Read this if you are struggling with CPA exam motivation for the 2024 CPA exam… and need a pick me up!
If you aren’t mentally prepared for the CPA exam, it makes it difficult to stay motivated long enough to pass the CPA exam.
It typically takes a CPA Candidate between 6 to 12 months to pass the CPA Exam.
When you are working full-time this is an incredibly challenging journey.
Use these 17 mental mindset hacks to beat your attitude into submission!
1. Why Do You Need To Become A CPA?
You need a reason for becoming a CPA.
The CPA Exam will likely be the most difficult task you will attempt in your career.
There is a reason that on average the CPA exam pass rates by section are 50% or less.
From personal experience taking this exam, if you treat this exam as a check box on your to-do-list then you are setting yourself up for failure.
The CPA Exam requires mental preparation, a support system, and a WHY.
If you are feeling unmotivated to study, you must re-discover your WHY.
Write it down and keep it front of mind when things get tough.
This will shift your perspective and remind you why you are making the temporary sacrifices necessary to pass the CPA exam.
![Is The CPA Exam Worth It? [2024 Salary, Statistics & Case Studies]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j87TPZ92ZYc/0.jpg)
2. Don’t Let Fear Of Failing The CPA Exam Stop You!
Failing the CPA exam is not the end.
You just figured out one way NOT to pass. Keep moving forward.
Fun Fact: Look at the CPA Exam pass rates. Typically 70% of CPA Candidates fail at least once, which makes it STRANGE to take this exam and not fail.
Embrace these stats and make sure you have a CPA exam failure recovery plan, just in case.
3. What Are The Consequences Of Failing The CPA Exam?
No one’s life is at risk if you fail.
All you lose is a bit of time and money.
Leave the life and death situations to the doctors!
Instead, look at failing the CPA exam as just part of the process.
You figured out one way NOT to pass.
Double down on what worked, cut out what didn’t and try again.
Failing the CPA exam sucks, and you probably could use some motivational quotes to temporarily help, but you really need a mentor to push you and give you a strategy to follow.
I’ve helped candidates who have failed 19+ times (and nearly at wit’s end) implement this strategy and crack the code to passing.
4. High Intensity Always Wins
Passing a section of the CPA exam does not mean that you can slack off!
Keep up your intensity and keep it consistently high.
The CPA Exam is NOT a marathon.
It’s four 100 meter dashes back to back to back to back.
5. Control Your Ego
Ego is your worst enemy.
If you struggle don’t let it tell you you should give up.
If you succeed, don’t let it tell you to slack off.
6. What Is More Important Than Becoming A CPA?
Don’t forget what is more important than becoming a CPA in your life.
The worst thing you can do is make the CPA exam the center.
Your relationship with God, your family, and your health should always trump the CPA exam.
If you are struggling with balancing your time, I did make a cheat sheet for you:
7. CPA Exam Studying + Micro-Rewards
Take breaks by rewarding yourself for getting studying done.
When you split up your studying into small steps, it makes the CPA exam process less overwhelming.
You also want to get your CPA Exam Accountability Partners involved in this process.
Not only will time with them be your reward for getting studying done but they will “punish” you for not getting your studying done.
I recently wrote this article on my top 21 CPA Exam Study Tips that dives into this in MUCH more detail.
8. Track Everything When Studying For The CPA Exam
Don’t make time-based study goals that you can’t track.
You want to study based on quantifiable goals.
For example, on Saturday I will:
a) Complete 100 CPA exam multiple choice
b) Go through ALL of my flashcards made to date
c) Watch the next 4 video lectures
This does two things.
It allows you to know when you are finished.
You don’t just study to fill time, you have a sense of urgency.
Compare this to saying, “I will study for 3 hours today.”
At the end of 3 hours, how do you know what you accomplished?
Could you have done more?
9. Don’t Dwell On The Big CPA Exam Picture
Don’t look at EVERYTHING you have to do.
You will lose motivation.
Instead, take it one step at a time and just focus on the next thing you need to get done and do it to the best of your ability.
10. Find Accountability Partners
Find an accountability partner to keep tabs on you and to make sure you are hitting your study goals.
This person or people could be your family, co-workers, your friends or even a neighbor.
Just make sure that this person is consistently in your life.
11. Your CPA Review Course Is NOT A Magic Pill
Don’t assume your CPA review course is going to do all of your studying for you.
Watching all the lectures, answering all the questions and reading all the text does NOT guarantee you will pass.
You need to truly understand the AICPA Blueprints.
The reason being is that you need to be able to dynamically answer Task-Based Simulations and Document Review Simulations.
If you just memorize or complete busy work then you will find yourself unable to tackle the most difficult parts of the CPA exam.
![A Proven Method For Passing The CPA Exam In 2021 [Introducing U.C.E.G. Method]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pvt3YJsObMw/0.jpg)
12. CPA Review Course Price Does NOT Guarantee Success
Buying an expensive CPA review course does NOT guarantee success.
What matters is HOW you study.
The different courses out there all have different levels of marketing and manpower expenses and price their products accordingly.
So don’t rely on the price of your course to give you comfort!
13. Study To Understand, Not Memorize
When you study to understand it doesn’t matter what questions you get on the exam. You will be ready.
It’s harder work, but when you start to see real results your motivation will skyrocket!
14. Your Study Mindset Matters
Don’t worry about getting a % of questions correct in your CPA review course.
All that matters is if you understand WHY you got the question right or wrong.
Don’t understand the WHY?
Dig into the question explanation first. Still doesn’t make sense?
Dig into the source material (textbook/video lectures) next. Still doesn’t make sense?
Outsource it to your CPA Review Courses technical support or hire a CPA Exam Tutor!
15. Take Steps To Reduce Test Anxiety
Take mock exams.
It’s the only way to truly prepare for the Prometric Center experience and to reduce test anxiety.
Time management is nearly as important as understanding the material.
If you don’t plan for worse case scenarios then the smallest deviation could sidetrack your CPA Exam Scores.
16. Mock Exams Don’t Equal Real CPA Exam
Don’t stress if your mock exam scores are low.
The CPA exam is NOT graded the same way as your mock exam.
Instead of focusing on how many questions you get right or wrong.
Look at the reasons WHY you got each question right or wrong and use them as a learning opportunity.
A mock exam is NOT a good predictor of how you will do on exam day.
17. Find A CPA Exam Mentor
Yeah yeah yeah… I know. I’m a CPA exam mentor, but hear me out!
The value of having a CPA exam mentor is that not only will they teach you HOW to study, but also what to avoid doing.
This does require an investment in learning upfront…
…but the time you invest learning how to pass will save you on the backend in decreased odds of failure and less spent on CPA exam fees.
So if you don’t work with me, please find someone who has failed the CPA exam, overcome it, and passed to help you.
Conclusion
If you don’t have anyone in your life who can help you with motivation and sticking with your journey to passing the CPA Exam, then the best place to start is to take my free CPA Exam study personality quiz.
If you can tell me where you are on your journey and what you need help with most then I will be able to pinpoint the best study methods and tactics for you to implement starting today.
Start Your Quiz HERE – takes 30 seconds to complete
To your success!
Bryan Kesler, CPA
P.S. If you enjoyed these tips I’ve compiled 221 of my BEST CPA Exam Study Tips and put them together into an easy-to-read book that you can quickly reference as you study!
You can use coupon code STUDYTIPS to save $40 off the full price.