Searched for threads about this, but couldn't find any recent ones so......

I'm headed to UVA in the fall for their Masters in Accounting program after graduating from State in December. I'm looking to start studying for the CPA exam now in order to take one section this December, and then study for the other 3 on my own during the spring semester before taking those next summer.

I'm just beginning to look into the different studying options now and although it seems most have taken the Becker course - I want to go ahead and get a jump on things in the 2 semesters I'm at UVA. I know that a lot of firms will pay for future employees to take a Becker (or other provider) CPA prep course towards the end, or after, their spring semester in a MSA/MAC program, but I want to go ahead and purchase some material now that I can use to study on my own before that becomes an option.

Does anyone who has passed the exam anytime recently know of any good self study materials that they've used or seemed to work better for them than other options?

7/10/2014 7:41:37 PM

It really depends on your learning style. I work in local government so having a firm purchase my study materials wasn't an option. I decided to do a combination of CPAexcel and Wiley Test Bank. I also purchased ninja notes from http://another71.com. If I had it to do all over again, I'd probably just use Wiley Test Bank and Ninja notes but I learn well by taking a lot of practice tests and learning from the incorrect answers.

One suggestion I have is to match the exams with the classes you are taking. You'll find that any MACC program is basically a CPA study course so use that to your advantage. If you're going to be taking an audit class, plan to take AUD near the end of the semester, then test prep and studying for the course become one in the same.

I passed all 4 exams on the first shot within a 6 month window while working full time after I graduated. Don't feel to rushed to complete them while you're in school.

Also, never buy Becker. If someone else pays for it, use it.

7/12/2014 8:54:54 AM

I used https://www.yaegercpareview.com/ that uses the Wiley books and I passed my last section in Dec 2011. If you need a full course, I'd recommend it. It's basically old school style lecture with a camera in front of a guy teaching the sections and he assigns homework. When I signed up, they had a deal where if you took all sections in a certain time period and failed some, they'd send you the updated CDs for the ones you failed. I passed audit and failed the next 3 before I bought the class and then passed the next 3 in a row after.

My best advice is to buy Wiley books or something with a lot of test questions and just do as many as you can. A lot of the questions get repeated almost word for word.

I also agree with bobster's suggestion of matching the section with the class. I passed audit first because I was already working full time and had a lot of experience with audit workpapers so I was familiar with most of the terminology and I did better on that section than any other.

7/12/2014 9:43:48 AM