While there are many such platforms online, the most popular of them are Zoom, Skype and Google Chat which are available for every person with a remote study partner to connect over a video call to study and share insights. While paid versions of these platforms offer a much greater flexibility, we bring to you a comparison of the features available in the free versions for you to make a decision on the most suitable platform for you and your study partner:

While many additional features like Polls, Q&A and a lot more has been developed to make studying for larger groups interactive and simpler by design by these platforms, all of them come at a steep price. You can consider them if your study group is big and willing to share the costs, but for all practical purposes, these platforms will meet most of your requirements. Depending on the features that benefit you the most, you can make the choice to make the correct decision about a platform that is both convenient and has a lot of features. Here’s to happy studying to you and your study partners!

(1) Ethics, Professional Responsibilities and Federal Tax Procedures.

Business Law.

(2) Federal Taxation of Property Transactions.
(3) Federal Taxation of Individuals.
(4) Federal Taxation of Entities.
(5) Business Law.

Like all CPA exam sections, a strategy should be in place when attacking regulation. Remember that although REG is a tax heavy exam, the conceptual components (e.g. ethics & business law) should not be disregarded. Often students find themselves disappointed with their 71% come score release day, and the first question I ask them is “how much did you study for business law?”

Studying for business law is an annoying task because although this section is not weighted very heavily compared to other sections (approximately 10-20% according to the AICPA), there is still a large volume of information that needs to be absorbed.

Yes, corporate and entity taxation is considered the “meat and potatoes” of this exam, but if you’re sitting in the 70-80% range, 10-12 points can go a long, long way. My plan of attack when studying for regulation is as follows:

(1) Individual Taxation – Go heavy on the mnemonics and create your own. Make sure to know the differences between adjustments and miscellaneous itemized deductions. In addition, make sure to know which individual credits are refundable and which are non-refundable.
(2) Entity and Corporate Taxation – Make sure to know the key differences between C-Corps, S-Corps and Partnerships. How to calculate basis, what are the differences between distributions and liquidations, and what are their respective taxable income items and deductions.
(3) Business Law – Read and do as many practice questions as possible.

Universal CPA Review offers 4,200 additional multiple-choice questions and 200+ practice simulations to supplement your study for just $99.

Starting April 1, 2017, the Uniform CPA Exam dramatically changed its test format adopting a larger emphasis on critical thinking and advanced order skills. Universal CPA Review offers supplemental support by testing your knowledge and preparing you for test day.

The Uniform CPA exam is an extremely comprehensive, and detail-oriented exam. If you are currently or are planning on working in the industry of accounting, obtaining your CPA license is paramount to your career success. With Universal CPA Review, we are dedicated to offering you sufficient practice material, and testing you on aspects of the exam that you are guaranteed to see on test day. With Universal CPA Review not only are you able study smarter, but you do so without spending thousands of dollars on over-priced review course

Section scores are reported on a scale that ranges from 0-99. A total reported score of 75 is required to pass each section. This is not a percent correct score and cannot be interpreted as a percentage. The total score in the Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG) sections is a weighted combination of scaled scores from the multiple-choice and task-based simulation questions. For the Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) section, the total score is weighted combination of the scaled scores from the multiple-choice questions and written communication tasks. Scaled scores on the multiple-choice and task-based simulation portions of the Exam are calculated using formulas that take into account factors such as whether the question was answered correctly and the relative difficulty of each question.

Our Story

We are CPAs that wanted to make an accessible, cost-effective and efficient CPA studying platform. University CPA Review is a New York City based company that is built on an old school study foundation: we believe that there is no secret formula to passing these exams and that the only way to truly understand the material is through repetition, and to put in the time. Universal CPA Review is passionate about delivering a low cost yet highly effective approach to passing these exams. We are committed to offering you with the highest quality study materials and support.

Universal CPA Review Offers:

Full Cram Course products that will offer you all of the essential information that is required to be prepared to pass the CPA exam. Cram courses come with audio e-books that contain page-by-page audio functionality, as well as unlimited access to 4,200 test-bank multiple choice questions and practice task-based simulations that will emulate the CPA exam.

Test-bank products. If you are already dedicated to an expensive, comprehensive CPA review program, Universal CPA Review might still be for you. We offer reasonably priced test-bank multiple-choice and task-based simulation practice questions that will give you a brand-new questions that you have not yet see, as well as the additional repetition that will help get you the 75% that you are looking for.

20% off sitewide at UniversalCPAreview.com. Use coupon code STUDYPAL at checkout.

• Be well prepared

The best way to avoid negative marking is by solving the questions accurately. To be able to solve the questions efficiently, it is important to be thorough with all the CAT syllabus topics and be well acquainted with the different question variations. Also, take several mocks before the exam for self-analysis and develop problem-solving abilities in the exam.

• Read the questions thoroughly

Read questions properly

It is important that each question should be read properly before starting to solve. In many cases, candidates misread a value or a unit and end up solving the question incorrectly. So, it is suggested to read the questions effectively and then start solving.

• Avoid guessing

It is one of the most common practices that many individuals do in the competitive exams. As there is a -1 negative marking in CAT, even 1 incorrect guess can end up reducing the overall percentile to a great extent. It is always suggested to answer accurately and not guess in the CAT exam.

• Be calm and concentrated

There are several instances where candidates mark the incorrect option in a hurry without noticing. This mainly happens when candidates states of minds are not composed and they get distracted. This is one of the common mistakes which can be easily avoided by staying calm and composed.

• Avoid last-minute attempts

The duration of the CAT exam is 3 hours and the total questions are 100. So, it is really difficult for an individual to attempt all the questions in that time. But, CAT is all about getting the answers right and not solving all the questions. So, it is important to attempt the questions accurately and avoid last minute answers as it may lead to an incorrect attempt.

• Have proper test-taking strategies

In the exam, managing time and solving accurately is very important. To be able to confidently attempt the questions, one needs personal test-taking strategies. The problem-solving abilities differ from person to person and so, it is important to have individual strategies. It is advised to start attempting with the easy questions from the more confident topics (according to self-preference) and then move to the difficult and time-consuming ones.

These were a few tips that can help the CAT aspirants avoid getting negative marking in the exam. It is important to have proper preparation and be confident with the syllabus. Candidates are suggested to take mock tests which are provided by the IIMs on the official website. The mock tests are generally released after the CAT registration is over and are available for all the registered candidates.

CAT aspirants can also check out BYJU’S video lessons on different CAT exam topics to learn and prepare more effectively. Subscribe to BYJU’S YouTube channel to check out more video lessons and download the app to get complete assistance.

1. Read the newspaper daily

Newspaper editorials provide you with not only the updates on current affairs, but also an insight on writing style and flow. It is easy to observe how each writer has explained the happenings of the world in 250-300 words. You can also observe the correct application of Grammar rules. Slowly, and steadily, you’ll become so proficient, that you may be able to weed out mistakes in the newspaper itself, if any.

2. Practice speaking in English

Though spoken and written English are different in significant ways, it is always a confident boost to be able to fluently speak in a language that is not your mother tongue. Speaking in English will create nerve tracks in your brain, that will enable you to be more understanding of the language. Conscious efforts in this direction will force your brain to express thoughts in English, thereby improving your vocabulary, too.

3. Carry your flash cards everywhere.

Nowadays, due to digitization, we find mobile apps for everything. Similarly, there are apps for flash cards, too. If you’re more comfortable with the paper cards, then discretely sneak them to your cousin’s wedding, or else pretend to be clicking really great pictures while learning up as many words as humanly possible.

Pro Tip: ALWAYS learn the application as well. It helps to remember the word better than anything else. It is also beneficial to associate the words with things that you see in daily life.

4. Grammar isn’t just for convent school girls.

In school when we were forced to speak in English, it hadn’t been because the teachers hated us. It was so that we could grasp the language. Grammar rules if studied on their own, will definitely bore a person out. But when you study with a partner, or even if alone, you study the rules through a YouTube video, it gets easier. Always remember that knowing Grammar rules will fetch you ‘lazy’ marks i.e. the marks assigned to match the columns, complete the sentences, mark the wrong part of sentence, etc. Reading Comprehension also becomes much easier as you do not have to spend too much time on understanding a sentence.

5. Being patient.

Learning a new language is difficult. But relearning a language that you’ve spoken almost all your life is really tricky. You will be exasperated as the words will seem the same, or you’ll keep messing up the rules. But, keep going. Keep practicing. Because once you get the hang of this section, it’ll be a great time saver as well as the easiest way to score.

Rest assured, whatever you do, do not ignore this section as the 4/5 ‘lazy’ marks could be the ones that make all the difference in your score. English is sometimes confusing, and remembering the exception to the rules can sometimes muddle your head. But, it’s always a question of how badly do you want to achieve your dream. Keep believing. Keep working. All the best!

Connect with your Study Partner at www.StudyPal.co to help you ace your test prep

Contrary to the multi-tasking lifestyle that we lead, studying demands focusing on one thing at a time. Constant devotion of time and attention to a singularly tracked study material, often gets difficult due to the existence of distracting electronics and the restlessness induced due to overuse of social media. Social media constantly distracts us by being so current and finicky. Though, the biggest boon of social media is the sheer accessibility of opportunities to succeed, to meet new people, and to stay updated, it is of utmost importance that we first learn to prioritize our time.

So, in order to help you stay focused and get the most out of your devoted study time, here are 5 fool-proof hacks:

1. Meditate your way to A+B=C

Not only is meditation a way to guarantee superhuman concentration levels, but it also calms the nervous system. It stimulates the brain to achieve better cognitive and intellectual performance. Studies have shown that meditation is responsible for changes in brain functions, increasing students’ practical intelligence and creative thinking. It is the sure shot way to sharpening your memory as well as keeping away restlessness and insomnia, which are very common symptoms of stress.

2. Eat to nourish your brain

We have been told that since walnuts look like miniature brains, they are good for the brains. Well, turns out, they really are excellent for maintaining optimum brain health. Foods containing essential fatty acids like Omega-3, copper, polyphenols are excellent for increased brain power. Wondering which foods contain these wonder components, look no further, here’s a list:

• Vegan Options – Nuts (walnuts, almonds), turmeric, blueberries, broccoli, avocado, spinach, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, coconut oil.
• Non-vegan Options – Salmon, eggs, dark chocolate.

3. Study with a partner

Studies show that humans function better in a group, or with a partner, in general. Due to our social nature, we tend to look for safety and a sense of team to be performing at our optimum level. More than that, studying with a partner ensures that we complete what we aimed to do. It encourages us to focus better, and in case we are stuck at a particular problem, our study partner can always help out. It is in fact, one of the most fruitful ways to ensure successful study sessions.

4. Exercise for a sharper memory

Exercise guarantees a healthy body, and an even healthier brain. It stimulates the production of endorphins (a chemical naturally released in the brain to reduce pain, that in large amounts can make you feel relaxed or full of energy). Endorphins lower cortisol levels (a hormone produced as response to stress), and increases energy levels. Studying gets easier as you feel motivated, confident, and happier.

5. Organization is key

Organize your study space, your time table, your exam day, and your life in general. The more ordered your timeline is, the easier it is to escape chaos and focus. The time tables that you set, should be a doable allocation of study material to the time in question. A clutter-free desk results in a clutter-free mind. You can easily find your required materials, and start studying without having to waste time searching for everything in a mess.

6. Originality is inspirational

Study in the way you find comfortable. You shouldn’t be bothered if it takes you a little while longer than your friend to study a particular topic. Set your own time table, and device your own study techniques like writing down pointers, making flashcards, or just plain highlighting the text. It is always best to trust your own gut when it comes to planning for your future.

Now, that you have a few pointers as guidelines, don’t just stick to them. Be innovative, and find ways to add your own twist to these hacks. It is after all your study sessions. And the most important of all is to always believe in yourself and the dream you want to achieve. All the best!

Here are 5 hacks that will ensure better understanding of the Quants section:

1. Numbers are your friends.

Usually, big calculations can throw us off our game, and we end up blundering. That’s because the complex string of numbers often makes us forget that we know numbers. In order to get better at numbers, consider 20 random calculations (can be addition, subtraction, multiplication or division  – whichever you’re most uncomfortable with) and solve it within a set period of time. This will increase your focus and deal with numbers better. You’ll also start figuring out shortcuts for big calculations, and remember tables easier.

2. The formula to become the formulae wizard

Take down a list of the important formulae, and take a long, hard look at them. You don’t need to rote learn the formulae. Once you know how they were derived, or even the logic behind their output, it gets much easier to keep track of them. Every morning, before you begin your studies, take aside a couple of minutes to just look at your list of formulae. This stimulates learning by visual memory. If you’re an auditory learner, then record a tape of yourself reciting those formulae and play it whenever you wish to.

3. Analyse to Maximize

More important than any other hack is this age old tradition. The reason why mock tests exist is so that we can prepare for the real ones. But, instead of directly beginning with timing yourself, for the first couple of tests, don’t. Once, you get the idea of how long it’s taking you to figure out the question, you can work on minimizing that time. Analysis after a test will help you see which areas require work.

4. Strengthen your language

Understanding the problem question is the biggest hurdle. The longer it takes you to figure out the data, the more marks you lose. Having a strong understanding of the language that the test is in, will encourage you to focus wholly on the data provided instead of decoding. That means more time to actually work with the data, and solve more questions.

5. Keep all options open

Ah no, this doesn’t mean that all options are correct. It just means that sometimes there are more than one interpretations of a question. You need to consider the entire data given, pay attention to the footnotes or the conversion values given. These areas usually require you to be thinking laterally instead of factually. So, for the sake of the question given, you have to forget what you think is factually correct.

The most important point here is, that constant practice and being in touch with the subject will get you closer to your target score. Unless your test has negative marking, attempt everything. But, if you’re unfortunate enough to be attempting a test with negative marking, you need to learn to choose which topics you’re the strongest at, and decide which questions you will solve.

You can always connect with a Study Partner to help you stay focused and keep you motivated. You can register at www.StudyPal.co to connect with a prep buddy nearby.

For LSAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, and PCAT

By Jay Cutts

Lead Author, Barron’s LSAT and MCAT Prep Materials

Happy June and Summer!

REMEMBER: The 3 Keys to Self-Prep Success:

1. A well-planned study schedule
2. High quality prep materials
3. Peer support

If you’re still not doing well enough, look for a qualified tutor.

THIS MONTH: Let’s take a quick look at where things stand for you.

MCAT/PCAT: You should be devoting as much time as possible to your prep now and for the rest of the summer. Leave your summer schedule as free as possible. This summer is not the time for travel, internships, or volunteering. Ideally you should have no more than 20 hours a week of other commitments.

Focus on situation based questions and pen and paper test :
CISA is notorious for practical application based questions and it is better to keep yourself prepared for the same. CISA is pen and paper based exam and a large part of it is rote learning based, so it need a lot of practice for perfection.

LSAT: Ditto.

 GRE/GMAT: Ditto.

 PREP HINTS:

Last month we talked about scientific problem-solving strategy for the MCAT and PCAT. This month I want to go over some advanced problem-solving strategy.

For science passages it’s usually not necessary to read very much of the setup. Go right to the questions. Many questions turn out to be independent of passage. You can do those first.

Always be sure to take time to orient yourself to the question stem – the part before the answer choices. Many errors are due to not understanding the question stem correctly.

When you are having a hard time answering a question, a powerful strategy that you can use is the KING approach. It’s a technique that I developed for asking yourself questions that take you further into the problem.

K stands for Know. What do I know? Identify the facts that you have available.

I stands for Infer. Given what I know, what can be inferred?

N stands for Need. What would I need to know to get to the answer?

G stands for Get. How can I get the information that I need?

Try this out. You’ll find that it gives you new insights and often leads to a solution.

In the Barron’s MCAT book I thoroughly explain strategy for timing, test taking and problem solving. PCAT takers will get a lot out of that book as well.

Next month we’ll talk more about tools for reading comprehension, which is on all the exams.

Jay Cutts is the director of the Cutts Graduate Reviews and lead author of the Barron’s LSAT Prep Book, Barron’s MCAT Prep Book, and Barron’s MCAT Flash Cards. He has helped thousands of students get into graduate and professional programs since 1990.

He is the creator of the STEPS to the LSAT self-study support program.

 Mr. Cutts offers free admissions planning help at:

Prelaw

Premed

Other fields

Eating Your Way to The Top: 4 Recipes that can cook up a storm

Studying for a test is an uphill task in itself and nobody knows those random hunger paws sabotaging the entire plan for extensive studying better than us. To help you grab something more than the decaf coffee you slowly sip upon to keep your eyes open and at least eat something more than the baseless midnight bowl of bland instant noodles, Studypal.co has brought to you 4 great delicious recipes that will keep you full between those gruesome study hours with almost zero efforts from your end.

The Legendary Chickpea Roast

Basically, this comes as a healthy alternative to the baseless chips snacking we all do once in a while, and of course, these are healthier. It is the perfect snack to fill your tummy as you turn through the books.

Basically, this comes as a healthy alternative to the baseless chips snacking we all do once in a while, and of course, these are healthier. It is the perfect snack to fill your tummy as you turn through the books.

Here is a step by step guide on how to go about it:

Ingredients- 1 cup chickpeas, 1 lemon, Olive oil for seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt, more or less to taste, 1/2 Tablespoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 cup finely chopped onion

Process-

1. First, we need to preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking tray with foil
2. Then we need to rinse the chickpeas in a utensil and let them dry well
3. In a bowl, we now combine chickpeas, salt spices and season it with olive oil and then toss the chickpeas around to coat them properly.
   4. Now we need to spread the chickpeas onto baking sheet in a layer and bake it for about forty minutes until the peas are nicely crispy and cooked.
4. The Roasted chickpeas can now be served with chopped onions and a squeeze of lemon for the taste. It’s always better than potato chips you know!

The Oatmeal with the Fruity Twist

There is nothing like a big warm bowl of food when you are hungry and given that you need to stay up and fight through the endless pages of your test prep material, oats is definitely a great option. Here’s a recipe to bring a twist to the traditional boring oat and milk staple. There is no reason to be boring, you know.

There is nothing like a big warm bowl of food when you are hungry and given that you need to stay up and fight through the endless pages of your test prep material, oats is definitely a great option. Here’s a recipe to bring a twist to the traditional boring oat and milk staple. There is no reason to be boring, you know.

Ingredients -2 cups fat-free milk, 1 cup quick-cooking oats, 1 large ripe banana (sliced), 6                          Strawberries (Sliced), Raspberry syrup, Honey,1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon powder, Diced fresh fruits of your choice (avoid citrus), Sugar (as needed)

Process-

1. In a small saucepan, we need to bring the milk to a boil; and slowly, stir in the oats and let it cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring occasionally.
2. Now, we need to stir in the banana and strawberry and follow it by the sugar, cinnamon powder and honey.
3. To serve, we need to garnish it with the remaining fresh fruits and the raspberry syrup as required.                                                                                                                        Homemade Cheese Popcorn
   

   Okay, so you want to gorge on something that’s delicious, but without the guilt of eating greasy junk food. It is surprising how easy it is to make your favorite Cheese Popcorn in just a few easy steps.

Okay, so you want to gorge on something that’s delicious, but without the guilt of eating greasy junk food. It is surprising how easy it is to make your favorite Cheese Popcorn in just a few easy steps.

 Ingredients: 1 cup Popcorn Kernels, 2 Tablespoon Butter, Salt to taste, 3 Tablespoon Cheddar Cheese Powder, 1/2 teaspoon Pepper

Process-

1. For the first step, we need to seal a cup of Popcorn in a brown paper bag and Microwave till kernels stop popping at the rate of at least one pop per second.
2. Then we need to slowly pour molten butter into the bag and then shake it REALLY well till it mixes up
3. In a bowl, we need to mix the Cheddar cheese powder, Black pepper Powder and salt and mix it with the popcorn in the bag, shaking it well.                                                                                                                                        The Kale Chips
   

   These crispy sinful kale “chips” are practically fat free — the perfect answer for guilt-free snacking options. If you are one of those who like to keep munching something or the other as you rack your brains, this is absolutely going to be your favorite.

These crispy sinful kale “chips” are practically fat free — the perfect answer for guilt-free snacking options. If you are one of those who like to keep munching something or the other as you rack your brains, this is absolutely going to be your favorite.

Ingredients- 1 bunch kale, nonstick cooking spray, ½ tsp salt

Recipe-

1. For the first step, we need to preheat the microwave oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Now for the Kale, we need to tear leaves into large pieces and remove and discard thick stems to speed up the cooking process.
3. In a microwave tray, the leaves should be spread in a single layer, lined by a foil.
4. After spraying the leaves with nonstick cooking spray followed by a sprinkle of salt to taste, we need to bake it for twelve to fifteen minutes, till the chips are crisp.

So, got your taste buds running already? Well, we don’t blame you! So cook up a storm for yourself with these easy recipes the next time you feel ravenous in between the study hours. We at Studypal.co aim at making your test prep experience a better one with pioneering tips and advice from the experts in the industry.

——————————————————————————————–

]]> https://www.studypal.co/blog/eating-your-way-to-the-top-4-recipes-that-can-cook-up-a-storm/feed/ 0 https://www.studypal.co/blog/studypal-co-app-the-first-look/ https://www.studypal.co/blog/studypal-co-app-the-first-look/#comments Sat, 09 Apr 2016 05:00:47 +0000 http://www.studypal.co/blog/?p=601  

 Why STUDYPAL APP?

So, with Facebook feeds clogging your phone and the twitter updates  running crazy; you wonder why to download yet another app on your phone. So, let us get this straight. This is NOT YET ANOTHER app. It is STUDYPAL.CO; the new name trending on app lists!

                        It is here to help you find a study partner; and sail you through the test prep!

http://www.studypal.co/blog/studypal-co-app-the-first-look/

                                                     So what can you expect?

Why STUDYPAL.CO?

                                  Because, it works on the location based principle.

Like if you are in New York City looking for a study partner for your upcoming CFA; Studypal.Co will figure out your location and eventually bring to you a list of people (Both Studypals and Studygurus) tailor made for your demands. And besides you get insider tips in acing exams and access to a list of exclusive and awesome study spots in your city absolutely free!

So, what are you waiting for? If you got a test ahead; and you don’t want to tread the waters all alone, STUDYPAL.Co is the way to go!