By Vicky Cato CPA, Accounting Manager, PinkWood Ltd.
Vicky Cato CPA, Accounting Manager, PinkWood Ltd.
If you are concerned that you’re a slow reader, you’re not alone. Vicky Cato CPA is a self-described slow reader too, and in this blog post, she shares her tips for success.
I was a slow reader throughout the CPA Professional Education Program (CPA PEP) and the Common Final Examination (CFE). Actually, I still am a slow reader, even as I have progressed in my professional career. However, as I completed CPA PEP and prepared for the CFE, I learned different ways to overcome this issue. Here are my tips:
#1: Identify patterns
During the program, I had to be more efficient with my reading than most people. If I tried to rush, I ended up wasting more time because I would have to go back and reread the sections I missed. As I practiced, I learned to identify patterns in the way cases were written. For example, I started to notice that the assessment opportunity (AO) was usually at the end of the paragraph.
#2: Make a plan
I used a number of case planning methods to help outline my case. Whenever I found an AO during my initial skim, I would add it to my plan, along with page numbers and paragraph locations. Once I identified as many AOs as I could, I went back to more thoroughly read about each AO. I left space to add any AOs I might have missed. (CPA Alberta has a number of blog posts and webinars on planning your case.)
#3: Time management
I also honed my ability to budget my time while writing cases. It’s important for candidates in CPA PEP to develop good habits for time management, but it was extra important for me because I couldn’t afford to waste even one precious minute—I needed to allocate that time to reading. I also made sure to time myself while practicing so I could be better prepared for exam conditions. (CPA Alberta has many resources to help you with time management.)
#4: Tune it out
During exams, hearing others start typing before I was anywhere done reading caused me a lot of anxiety, so I learned to tune out those sounds and only focus on my exam. I learned that other people’s progress on the exam had absolutely no impact on my own ability to succeed.
#5: Practice!
Finally, I noticed that my reading speed improved as I approached the CFE. Practice, practice, and more practice helped me strengthen my reading skills and ensure I was addressing all of the AOs.
Try not to let your reading speed discourage you. You may have additional obstacles to overcome, but with intentional practice as you progress through CPA PEP, you can be successful in the program.
The views expressed in this post are those of the guest writer, Vicky Cato CPA. Please refer to cpawsb.ca for the latest guidelines from the CPA Western School of Business.
