I had five weeks before REG expired and had to pass FAR, the biggest of the four CPA exams. I had failed once before, but not this time. This time, I was approaching the end of my testing window and had to pass.
Guess what? I did it! I passed the CPA exams and became a CPA!
Keep reading to learn how I passed FAR in 5 weeks as a working mom.
Article Overview
- –Work backward from the CPA exam date to create a realistic study schedule
- –Coordinate with work and family for support
- –Create a weekly study schedule using the time-blocking method with the Organized CPA Exam Study Planner
- –Use the Pomodoro technique during your study session
- –Create time for yourself and take a day off
- –Be flexible with changes by building buffer time in your schedule
- –Do a daily review to keep the material fresh
- –Get a good study review plan such as Becker or Surgent CPA Review
Work backward from the CPA exam date
Once I scheduled the FAR exam, I worked backward to create a realistic study plan. I broke it down into small, achievable goals to stay on track:
- –A day off before the exam to get into the right mindset.
- –One week to review the material.
- –Four weeks to study the material.
- –One day off a week from studying and each afternoon
Once I created an overview, I wrote down the chapter I needed to complete each day to stay on track with my study plan using my monthly planner template from the Organized CPA Exam Weekly Study Planner.
Study Tip: You are forty-two percent more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. Please write down the steps you will take to pass the exam.
Coordinated the CPA exam with work
After breaking down the study plan, I realized I couldn’t realistically pass in five weeks with work and being a mom. I decided to coordinate with the CPA firm partners to take time off to study full-time. I worked at a local CPA firm, and they supported my journey to become a CPA.
I created a plan with the partners to take a break from work after the tax season deadline and return after my exam. This way, I gave my employer notice ahead of time, helped during tax season, and took a break when the CPA firm was slow.
With work out of the way, I now had 8 hours a day to study. This gave me 200 hours to study for FAR, where the recommended time is 120 hours before reviewing the material. Five weeks looks pretty doable from this point of view.
I am grateful for the opportunity, but I understand that taking time off work is definitely not an option for everyone. After passing AUD during tax season, I discovered another option: increasing your daily study time.
When I first created my study plan to pass AUD in six weeks, I thought two hours a night was enough to finish my daily goal. I quickly realized I had to increase my study time to four hours a night, studying for the CPA exams from 8 pm to midnight. This worked for me because I was a night owl and knew it was temporary. If four hours in one sitting is too much, you can study before and after work to get in more study time and break out your sessions.
If you aren’t in a time crunch, you can change the exam date to give yourself more time based on a realistic goal that works best for you! Remember, this is your journey, own it.
I go into more detail on how I passed AUD in this article: How to pass the CPA exams as a working mom
Create a weekly schedule
After creating an overview of my study plan, it was time to make a weekly schedule. I used time blocking, a time management technique that blocks portions of your day dedicated to a specific task based on your priorities.
You can get my free CPA study Planner to organize your schedule and pass faster by inputting your name and email below.
I made sure I incorporated the best time management techniques and incorporated them into my schedule:
- –Exercise
- –Changing up study space
- –Pomodoro Technique
- –Taking a day off and time for myself
- –Flexibility with schedule
- –Reviewing Daily
- –Using a CPA Exam Study Material
Let’s take a look at why each technique to see how it helped me pass the CPA exams:
Exercise to help retain information
Adding exercise to my daily routine was a total game-changer. It helps you retain the information better and keeps your focus. I noticed my study sessions would drag out if I missed a workout. If you are limited on time, keep it short with a 10-minute YouTube video or walk your kids to school.
Change up your study space
I would change up my study space anytime I felt demotivated. Trying a new coffee shop or moving from the office to the kitchen table with more sunlight helped. Studies have shown studying in different spaces enables you to retain information better.
Use the Pomodoro Technique to stay focused
The Pomodoro technique is a time strategy in which you study for 25 minutes straight without distractions, followed by a five-minute break. Then, you repeat this for four sessions or until your next break, totaling a two-hour study session. The short study sessions with frequent breaks help increase attention span, concentration, and motivation.
I use the free app called Be Focused to track my time using the Pomodoro technique. Some paid apps will lock you out of your phone until the 25 minutes is up if you are easily distracted.
Create time for yourself
I would take an hour’s lunch break each day to get some time to myself. It was a great time to catch my favorite show’s latest episode, take a short nap, or meet with friends for lunch. It was great having time for me. Don’t forget to put in a little time for yourself to keep your sanity. After a break, I would be ready to jump back into studying full force.
How to balance mom duties
I practiced hapkido twice a week with my daughter, and she dances on top of it. Between picking up my daughter from school, driving her around to activities, having dinner, and doing house chores, I couldn’t plan any real study time once she got out of school. I was on mom duties when I picked her up from school until she went to bed.
So, I blocked off each afternoon for mom duties and didn’t study from when I picked her up from school until she went to bed. To break it out, I would complete one house chore each day. If I needed extra time, cooking a frozen meal or picking up food was always an option.
Take a day off
One of the biggest mistakes I made when I failed was thinking I had to study every minute of my free time. It led to burnout, anxiety, and I could barely retain the information.
Make sure you take one day off a week from studying. I took every Sunday off. It gave me time to spend with my family, run errands, or relax. It helped me reset my mind before the week began.
Create a flexible study schedule
It is not a tight schedule that you have to stick to every minute of the day. It’s created as a visual so you can see when you can see your whole week at a glance to make decisions.
I realized I couldn’t study one Tuesday afternoon because I attended my daughter’s school awards night. But I didn’t stress because I knew the exact time and date I could make it up over the weekend with the buffer time I created. I created about 8 hours of buffer time each week if I fell behind or something came up.
Your schedule might look completely different than mine, and that’s okay. I want to show you it is possible to study full-time, be involved with your family, and have time for yourself. Find out what works best for you and stick with it.
You might also be interested in How to create a study schedule to pass the CPA exams.
How to Review for CPA FAR Daily
I remember feeling stressed when review week came for the CPA exam. What I learned weeks ago was far gone from my memory.
If you feel this way, you’re not alone. Remember, that is the whole point of reviewing the material. But to prevent this from happening on my second attempt, I would review ten to fifteen multiple-choice questions for the sections I have already learned on my phone.
I did this while riding in the car, before bed, or waiting at my daughter’s dance studio.
- –It kept the material fresh in my head.
- –I got faster at answering the questions.
- –It added up to about 100 multiple-choice questions of review a week.
If you can’t access the multiple-choice questions on your phone, another option is to review flashcards. You can get them digitally with your review material, print them, or create your own. That way, you can carry them around if you don’t have access to the internet and want to cram a quick review. These are two great ways to review a few times a week to help keep the material fresh in your head.
You might also be interested in Study routine to pass the CPA exams quickly.
CPA exam study material
Get a study review course that works best for your study style to make life easier. I used Becker CPA Review to pass FAR in five weeks. The study material broke down each chapter into easy bite-sized sessions to help me retain the material quickly. Another great budget-friendly option is the Surgent CPA review.
You got this!
The CPA exam comes with a lot of hard work and sacrifice. But remember, it is only temporary, and the payoff is enormous.
If you remain consistent and work hard, you will soon be a CPA and reap the benefits.
I know balancing life as a mom is a big challenge, and adding the CPA exams makes it even harder. I know you can do it and pass!
Don’t forget to grab my free time-blocking planner to create your study schedule if you haven’t already!