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 18-month window and had to pass. Guess what? I did it and became a CPA!
Keep reading to learn how I passed FAR in 5 weeks as a working mom.
Work backward from the CPA exam date
After scheduling the exam, I worked backward from the test date to determine my study schedule.
But as a mom, I knew the schedule had to be realistic. I broke it down into small achievable goals:
- A day off before the exam to get into the right mindset.
- One week to review the material.
- Four weeks to study the material.
- Every Sunday and afternoon off to spend time with my family.
I used Becker CPA Review and wrote down the chapter I needed to complete each day to stay on track with my study plan.
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.
Requested time off work
After breaking down the study plan, I knew I couldn’t 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 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. It gave me 200 hours to study for FAR, where the recommended time is 120 hours before reviewing the material. Five weeks looks pretty doable when you look at this point of view.
You might also be interested in the following: Which order should you take the CPA exams?
Create a weekly schedule
After having a study plan, it’s time to create a weekly schedule. I used the time-blocking technique. Time blocking is a time management technique that blocks portions of your day dedicated to a specific task. The block of time is created based on your priorities. Download the free template to create your schedule. I made sure I incorporated the best study methods into my plan and incorporated it 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 dive into each topic.
Exercise
Adding exercise to your daily routine is 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 the location anytime I felt demotivated. Trying a new coffee shop or moving from the office to the kitchen table helped. Studies have shown studying in different spaces enables you to retain information better.
Pomodoro Technique
Here’s how the Pomodoro time technique works. Study for 25 minutes straight without distractions, followed by a five-minute break. Repeat this for four sessions or until your next break. The short study sessions with frequent breaks help increase attention span, concentration, and motivation.
I use the free app called Be Focus to track this method. Some paid apps will lock you out of your phone until the 25 minutes is up if you are easily distracted.
Time for yourself
I would take an hour’s break for lunch and leisure time each day. 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.
Mom duties
I practice hapkido twice a week with my daughter, and she dances on top of it. Between picking up my daughter from school, having dinner, doing house chores, and driving her around to activities, 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 evening for it. I would complete one house chore each day to break it out. If I needed extra time, cooking a frozen meal or picking up food was always an option.
Related: How to pass the CPA exams as a working mom
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.
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.
Be flexible
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 couldn’t study one Tuesday afternoon because I attended my daughter’s school awards. 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.
Daily Review
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, 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, printed, or use 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.
Roger CPA Review uses spaced repetition technology with digital flashcards to retain the information better. Flashcards with complex and newer materials are shown more than easier cards, helping you strengthen your weak area.
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.
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 I remain consistent and work hard, I will be a CPA and reap the benefits.
I know balancing life as a mom is a big challenge. Adding the CPA exams to it makes it even harder. I know you can do it and pass!
Grab my free time blocking planner to create your study schedule.