Tips for Passing the CPA Exam on the First Try

You want it so bad you can taste it. Just ahead of you lies a nearly guaranteed job in the financial workforce, accompanied by a fat salary, and just about everything you have dreamed for, trained for, and longed for. Just one itsy-bitsy barrier lies in your way. The Certified Public Accountant exam. So, do you want it or not? Do you want to pass the exam on your first try? If it's time to get on with your life, save your time, save your money, and take a load off your back, you want to pass the test the first try. The question is how?

- Plan ahead, and plan to pass the CPA exam. Successful results will only follow successful planning. Register for the exam, and mark it as a red-letter date in your calendar. Next, plan out your study schedule. It should take you through all the components of the test as well as prepare you for the actual day.

- Put a brake on everything else in life, but the testing process. If at all possible, study for the test full time. It is not an unrealistic suggestion. After all, what are a few months of your life in exchange for earning the CPA? It should make sense when you are able step back and look at it with perspective. If you have a job, a lot of obligations, or are still in school, obviously full-time study may not be possible. In that case, plan to study for at least three uninterrupted hours every day for a three-month duration. The last thing you want to do is cram in order to pass. The bottom line is this: be a slave to your CPA study time. Make it a top priority. Relegate all else to second-tier. You will be so glad you did it once you pass the CPA exam the first time.

- Don't be afraid to invest in the best study materials, a private tutor, or a refresher course. There is a huge market for good study materials right now. As you prepare for the exam, you will want some sort of software, guided study method, practice tests, or a suggested schedule. That being said, understand that study materials are pricey. If you want to pass the exam, you are going to have to put your money out for some good materials. Some CPA study materials can fetch as high as $3,000. Consider it a great investment in your very bright future.

- Take a practice test. Then, take another one. And maybe another. One of the best ways to pass the CPA exam is to understand what it looks like and feels like. Plan to take one or more practice CPA exams. Treat each practice exam like a regular test. Block out the day. Time yourself. Give it your best effort.

Finally, be confident. Plan on passing the first time around. Go into the exam with the expectancy and assurance that you're going to pass it. If you follow these tips, you will.