It isn’t easy to balance work and home life as a working mom. Add the CPA exams to the mix, which can get even more challenging.
But I am here to tell you it is possible to pass the CPA exams with a busy schedule.
After passing REG, I failed the following three sections within seven months because I struggled with time management. I decided to take five months off the CPA exam and return full force to finish in the 18-month window.
Guess what? I passed the three sections in six months!
Keep reading to learn exactly how to create a personalized study schedule to pass the CPA exams.
How to create a schedule?
Make a weekly schedule using the time-blocking technique to create a personalized plan. Time blocking is a time management technique that blocks portions of your day dedicated to a specific task. The block of time is made based on your priorities.
To create the schedule, download the free time blocking planner here. Then, add the blocks of time for the following:
- Non-negotiable such as work, classes, or wherever else you need to be
- Weekly assignments such as homework, projects, or study time if you are a student
- Personal activities such as taking kids to activities, club meetings, or hobbies
- Daily activities such as commute, morning or bedtime routine, and eating dinner
- Study time for the CPA exam
- Buffer time in your schedule in case something unexpected comes up.
If you use the template, label the legends created for you. Then, highlight the blocks with the color from the legend. Here is an example of the blank time-blocking template:
My life changed drastically over the eighteen months of testing. I passed REG as a full-time student, AUD and BEC as a working mom, and FAR studying full-time. Check out my other articles to see my filled-out weekly schedule for each scenario:
- How to pass the CPA as a full-time student
- How to pass the CPA exams as a working mom
- How to pass FAR in five weeks as a mom
Studying for the CPA exams
As you can see from the list, studying for the CPA exams is the last priority to ensure everything else is taken care of in your life first. Think of how often you put off studying because of work or feel guilty for missing time with your family. It will be easier to get in the right mindset with all your priorities done.
I studied each night after my daughter’s bedtime because I am a night owl. You may like to learn the first thing in the day to get it out of the way and head to bed early. Aim to study at a time that works best for your body and stick to it. After a week of forcing myself to study each night, it became second nature.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is a realistic goal you can meet. The last thing you want is for the test day to roll around, and you haven’t been able to finish the material because you’re falling asleep on your keyboard.
*You might also be interested in: Study routine to quickly pass the CPA exams
Buffer time
Life doesn’t just stop while you’re studying for the CPA exams. Plan for the unexpected that is expected because it’s life. Life happens. We could take longer than expected to absorb the material, get sick, or need to attend an important event that comes up.
Add blocks of buffer time in your weekly schedule so you know the exact time and date to make it up. It will put your mind at ease because you already have a plan. I would add multiple buffer times in the weeks to avoid disrupting any plans.
If you are not in a tight time constraint, adding in a few extra days or an entire week might benefit you. The additional review time couldn’t hurt if you don’t use it. You might be glad you have it if something unexpected comes up.
Determining test date
After a week or two of studying for the CPA exams, you can see how much material you finish in one study block of time. Each section may differ in length, so an excellent way to gauge the size of the section is to write down the following:
- Total time of lecture videos
- Number of multiple-choice questions
- Number of task-based
- simulations
Use this information to project the chapters/sections to complete each study session and finish the monthly calendar material. Don’t forget to add one to two weeks to review the material before the test date.
*You might also be interested in: Which order to take the CPA exams?
Create a schedule that works best for you
The purpose of creating the monthly and weekly schedule is to create an overview to make decisions such as determining test dates or making plans with your friends. 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 your whole week at a glance to make decisions.
It helps create a realistic study schedule with time blocks based on priorities. So, I knew I accounted for enough time for everything in my life. I struggled to pass the CPA exams because of my guilt. I felt guilty for not spending enough time with my family when studying. If I spent time with them, I felt guilty for not studying enough. The weekly planner gives me a guilt-free schedule to balance my life and pass the CPA exams.
All done!
You have created a personalized schedule to pass the CPA exams while balancing your busy life. The plan might change while studying for the exam, but having this as a foundation allows you to see your week as a whole picture and adjust as needed. Now it’s time to study and kill it on exam day!
If you haven’t already, grab the free time-blocking planner to help you create a personalized study planner to pass the CPA exams.
