By Kinjal Patel
In part two of this blog post, Kinjal Patel discusses the advantages of completing CPA PEP modules back to back and provides her tips for success. If you haven’t read part one, click here.
The first four CPA PEP modules—Core 1 and 2, and the two electives—are very technical and sometimes I felt like I had completely forgotten what I studied in the previous module. This feeling persisted until I started preparing for the CFE; that’s when everything started coming together. When you take your modules far apart, it can be even more challenging to remember what you previously studied.
If I had not taken the modules back to back, I would have needed extra time to brush up on small details, especially in financial reporting and my CFE role (which was Assurance). This is important because providing small details on tested topics can take just a few seconds to write but can bump up your score from RC to C.
When you take your modules back to back, you can complete CPA PEP in only 20 months. Whether it’s taking your modules back to back, doing the extended modules, taking breaks between each module, or something else entirely, creating a schedule and sticking to it will help you accomplish your goal in the way that works best for you.
Within each module, creating a study plan can help keep you on track. I developed a schedule that allowed me to save one day each week, which meant I was a bit ahead and was able to finish a module in seven weeks instead of eight. This gave me a full week before the exam to review the entire module, which in turn enabled me to pass each module on my first attempt.
Completing CPA PEP faster came with challenges, but it was the right decision for me. It taught me how to manage my time productively and be disciplined with my schedule. It was challenging, but I learned to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and to push myself to achieve my goals.
The views expressed in this post are those of the guest writer, Kinjal Patel. Please refer to cpawsb.ca for the latest guidelines from the CPA Western School of Business.
