In this episode of the CPA Exam Experience Podcast, you’ll hear how Conrad was able to pass the CPA exams by constantly answering MCQs. Conrad really honed in on the skill of answering multiple choice questions and that is what ultimately led to him conquering the CPA exams. Conrad was also a part of the SuperfastCPA coaching program.
You’ll hear how Conrad was able to study each morning because he knew that there was no way he was going to study in the evenings. He was even able to keep studying when a hurricane hit Florida, and able to take a break when his son was born, and still passed the CPA exams in the end. By the end, his process was so efficient he was only studying about an hour a day. Conrad has a ton of great insights and tips, make sure you listen closely to what he says because it could be the tip that helps you passed the CPA exams.
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Master your study process by attending one of our free study training workshops:
https://www.superfastcpa.com/study-secrets/
Episode Timestamps
- 00:00 Conrad Interview
- 04:24 Started as a Computer Science Major
- 06:02 Conrad’s Current Job
- 07:45 Getting Becker for Free
- 09:02 First Attempt with BEC
- 10:01 Found SuperfastCPA and Tried It Out
- 11:03 Failed Three Times Before His First Passing Score
- 12:27 When Conrad Bought SuperfastCPA
- 13:50 Conrad’s Biggest Struggle Before SuperfastCPA
- 14:47 Bought the Coaching Program
- 15:42 Life Happened So Conrad Had to Take a Break
- 16:41 Found REG to be the Easiest
- 17:26 Failed Audit Due to an Upset Stomach
- 18:14 Passed FAR When He Didn’t Expect It
- 18:58 Got Lazy Studying for AUD
- 19:55 Conrad Didn’t Eat Morning of Test Day
- 20:42 What SuperfastCPA Added
- 22:17 Studied for an Hour a Day on His Last Exams
- 23:53 You Get Better from Constantly Answering MCQs
- 26:48 Conrad’s Morning Study Sessions
- 28:02 Tips for Learning New or Difficult Topics with Flashcards
- 28:35 Used the Sims to Learning Topics In Depth
- 29:48 Aimed To Do 100 MCQs Daily
- 30:31 A Realization That He Learned Through the Sims
- 32:04 Felt That His Study Process Got Better Over Time
- 34:13 Mini Sessions Throughout the Day
- 35:36 Utilized the SuperfsatCPA Study Tools More at the Beginning
- 39:04 Even Had Time to Do Other Stuff Through His CPA Journey
- 41:32 The Driving Factor to Succeed While Pursuing the CPA
- 43:06 Top Tips for People Still Going Through the CPA Exams
Interview Transcript
Conrad: [00:00:00] And I think just I got good at answering multiple choice questions. I really, I think I got pretty good at developing that skill.
And that’s what helped so yeah, it was, it’s it’s just interesting ’cause I, yeah, some people, they study four hours a day and yeah, I don’t know, I never did that. I just two hours was the max and I’m like, I don’t want to study in the evening cause I know for sure I will make every excuse not to.
So I, and I don’t know maybe if I put more work into it, I would’ve scored higher but, I passed, so.
Logan: Welcome to another episode of the CPA Exam Experience podcast from Superfast CPA. I’m Logan, and in today’s episode, you’re going to hear me talking with Conrad.
Now Conrad is another person that I had in the coaching program, so I was able to work with him directly and see his [00:01:00] progress, and I really enjoyed working with Conrad. Something I remember was in the middle of his study process, he was affected by one of the hurricanes that came through Florida because that’s where he’s currently living. And I remember him messaging me and telling me that he didn’t have any power, and I loved the dedication that he had to continue trying to study even when he didn’t really have any power because of that hurricane.
And I think you’re really gonna like Conrad’s story. He didn’t pass every single exam first try, but what he did do was get really good at the multiple choice questions.
You’ll hear him mention that in the interview that, that was one of his top skills that he got good at was, learning how to learn from and do the multiple choice questions. And I think that is something that a lot of people could learn about and apply because that is pretty much the base of everything that you are going to be doing in the CPA exams.
You need to get good at the multiple choice questions, and Conrad and I will talk about that a little bit. I really enjoyed this interview with Conrad again because I was able to work with him in the coaching program, and I think we did it like one or two days after he found out he passed. [00:02:00] So this was all really fresh, so I think you’re gonna enjoy it.
Now before we dive into the actual interview, I just wanna give one more reminder about our Superfast CPA training webinar on superfastcpa.com.
That is one hour that will literally save you months and months of struggling with the exams because we will teach you the key ingredients to passing the CPA exam so you don’t waste months or even years of your time failing exams.
And then after that, you’re going to want to learn more, so make sure you also check out becoming a SuperfastCPA PRO member. PRO members get access to something that I’ve been working on for over the past, I think almost a year and a half. I have been making multiple choice question walkthrough videos for just about every topic in FAR, just about every topic in audit, a lot of topics in REG and TCP, and I’m getting close to finishing up the topics for BAR.
So if you want to look into those, you can find them on YouTube, the free versions, but we have the full versions on our SuperfastCPA member forum. So if you become a SuperfastCPA PRO member, you’ll get access to those.
So make sure you check out the webinar, make sure you check out becoming a  SuperfastCPA PRO member. And with all that said, let’s dive straight into the interview with [00:03:00] Conrad.
Logan: Good morning Conrad, so glad to be on the call with you today. I’m super pumped to talk to you because I have been able to work with you in the coaching program.
Uh, so yeah, how you’re feeling today? You literally just found out yesterday that you’re done right?
Conrad: Yeah, on, uh, on Wednesday I found out.
Logan: On Wednesday?
Conrad: Um, yeah, audit was my last one. Um, and uh, I actually barely squeaked by, I got a 76. But I’ll take it, so.
Logan: Doesn’t matter, yeah, you’re done. It doesn’t matter. That, that’s so awesome.
Uh, I’m really, yeah. I’m really excited to kind of get into all that with you. Uh, and I mean, it’s cool to be able to talk to you about it like so soon afterwards cause a lot of times we talk to people, weeks or even months, I think even sometimes a year afterwards, so it’ll be cool cause it’s really fresh for you, so.
Um, just one question before we start, where are you calling in from today?
Conrad: So, uh, I currently live in Florida, um, just about an hour north of, uh, Tampa area.
Logan: Okay.
And, uh, this might come up, but were [00:04:00] you, you might have been, were you affected by like a hurricane or something during this, I think I remember you talking to me about that.
Conrad: Yeah, I, that was in October, um, Milton, I think that’s the one. It’s hard to remember all the names of the different hurricanes, but yeah, I think Milton was the one that came through in October and hit my area pretty, pretty good.
Um, and that, that was in the middle of REG, so.
Logan: I think, yeah. We’ll, we’ll definitely talk about that.
Started as a Computer Science Major
Logan: So, um, let’s just kind of start from the beginning. As everybody, as I was mentioning at the start of the call, uh, you were, you were in the coaching program, so I got to work with you personally. Uh, so that’s cool, but for the sake of the call, we’ll probably just kind of still go through things, kind of your whole story just so that people can hear it as well. So, just to kinda get started, where were you when you wanted to become a CPA? Like what had you been doing? How did you get into accounting?
Conrad: Yeah, so, I started college in 2019 and my, originally my major was computer science.
But then I realized [00:05:00] I, I did not have the patience for coding. Um, I think it’s, it’s very interesting. It still interests me, but I just don’t have the patience for it.
Um, so then, um, you know, like just economics business, um, just like personal finance, you know, there’s like overlap with accounting in, with all those different topics and that always interested me.
So I was like, you know, accounting’s a perfect field, I think, to get into, and I’ve always heard that, you know, you’ll always have a job, you know, as an accountant.
So I, uh, so I changed majors, did that, um, I think it started in like 2020 and then I graduated in December, 2021, um, with, uh, my bachelor’s in accounting, um, from the University of New Mexico.
Um, and then
Logan: Wait, wait, so, so did you do your degree in two years? Is that what you’re saying?
Conrad: So I, I, I actually completed it in exactly three years.
Logan: Oh, okay, okay. Oh yeah, 2019, 2020, and 2021. There we go, yeah, makes
Conrad: Yeah. I started, yeah, beginning of 2019 and [00:06:00] ended at the very end 2021, yeah.
Conrad’s Current Job
Conrad: So I, um, yeah, I finished that. Um, and I’m originally from New Mexico, so that’s where I was living. Um, and then, uh, and then I got, that my last semester before I graduated that summer in June of 2021, I started a internship with a local, small local accounting firm there.
And then I worked there all throughout until I finished in December. And then I, and then that firm got bought by a bigger firm, uh, in the area, and they’re at like a more regional firm. And then from there, I, uh, I worked as a staff auditor, um, for, uh, you know, for about close to a year and a half, um, until I moved to, uh, this Tampa area.
Yeah. And, um, and at that, and when I moved, um, my, so the, the firm I was working for has a subsidiary or a division that does, uh, focuses in on like SOC reporting, like IT [00:07:00] audits and, uh, that, iT had, still interested me because of my experience in computers, computer science and whatnot. So, um, I wanted to kind of gear towards that.
So I landed a position here in Tampa for that, uh, division, um, as a, uh, IT auditor, staff auditor, um.
Logan: And is that what you’re doing still currently?
Conrad: That, so I am no longer sitting on the external audit side. I’m sitting on the client side now, but yeah, I’m, I, I’m like the main point of contact for this new company as of a, about a month ago
Logan: Okay, cool.
Conrad: Um, and yeah, I’m, we’re just getting started do our, uh, SOC 1, so.
Logan: Okay, so, you’re about to get, get busy I, I’m guessing.
Getting Becker for Free
Logan: So, um, throughout all that, uh, I’m assuming at some point you knew you were gonna have to get the CPA or that you wanted to get the CPA.
And so how did that start? Like. Did you just get a review course or how did it start?
Conrad: So, yeah. [00:08:00] Uh, so when I was a, um, back in, when I was living in New Mexico and I was a staff auditor for that regional firm, um, I was able to get a, or I had a job offer with one of the big four firms and then I started doing more and I was, that was like in the summer and I wasn’t supposed to start that till like December or January, um, like in 2022.
And then I, uh, I realized, oh, I didn’t, I don’t wanna, like do, I don’t wanna have to work like 40 or 80 hours a week, you know.
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: Doing the big four so I, I declined the offer, but before that, they like give you the course, the Becker course and everything and they pay for it. So I got it. I got it for free, um.
Logan: Even though, you didn’t accept the, wow.
Conrad: Even though, yeah. So like, yeah, I don’t know. It was kind of goofy. Um, but I got it. So I never paid for a review course, and, but I, and I always just told myself, oh, I’ll eventually do it. I’ll eventually get my [00:09:00] CPA, that type of thing. And I was just kind of pushing it off.
First Attempt with BEC
Conrad: Um, and then I, you know, I met, I was dating my wife, so that’s why I moved to Tampa too, she’s from here.
Um, and then, uh, and then I was set to take REG or uh, uh, BEC in, um, what was it, like May of 2023 and, um, right when I moved here in February, 2023, we got engaged so our wedding was set in like September.
Um, so I was just busy with that and I just was not focused at all. And um, honestly, like with BEC I think I scored, I got like a 62. And I remember thinking, I was like, honestly, that’s a pretty good score for the lack of studying I did.
So, you know, I wasn’t like, I was like, okay, whatever, you know, and then, and then I just didn’t touch it. I took that, I took it in May and I just didn’t touch the CPA at all until, uh, until December of 2023. I picked up, picked it up again, [00:10:00] and um, I started studying for audit.
Found SuperfastCPA and Tried It Out
Conrad: And then, um, and then throughout this time, like, you know, I, I always heard of SuperfastCPA, but you know, like I, I thought it was kind of like, oh, a scam type of deal like they’re trying get money, you know.
Um, but that, and, but, but the thing is, is I, I think in December, right when I started studying for audit. Um, I sat for the free session and I was like, okay, this actually, this, the study method actually started to make sense, you know, so I was doing kind of like a hybrid version of that for that when I was taking audit. Um, but I was still kind of like, you know, looking at the book a lot and also like watching the videos and stuff
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Conrad: And also I just wasn’t like, the biggest thing for me is, um, you know, just the lack of consistency, you know, like I had that in the beginning. That was really bad. And I think that’s why I failed, like, I think my first four [00:11:00] exams before I finally passed ISC.
Failed Three Times Before His First Passing Score
Conrad: So I took audit and then I sat for, and I started studying for, um, I think it was FAR, and then I studied for REG after that.
And then in, um, in like June, I got my audit scores of like a 62 or something.
Logan: Right, oh yeah, cause in 2024, you had to wait super long to get your scores.
Conrad: Yeah, and then like I think a month later in July I got the REG and FAR and I failed those. Um, and Reg, I did come close. I got like a 72.
Um, and then, and then ISC I remember, I remember like studying for that and Becker has a terrible, they need to, they need to fix their, uh, I don’t, maybe other review courses are
Logan: I’m pretty sure it’s similar across the board. Yeah. They just don’t have very much material for ISC.
Conrad: Yeah, like there was five sims and I just, I remember I got through those sims like the first week I had like a month or so to study for [00:12:00] ISC and I got through the five sims and I’m like, I’m like, this is just, I don’t know, like, how am I gonna go off this, you know.
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: I, uh, I will say the sims were a struggle in ISC, um, because I just didn’t, there wasn’t a lot of experience with those.
Um, but then I got my score in September for ISC and I passed. I was like, wow, this is awesome. I was like, I was super pumped. I was like, I finally, I can actually do this, you know, I can finally pass one.
When Conrad Bought SuperfastCPA
Logan: So throughout all that, was this like, those, like, you know, the audit, the REG, the REG, the ISC, were you doing that hybrid, uh, study way that whole time? Or
Conrad: Yeah, so, so it was actually only for audit and then right before FAR I was like, okay, I’m just gonna buy this Superfast, uh, I bought the, you know, the whole package.
Logan: The, the pro bundle? Yeah.
Conrad: Um, so I got that and I was like, okay, I’ll just, I’m gonna actually start doing Superfast method. And then, um, I started doing it and whatnot, [00:13:00] um, but I remember that for all the exams up until FAR, I had never done like cram session.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Conrad: Right before I take the exam, you know, you study Saturday and Sunday, you cram for 48 hours. I had never done that. But for REG I did. And Reg I almost passed. And I remember I was like, I was like, man, that’s, that’s the, that’s a deal breaker, I think.
So then ISC I did that. I crammed two, even though there’s only like 300 multiple choice questions, but.
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: You know, I pretty much did all of them like, you know, every day. So it’s, I, uh, but yeah, I, I did that and I finally passed. Um, and then I think, I think before I took ISC though, I think that’s when I bought the coaching, um.
Logan: Okay. Yeah, I couldn’t remember exactly when you started with the coaching program.
Conrad’s Biggest Struggle Before SuperfastCPA
Logan: So, just to kind of, before we dive into, you know, you pass ISC and then the how things went with the other exams, just so that everybody can kind of understand, what would you [00:14:00] say was your biggest struggle before you started passing?
Like, what do you think was missing that either you, you know, even if you didn’t have SuperfastCPA or when you did have SuperfastCPA, what was maybe still missing that you weren’t doing?
Conrad: Um, I think it was just the fact that I, you know, I really just wasn’t consistent.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Conrad: You know, I would, you know, I’d wake up in the morning and I’d kind of just like, you know, half-ass my way through this, this session in the morning. Um, you know, get through it and then. And then, yeah, I just, I wasn’t, and then I wasn’t being consistent with the notes.
I wasn’t really consistent with the, the, uh, quizzes and whatnot. Um. But, but yeah, I, I think that was kind of the big reason.
Bought the Coaching Program
Conrad: Um, but I remember, I think for ISC, cause right before ISC I, that’s when I bought the coaching thing, the coaching, uh, program.
And, you know, there’s a lot more accountability there. And I remember I was like, I was like, I [00:15:00] gotta get this, I gotta get this done, you know.
And I, that’s when I was like, really hounding it. And I was like, okay, I need to be reading like, I try to, I remember I told myself, it’s called the Big I call, I called it the Big 10. I try to read 10 pages of, uh, of notes.
Yeah, at least each day, do 10 quizzes, and then, you know, uh, listen to like at least 10 minutes of like the, uh, audio and whatnot, at least. Um, but typically I’d usually, it was more like a half an hour for the audios, but, yeah.
Um, so I think that was a big deal breaker was just I wasn’t, I was still kind of using a hybrid and I wasn’t being super consistent with it all, um, so yeah.
Life Happened So Conrad Had to Take a Break
Conrad: And then I, so I passed, yeah, ISC in September and then I was, and then, um, I started studying for REG in August, but then my baby boy was born beginning of September. So like for, I think I, I don’t think I studied for like two weeks. [00:16:00]
Logan: Hmm. Oh yeah. Yeah.
Conrad: And then I was like, okay, I need to, I didn’t even schedule the exam yet, so I was like, I need to schedule this thing.
So I scheduled, I think like October 14th or 15, whatever that it was like in the middle of the month on a Monday. Then, and then a hurricane comes in October and I have to push it out a week. And I had it, like, I think I had it scheduled in Sarasota, and that was, Sarasota was like right where the eye of the hurricane went, you know.
Logan: Oh, okay.
Conrad: And I was like, yeah, it’s gonna, there’s it, it’s gonna be closed, I guarantee it. So I had to like reschedule it, um.
Logan: Right. I remember you saying like, yeah, we don’t have power,
Conrad: Yeah, I know. Yeah, we didn’t have power for like three or four days, so.
Logan: Oh man.
Conrad: Yeah.
Found REG to be the Easiest
Conrad: But, uh, but yeah, I mean, but I, it was weird because like up until, up until that point though, I was like, I was scoring really good on REG, I was doing really good.
Like I was scoring in nineties, like super consistently. Um, and I had never, and besides ISC, but thing is when I took [00:17:00] ISC I was like, oh, you know, everything’s really memorization and I work in IT audit, so that’s why I’m doing good. But for REG, I’ve never worked in tax and REG was my highest. I scored the highest on that, out of all four of em.
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: and I had, I, I don’t know, and I got an 85 on that one. Um, but yeah, I, I don’t know why I’ve never worked in tax, so it’s, for some reason that was the highest one.
Failed Audit Due to an Upset Stomach
Conrad: But, but yeah, I took that one, um, and then, uh, and then I think I, yeah, started studying for audit. Um, and I don’t, yeah, this for audit, that, that would be the second time I took audit. And that one, I, I should have passed it.
Um, but in the middle of the exam. I think I drank water before I took the exam or something, and I, I had to use the bathroom. I went like two or three different times and I never, I didn’t eat breakfast, so it just, you know, everything just came through. But yeah, so I, uh, [00:18:00] that happened and I got 72 and I was like, it’s all because of, I had to take breaks.
Logan: Because of losing some time, yeah.
Conrad: Yeah, I, yeah, it was bad. So I was like, okay, whatever. I’ll, um, I knew that next time I take audit, I’ll pass.
Passed FAR When He Didn’t Expect It
Conrad: Um, and then, and then, yeah, I took, and then I started studying for FAR, um, I think end of January, beginning of February. And then I took that in March, I think beginning of March. And I failed with 74.
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: And I remember, I remember that FAR exam. I was like, this is, this has to be the easiest FAR exam. I’m like, I, I, I thought I just cranked this thing outta the park. I was like, there’s no way I’m getting an easier exam than this.
Like, and then, and then I sit for it two weeks later after I got the score and I was like, oh my gosh, this is just, this is terrible. Uh, there’s no way I passed that. And then I came back with a 77 somehow, so I’m like, whatever, I’ll take it, you know.
Got Lazy Studying for AUD
Conrad: Um, and then, yeah, [00:19:00] and then, uh, audit, oh, I, it was weird ’cause when I passed FAR, I got more thrill from passing FAR than I did with passing audit, you know, this past week. I don’t know why.
I just like, I was like, whoa, I passed FAR. That’s crazy. And then, then, um, and then I will say with audit, I, I just, I got kind of lazy and my head just wasn’t like, quite in the game per se. So that’s why like I kept, I was like, oh, I’ll take it at the end of May. And then I kept on, ’cause I started studying like the beginning of, uh, April.
And then I just kept pushing it out and out. And then finally I was like, okay, I need to take it. And then, and then in between that we were like trying to get a house.
Logan: Uh, yeah. Mm-hmm.
Conrad: Uh, but then that it actually didn’t work out. Uh, there was just issues with the house and whatnot. Um, and then we went on vacation as well for like a week, um.
Logan: So lots of stuff, just pushing it out.
Conrad: Yeah, just a lot of stuff.
Conrad Didn’t Eat Morning of Test Day
Conrad: And then, you know, but then I, I took it and at the, uh, [00:20:00] I, you know, I made sure, um, ever, ever since that audit exam that I took in December, um, the other like FAR exams, in that last audit exam, I made sure to, I, I never like, ate anything in the morning, never drank anything.
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: if I did drink something, it’d be like a couple sips of water, that was it.
Logan: Yeah, because you didn’t want to have any.
Conrad: I didn’t wanna mess anything up when I took it so, yeah. And then I, you know, passed it. Uh, I had a feeling I, I did pretty good on it.
Um, I, I was honestly kind of shocked about the 76. I thought I was gonna do a little better, but, you know, i’ll take it.
Logan: But hey, you know, you, you got it. And, and yeah, I, it is just awesome that you were able to, to finish it out.
What SuperfastCPA Added
Logan: And, um, I guess I kind of wanna go back to what you think made the difference because you, you were mentioning that before this, you know, consistency was kind of the struggle, so that probably was a big factor leading to some of the failed exams. Um, but once you got [00:21:00] super fast CPA and especially once you got the coaching program, what benefit did you start seeing that you feel led to you starting to pass?
Conrad: Um, I mean, I think another thing was the 48 hour cram session.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Conrad: You know that, that I think is absolutely crucial because, I mean, I, yeah, I failed like I said, I, you know, I failed BEC, audit and FAR without doing that. I failed ’em pretty bad like in the sixties.
And then, and then REG, the first time I took REG, I actually did it and I came really close, I got like 72. And from then on I was like, I’m always gonna do this like, and then even sometimes I would have like a, you know, I would, I would take off like a Thursday and Friday and just study from Thursday to Sunday.
Logan: So you’d have like, a 96 hour cram session.
Conrad: Yeah. So, and you know, that helped, like for this last audit exam, that’s what I did. Um, so, but yeah, I think that [00:22:00] was very crucial. And I think, I think the coaching session or the coaching program really helped because, um, you know, there’s, there’s a lot of accountability there, um, with it. And, you know, you gotta like, you gotta go through and fill out like what you did for the day and that type of thing.
Logan: Yeah.
Studied for an Hour a Day on His Last Exams
Conrad: So, um, but I, I will say that the last, like couple exams, last FAR and audit exam I did, um, I was really only studying like an hour every day. And, and on Saturday, I, uh, I’d stay, I, I would try to put at least four hours in, but sometimes I’d only put like, or like Saturday and Sunday, I’d put four hours each, but sometimes I would really only do like two.
Um, but I mean, it, I guess it worked out so.
Logan: And so I guess to kind of ask about that, so what did your mornings typically look like when it was two hours, and what did it look like when it was just one hour? Because obviously it was effective enough with even just one hour of studying [00:23:00] to be able to pass the last two exams. So what do you think was making it so you were so effective?
Conrad: Um, think, you know, after doing multiple choice for almost a whole year, there’s like a, I don’t know how to describe it, but you, you just like, like when I was taking audit, there was questions where I would just, I would like read through the, the, the, uh, options really quick, and I’m like, oh, that’s definitely an answer a hundred percent.
You know, like, I, I don’t know why I just, you just gotta like get used to knowing, like when you see a certain question and there’s a certain phrase in that question or a word. You know, the answer 90% of the time will sometimes have the, there’ll be a phrase or word in the answer that will match up to that, to what the question’s asking, like, just perfectly. I don’t know if that makes sense, um.
Logan: You just, you, you learn the nuances of answering questions like the back of your hand.
You Get Better from Constantly Answering MCQs
Conrad: Yeah, yeah, like, uh, like for audit, I think, like, you know, any, any questions [00:24:00] about like supplementary information? Um, typically, I would say 90% of the time, an answer choice if it said limited procedures would always be the answer, you know, so it just like, if you’re able to identify little things like that, it makes your, it makes everything super simple.
Um, but obviously, and then the other thing is like, sometimes, you know, when you see multiple choice questions, a lot the same ones, you gotta, like, I, I would sit down and be like, okay, I know the answer is B. I’m gonna go through and explain to myself why A, C, and D are wrong.
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: Then I, I would do that in my head, or if it was FAR, I would like calculate it out even though I knew the answer was right.
You know, I would just calculate it out. And then, and then even like, like for FAR, if I thought if I just kind of memorize the calculation, I would explain the calculation to myself and I’d be like, okay, this is why you do this, you know, and I just, you know, [00:25:00] just take like 30 seconds to do that and it, it helps you tremendously.
Logan: Yeah, that, that I, I may have talked to you about this at some point cause, I talked to a lot of people in the coaching program about this but, in my opinion, there’s two types of memorization when it comes to the CPA exam.
There’s good memorization and bad memorization, and the good memorization is kind of what you were mentioning where you see it and you recognize patterns, but it’s not because you recognize that specific question. It’s because you understand that concept and you know, whenever I’m seeing something about, uh, what was it, uh, you know, limited procedures or something like that. Like, again, you’re, you don’t have that specific question memorized, but you know, in general this is what they’re trying to test, so you know that concept.
So that’s like the kind of good memorization where you understand a concept to the point where, where whatever form you see it in. You, you have an idea of what you’re supposed to be doing, but then there’s the bad memorization, which is exactly what you were kind of, uh, avoiding, [00:26:00] which is where you see the question and you’re like, I know that the answer is B, like I know that.
But, instead of just letting yourself select that and be like, ah, yeah, I know what I’m doing. And you were forcing yourself to stop and be like, okay, yes, I know that’s the answer, but. Let me make sure I show myself that I truly know why that’s the answer. And that’s how you like, avoid the bad memorization, because like you were saying, you’ve done, you did multiple choice questions for like over a year or almost a year. So you do start seeing things over and over and over again. So it’s really easy to fall into that habit of, oh, I, that’s the answer, uh, and you just move on. So I’m, I’m glad you brought that up, you know.
Conrad: Yeah, yeah. Being good at answering multiple choice questions, it is a skill.
Logan: For sure.
Conrad: You definitely develop that as you go through.
Conrad’s Morning Study Sessions
Conrad: Uh, but, but here, I don’t, I don’t think I quite answered, answered your question though about like the morning sessions.
So, you know, I’d, I would typically wake up if I’m working from home. I wake up at like [00:27:00] 5:30 and, um, and then I’d start studying, you know, around like six or so.
So in the beginning where I need to, to learn the information, those two hour sessions were, I, I was really doing that.
Um, I was doing, you know, 90 minutes of just, you know, absorbing new information. And then I do a 30 set of, uh, multiple choice questions.
Logan: Mm.
Conrad: Uh, sometimes I want to do 30, sometimes I do 20. Um, and I would just try to like, you know, at least score a 70, um, in those,
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: Multiple choice, uh, but, but yeah.
I remember in the beginning, um, for flashcards, I was taking a lot of flashcards, and then I was getting to the point where I was like, I was like, I can’t, I just don’t have time to like study like a hundred flashcards every night.
So I’d only go through like, you know, 30 of ’em. And then, and then the next day I’d go hit another 30. So then by the time, like Thursday or, or whatever comes around, I like forgot what the, you know, the first [00:28:00] 30 flashcards were really about.
Tips for Learning New or Difficult Topics with Flashcards
Conrad: Um, so, so then that’s the coaching session help, because I remember you telling me like, you’re like really only make flashcards on like on the 30 set, the 30 multiple choice that you do for the re-review, yeah.
So I started doing that, um, like for planting the seeds, I just, I would just sit there and be like, okay, I just kind of absorbed the information. I wouldn’t make it a flashcard or anything on it.
And then if there’s questions that I just, uh, you know, I’m like, oh man, I’m getting this, this is like the fifth time I got this wrong, you know, so then I make a flashcard about it.
Used the Sims to Learning Topics In Depth
Conrad: Um, and then another thing that helps, like if you struggle with a topic, what I found helpful is, um, there’s like, you know, if you can find a SIM, simulation that is geared towards that topic, typically simulations are a lot more in depth. And I remember for REG that helped a lot cause I think, I think it was like for the QBI deduction stuff, um, or like [00:29:00] SSTB deduction, that, that type of thing. I was kind of having a hard time wrapping my head around it cause there’s like, like, if I remember correctly, there’s like three different tiers for that.
But the CPA exam only focuses on like the first two, and I was trying to remember the calculation for those.
So like going, so I had a, I came across a sim that talked about that, and from then on I made, I remember, I think I made like eight flashcards just off that one, so.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Conrad: And it just, it helped tremendously. Like just, you know, doing a sim with, for topics that you struggle on. But, but yeah, that was, so that was pretty much the, uh, my morning session for when I was first learning a topic, you know, but then if, if it was like a retake, I, I don’t go through everything. I just hammer multiple choice.
Logan: Yeah.
Aimed To Do 100 MCQs Daily
Conrad: Um, and, and yeah, so, so I, you know, for those morning sessions I would do, you know, I just start off with 30 multiple choice and then I’d take, you know, a little break or [00:30:00] whatever, and then I’d come back, do another multiple choice and that, that type of thing.
Um, but I mean, I was, I don’t know if I necessarily recommend this, but I was, I wasn’t, I would try to put in a hundred multiple choice each day, but I honestly don’t think I was doing that. I was probably putting like. I don’t know, 70 or 60 at most, but it’s, I don’t know it, um, you know, and then, well, I guess if you’re taking the quizzes, maybe I’d have more.
Logan: Mm.
Conrad: But yeah, so, which I was doing, um, but, but yeah, so that was like for the retake.
A Realization That He Learned Through the Sims
Conrad: And then another thing I started realizing was, uh, I think it was after I passed ISC I was like, um, and I took REG, I was like, okay, I think I’m kind of like, I need to study sims more because I would really only study simulations on the weekends.
Logan: Right.
Conrad: And, uh, and yeah, so I, so I, I was like, okay, I need to implement this at some, like throughout my week, rather than just focusing on them on the weekends. So [00:31:00] I would sometimes do 30 multiple choice and then, you know, try to do like, you know, three to five sims, um, just each day and that was, that would be like my morning session pretty much.
Um, and then, and then, yeah, just because I, especially for FAR it helped a lot, but, but yeah, that was as a broad stroke, yeah, that’s kind of like.
Logan: Kind of what the, what you did in the morning. So just to kind of make sure, I’m kind of getting what you were saying there so, you know, especially at the beginning you were doing the 90 minutes of planting the seeds, which in case anybody doesn’t know what that is yet, is basically just you were going through the questions in Becker, uh, not watching the videos, not reading the, the textbook, but just going straight to the questions and learning. And then you’d have a 30 minute review of all the stuff you had, all the questions you’d studied previously, um, and sounds like you were making flashcards during the re-review, which was awesome. And then on the, and then you were also studying [00:32:00] sims on the weekends, but sometimes during other mornings as well right?
Felt That His Study Process Got Better Over Time
Logan: But the fact that you were able to still pass the last two exams where you were studying more like an hour every day, why do you think that was the case? Do you feel like you just were efficient enough at that point, that an hour was still good enough or, yeah.
Conrad: I think that’s exactly what it was. I, um, and, and I think just I got good at answering multiple choice questions. Uh, I really, I think I got pretty good at developing that skill.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Conrad: Um, and that’s, that’s what helped, um, you know, so yeah, it was, it’s kind of, it’s just kind of interesting, um, you know, ’cause I, yeah, some people, you know, they study like four hours a day and yeah, I don’t know. I, I, I never did that. I just, uh, you know, two hours was the max and I’m like, I don’t, I don’t want to study in the evening cause I know for sure I will make every excuse not [00:33:00] to.
Um, so I, and I don’t know, maybe, maybe if I put more work into it, I would’ve scored higher but, I mean, I passed, so.
Logan: Yeah. Who cares? Yeah, exactly. I mean, I, I have no shame in saying this that, you know, I truly never got above a 79 on all of my exams. I got two 79’s, a 78 and a 75. But I passed them all first try in seven months and I was like, I don’t, I don’t care what my scores were. So like, it, it doesn’t matter ’cause you, you passed, you’re done.
Um, and, but that, I mean, and it’s awesome that by kind of towards the end you were so efficient that even just an hour a day was still, still, uh, pretty much enough. That’s kind of how I got where with my last exam I was doing REG and I was working in taxes at the time, so that, that probably helped.
But I, I, I felt the same like I was like, I was studying for two hours, but really that was the first exam where I started kind of like being a little lax. Like I would maybe get an hour and a [00:34:00] half in instead, but like I still did fine. And I think what I’m trying to say with all that is, you get that skill of knowing how to do what you’re gonna do on the exam and it just makes a huge difference.
Mini Sessions Throughout the Day
Logan: Uh, and actually, I I kinda wanna ask you about one other thing that we haven’t talked about too much, but what, how did you do the mini sessions throughout your day? Like what difference did those make?
Conrad: Um, yeah, so I, I think I said, yeah, I, you know, I try to read like 10 pages, at least in the beginning. Reading the notes was a lot more consistent in the beginning, like, I think for this last audit exam, I barely read ’em, but, but the quizzes though, quizzes were a big thing because, you know, I could just be at a, you know, a party or something and just like, you know.
Take out the quiz and do a couple, you know, super easy or like, or I’d be watching a show, you know, at night and I’d just like, you know, do like [00:35:00] couple quizzes or whatever. Um, and sometimes I’d use a Becker app too, and actually take like a set of 10 multiple choice on there, and that helped.
But, uh, but yeah, I think, uh, you know, for, I would say, the, uh, when I was doing, you know, the mini quizzes and whatnot and reading the notes, um, I wasn’t super consistent with them, like when I was working throughout the day, but in the evening, if I was like, oh, I didn’t, I don’t think I did enough so then in the evening I’d just kind of like take some during some downtime. I just tried to knock a couple out. And that was kind of how it went.
Logan: Yeah.
Utilized the SuperfsatCPA Study Tools More at the Beginning
Logan: And, and what did the audio notes look like? Did you listen to those just like on your way to, to and from work or something like that?
Conrad: Yeah, that’s really the only time when I listened to ’em, like when I went into the office. Um, and sometimes I listen to it like I’m taking a shower or something, um, too, but, but I think that, I don’t know, like I know that you guys say like, oh, even if you’re not [00:36:00] listening to ’em, it like, it just, your brain absorbs it, you know.
But for me, I just, I dunno, I just didn’t, I was like, I’m not absorbing anything. So I kind of stopped listening to ’em. I just, it wasn’t like a priority thing on my, on my plate.
Um, I, I think for me it was like, okay, definitely do the study session in the morning, wake up and study every single day, and then like, if you don’t do any mini sessions throughout the day before you go to bed, just at least take three quizzes on the Superfast app, and then definitely review your flashcards, and try to review ’em all. If you have too many, that’s fine, just try to review at least half or something, you know, and that was, that’s really like what I guess my mini sessions were.
Logan: Yeah.
Conrad: I would say I did more, I used, I incorporated more of the Superfast stuff in the beginning, like the, you know, doing audios, notes, quizzes, but towards the end it was [00:37:00] really just the quizzes.
Logan: Right.
So it, it sounds kinda like the key game changers for you were, you know, morning sessions where you were studying consistently. Doing mini quizzes, uh, doing flashcards, and then you mentioned multiple times the 48 hour cram session.
It sounds like those were kind of the four top strategies that really helped you the most when it came to getting SuperfastCPA. Does that kind of sound right?
Conrad: Yeah, yeah, I think, I think that definitely is, um, and it, I mean, yeah, I, I think consistency is absolutely key though, like that’s, that’s probably the most important thing,
Logan: That’s the thing that, you probably heard me say this tons of times, but I say it so much to coaching clients, like it is the base of pretty much all success.
Like I, I, I recently made a new, you might’ve seen this, I’m not sure cause you were kind of already FAR into the coaching program, [00:38:00] but I made a new assignment video explaining, you know, the consistency. And I basically said in that video, and I don’t mind saying that here in the podcast, that pretty much everybody in the coaching program who has had success such as yourself has the consistency down, like that’s pretty much a must have.
And then anybody who isn’t consistent, either never passes an exam or it takes like five or six attempts each time to be able to pass an exam. Uh, you know, they just kind of brute force their way through it instead of like using, using effective strategy.
So anyway, I, I’m just glad you brought that up because consistency, if anybody’s listening to this podcast is, that’s like probably the key thing that you could learn from SuperfastCPA.
You have to be consistent.
Conrad: I mean, and that, that goes across the board for like anything.
Logan: Pretty much, pretty much everything in life, yeah.
Conrad: Everything in life so, um, but yeah, I think that was, that was the key and I was really, I was [00:39:00] really lazy with that in the beginning and I think that’s why I failed like my first four.
Even Had Time to Do Other Stuff Through His CPA Journey
Logan: What would you say, um, were you, uh, this is something I’m always curious about ’cause you said you had your son, uh, what were you still able to do in your life, even though you were studying for the CPA exam, even though you were working? What did being that effective allow you to still have in your life?
Conrad: Oh man, I, I think there was only two times that I can think of where I was like, oh, I can’t go to this birthday party or whatever because I gotta study.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Conrad: Um. I was always doing, like, you know, I played pickleball and basketball a lot, so I would always, you know, find time to do that, you know, almost every evening.
Um, and, you know, my wife and I always are watching some type of TV show. Um, and, and yeah, that’s, it’s kind of, you know, I, I’m not, I feel like, you know, you can’t just spend your whole time studying. [00:40:00] You need to like, give your mind like, something to relax. Um, and that’s the other thing for the, like the 48 hour cram sessions.
I remember multiple times I was like, okay, I’ve studied for two days straight. I just need to like, and on like Sunday night, right, the night before the exam, I was like, I just need to like, kind of, you know, relax my mind so I’d go play pickleball with like friends.
Logan: The night before an exam.
Conrad: Yeah, and I’d come back, you know, do, do flashcards and then I’m ready for the exam next morning and that, you know, but I don’t know, that’s kind of just what I did.
Um, but I, yeah, I mean really, like obligation wise, nothing really changed. Um, and I mean, my family, my wife, they all knew I was trying to do this, and
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Conrad: My wife is, I’ve, I love her for it. She was super, just supportive and everything with it and, and yeah, so.
Logan: Yeah, and that’s always the hope with SuperfastCPA, uh, is that with the strategies we try to [00:41:00] teach that, you know, get your studying done in the morning, do some mini sessions throughout the day, and then you can pretty much have your evenings mostly free, which is just a huge game changer. Like you don’t feel like you’re really missing your life, a lot of the time.
Conrad: Mm-hmm.
Logan: Um, well, I think that that was pretty much, I mean, we kind of hit talked about everything. We talked about your morning sessions, we talked about flashcards. Uh, we talked about your mini sessions, we talked about the sims, your 48 hour cram session, uh, and we talked a little bit about the coaching program.
The Driving Factor to Succeed While Pursuing the CPA
Logan: Is there any other part of your study process that we haven’t gotten to talk about that you were thinking beforehand? Like, I would like to share this with people.
Conrad: Um, I don’t, I don’t think so, but I, I guess like the reason why, you know, I went for the CPA, um, is just, you know, I want to provide, um, you know, a better life for my family. And typically CPAs do earn more throughout their career lifetime. Um, [00:42:00] and, and yeah, that’s kind of the, my big driving factor behind it, um, as well.
And, uh, you know, like in the, in the beginning of the process, I did make, I’m staring at it right now. I made like an actual like piece sheet, um, with like writing down my goals and like, okay, this is what I’m gonna do for like, my study process every day, um, so yeah.
Logan: Is you’re looking up. Right, right.
Did was that, is that the motivation sheet from the ProCourse or is this something you made on your own?
Conrad: So I actually made this before I knew about your guys’ motivation sheet, um.
Logan: But I’m guessing a similar idea.
Conrad: Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely, so.
Logan: Yeah. Yeah. Well, I, I mean, you did awesome. I, I was always really excited to, I remember asking you a couple days ago, I, like, all I asked you was like, Hey, are you done with the exams?
Like, did you finish? And you’re like, I’m done. Like, you didn’t even no exclamation point, or you’re just like, yep, I’m, and uh, and I, that’s how I felt too. I remember, like I, when I found out I’ve passed my [00:43:00] last exam, I was just like, I, I like that it’s done. Like I, I just felt totally calm and peaceful.
Top Tips for People Still Going Through the CPA Exams
Logan: Um, so, I mean, yeah, congrats on being done and uh, you know, we always ask this question to end the calls, to end the podcast calls, even if it’s something we’ve already talked about, but what would be your top two or three tips to people who are still going through the CPA exam?
Conrad: Um, I would say consistency is number one. Um, I think that, um, you know, I’m on this like Facebook CPA chat thing and I, all the time I see people just saying, you know, I’m just busting my butt doing four to six hours every day, and I’m, I’m like, I’m still not passing. And I, I just don’t think people, you know, I don’t know if, you know, I believe, you know, people can be consistent, but I just, people need to, I think, be honest with themself, you know, and be like, okay, are you actually as consistent as you can be, you know, and are [00:44:00] you being as efficient as you can be?
Like, if you’re doing your session in the morning, is it like, you know, half of it, you’re just kind of scrolling on your phone,
Logan: Yeah, yeah.
Conrad: While you’re like, you know, just trying to do multiple choice.
Um, you know, just stuff like that. Um, I, I, I just, I don’t think people are like, you gotta be honest with yourself and then be consistent. And then two, I would say definitely the cram session, that was a crucial factor for me. Um, you know, at least if you can’t get two full days, at least, just one, you know, and just crank out multiple choice as much as you can.
Um, and then, you know, do a couple sim but obviously don’t, don’t try to focus on ’em the most. Um, and then, and then also I think it’s important to, for people to have kind of a, uh, you know, like an outlet, uh, if that makes sense. You know, just something enjoyable that they do, um, as they go through this process.
You know, for me it was just, you know, playing pickleball or basketball so, but yeah.
Logan: Yeah. Those are, [00:45:00] those are fantastic tips. Like I think that if people could apply those or kind of get those in their life, you know, the consistency and being honest with themselves and having an outlet and, you know, and then the 48 hour crime session, but like having those things in their life, I think will make a huge difference.
So I’m glad that you shared those so, uh, yeah, thanks for being on the call today, Conrad. It was awesome working with you in the coaching program and also to have you on today’s call.
Congrats on being done and, uh, I hope you have a great day.
Conrad: Thank you. You too.
Logan: Okay, that was the interview with Conrad. Again, I really enjoyed that interview because he was someone I got to work with directly in the coaching program and seeing his progress and seeing him succeed was awesome. And it was awesome to be able to kind of talk through his whole process together in that interview.
And I really love what he was saying kind of towards the end there where, you know, towards the end he was kind of slacking off a little bit with his studying, but because he was so effective and efficient with his [00:46:00] studying, he was still able to pass his final exam even though it was with just a 76.
Doesn’t matter. He finished and he’s done with the exams, so it just goes to show how much of the process really is about the effectiveness and efficiency of your studying, not just the amount of hours put in.
And something that really makes your process effective is what Conrad mentioned. Going to the multiple choice questions and getting good at learning from those and being good at answering those. That is such an important skill, so make sure you start working on that.
And one way that is great for you to kind of learn that strategy and learn how to learn from the multiple choice questions is by going to superfastcpa.com and signing up for our free one hour webinar training.
That is one hour that will literally save you months of struggling with the exams, and we will teach you the key ingredients to passing the CPA a exam, which one of them is going straight to the multiple choice questions. So make sure you check out the webinar and again, check out becoming a PRO member because they get access to our full versions of our multiple choice question walkthrough videos where I walk through multiple choice questions to teach the topics [00:47:00] in each of the exams.
So make sure you check that out as well. I hope you liked that interview with Conrad. I thought it was awesome. If you did like the interview, make sure you like it and leave a comment in the YouTube video or leave a rating in your favorite podcast app.
Thanks for watching or listening, and I’ll see you in the next interview.
