In this episode of the CPA Exam Experience Podcast, you’ll hear how Ricardo was able to go from failing the CPA exam for 12 years, to passing them all in 12 months. He struggled for years to figure out how to pass the exams, but once he started implementing the SuperfastCPA strategies, he had a complete turnaround.
You’ll hear how switching to studying in the morning made a huge impact on his ability to be consistent and to learn the material. He also loved listening to the audio notes, and had multiple times where he listened to them on long drives from California to Arizona and back. Again, Ricardo completely turned around his studying once he started using SuperfastCPA, so pay close attention to the changes he made!
IMPORTANT LINKS:
Master your study process by attending one of our free study training workshops:
https://www.superfastcpa.com/study-secrets/
Episode Timestamps
- 0:00 Ricardo Interview
- 02:47 Had Been Trying to Pass the CPA Exams for Around 12 Years
- 05:24 Followed the Traditional Way of Studying at First
- 06:52 A Job Opportunity Pushed Him to Action
- 08:28 The MCQ Walkthrough Videos on YouTube
- 09:33 Gave SuperfastCPA A Try
- 10:40 Light Bulb Moments from SuperfastCPA
- 12:35 Studying in the Mornings Was a Big Game Changer
- 14:37 Doing Mini Sessions Throughout the Day
- 16:13 6 Hours of Listening to the Audio Notes
- 17:45 A Summary of Ricardo’s CPA Exams
- 19:31 Took 8 to 10 Weeks to Study for Each Section
- 21:56 Around Two Weeks of Final Review
- 22:47 How Ricardo Tackled the Sims
- 23:56 Leaving the Sims to Study in the Final Review
- 25:23 Practiced the Mock Exams
- 26:33 Found that Doing the Practice Exams Near Test Day to be Beneficial
- 27:53 Test Day Experience
- 29:57 Kept A Notebook
- 30:39 Tackling Difficult Topics
- 33:09 Utilizing the SuperfastCPA MCQ Walkthrough Videos
- 35:29 The Biggest Benefit Ricardo Got from SuperfastCPA
- 37:38 “I Just Changed Everything You Recommended and It Worked”
- 38:23 Top Tips for People Still Struggling with the CPA Exams
Interview Transcript
Ricardo: [00:00:00] Yeah, yeah like I said, I saw a couple of your videos. I’m like, oh, I’ve never seen this, I got interested because I was like, oh, that’s interesting the, their approach to it, to the questions. Yeah, I went to your website and I like started browsing and looking into it, and I watched that vi, like I think it’s a 10 minute video where you guys like introduce, like what you, who you guys are and what your method is and whatnot.
And from there I was pretty like, oh, okay, this is interesting, like this might be able to something that’s different. Obviously what I’ve been doing is not working. So I was like, okay, I’m gonna give this a try.
Logan: Welcome to another episode of the CPA Exam Experience podcast from SuperfastCPA. I’m Logan, and in today’s episode, you’re going to hear me talking with Ricardo.
I loved Ricardo’s story because it is a story of perseverance and a huge turnaround. Ricardo had been studying for about 12 or 13 years, off and on, failing exams, kind of stop and studying, coming back to it, failing exams. Just a big repeat process [00:01:00] over and over again of about 12, 13 years of failing the exams.
Then one day he found SuperfastCPA and he started implementing the process that we teach, and he passed all of the exams first try this time around in about 12 months.
So see the contrast there, about 12 to 13 years of failing exams, to passing them all first try in 12 months. And so I think you’re gonna really wanna listen to all the things that Ricardo has to say.
He talked about studying in the morning being a game changer, and he also talked about the audio notes. He had these long drives where he would drive from Arizona to California and back. And he would listen to the audio notes pretty much that whole time, and that made a big difference as well.
I think you’re gonna love this episode with Ricardo. Make sure you pay close attention to it.
Now, just before we dive into the episode, I just wanna give one more reminder about our SuperfastCPA training webinar on superfastcpa.com.
That is one hour, that is free, that will save you months and months of struggling with the exams. Again, it could change your whole process from 12 years of failing exams to [00:02:00] passing them in a year, first try. That’s the kind of thing that could happen if you watch the webinar and start applying the things that we teach.
And if you wanna learn more, of course, become a PRO member where you get access to the PRO course, where we will teach you even more in depth, basically, a much more in depth version of the webinar on how to pass the CPA exam. So make sure you check out becoming a PRO member, check out the webinar. And with all that, let’s dive into this great episode with Ricardo.
Logan: All right. So thanks for getting on the call with me today, Ricardo. Uh, I’m excited to get talking to you and, uh, I saw you in the forum posting, so it’ll be cool to kind of hear more of your story. How are you doing today?
Ricardo: Good, good. Thank you. I’m glad to be here. Thank you for inviting me.
Logan: Yeah, of course. I’m, I’m glad to have you here so, as, as we always do, let’s just dive in. Let’s just kind of get started from the beginning, so.
Had Been Trying to Pass the CPA Exams for Around 12 Years
Logan: Where were you in your career or in your life when you decided you wanted to pursue the CPA? Why did you want to get the CPA?
Ricardo: So, um, I’ve actually wanted it as soon as I graduated, I actually graduated a long time [00:03:00] ago, 2008, so. That’s exact, I, you know, they pressed, they pushed it a lot in college, like, oh, get your CPA right after college, um, all that kind of stuff and, um, so.
I think career wise always wanted it because I know it opens the door to a lot of different things, uh, whether it’s tax, audit, or just corporate accounting, you know, private.
Um, so I knew it was a, it was, you know, something I wanted. Um, so initially outta college, I did try, um, uh, I, I think actually the first time I actually tr, um, went and sat for the test was 2013, so it was a couple years after college. Um, and mostly because I, I think I just had like a regular entry level accounting job.
I kind of wanted to move up the chain kind of thing at the ladder. So, um, so I started then, and then ever since then, though, I’ve been on and off like I, I, the first two times I took it, I failed in 2013, I think I took REG and FAR. At that time, I think I got a score like 69 or something. Um, and then after that I was just on and off.
I was like a couple years, [00:04:00] maybe I didn’t study a year, maybe I did. And it was just like never really consistent until really last year summertime, um, is when I really, really like, okay, I, I think I’m ready to get this done. Yeah.
Logan: Yeah, so, so just to make sure I’m understanding you there, so for the past, like 12-ish years maybe, I guess you weren’t really, no. You just finished in 2025, so Yeah, like 12-ish years on and off, you’ve been trying to do this. Is that right?
Ricardo: Yep, correct. Yep, 12, 12, 13 years. Yep.
Logan: That. Wow.
And so what was, uh, I mean, I’m sure we’ll kind of dive into this, but what was the issue? Like you said that consistency and you kind of would be on and off, so what made it difficult to stay on top of it until you passed before?
Ricardo: Uh, I think it was just like, I, I think just the commitment wasn’t there for me. Like, uh, I think I was just in my twenties and. Was interested in doing other things, you know, like,
Logan: Those, dang, 20 year olds.
Ricardo: Yeah, yeah. So I think, you know,
Logan: Here I am [00:05:00] saying that I’m 28. Just kidding.
Ricardo: Yeah, yeah. You, you know, you know.
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: Um, but yeah, I was just, I think for me, probably just mentally I wasn’t ready. I was just like, my mind was somewhere else, like doing other things. Um, so that was probably the hardest for me. Like just, I think I wasn’t mentally prepared and ready for it at that time. Um, now I’m much older, so I think I’m, I was ready.
Logan: Yeah, you’re, you were kind of more ready to commit to it.
Followed the Traditional Way of Studying at First
Logan: So what did your studying look like before? So it was sporadic, but when you were studying, what were you doing?
Ricardo: So basically I was just, um, essentially I was just using the courses. So like, I think at that time I had Becker early on. Um, I would just use their study course, which was try to read the book. Watch the videos. Um, and then they give you a set of questions and then, so it’s basically trying to follow that.
And, um, that was basically it. That’s all these last 12, 13 years. I was still trying, trying to do that type of study, which was,
Logan: Just doing the same thing
Ricardo: Videos, yeah, questions and [00:06:00] yeah, that was, that was the, that’s what the style looked like for the last 12, 13 years.
Logan: So pretty much just kind of the normal way of studying, you know, watch the videos, read the textbook, then get to the questions, and it just never really seemed to work. I mean, you got decently close, you said you got like to 69 or something like that, but,
Ricardo: Yeah.
Logan: Uh, how mu how much time would you study for each exam before you took it previously?
Ricardo: Um, just, you know, I can’t even remember back then, but, uh, it wasn’t probably, it probably wasn’t the best I could do. Like, you know, it was probably like a couple hours here and there every day.
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: And yeah, it was just, yeah.
Logan: And, and would, how long would it take you to prep overall? Like a few months or how,
Ricardo: Yeah, I think, uh, typically I would take two, like eight weeks, eight to 10 weeks has always been, even back then, that was my.
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: My, uh, schedule was like, try to keep it within two months to try to knock ’em out, so.
Logan: Okay, that makes sense.
A Job Opportunity Pushed Him to Action
Logan: So fast forward to, you said summer 2024.
Ricardo: Yeah.
Logan: So what, like you said [00:07:00] you were ready to commit. Was there something in your life where you were like, I’m ready to do it now, or was it just kind of a spur of the moment like, you know what, I’m gonna finally do it. Was there some, was there anything that happened?
Ricardo: Uh, yeah, actually, yeah, uh, so the controller at my job left, excuse me, so the controller at my job left and, um, you know, we were talking about opportunities that might be able to have a job and, um, you know, do, take on other work, higher level stuff. And, uh, the CFO was pretty much wanted somebody with the CPA to take on that kind of higher level stuff.
So that kind of gave me a little bump, um, to, to be like, okay, maybe I should get it to kind of move up the ladder, be able to do in other places.
Uh, they looked for CPAs and all that kind of stuff. So, um, that kind of pushed me along and then just lifewise, you know, I got a daughter, 10-year-old daughter that’s also motivation and you know, like I’m in my forties, so I was like, okay, I think I’m ready yet, like.
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: More, more stability too cause like just that CPA title, just, uh, pretty confident in the work I can do so like, you know, be able
Logan: You want other people to be confident in it too?
Ricardo: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, [00:08:00] so.
Logan: That makes sense. Yeah, that’s, all those pieces of motivation makes sense. It’s, it really is, I mean, of course money is usually a big factor, but there’s always other things. And I think that people, if they can realize that there’s more than just the money that like as far as reasons that they wanna do it, that can be more motivating.
You know, like you said, you have a daughter and you’re like, I wanna show her I can do it. And you also wanna make more money for her and take better care of her so, all that makes sense.
The MCQ Walkthrough Videos on YouTube
Logan: Um, so at what point did you find SuperfastCPA was, was that around the same exact time that you wanted to kind of commit more or was it a little bit after?
Ricardo: A little bit after, yeah. So I think I, so I had gone on vacation in July, uh, return, and I’m like, okay, I’m gonna get this going. And, uh, I think I did a month of like, uh, my, my typical, um, CPA prep course. And, um, I was just struggling to be honest, that same style, which, which I mentioned, which was reading, videos, multiple [00:09:00] choice.
It was just like too time consuming like I couldn’t. It would just, I come home from work, I’m tired and like eat, shower, and then like eight o’clock and I’m like, uh, I really wanna stay up till 12.
Logan: No way.
Ricardo: Yeah, exactly. So it wasn’t working. And then, uh, but at that time I would like, as I reviewed topics that I wasn’t understanding, I would go onto YouTube.
And I actually happened to come across one of your guys’, uh, YouTube videos where you guys go over questions, things like that. So that’s the first time I was, I saw you guys, um, and how you, you know, how you go over the questions and you go straight to the answer, that kind of thing, so.
Logan: Yeah.
Gave SuperfastCPA A Try
Logan: So, so when you saw some of those videos. Did you then go like, watch the webinar or go to the website? Like how did that kind of get you into everything?
Ricardo: Yeah, yeah, so, like I said, I saw a couple of your videos. I’m like, oh, I’ve never seen this, you know, I got interested because I was like, oh, that’s interesting, the, the, their approach to it, uh, to the questions so, uh.
Yeah, I went to your website and I like started browsing and looking into it, and I watched that vi, like, like I think it’s a 10 [00:10:00] minute video, uh, where you guys like introduce, um, like what you, who you guys are and what your method is and whatnot.
And uh, from there I was pretty like, oh, okay, this is interesting, you know, like this might be able to something that’s different. Obviously what I’ve been doing is not working. So I was like, okay, I’m gonna give this a try.
And I, I think I purchased like the PRO course, which is like, I think you guys were doing a discount at that time.
So I was like, oh, perfect, within my price range. So, um, yeah, I signed up and, um, bought the PRO package.
Logan: So with the PRO package, uh, are you saying that you got the PRO course and the study materials as well?
Ricardo: Oh, for SuperfastCPA?
Logan: Yeah, yeah, like the, like the mini quizzes and stuff like that as well?
Ricardo: Yeah. Yep, everything.
Light Bulb Moments from SuperfastCPA
Logan: So, uh, if we could kind of delve into a little bit more. So, you know, you were saying it was interesting how we were doing the questions. Was there anything else that, as you were kind of getting into it with the PRO course and everything, where you were like, oh, like that might be helpful or, you know, any light bulb moments that you had when you were getting into that?
Ricardo: Yeah, yeah. So first, the first light bulb was [00:11:00] obviously the, the approach, which was dive into the MCQs first. So like at first, I was like, well, that’s interesting, like. I couldn’t picture myself like, it’s a struggle to be like, initially it was like to get in there and you’re gonna, you know, you’re gonna get ’em wrong.
But it’s like in your mind, you like the way the other course of training is like, you wanna get it right because you do the quick questions after fact. Um, but that was, that was the first light bulb of, okay, maybe this is different.
And then second was the, uh, video. I think you did that video right? Where, uh, you kind of go, how you attack multiple choice.
You’ve opened up an Excel spreadsheet, you, um, take your, like the ba, the, I forget what you call them, but the notes, the,
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: The core topics I think? Yeah. Pillar topics, correct. Sorry. Uh, the pillar topics. So, and then, uh, you would recalculate on a second tab kind of thing. So I think that was like my second one.
I’m like, oh, okay, you know, I think this method works perfect for me. So like, uh, I would approach questions like that and, uh, build my notes like pillar topics and then recalculate on the second tab.
And then another different thing I did was, um, I would take the screenshots of [00:12:00] the question and the in and the answers and I would paste them on a third tab.
And then I would use that like to, uh, review like in the evenings or during my lunch at work. So like, but yeah, basically watching you guys’ videos and then seeing how you guys approached it were really ways I had never approached it. It was me like, get a notepad and write notes of topics and like, um, and then like I said, yeah, just the aha moment was like, uh, taking the questions, uh, going to questions first, and then taking notes from there. And then with the repetition, I was like, okay, things are starting to click now like I, I could see the, I could
Logan: It’s actually making sense?
Ricardo: Yes. Yeah.
Studying in the Mornings Was a Big Game Changer
Logan: And, and so, uh, did you kind of change your, I, I’m curious, did you start studying in the mornings from there? Cause you said you would come home after work previously. Did you start studying in the mornings?
Ricardo: I did. And yeah, that was a game changer too cause it’s like, like you said, like, uh, in one of that 10 minute video or like, uh, you know, you come home, you’re burned out and like you’re just.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Ricardo: There’s so much to, like, last thing I do is study or whatever, but [00:13:00] it lets you unwind in the evening. But yes, I switched in the mornings.
I would get up like at five, some days, six and then do about an hour and a half of new, like, of new topics and then save the last 30 minutes to do like 20 to 30 multiple choice of, of a recap of all the topics I had covered previously.
So, but yeah, that mentally, I think that helped a lot just doing it in the morning.
Be able to come home at night. And I mean, some nights I would just come home too and, you know, just decompress. And then, but also review my notes, read your guys’, uh, um, review notes, do mini quizzes. Sometimes just turn on the audio while I’m folding clothes or
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: Something like that, you know.
Logan: Yeah. I, I mean, that was a, that was a game changer for me as well when I was going, when I was going through the process, um, because I was, I don’t, I, I still, um, I still don’t know why I, like, didn’t wanna study in the morning, even though I, I didn’t like, it wouldn’t have bothered me to study in the morning cause I kind of like getting up early, but I was like, no, I’ll do it after work before I go to school or whatever the, you know, whatever the timing [00:14:00] was. And I, for some reason I just didn’t wanna do it.
But then I finally switched to doing it in the morning and it makes a difference, like getting it done and just knowing that it’s done feels, it’s a very different feeling. Even, even if you could study in the evening and have similar results, like if you’re one of those people who you, you’re still just as alert at that point. That’s great. But there is something to be said as far as like that mental load of just getting it done. It’s just done. It’s outta the way. You don’t have to think about it the whole rest of the day.
I think that is a big game changer, like you were saying.
Doing Mini Sessions Throughout the Day
Logan: Um, and throughout the day were, uh, what did that look like? Were you doing mini sessions? What, what did that all look like?
Ricardo: Yep, yep. So, uh, I would do mini sessions like, uh, at my job. I would take like a 10, 15 minute walk and walk a couple blocks, and I would, um, take it out, the app out and then, uh, do the mini, the mini quizzes for like 15 minutes, just five, and then do another [00:15:00] five, and then 5, 5, 5, so that was pre, pretty much every day.
Like I said, I’d take a 10 minute, 15 minute walk, um, in the morning and then one in the afternoon. And then also in the lunchtime, like I mentioned, also review some notes that I would print out, but also I would do mini quizzes. Um, and, but the evenings was like, typically I would read the, the review notes, um, to basically prep me for next, next day.
Like if I’m starting a new topic, I will kind of review you guys note just to kind of gimme a heads up of what’s coming up. So, but yeah, during the day, like mini sessions, uh, whatever I could fit in, um, at the DMV, just doing questions, so anywhere I could find time, yeah, I would.
Logan: Yeah, yeah.
And, and, and you mentioned the audio notes as well, like, you know, when you’re folding clothes, were you, would you listen to the audio notes, like on your way to work or things like that?
Ricardo: Yeah. Yep. Yep. So I would put ’em on when I’m going to and from work. Uh, like I said, also too, when I’m sitting, sometimes I’m just having lunch and I don’t want to review any notes or anything like that. I would just pop on the audio notes. while I was eating lunch in my car, truck, um, I listened to that.
Uh, [00:16:00] but basically, and then I would have, sometimes I’d drive to Arizona. So on those long drives. I pop on the notes, it was like six hours of just nonstop of the note audio notes. So it, it was like wherever I could find, I would do the mini sessions, so, yeah. Yeah.
6 Hours of Listening to the Audio Notes
Logan: And, uh, I just a quick question with that, are you, uh, in California right now?
Ricardo: Correct. Yeah, I’m California, I’m San Diego, yep.
Logan: San Diego. Okay. So it’s about six hours to Arizona. That’s not, well, I guess it depends on where you go to in Arizona cause I live in southern Utah but, uh, what, what parts would you usually go to of Arizona?
Ricardo: Uh, Yuma, Phoenix.
Logan: Oh, okay. Phoenix. Yeah.
Ricardo: Like, yeah, that, that mostly Phoenix, yes, and Yuma.
Logan: Yeah. It, uh, it, when would you go, like, do you typically go, like, I mean, do you have family there or something like that?
Ricardo: Right. Yeah. I have, yeah. My daughter actually lives out there, so Yeah. So I would, uh, take drives. Yeah. Yeah. At least once a month I’m going out there. And then if I’m bringing her here, it’s like to and from, you know.
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: Twice. That drive is twice, so,
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: Yeah. Yeah.
Logan: Yeah. Okay.
Ricardo: You know, it [00:17:00] helped.
Logan: Yeah, I mean, all that time listening to the audio notes and
Ricardo: Yeah.
Logan: A lot of times I’ll have people say, you know, I feel like I’m not really paying attention to ’em. I don’t really wanna listen to the audio notes, but no matter, like, I found that even if I wasn’t a hundred percent paying attention, which I usually wasn’t, I still would glean something. Did, did you find that to be the, the case?
Ricardo: Oh yeah, definitely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like especially on the six hours drive, you can’t focus for six hours just on the audio notes. So like, yeah, I would, you know, like, oh, I might have missed a topic, but then I kind of like, you know, focus on the road and then like I’ll come back to it. I’m like, oh, okay.
But yeah, definitely, like, even though you’re not 100% there all the time, it’s, it’s still like you’re processing that data, that information, and, and you’re capturing it for sure.
Logan: Yeah.
A Summary of Ricardo’s CPA Exams
Logan: So let’s kind of talk about what happened as far as the exams. So, you know, all these 12, 13 years in the past, kind of been struggling doing the same thing. Come 2024, you start changing your methods. [00:18:00] So what happened after that? Like which one did you go for and how did it go?
Ricardo: Uh, so the first one I wanted to approach was FAR because I, I, I saw or read that it was the lowest passing score so like, it’s funny, little, when I grew up, I grew up in a neighborhood, you’re like, you ever gonna fight, always go for the big guy first like, you wanna, you wanna assert your dominance, like.
Logan: Take him out. Yeah.
Ricardo: Yeah. Yeah, so that’s how I saw it. I wanted to go for the toughest ones. Go, come out swinging basically. And, uh, so yeah, yeah, that was the first one I picked. Um, and yeah. Um, after that it was REG, TCP, and AUD. Um, I saved AUD cause personally, I, I, I thought that was gonna be the toughest one for me, and it actually turned out to be the toughest, um.
Logan: So you were right.
Ricardo: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because I think conceptually like the numbers, like, it’s like, like the repetition, the rules, like, and, you know, you do so many, you’re like, okay, I’m sorry to understand this, but like, audit is more, a little more, um, kind of like critical thinking judgment. So that one, uh, I stayed there for less and yeah, it was, it was, uh, very [00:19:00] interesting.
Logan: So how did they go though? Uh, did you pass ’em on first? Try? Uh, how did it all? That’s awesome.
Ricardo: Yeah. So I, I passed ’em all on the first try. I scored like, uh, eighties on pretty much all of them. I think my highest was 87 for TCP. Uh, REG was 83, FAR was 82, and then AUD was 81, so yeah.
Logan: Yeah. That’s awesome.
Ricardo: Passed them all the first time in a, about a 12 month period.
Logan: About yeah, that, that contrast is, that contrast is crazy.
Took 8 to 10 Weeks to Study for Each Section
Logan: You went from 12 to 13 years of failing to passing all four first try in 12 or 13 months like, isn’t that a crazy contrast there? That’s awesome. So, uh, you said you would take like eight to 10 weeks. Did that still kind of hold up?
Ricardo: Yeah, so I’m trying to remember, yeah, for, it was about 10 weeks for the first one, FAR, I took in December, 2024. And I took like a month off and I got, ’cause I, my first score didn’t come until [00:20:00] January. So I started February, March, tested in early April. So I was like another eight to 10 weeks. Um, and then, yeah, so they all pretty much eight to 10 weeks.
I did have a gap in a few times cause uh, my daughter was here for the summer, so I had started TCP, and that was the only time I ever took a break was I had, initially, actually I was gonna take, um, so I took FAR, REG, passed and then I was gonna do AUD, uh, but then I saw that TCP actually had a high pass rate, so I’m like, oh, that’s perfect cause I, this is rolling from Reg to TCP, you know, like, and uh, so I started on that one like in May about two, three weeks but then I actually stopped and I didn’t go back to it till about, uh, early July. So almost took almost a month now. So that was the biggest break I took, um, but pretty much for each, each topic, yeah, it was like eight to 10 weeks. TCP might have been a little shorter cause of just the material.
Logan: I mean, it’s a lot less. Yeah.
Ricardo: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it’s just an extension of REG, so.
Logan: Yeah. I, I’ve, I’ve, that’s what I’ve thought as far as like, [00:21:00] you know, talking about the discipline exams, uh, you know, might, people might think, you know, BAR is kind of an extension of FAR, ISC is an extension of audit. TCP is an extension of REG, but I think TCP is the one that is definitely like, that’s actually true.
Like it definitely feels like just, you just continue REG, like it just feels like a lot of the same stuff. Whereas ISC doesn’t really feel like that. And BAR definitely doesn’t, BAR is so much more complex. So, um, yeah. I mean, so with TCP, did you, you said that you found that one probably the easiest. Is that right?
Ricardo: Yeah. Yeah, because it was just like, it’s, it was more in depth into partnership basis, basis or rental activity, um, income activity, passive and all that. So like I found it like, yeah, I was basically just continuing what I was doing already in REG so I found it really easy to understand cause I had just tested on that one, so, yeah. Yeah. It was,
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: I, I definitely thought that was the easiest one at all.
Around Two Weeks of Final Review
Logan: So, um, what did it look like [00:22:00] when you were, so you would study, you know, for eight to 10 weeks, and about how much of that time would be dedicated to making it through the material? And then did you have like a final review during those, during that time?
Ricardo: Yeah. Yeah. So the would say about six. Depending on how it was eight to 10, so I would like, six weeks to get through the material and every time I would at least two weeks to review. So yeah, yeah, I’d always left, leave myself at least two weeks. And then at that I would just do, um, at that point I was doing every day like if there was, I think like odd, for example, I think there’s 79 and the actual exams I was doing 79 every day, um.
Logan: Not, so 79, uh, questions, is that right? Okay.
Ricardo: To mimic the exam and my timing and everything so, I think that really helped a lot too. Just like that. Yeah.
How Ricardo Tackled the Sims
Logan: And were you, so during those two weeks, you’re doing a ton of multiple choice questions. Were you also practicing sims? Like when did you fit sims in?
Ricardo: Yeah, so actually, I actually didn’t do too many sims. Um, the one I did do [00:23:00] the most sims was for AUD, audit. Um, that one I did leading up to it, I was doing a lot more sims. But for the other three topics. Um, if I did do sims, it’d be like till the very end, like maybe the last two days, which is kind of crazy, I guess it sounds like, to do sims on the last two days.
But that’s pretty much how it played out. I just, I felt like the multiple choice questions, um, you know, all the mini quizzes, the review notes that helped me like that, all that leads into them to the, um, to the sims, like that information and like, you know, like I’ve been working in accounting for. I don’t know how many years now.
So many years, like, so like bank recs are like the back of my hand and like cash flow statements, net income, accruals, all that. It’s like, so it’s like, yeah, I felt pretty confident. So like, yeah, not too many sims.
Uh, but like I said, audit, I definitely did, like I said, I felt the less confident, least confident about that one.
So that one I did, um, quite a few leading up to that week. I had like two or three every day. And then, uh, multiple choice, so.
Leaving the Sims to Study in the Final Review
Logan: So with the, so just to kind of make sure I’m understanding you there, so your [00:24:00] opinion with the sims was, uh, you know, you were decently con, confident in the material, and also you were doing lots of multiple choice questions.
So why, why did you feel like you needed? And I’m just like, I’m not like, how, why didn’t you do sims? It’s more like, well, what was your thinking with, uh, kind of saving it till the very end?
Ricardo: Uh, I think because it was more like, cause typically what you see in the sims is like the, it’s like a summary of what you learned. So like, it’s gonna test you on all that, everything you learned so far into one problem.
So like, you know, adjusting journal entries or like, uh, like the record sign, the cashflow statement, consolidation.
So it’s like seeing that, you would get multiple choice questions and see like, oh, what part of what, how much of a profit do you have to remove from inventory? Or things like that. So like, that basically rolled into, to me, that’s how I saw it. Like, uh, it’s, it’s just how it played out for me. Like, um, that material basically, uh, like multiple choice questions.
I don’t know [00:25:00] how to explain it, but the multiple choice questions just prepare me well enough, I guess. Just that I was ready for the sims and then so like I was saving for the last, just to kind of like, okay, to gimme an idea of what I might see on the test kind of thing.
Logan: Right. To kind of be familiar with the sims cause I would say that. You have to at least have practiced them a little bit just to kind of know how they’re structured and how they flow.
Practiced the Mock Exams
Logan: Uh, and kind of along with that, toward, towards the end of your process, did you also do any like, uh, practice exams? Did you ever do those? Okay.
Ricardo: Yeah. Yeah. So I did, I would do like, uh, four of them leading up to it. So like the last four days, even on the last day so like, just do practice exams. I think for like audit, like I said, I did, yeah, two each day. One in the afternoon, one in the evening. Just like wouldn’t get burned out, like doing two exams straight. So you know, I would do one in morning.
Logan: So, uh, so you’re saying, so you’re meaning like, and I, I was talking about like the mock exams, [00:26:00] like the four
Ricardo: Right, right. Yeah.
Logan: whatever. So that’s what you’re talking about. So you would do, so you’re saying that you did like two a day, is that what you’re saying?
Ricardo: Yeah, in the last
Logan: Like right before?
Ricardo: Yeah, like the four days. Yeah, because I would take Fridays off from work to just kind of like start getting ready and then, but yeah, I would do mock exam because I would get up early. I was just so used to that this like the recommendation. So like I get up at six, if I can knock out one exam, I’m done by 10, you know, do lunch, just relax a little bit and then come back maybe like at three, four o’clock and just do another one. So, yeah, yeah.
Found that Doing the Practice Exams Near Test Day to be Beneficial
Logan: And, and what did you like? Did you find those to be helpful? Like obviously you did cause you did them, but what, what benefit did you see from doing those practice exams?
Ricardo: Yeah, definitely beneficial. Um, for me it was like timing thing, like kind of gauge how, if I can get through all these multiple choice or how fast can I do ’em? Or you know, like breaking up, you know, like the time to be ready, to be able, when I sit for the real exam, [00:27:00] I know I can like, okay, I’m confident I can get these numbers of questions done by in a two hours or something like that, or an hour and a half or whatever I need.
Really it was to leave enough time for the sims cause I know the sims were gonna take a long time and yeah. So it was basically, yeah, to me, if that’s what it was helpful for is just kind of like gauging my time.
Logan: Mm-hmm. Yeah. And, and time management is a huge thing on exam date.
Ricardo: Oh yeah, for sure.
Logan: Like you, like you were just barely saying, like, having enough time for the sims is crucial. So with all that practice where when you would go into the exams, would you, about how much time would you leave yourself for the sims?
Ricardo: Uh, I’ll stick, I leave about was it, let see, cause they, they recommended 20, so I at least did, there’s like seven sims so like about two hours and a half, two hours, just depending. Yeah, yeah.
Logan: Okay. So about two, two and a half hours. And I mean, obviously it worked well.
Test Day Experience
Logan: Uh, just curious, what was your experience on exam day like? Uh, I mean, you had been going [00:28:00] for years, so you kind of probably already were pretty familiar with the whole, the whole testing idea. Um, did you have any like strategies or anything like that for exam day?
Ricardo: Uh, yeah, actually, uh, so I, I don’t, was it, was it one of your video guys where you guys were recommended to maybe schedule it on a Monday?
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: Yeah, so that, that definitely changed it for me too cause I would, before, in the past I was scheduled on a Saturday, but I’d work through Friday and like I just mentioned, I would take the Friday off.
So I would do Friday, Saturday, Sunday, just like full on reviews. So that, that was a little bit of my strategy leading up to the exam. And then, uh, and then at, at some point just stopped like 8:00 PM on that Sunday. I’m like, okay, well I know what, I know, I needed to get a good night’s sleep like, you know, just don’t stress too much, even though it’s almost impossible.
But, and then, uh, so I scheduled the test first thing in the morning. Fresh in the morning, uh, 8:00 AM test, 8:30, whichever was the earliest on a Monday. And yeah, I actually would get to the test center about an hour, an hour and a half early.
And I would sit outside and I’d [00:29:00] actually, I would jot down on a notebook, like main topics, like, let’s say calculate basis for partnership or like what, what does a review entail or like, things like that, like bullet points that I, I took notes on things that I saw consistently in the multiple choice so like, topics like those.
And, um, just went over that, like the rules for certain, anything I could, that I knew that like I saw consistently, I would, um, put it in a notebook and then I just kind of reviewed that, and that’s it.
I mean, I was so nervous going into the test, but, uh, yeah, yeah, so I mean, I never felt confident in any of them, but,
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Ricardo: But, um, you know, you just go in there like, okay, I’m here now, so let’s do this.
Logan: Yeah. Yeah. Um, I mean, I don’t think that I felt like I passed any of them except for maybe my last exam, just ’cause I worked in tax and it was REG, so I was like, I think I did, but I even then, I wasn’t like willing to say, oh, I for sure passed it. So, yeah, I mean, it’s a, because there’s just, it can go any way.
Kept A Notebook
Logan: Um, kind of going along with your notes [00:30:00] there, so. Are you saying that on the day of you would like kind of almost brain dump into the notebook? Like, these are all the things that I know and you’d write it down, or had you already done that previously?
Ricardo: No, I had, I had already prepared those notes, so like, yeah, those leading up, like throughout the eight weeks or whatever,
Logan: Right, okay.
Ricardo: Things that, or things that we’re struggling with that were, I felt like, oh, these are gonna be. If I see, I’m consistently seeing him, so I know it’s probably gonna be on the test.
So yeah, that was a notebook of just things I like, bullet points of, you know, variety of topics that I felt like, okay, that’s definitely gonna be on the test.
Logan: So is that, um, kind, this kind of leads into another question that I have.
Tackling Difficult Topics
Logan: So when you had something that was difficult for you, like, you know, you were doing multiple choice questions and a certain topic was just difficult for you to understand, whether that was in planting the seeds or in daily review. How did you dissect those? How did you approach those? Was it with that notebook or [00:31:00] did you make flashcards? What was your approach with that?
Ricardo: Um, yeah, so I would take those notes like I mentioned, but also I would do, watch some of, if you guys had the videos for those topics, I would do those video, watch those videos. And that’s sometimes I’d jump on YouTube and just watch other, other YouTube videos, just like, um, cause I think I, I needed to see it done a couple multiple ways or maybe this person has a different approach or things like that so, yeah, any topic that I pretty much struggled I did was that.
I did do a couple flashcards, not too heavily, but um, uh, with my review course, it tells you which topics you’re like, you’re struggling with. So like, I would pick those topics and maybe do another set of 50 or 30 and pick those and you can pick like the, um, like unused questions or incorrect questions, and I would pick those two because it, it is easy to kind of like, if you pick questions you’ve already answered, did it, you fall into that memorization thing.
So like I kind of try to be like, okay, I don’t want to, maybe I’ll just do unused and incorrect. So that way it’s forcing me to like, [00:32:00] think about it and approach it and try to solve it rather than, okay, I know the answer to this, so.
Logan: Right. Yeah.
It seems like for you it was a bit more of like the physical notes was something that really helped you. Was it like, would you, did you have like a system for it or did you just kind of write down pillar topics? Did you do calculations in your notebook? What did that look like?
Ricardo: Uh, yeah, mostly pillar topics, so like things like that. Like I still had the Excel spreadsheet, which like I mentioned, I would sometimes during my lunch or in the evenings review the, the notes on the tab, on the pillar topics, and then on the second tab, any recalcs. And like I mentioned on the third tab, it was like screenshots of like the question and if I had gotten it wrong, mostly the wrong ones that I took screenshots of so I could read the question
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: So that, I had it all on one spreadsheet.
Um, but but on, but on the notebook itself, yeah, it was mostly like pillar topics or like, um, the review courses would say like, oh, things to know. So it’s like those big notes about those type of [00:33:00] topics, so like I would kind of like write small notes about that.
Logan: Okay.
Ricardo: It was a combination of, yeah, I didn’t really have too many equations, but it was mostly like pillar topics, main topics, critical notes, things like that.
Utilizing the SuperfastCPA MCQ Walkthrough Videos
Logan: And, uh, you mentioned that you would watch, sometimes watch, you know, my multiple choice question walkthrough videos. Um, and that’s something that I don’t think we’ve really talked about very much on the podcast, but, um, did you find those helpful? Did you use them a lot? What did you like about them?
Ricardo: Yeah. Yeah, definitely, like I said, I would typically, if I went to YouTube videos is because I was struggling on a topic. So like, um, that approach like, just going to the answer, reading it, and they’re reviewing it and then going back or, I mean, if I look, read the question obviously, and if I knew the answer, then I could put in the answer or whatever.
But if I didn’t just go straight to the answer and yeah, that those, that video, those type of, that approach was very helpful. Like, uh, yeah, or just like other, like I mentioned other YouTube videos where they’ll, they’ll go through the whole question, like deep dive kind of thing. So things like that, so like, I think, yeah, YouTube videos help.
[00:34:00] Um, Superfast ones, the mini, the, the, um, what’s it called? The quick reviews. I like, like I said, I, my, my favorite were your guys cause you guys just went straight to the, yeah, straight to the answer. And that was a good approach I thought cause that’s how, like I said, that you guys had said to approach it and that’s how I was doing it.
So when I, when I needed help, I just go watch your videos too. And that would help too, yeah.
Logan: Uh, and do you remember, was there any topic or like exam where you maybe used the multiple choice question walkthrough videos a bit more, or where you found them extra helpful?
Ricardo: For, sorry, say that again.
Logan: The, was there anything, like any topic or specific exam that you found the multiple choice question walkthrough videos especially helpful for?
Ricardo: Uh, probably, yeah, I think some, the, the one of the tougher topics where I probably was a consolidation, um, that one was a tough one for me. Like the inventory part was tough. Like what to remove from revenue [00:35:00] when you’re consolidating all that.
Logan: Yeah,
Ricardo: That topic for sure. On, um, REG, I was trying to think the basis ones so like, I can’t remember off the top of my head to be honest, because it’s been a couple months
Logan: Yeah. No, no, it’s good.
Ricardo: Definitely, like, there’s definitely topics that like I had to go in and it helped a lot like, just like I said, videos would be like my supplemental thing.
Logan: Mm-hmm.
Ricardo: Like if I was, again, if there just a multiple choice or, or I didn’t even really read that much like I said, it was all multiple choice. Um, it was straight to the video, yeah.
Logan: Yeah.
The Biggest Benefit Ricardo Got from SuperfastCPA
Logan: So we’ve talked about a lot of your process, you know, we’ve talked about how you did the mini set, did the mini sessions, how you did your studying, your final review, the sims, uh, how you did your notes. I think we’ve hit most of everything. Um, so as we’re kind of wrapping up, uh, what benefits would you say you received from SuperfastCPA, like what were the benefits that you received?
Ricardo: I think the best benefit was just like approaching something differently, not [00:36:00] being afraid to do it a different way. Because like you see, uh, the way the courses try to teach you is video lectures, even social media, like people that like on social media videos, Instagram, TikTok or whatever, like, they all focus on like, coming home from work, I’m ready to study.
Like, you know, like, like, you know, it’s, it’s ingrained in, in your mind that I should be like, come home from work and study. But like, I think the most beneficial thing was like approaching it differently. Um, studying in the morning, changing my mentality of like, can I really start a section by going straight to the questions?
And like, because it’s mentally you want to go, to do the questions after, you know, all this stuff and score, you wanna score high. So like, it was a very big change to like do it the opposite way, so.
Logan: Right.
Ricardo: Just like mentally it was, it was, uh, it helped me a lot to like break out from the norm, like approach it that way and like just, yeah, just approach it and not be afraid to do it a different way.
Just like I felt like [00:37:00] that was just changing the schedule till the morning too like, the whole mentality thing for me just like changed everything like went to study, how to study. And not, and I remember when the, the video, I think one of the videos you guys talked about, like even if you didn’t know the topic, just move on cause you’re gonna do your recap and you’re just gonna come across anyways. At some point you’re gonna come across through the multiple choice again, so just like whole mental game change for me.
Logan: Yeah. Uh, that’s awesome. I, I’m so glad that it was able to be helpful for you and, you know, that’s why I wanted to work for SuperfastCPA because it was the same thing for me. I felt the same way. It was just so helpful.
“I Just Changed Everything You Recommended and It Worked”
Logan: Um, so as we’re wrapping up, the, there is something I typically like to ask with, um. And that’s, was there any part of the process that we haven’t gotten to talk about that? You know, before the call you were thinking about it and you were like, I would like to share this, that we haven’t gotten to talk about yet?
Ricardo: Not really. I think we’ve covered all the stuff that I think,[00:38:00]
Logan: Okay.
Ricardo: Um, yeah, pretty much just the approach and everything, like using guys notes, mini quizzes, all that stuff helped, all that.
So like, I think, I think, I pretty much just changed whatever you guys recommended I, I did that. It just, it worked, it just worked me, you know, just, it happened to work and like, yeah, yeah.
Logan: So as we’re, so this is the same question I always ask everybody at the very end of the interview.
Top Tips for People Still Struggling with the CPA Exams
Logan: Uh, so even if it’s something that we’ve already talked about or mentioned, uh, you know, still say it again. What would be your top two or three tips to somebody who’s still going through the exams?
Ricardo: Um, consistency for sure. Um, like I said, uh, having a schedule and staying to that schedule. Um, multiple choice questions for sure. Hammering those out. I learned a lot through multiple choice. And then in the case of SuperfastCPA, like using those supplemental things like the review notes, audio notes, mini quizzes, like, and actually use ’em, not just like, you know, like, like use ’em.
Like that’s what they’re there for. So, like I said, [00:39:00] take those walks, uh, force yourself to do ’em when you’re waiting in the groceries line. DMV for me, it was my walks. So like they, they, it really did help just like being able to like, just refresh myself on topics.
And, um, yeah, that mini quiz of five, it was easy, you know, like five, it’s not overwhelming. It’s like the perfect number of questions. And then after you do five, okay, lemme do five more. And next thing you know, you’re maybe like 40 in, you know, like on a 30 minute walk so, um, that’s it.
Just, yeah, use the material that you have, the supplemental stuff, um, maintaining your schedule and commit to it.
Logan: Yeah. I love it. Yeah, I mean, consistency especially like that is just, I think that if there was one thing I could, like, from what you said that I could have people focus on, it’s the consistency, like studying every single day. The never missing days. It is just a huge deal.
Um, and you saw that, I mean, you saw that when you were like [00:40:00] in pre, you know, in the previous years you’re kind of off and on and it like kinda study, you know, and once you really committed and you were just doing it every day, that’s when you really started seeing the success, right?
Ricardo: Yeah, yeah, definitely. And uh, I think the big, like I said, mentioned earlier in interview, the. The biggest change was like being able to do it in the morning and then coming home with that. It’s kind of like a weight off your shoulders and not like
Oh man, I have to do another a four session, four, six hour session in the evenings kind of thing.
So like being consistent, waking up definitely changed, was the whole approach to this, this go around. And I mean, my test results speak for themselves. I was like
Logan: Yeah.
Ricardo: You guys really helped me so I’m thankful that you guys have SuperfastCPA man.
Logan: Yeah. I, I’m so glad that, uh, you were able to find it helpful and I, I loved seeing you in the forum. Uh, you know, when you occasionally posted, especially when you posted that you had passed. That was awesome.
Uh, so yeah, congrats on being done, Ricardo. I, it was awesome having you on the call today, and I hope you have a rest, a great rest of your day.[00:41:00]
Ricardo: Yep. Thank you. You as well. Good luck to everybody too.
Logan: Yep.
Alright, that was the episode with Ricardo. Again, I love the story. 12 years of failing exams to passing them all first try in 12 months. Just such a huge contrast. All it took was changing his strategies and following the SuperfastCPA process and there was this huge turnaround and he was able to pass the exams.
And I’m sure you loved this episode with Ricardo as well. I hope that you took something from it and that you’re going to change something about your study process. Now that you’ve listened to this and seen the success that Ricardo had.
Now if you did find this episode helpful, make sure to like it and leave a comment in the YouTube video. Before you go, make sure to also check out our SuperfastCPA training webinar on superfastcpa.com, if you haven’t already done that. That is a one hour webinar that is free, where 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 after you watch that, you’re going to want to learn more. So make sure you also check out becoming a SuperfastCPA PRO member, cause PRO members get access to a lot of great stuff, especially the PRO course, where we will [00:42:00] teach you in depth, basically much more in depth than the one hour webinar, how to pass the CPA exams.
So check out the webinar, check out becoming a PRO member, and again, make sure to like and leave a comment on this YouTube video or leave a rating in your favorite podcast app.
I hope this was helpful and I’ll see you in the next episode.
