If you are currently studying CPA, you know how time-consuming, overwhelming and confusing it can be at times. First you enroll in a subject, an hour later you can download a text-book and then a few weeks later you receive a lovely surprise in the mail! A nice big text-book (if you’re crazy enough to be studying tax, two big text books). After this point, you’re on your own.
It is 100% possible to pass CPA without paying for any assistance/tutoring. I have done so myself for two subjects. I have friends who have earned high distinctions by just reading the book and not attempting one practice question. Everyone’s learning styles are different, which is why not everyone will see a benefit in paying for assistance.
Personally I have to read the entire CPA text books a few times. On average I spend 15 hours a week studying and towards the end of the semester I will increase this to 20 hours a week. I have only ever studied one subject at a time and have always worked full-time, sometimes with a part-time job on as well.
After completing a subject with Knowledge Equity I never wanted to go back to doing it on my own.
If you are someone who is struggling to pass a particular CPA subject, not confident in passing the subject you have enrolled in, want to meet like-minded people who are studying the same subject as you or simply need some help being accountable then Knowledge Equity might be for you as well.
How I found Knowledge Equity
I first came across Knowledge Equity after I failed Financial Reporting. Each semester Financial Reporting has around a 40% fail rate. That’s more than a third of people sitting the exam. After reading the book I knew I needed assistance and regrettably I signed up for a PDL course. After paying $750 and attending a couple of face to face classes I failed the exam with a score of 517. The passing score needed is 540.
To say I was disappointed is an understatement. After having a cry I started researching other options for help. Even after PDL’s classes I still had not grasped the concepts. I came across Knowledge Equity and decided to sign up straight away. Four semesters later, I have passed every CPA subject that I used Knowledge Equity for. I was even able to get my first High Distinction.
So why have I recommended them to all my friends and anyone who will listen to me? Read on for my five reasons why I loved Knowledge Equity’s Full Focus Package.
Price
Knowledge Equity’s prices start at $395 for the Exam Ready Package and $495 for the Full Focus Package. This is still a big investment (not as big as PDL) but for what you get it’s a real bargain.
They currently have a special on Ethics & Governance where it only costs $50 for the Exam Ready package. That’s a saving of $345!
Time Management
Between receiving the CPA text book and sitting the exam there is around 10 to 12 weeks of study time. It is easy to take it slow for the first few weeks, not realizing how much text and questions you need to get through. All of a sudden panic sets in when you realize the exam is a month away and you’re only a third of the way through the text-book.
Knowledge Equity not only gives you a time line that factors in revision but also breaks each module down and gives you suggestions on how to tackle them. Having a schedule to stick to was fundamental in helping me pass each subject. Busy periods at work and unexpected events like getting sick or family situations are taken into consideration.
Resources
The number of resources Knowledge Equity provide far outweigh any face to face CPA tuition you could find anywhere else. Trust me, I looked.
Video Tutorials, PDFs, quizzes, live weekly webinars are all included as well as the option to start learning before the semester starts. Knowledge Equity offer a number of bonus live webinars before the CPA semester starts and when exams are approaching.
Having someone explain the concepts and provide valuable materials helps you understand the modules more throughly. This resulted in me walking into each exam with more confidence then previous semesters.
The amazing teachers also are available by email to help with anything you might not understand. On a number of occasions I wanted to clarify something and would get a response within the next day or two.
Practice Exams
The practice exams are what convinced me to enroll the first time. You don’t just get access to one practice exam, you get access to TWO marked practice exams! After sitting 7 CPA exams I can confidently say that you can never predict what questions you are going to get. That being said, having an opportunity to put yourself in a timed environment with a very similar set of questions gives you a chance to discover areas you may need to revise.
The practice exams can be competed a few weeks before the exam which leaves sufficient time to look at areas that may need improvement. It’s also a great way to see if your contents, highlighting and sticky notes are as effective and efficient as you thought. Until you use the resources you plan on bringing into the exam, you won’t be able to tell if they are helpful.
If you are completing an exam with only MCQs (multiple choice questions) you get your exam result straight away. Each question comes with a detailed answer so if you do get it wrong you know what you need to revise further. When your exam has a written component you receive your answers back a few days after your submit your exam. I was always over the moon with how much detail was provided when marking my written answers especially if I was on the wrong track.
Teachers
The team at Knowledge Equity could not be more helpful and encouraging while you complete your CPA exams. You can contact them by email and receive a response in a timely manner. The responses are in no way generic. It’s clear the teachers put a significant amount of time and effort into their roles. The teachers also provide assistance in a Facebook group that is setup for each subject. The Facebook group allows a casual learning environment where you can not only interact with the subject teacher but fellow students.
In my opinion, if you are having any doubts about passing or just want some more accountability in your studying, I would suggest giving Knowledge Equity a go. I’m confident that you will gain as much as I did from using them and come out the other side with a CPA certification.
If you have any further questions please let me know in the comments or send an email over to hello@theorganisedhustler.com
Happy studying!
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