Tips and secrets on how to pass the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Board Exam

Passing the CPA Board Exam is one tough task for anyone who aims to become a Certified Public Accountant. It is described by many critiques as one of the most difficult professional board exam an aspiring professional can take. This is true since accounting requires both theoretical and mathematical skills to fully absorb its knowledge and expertise. During my time of review and before I passed the CPA Board exam, I realized some simple reflections that greatly helped me in reaching my dream of becoming a CPA. Whenever people ask me for advices on how to pass the CPA test, the following are my answers:

1. Set your target rating. It must be your maximum attainable rating. If you think you have the capability or potential to reach the highest ratings then aim for it. If you eventually miss the highest ratings, at least you may not miss the passing rate.

2. Establish your time frame. That is the date from the time you will start your review up to the date of the exam result. Allocate your available time. If you have a six-month time budget for your review, then utilize it and make a time table that will smoothly run your review program. Timing is very important in achieving success. Act like a farmer that plants and harvests according to time frame.

3. Formulate your steps and procedures. In every goal there must be procedures to attain it. Procedures and goals should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and trackable (S.M.A.R.T).

4. Consider your resources. Your physical, financial, emotional and spiritual condition must be determined and optimized. Money is a real thing and a must have thing. Determine your sponsors. They can be your family, company, friends and or yourself. Your values and qualities are more than important than your money. Hence, these things should realized by yourself to use them effectively. Hard work, patience, discipline, confidence and Godliness – these are your true and most important resources.

5. Make tools on how to track the implementation of your plan or program. For example, you may use a monitoring sheet that will oversee the flow of your procedures – whether they are met or not. You can always amend your program if you believe it will result into more productive one.

6. Divide and conquer. If you need to read a 1,000 page accounting book, don’t read it overnight. It’s impossible. Divide the pages based on your available time. If you have a thousand pages of book to read and you divide it by hundred days, then you can relaxingly read ten pages everyday.

7. Practice and practice. “Practice makes perfect” and I don’t need to explain this further.

8. Be with the best. Humans have the natural capability of adapting their environment. If you will always mingle with the best, you will naturally adapt and compete their level of environment and competition. Study and enroll in the best review schools where the best CPA candidates are there.

9. Don’t quit. Or you will be a loser.  

10. Be faithful and confident. Be confident in your abilities. Worrying is just a waste time and effort. Be faithful with God who is our powerful Creator. God made the Heaven and Earth. If He can make those two – how much more can He make you a CPA?

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