Tips for passing the CPA exam

Here are some dos and don'ts from some recent CPA exam passers. To learn about study strategies and techniques, CPA exam structure, mental preparation and practice, click here.

Do

Try to do something relaxing the night before or the night between the exams.
Read the essay questions first, then answer the multiple-choice questions. This allows you to subliminally think about the essay while you are working on the multiple choice questions and you might read a related question and include some of the terminology in your essay.
Bring some hard candies and a soda into the exam. The sugar helps to maintain energy levels.
If you don't know how to answer a question or an essay, do your best on the rest of the exam and give your best effort on the tough question. You might do better than you think!
Take mental breaks during the exam, stretch in your seat, take a drink of soda / water, focus you sight on a distant object, etc.

— Thad Ulrich

Don't

Cram the night before the exam.
Rush through the exam. Take your time.
Spend too much time on one question. If you don't know the answer, skip it and come back at the end.
Overestimate the difficulty of the exam. It is tough, but it is passable if you are well prepared
Procrastinate. Start studying as soon as possible.

— Thad Ulrich

Do

Take a review course.
Practice as many multiple-choice questions as possible.
Study auditing at the end (about a week before exam).
Use multiple questions to answer the essays.

— Kristin Hucht

Don't

Study essay questions.
Think that you have gone over enough multiple-choice questions.
Burn yourself out (you must take breaks).
Skip classes.
Think that anyone outside of accounting has any clue of what you are going through.

— Kristin Hucht

Do

Take a review course.
Devote entire weekends to study. (There will be many left when you have passed.)
Believe in yourself.
Take the week prior to exam off (if possible).
Use multiple review course books. Sometimes one book is better than another at explaining complicated issues.

— Cynthia Brown

Don't

Wait until the last minute to prepare.
Get stressed out. Remember, everyone taking the exam is in the same situation as you.
Give up. If you feel overwhelmed, consider concentrating on two parts.
Listen to others' horror stories. It is really not that bad.
Get to the exam site late.

— Cynthia Brown