As we head into the month of September, many of us are feverishly studying and trying our best to prepare for that next exam in October. In my case, I have AUD scheduled for October 1st. My plan is to immediately move past that exam and into FAR with an anticipated test date of November 30th. Prior to this upcoming test window, I had always taken a break from my studies as I awaited the results of my last exam. However, as the year is coming to a close, I cannot afford to lose any more time with tax-season looming ahead.
Exam days can be stressful and you need to be on top of your game in order to be successful. Having been through the process numerous times already, I'd like to share some of my own personal experiences with the hope that they will assist those who will soon be taking their first exam.
1. Watch the time you are spending on the multiple choice testlets and be sure to leave enough time to complete the simulations. I learned this lesson on the first exam I ever took. I spent so much time going back and reviewing every single multiple choice answer, that when the simulations came up, I was only able to make it about half way through. I thought I bombed and was even more disappointed when I found out I had failed by 3 points! Most study programs will point out the number of testlets and how much time you should be spending on each, so just try to keep that in mind as you're going through the exam.
2. Be very careful with taking breaks. Personally, I do not take any breaks during the exams. This was another lesson I learned during my first test. The test timer does not pause as you step away and the process will likely knock 10 minutes off your time. Every minute is valuable, and I would not recommend losing any time unless it was an absolute emergency. If you're a caffeine junkie like me, try a drink like 5 Hour Energy instead of coffee and be sure not to drink too much immediately prior to your exam.
3. Schedule a date far ahead of time! I cannot stress the importance of this enough. I prefer the Clark, NJ location and have been locked out on so many occassions (the seating had already filled). As a result, I've taken exams in Clark, Fair Lawn, and NYC. Seating fills up fast, especially for the last week of a testing window. So if you have an idea of when you'll want to take the exam, request the NTS and schedule as soon as possible!
4. Do some research on the expected score releases. Some websites (AICPA and NINJA CPA Review) will post breakdowns of the testing windows and when scores are expected to be released. If you're anything like me and you like to know whether you passed on the section you had been preparing for, prior to moving onto another subject, this breakdown can be very useful. For example, I took the AUD portion of the exam in the very beginning of July and received my grade on August 5th. Had I looked at the breakdown of the score releases, I would have seen that I could have taken the exam as late as the 20th of July and received my grade on the same day. If I had taken 10 minutes to look it up, I would have realized and gained 2 more weeks of studying that could have made a difference.
5. Arrive early! I usually try to take my exams first thing in the morning. Regardless of whether you're taking the exam at 8am, noon, or later, give yourself the time to arrive leisurely and not add any additional stress to your day. Often times, if you get to the test center early, they will allow you to begin your exam prior to the scheduled time. This is especially true if you're visiting a test center for the first time.
Hope this helps!
-Mike
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