam Is Graded
Approximately 12 percent of first-time CPA exam candidates successfully pass all four parts of the exam. This percentage would increase if first-timers put down their CPA review materials for a few minutes and took the time to understand how the exam is graded.
Mental Preparation
Visualize Yourself Taking the Exam
The CPA exam is right around the corner. It’s the time when CPA exam candidates begin having nightmares about what the real exam will be like. Stop losing sleep over it and go check it out!
Before and During the CPA Exam
What to Take Inside the Exam Room
After all the months of preparation and worry, the big day has arrived. You are ready to walk into the CPA examination room. What should you bring? Should you stuff your purse or pockets full of pens, erasers and candy? How many diet cokes will you need?
Travel Plans for the CPA Exam: Book a Hotel Room Now!
You study hard for the CPA exam so you're well-prepared, but don't forget the logistics of your travel plans, including your hotel reservations.
Professional Designations
Certified Public Accountant
While you do not have to be a CPA to practice public accounting, the CPA designation is valuable addition to your resume as it will help you earn a higher salary and greater recognition from your employer and peers to name a few benefits.
Audio Interviews
Debra Hopkins: Prepare Yourself for the CPA Exam
March 27, 2000 (SmartPros) -- Debra Hopkins is director of the highly acclaimed Northern Illinois University CPA Review and is author of You Can Pass the CPA Exam: Get Motivated. In this interview, Hopkins discusses the structure of the CPA exam, outlines the common mistakes candidates make when preparing for the exam, and shares CPA exam preparation strategies. Hopkins also addresses how to choose a review course, and speaks on the new computerized exam scheduled to arrive in 2003.
Ronnie Rudd: The Computerization of the CPA Exam
July 17, 2000 (SmartPros) -- Ronnie Rudd recently retired as Managing Partner of the San Antonio office of Arthur Andersen. On July 1 he assumed the role as chairman of the Examination Review Board, a NASBA committee responsible for auditing and reviewing the CPA exam. In this interview, Rudd discusses the electronic CPA exam, scheduled for release in 2003.
