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.

Invest in your dream today to get returns in the future. Prepare for USMLE with these tips by Studypal.co to fetch your dream career.

Find your USMLE prep buddy today. Register at www.StudyPal.co

1. Warby Parker
Apart from the huge range of glasses it offers; Warby Parker is a popular choice because of its unique 5 day trial period. You get to keep 5 different frames over five day trial period and then choose the one you want to buy at your own convenience. Warby Parker has won hearts with its path breaking initiative; the company gifts a pair of glasses to someone needy each time you buy a pair from them. So, if you are looking forward to some great service and customer satisfaction, Warby Parker is the best option around.

2. Zinni Opticals
If you are a student on a shoestring budget, Zinni is the best place for you. With its incredibly trendy designs and affordable pricing; Zinni is a win all the way. If you are planning to buy a couple of glasses and rotate them for a fresh look everyday, look no further than Zinni. You can now do it easily without burning a hole in our wallet.

3. Eye Buy Direct
Borderline between class and affordability? With its huge discounts, incredible offers and massive range of frames and glasses, Eye Buy Direct is the ultimate destination for you. They provide highly specialized prescription glasses too; and for your perfect geek look,it can help you figure out something perfect for yourself.

4. Goggles 4 U
For those you want to splurge a bit; Goggles 4 U brings an exciting range of designer glasses; which of course come with hefty price tags. There are many generic yet attractive varieties available at low prices too, and the company’s no non sense website is a treat to scroll through. Their customer service is great as well and this is, with little doubt, a great place to buy your pair of glasses from.

5. Coastal or ClearlyContacts
Coastal and its Canadian ally ClearlyContacts score it big when it comes to customer service. From huge discounts to personalized free order deliveries to the first free frame ; you name it and the company does it. Their prices are mostly mid-ranged, and they know how to pamper you for the money you spend on them. Plenty of coupons are available online and you can make the best use of them while assembling a new look for yourself.

Studying doesn’t have to be a chore & it always helps to get your geek chic on. Grab a pair, gently rest the rim on your nose and look your personal best with glasses and a pair of books open before you. You are definitely working hard to be smarter; so why not look the part too? Next time you plan on buying a pair,do explore the options and let us know your experiences with the glasses.

“It is not that I’m so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.” -Albert Einstein

The notion that intelligence gets bigger like a muscle through deliberate practice instead of simply existing as a fixed trait like a person’s height is indeed a powerful one. In fact, it caused me to write an entire book called Plan, Prepare & Perform, which talks about how mindset, study planning, study habits, and strategic test-taking can have a dramatic impact on your standardized test score. Even if you want to, for example, work hard to prepare for a standardized test, if you believe deep down that your intelligence has a cap (because it’s a fixed trait) it’s hard to put in the right amount and type of effort to build your skills.
In effect, our new book addresses “how to prepare” instead of the typical “what to study” which is covered in traditional test prep books. And the idea of considering carefully questions of “how” to study, separate from “how much” or “what” to study, is critical.
One critically important but sometimes overlooked element of the general theme that expertise, intelligence, talent, and “genius” are not bestowed on people but created by them is that both the quantity and quality of practice is what builds the skill that leads to expertise. It’s not 10,000 hours of practice, it’s 10,000 hours of deliberate practice.

What is deliberate practice?

Deliberate or “deep” practice is practice that results in a very high amount of learning per minute of time invested. When someone practices deliberately, they are intensely focused, they identify and address mistakes immediately, and they typically receive expert coaching. It’s a mentally draining process because you are building new neurological circuity in your brain by testing and pushing yourself. It’s very different from passively reading a chapter in a textbook, for example.

Here are some key expert-recommended steps that can help you practice deliberately:

1.Set clear and specific goals. If you don’t know exactly what you’re trying to learn, it’s hard to put in the amount of focus and reflection on your progress required for you to improve.
2.Build skills “from the ground up,” starting with the simplest component of a skill. Master that component and build from there so your ability to repeat the more complex skill becomes automatic.
3.Study or practice intensely for small stretches, consistently and frequently—not for long stretches of time. In an academic context, what many students typically call cramming doesn’t work very well at all, and someone practicing deliberately would never do it.
4.Make mistakes frequently and receive continuous feedback from an expert. As soon as you do something incorrectly, the expert can step in, identify the mistake, and explain how to correct it.
5.Continuously push to and beyond the limits of your expertise, which over time will expand your expertise and develop your skills. When practicing deliberately, you tend to always feel stretched and even a little uncomfortable.

In his book The Talent Code, Daniel Coyle talks about a girl named Clarissa who is learning to play the clarinet. In the example, she painfully stops after every two or three notes to replay them, working choppily through the piece. To the observer, the experience is extremely difficult to listen to. It just sounds horrible. But what Clarissa is doing is focusing intently on each note, trying to get each step exactly right before moving on. When she hears a note that’s “off,” she gets immediate feedback, considers what went wrong, and tries again.

How can tutors or study pals help you practice deliberately?
Note that step four above talks about making mistakes frequently, but having an “expert” step in to correct you in real-time. This is a powerful element of practicing deliberately.

Let’s say you do 30 math problems with 5 questions about triangles over the course of 45 minutes, and then review those problems in your next study session. But, it turns out you don’t understand the formals and rules related to triangles very well, even though you think you do. As you complete the problems, you are sketching in your brain a way to go about doing them. You are building neuro-circuitry about the principles of triangles that just isn’t quite right. When you go back and review the missed problems, you have to spend mental energy both a) undoing what was incorrectly learned and b) learning the right approach.

If, instead, you are working through problems independently, but with an expert (even if the expert is simply a study partner that happens to know the right answer and approach to these types of problems), they can step in, ask why you are going about the problem a certain way (or at least stop you and note that the answer at which you arrived is incorrect) and explain the right approach. Now, you are mentally “shocked” into noting both a) how not to do the problem and b) what that right approach is. This is how expert feedback gives deliberate practice its power.

About the Author

After spending three years as an economics tutor at Indiana University and then earning his MBA from Northwestern University, Mark Skoskiewicz founded MyGuru, an education start up focused on helping students improve academic performance through customized study plans, better study habits, and 1-1 instruction. 1-1 GMAT tutoring is one of MyGuru’s specialties. Mark is also close to publishing a new book on standardized test prep called Plan, Prepare, & Perform.

Scientifically speaking; early morning studies are not only more productive but also enhances the brain capacity. Here are five secrets about early morning studying that will definitely make you change the way you study forever.

1. Brain cells are more alert at the break of the dawn
Ever wondered why morning assembly prayers are the easiest things to remember? It is because human brain cells tend to be more receptive in the early hours of the day. Anything that you study during the morning is more likely to be registered in your memory. It is like the golden hour; especially when you have a lot of facts to mug up real quick. Grab a pencil, jot down the stuff you need to learn and try learning them in wee hours of the morning. Chances are likely that you will remember the facts by a lot more ease.

2.Mornings are great time for self assertion
It is like the best time to set your goals and decide how far you can stretch yourself. Early mornings bring round a sense of new beginning; and somewhere on psychological levels you find yourself bracing larger goal targets and achieving them. Waking up in the morning plays with your will power and secretly acts as a booster to it.

3.Study sessions are comparatively stress free

The thing with mornings is, you are fresh out from bed and will be at your relaxed best. You will have your whole day ahead to plan for, and there is plenty of time to meet your deadlines for the day. This makes studying in the morning a relatively more stress free experience as you have fewer things to bother you. You have a lot to look ahead to.

4.There is zero social media distraction

Admit it; it is trendy these days to stay up with your pile of books opened before you all night while all your concentration remains stuck to your cell phone as it furiously beeps with endless notifications all through the night. It is basically after 4 am in the morning that the virtual world actually tends to go silent; even if for a little time. Early mornings are the best time to study from the point that it is probably the only time our virtual world takes a backseat and is comparatively silent.

5.Silence of the morning is optimistic

Studies have shown that though late nights have their share of silence; but a majority of people agreed to find it depressing. No wonder, they call it the dead silence! Early morning silence is said to be more cheerful and if you are lucky enough to live in the country; nothing can be more effective to lift your mood than early morning birds chirping as you study. You can always begin your day with a little stroll in the open and then settling down with your books. The fresh morning air helps to bring the mind in a positive frame, and we all know how much a little optimism can help with concentration powers!

Now that you know how exactly a couple of hours in the morning can be much more effective than staying up all night; it is high time to change your study schedule. Get up with the sun, breathe in the fresh morning air and brace yourself to more productive study sessions. Your time is valuable, and it deserves the best management. There are a lot to be done; and mornings are just the beginning!

With CET just a month away we wanted to share a few study tips coming straight from our experts who have been there done that.

TIP #1: Focus:

Before you start to pick up those huge books and start to scribble just wait there. First things first, set the environment where you study. Today we live in the world with numerous distractions and our addiction towards smartphones and those apps are great time killers. So just shut it. Remain focussed and start with a goal in mind “to get into a top B-school”.

#determination #dedication

TIP #2 Basics:

Get through the basics quickly, remember the difficulty level of the questions is very low in CET so get through the syllabus. You have been doing it for a year or so now, so this should not take time. The syllabus is very basic with most of the concepts taken from the 10^th grade.

#revision #syllabus

TIP #3 Study with a pal:

Studying together with someone who is going to take CET is quite helpful. You can discuss your doubts, challenge each other and work together to achieve the common goal. If you haven’t found one yet, you’ll surely find one at Studypal.co

#teaming-up #Study-partner

TIP #4 Speed and Mocks:

CET is a time based exam. You need to work hard to improve your speed of solving and calculating. You may gain it by doing speed drills, just set the time and always better it. Vedic maths may also help. You should be able to solve a question in about 30-35 seconds. We recommend you to at least take 20 mock exams so that you get the timing right. If you haven’t started on your mocks yet just log on to oliveboard.com and start taking mock exams.

#30seconds #mocks

Final Tip:

Remember that being well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at its best. Make sure you keep drinking plenty of water throughout your revision and eat healthy.

Good luck!

Do first things first.

Prior to starting the preparation for CFA, make a study plan. Find a study partner for the CFA on www.studypal.co. A study partner for the CFA is very beneficial to keep you motivated throughout your CFA journey. Study plan and discipline in adhering to it is a must in case you wish to pass the exam. You can use tools like TimePrep to help you with strategy and time management and keep you on the track.

Get the best things first.

The second advice would be – start with the most interesting topics. If you like corporate finance more than Quantitative methods, start with Corporate finance. You will finish the first book sooner and this will motivate you for further successes.

Write to memorize.

Take notes – although you may think this is redundant, it may be good for the review phase. Take notes in the books or separately, but try to build a system that will help you review the most important topics and calculating procedures.

Watch out – there are some rules!

Get used to infrastructure – exam questions type (multiple choice, item set & essay), calculator policy (only two types of calculators are permitted), and other rules and procedures. Sooner you get used to these, you will be more successful and calm on the exam.

Repetitio est mater studiorum.

It is hard to memorize so much and reproduce this knowledge in such a short time frame. It is hard to remember all the formulas and concepts. However, repetition can really help you master this amount of content. Focus on the practice problems during repetition. Besides knowledge you gain, this is something that prepares you the best for the exam.

Know your enemy.

Visit the testing centre a day (night) before the exam. Calculate how much time you need to reach the centre. Take into account possible morning rush hour (although the exams are organized on Saturdays and Sundays). Try to eliminate the unnecessary stress prior to the exam.

There is really no secret sauce for passing the exam. You have to learn and practice. However, learning from the experience of other candidates and members, and avoiding some obvious traps, may make you more successful candidate.

Good luck!

Enrolling the CFA program will have an impact on your private life and relationships with your friends, partner and family. If you want to successfully complete the program you will have to dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to the learning process. The CFA program is not very demanding in terms of new knowledge, but it takes a lot of time to go through the entire curriculum and solve decent number of practice problems. You will have to spend certain amount of your free time on the CFA program and make clear cuts in your social life.

Although many people will say that if you organize yourself well, you will manage to achieve both personal and professional goals, it rarely happens that you are a successful business man, the best friend always ready to jump in and an incredible boyfriend/girlfriend or a family man at the same time.

It always helps to find a study partner for the CFA, someone who is going through a similar situation as you and can motivate you for the exam. You can find one on StudyPal.co

On the other hand, it is crucial to find the best possible work-life balance and organize the learning process so you can still spend some time with your friends. The most important step is to “negotiate” certain terms with the most important people in your life, before you enrol the CFA program. You have to explain in detail what does your new obligation mean for them, warn them in advance that you will not be available all the time and get their support. True friends and loving partners/family will understand. Try to negotiate certain number of hours or certain periods (e.g. Friday from 7pm-11pm) in the week when you will dedicate your time to people you care the most about, and don’t cheat. When it comes to family or girlfriend/boyfriend time, relax and dedicate a quality time. This is where TimePrep helps a lot – dedicating regular study time cannot be made easier.

Since you have to dedicate certain fixed and, more or less, consistent blocks of time on a weekly basis you will have to cut some other activities off in order to successfully complete the program. An average CFA candidate works in the financial industry which is known for long working hours. Unless you can spend some time learning in your office, you will have to study after or before work. That means you will have to reduce time you spend on other activities such as sports, going out, hobbies, travelling, etc.

Make a list of priorities, and don’t entirely cut off activities that are very important to you. In addition, get rid of less important but time consuming activities, hobbies and habits – just make a clear cut.

You are a human being and you need support from people you care the most. Their support will motivate you and give energy to push forward through the curriculum. There is no worse thing than to sit and learn while aware of the fact that someone is mad at you since you have not put him/her into your agenda.

Good luck!

I am often hungrier while writing an article about food rather than while I’m cooking it. Thinking can make us pretty hungry. According to medical researchers, our brain cells need double the energy as the other cells in our body, causing our body to crave food to restore this energy during intellectual activities like test prep.

So if you are preparing for standardized tests and often get the munchies, it is merely your brain insisting on a glucose boost. Sorry to be a damper on a guilt free study binge by stating the obvious, but over-snacking and eating the wrong things during your hunger pangs will certainly be counterproductive. It can cause your brain to get too much glucose and slow down. Not so smart after all!

However, there is nothing better than a healthy snack to keep your mental juices flowing.  So why don’t we make this snack time doubly productive by eating not just healthy but brainy foods too.

There are four main nutritional components that help our brains function to their full potential and even reinforce new brain cells. Here is a list of healthy powder foods that will provide the right nourishment for those long study days.

1. Glucose (carbohydrate) – The energy giver
   
   • Banana smoothies
   • Bean and corn salads
   • Popcorn
   • Lentil soups
   • Whole grain crackers with hummus

    

2. Fatty acids (omega 3-6) – The brain lubricant
   • Smoked salmon or grilled sardine fingers snacks
   • Avocado and chia smoothie
   • Walnuts
   • Cashew nuts
   • Flax seed rich energy bars
   • Tahini (sesame paste) dip

3. Antioxidants – The restorer
   
   • All kinds of berries
   • Spinach soups
   • Steamed garlic broccoli
   • DIY Energy drink: Coconut water with chia seeds
   • A variety of teas

    

4. Amino acids (protein) – The protector
   
   • Grilled fish, meat, liver and tofu snacks
   • Egg white salads
   • Yogurt snacks with honey and flax powder

And here are two simple and quick recipes for you and your study buddy.

AVOCADO SMOOTHIE

Serves – 2 glasses
Prep time – 20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 avocado
3 tablespoons chopped dates
5 tablespoons 0% fat greek yogurt
½ cup Soymilk
¾ cup water
2 tablespoons chia seeds

Methods:

Mix the soymilk, water and chia seeds in a glass and leave aside letting the chia seeds absorb the water and fluff up.

Put the avocado, dates and greek yogurt in a blender and blend till they form a smooth paste.

Put the avocado paste in a mixing bowl with the soymilk mix and gently combine the ingredients together with a spatula.

Chill in the refrigerator and drink the cold avocado smoothie during your study break to give your brain a jumpstart!

BEAN SALAD

Serves – 3
Prep time – 20 minutes

Ingredients:

½ cup red beans
½ cup sweet corn
½ cup chopped coriander leaves
¼ cup spring onions
¼ cup chopped walnuts

Dressing:

½ a lime, juiced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon paprika powder
1 teaspoon honey

Method:

Mix together all the ingredients for the dressing and leave aside.
Put the remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss till the produce have come together nicely.

Mix in the dressing and serve chilled.

Remember to graze through your study days, eat nutritious snacks and keep it light.

Enjoy!

1. Tell us about CollegePond and its Founders

Collegepond is an online/offline-counseling career guidance, test preparation and admissions counseling outfit. We help talented students achieve their goal of studying at top Universities across the globe. We have guided over 2000 students in obtaining admission to the elite universities in USA, France, NZ, Australia, Singapore, UK and Hong Kong. Our strength lies in highlighting the most optimal path in achieving students’ career ambitions. Our directors are also featured in Education Times regularly.

More information about us can be found on www.collegepond.com.

Suraj Bajaj completed his undergraduate dual degree from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School and College of Arts & Sciences. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.  Suraj has spent 10 years working at leading investment banks and Big 4 Accounting firms where, in addition to his work responsibilities, he was involved in recruiting new graduates as well as lateral hires.  He has also passed the CPA examination and has written articles for various journals. Over the past seven years, Suraj has been involved in helping aspiring, talented young individuals set their career objectives and develop an action plan to achieve the same. He has guided students in obtaining admission to the elite universities in the US, France, Australia and United Kingdom. Suraj heads Collegepond’s counseling division and works with students to ensure that they are on course to achieve their desired career path.

Jimeet Sanghavi has worked at Citigroup & Bloomberg and has a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Stony Brook University. His spectrum of experience ranges from being an IT Analyst to Key-Account Manager to University Recruiting Captain to Teacher and Faculty Member. He decided to pursue his love of teaching and counseling which he had been doing even from USA over the last 5 years.Thanks to his recruiting efforts, he has an excellent rapport with the Career Centers of these universities which helps gauge the job placement scenarios of different schools every year. Jimeet heads Collegepond’s test preparation division and helps students crack the GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and SAT exams.

2. How should students considering GRE start their test prep?

You should approach GRE in a way similar to training for a marathon. You need to build up gradually and be steady throughout. It is unlike a college exam where you take crash courses and study at last minute and scrape through.

GRE is an exam of aptitude as well as your nerves. You need to condition yourself with a lot of mock exams periodically to assess whether your efforts are being reflected in your scores. One simple recommendation to improve your GRE score is to become an avid reader.  By reading, we mean understanding the grammar, contextual reference and word usage and not just skim through a page-turning novel. Also, it is important to brush up your high school algebra and geometry (not trigonometry) and remember the formulas at a bare minimum.

We also recommend studying with a study partner of forming a study group. You can find a GRE study partner at StudyPal.co

3. What are the resources students must use for their GRE test prep?

There are various reference books available in the market and on the internet.  It is important that students utilize the Powerprep material provided by ETS when registering for the exam. It comes with 2 mock exams which are almost a replica of the GRE exam. It is important to thoroughly exhaust the question-set provided in this software.

4. How long does one require to prepare for the GRE?

On average a student requires about 200 hours of study. This encompasses reading, tutoring classes, homework, mock exams, analysis of exams, etc

5. What are your top 4 study tips for students?

(a) Practice is the key. The more you practice the better you become.

(b) More often than not, GRE is more an exam of your grit and confidence than what you know. You need to be confident, not let a difficult question affect your mindset for the next one

(c) Time-management is important. Solving something correctly in the appropriate amount of time is crucial. It is also important to manage your time between your GRE prep, work, & family commitments.

(d) Form a study group; it helps to keep you motivated and on schedule.