CPA Candidates Can't Recall Old Material for Core 1 Exam

“Hello everyone, as CPA Core 1 is starting, does anyone have any tips on how to complete it and pass the exam? I am a full-time employee, so I get tired when I come home from work. Should I push through the quizzes+content first ( like the first 2 weeks) and then review the content in depth again and do the cases? I am not the brightest student when it comes to accounting, so what should I focus on? The star chapters and just redo the problems again and again? Like, what's the best way to pas”

“For core one did you only study the starred chapters or focus on all? Based on the sheer volume of content I’m planning on just doing the starred chapters in depth. submitted by /u/Green_Marsupial9338 [link] [comments]”

“I found core 1 overly difficult. But that's l the advice all the advice i can offer on tax as I took it far too long ago for it to be truly applicable [re: [CPA CANADA PEP] Tax elective advice?]”

“How did it go? Case 1: C Case 2: C/CD MCQ: RC submitted by /u/Subject-Ad3195 [link] [comments]”

“How did everyone do! I remember thinking the cases were pretty long, but I honestly forgot what they even were now lol. submitted by /u/melodymooncake [link] [comments]”

“Failed Core 1… advice on how to pass the next sitting? submitted by /u/secondnature007 [link] [comments]”

“What were we supposed to put down for the audit section of the case? I only did RAAP. Forgot to conclude what the risk level is.”

“prepare to not have a life for 8 weeks. if you are working full time, you will be studying in between. how you do in core 1 really depends on much you remember from your university accounting courses”

“I am going to start Core 1 for CPA pep in arround two weeks in Canada. Can anyone please give me any advice on any strategies they used to prepare for Core 1 and pass the exam? submitted by /u/SlipCold1006 [link] [comments]”

“I've really let my PERT stuff slide since my mentor ghosted me like 3 years ago. I have the Core competency requirements completed but nothing else. I started Pert in 2021 so I think I should be able to get enough working hours cleared. But I'm super confused with the 2028 deadline if I can even get everything in and approved by then. I haven't done anything since 2023 so I'm not really sure where I'm supposed to start at this point. Do I start new Experience Reports? I think”

“I'm thinking of taking the finance elective for PEP. Just wondering how many formulas actually needed to be remembered for the cases? Core 2 Finance MCQ had Capital Asset Pricing model, Fisher Equation, Beta, etc. I ended up guessing answers for all these in the end. Does any of that matter for Finance elective? I'm thinking cases would be more bigger picture than that? I'm quite comfortable with NPV, IRR, payback period, WACC. Will need to work on valuations but I at least understan”

“Same boat. Case was great but MCQ.. I ran out of time and had to guess about 15 of them. All we can do is wait till Oct 9.”

“How did you guys do? Case was okay but the MCQ??? I’m doomed :( submitted by /u/Glittering_Cow037 [link] [comments]”

“This is my second attempt. Ran out of time, case and mcq required a lot of thought. But something was written.”

“Mcq was straight forward, the first case went well, ran out of time on the second case after I accidentally deleted part of my excel sheet, ended up not having time to do the last two requireds, I just wrote a little blurb for each of them.”

“Anyone who can still remember their AOs when they took their Core 1 exam? Haha thank you! submitted by /u/Glittering_Cow037 [link] [comments]”

How did you end up doing? Taking the exam on Thursday.

“My CPA Core 1 is starting soon, and I was wondering if people can give me tips on studying and preparing for it beforehand ( Ie: topics I should start learning now). I am very weak on case writing, so if anyone has any websites ( paid even) that help with it, please drop down. Anyone who would grace me with some notes to help a fellow student pass would be appreciated like crazy. Thanks in advance. submitted by /u/Such-Organization-47 [link] [comments]”

“Just wondering how similar the multiple choice questions in the Ebook Technical Review section are to the actual MCQ questions on the exam. From what I've read here, the retired set is outdated so I don't want to soley rely on that for my expectations. Thank you! submitted by /u/Savings_Gas803 [link] [comments]”

“So you read all the chapters for tax and audit. And read only the starred topics for financial reporting. How did you split the hours of your week. Like weekdays 1-2 hours a week and grind on the weekend?”

“Primarily working on speed to identify the quants and quals for case writing to hit the main points to reach RC/C, so I try to rewrite the practice cases / retired exams in an hour or less. then I can come back to expanding my analysis if I have extra time. Last time when I focused on writing the case, it took a bit over 2 hours which was a big mistake and I only achieved an RC on MA and S&G. For mcq - I have done the d2l retired exam set and some past cma exams. I also have PASS material to”

“I read it. Some of it might show up in the multiple choice. Might be worth looking at the summary of the started chapters.”

“Did anyone touch the chapters in the last two units 7&8 except for BSC and Perf measures? This is a question to people who did core 2 in the past- did you take a look at these chapters at all? submitted by /u/Substantial_Paint702 [link] [comments]”

Core 1 but only because of the huge learning curve

“Core 2. Did not remember much of this going in and did not use any of the material in public accounting”

“Hi, does anyone know if the retired exam set mcq and case from unit 8 is similar level of difficulty as the actual mcq or the case for the core 1 exam? Ive done the starred mcqs all multiple times, just a little weak with tax and some fr calculations but when I attempted the retired exam set mcq i saw so many non starred and felt so nervous cause i didnt know most of it. Any tips would help, the exam is on the 24th, and i work full time (which im sure most do) so i want to use my time most effec”

“I am doing cpa core 1 in fall 2026, just wanted to know if anyone has tips on what worked for them to pass. Do you guys just read the chapters required for each week? Did you guys use external resources like densmore to help you succeed? Any suggestions to help me pass it first try as having a full time job. How many hours did you guys study a week. submitted by /u/talll896 [link] [comments]”

“Has anyone failed all three days the second time writing cpa cfe?? I need tips for my third and final attempt. I completely blanked on day 2 and I ran out of time on both. submitted by /u/No_Point_8546 [link] [comments]”

“I would make flash cards of common criteria and memorize as many as you can. Make sure you understand which criteria to flow through for common topics. Grind and DEBRIEF MCQ for the starred topics by redoing the quizzes / textbook content - the self assessed entrance exam from the website covers all the topics and you don’t need to do it all in one sitting”

“I’m beginning to study for the CPA exams again, but I took my tax classes in 2010 or so. Not only do I remember almost nothing, there’s been so many changes since then. I still have two classes to take to be fully eligible, but I want to avoid retaking extra classes due to finances and family obligations. I’m okay buying some books or even textbooks. I’m also looking at one of the study programs, but I don’t know that that those programs will teach it from the ground up. Tax has always been a st”

“I’m so not ready! I tried to answer a lot of MCQs but can’t get 60% and up, also did practice cases/retired exam cases but can’t answer on my own without looking or checking my notes. Any advice on what I can do in the next 7 days? I work full time too from 8am-5pm :( submitted by /u/Glittering_Cow037 [link] [comments]”

“Hi all, I’m looking for the best resource, preferably a package for both CPA Ontario Core 1 and 2 MCQs + Case Studies I can purchase and pre-study with. I have my Audit and PMA exams next week, and then start Core 1 and 2 on October 15th (exams in December). Ahead of this, I’ve been re-studying all Core 1 and 2 chapters according to their respective syllabi, and have completed an initial pass-through and review of both. After my exams next week, I’ll have another three weeks of runway to fully b”

“Hi all, I’m looking for the best resource, preferably a package for both CPA Ontario Core 1 and 2 MCQs + Case Studies I can purchase and pre-study with. I have my Audit and PMA exams next week, and then start Core 1 and 2 on October 15th (exams in December). Ahead of this, I’ve been re-studying all Core 1 and 2 chapters according to their respective syllabi, and have completed an initial pass-through and review of both. After my exams next week, I’ll have another three weeks of runway to fully b”

“How comparable would the people who have taken the CPA core 1 exam say the retired exam is to the actual exam. I know it’s an exam that was previously given but I’m just wondering like how similar the are questions. I’ve done the retired exam but I’m not sure if that’s enough. Should be expecting more? Thanks submitted by /u/Affectionate_One5817 [link] [comments]”

“The core 1 exam is in 11 days and I just feel worried about the case. How do you deal with an ao you cant recognize and what if you dont recognize any? also, does anyone have any tips with knotia? like instead of doing multiple cases a day, since mcq is 75%, do you have any tips for maybe knowing the ao's and knowing where to find them in knotia and using the search? Currently not working full time at an accounting firm rn, will be back in october so its a bit hard to get any other resources”

“I did my undergrad part-time at night and it took me over a decade. I started CPA PEP when I was 38 and it had been years since I had taken some courses. I had to refresh some topics in Core 1, but it wasn't that bad.”

“It is because the CPA Solutions are CD+ level which include every little detail which is impossible to do in 1 hour at the PEP level (probably even post PEP honestly) The sample responses include only the relevant analysis and information necessary to get a C or maybe CD. EDIT: The sample responses are also written by people near your skill level whereas the Solutions are written by CPA's who do this every single year so they often are more complex answers and are more difficult to grasp! I”

“For anyone who has written Core 1 recently, how did the MCQ portion actually break down in terms of question style? I know the blueprint gives the weighting by competency area, but I’m more curious about the type of questions you saw. Was Financial Reporting mostly calculation-based, with some theory mixed in? Was Audit & Assurance mostly theory/conceptual questions, like risks, assertions, procedures, materiality, etc.? And for Tax, was it more of a mix between calculations and theory? I’m”

“Hi all, I’m about 20 days out from writing my cpa core 1 exam. Does any one have any tips on what to study and how to study. I know that’s it FR heavy but how much of audit stuff should I be brushing up on. Tax? Finance? I’m doing the MCQs for the ebook to brush up on previous unit topic but I’m not sure if that’s enough. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance! submitted by /u/Affectionate_One5817 [link] [comments]”

“I am making this post because I completely forgot everything in my financial accounting class(haven’t taken it in a year), and will be taking financial reporting next semester. What are some good practice tools or tips to know beforehand. Anything helps! submitted by /u/Horror-Character7911 [link] [comments]”

“I finished university in 2015 and was forced to upgrade 3 classes to get into CPA last year as CPA won’t let your classes be more than 10 years old. I took core 1 and passed June 2026. Some of the material I hadn’t seen in 12+ years. I was so burned out by the time I wrote the test in June but I passed. It is possible with the material CPA provides. Practicing the E-text problems really helped solidify some of the technical material rather then keep hammering endlessly at multiple choice questio”

Things may have changed since I wrote it in 2022. But some tips for writing day 1 (worked for me at least). accuracy of calculations is not that important. Just make sure…

“thank you - i just have a problem in writing exam like conditions so i am using case responses as a way to refresh my technical knowledge. i know how to outline and allocate time to each AO, but i am unable to write for straight 5 hours at home as it is too much. i have never written a case in exam condition during whole PEP program.”

“I am currently enrolled in the CPA PEP Core 1 module and need some advice about my journey moving forward. For context, I work in PA at a regional firm, and my firm has told me that I have the choice to choose any elective I want (not restricted to assurance and tax). I had initially thought that I would choose finance and performance management since my plan was to pivot to industry after getting my CPA. But so far in Core 1, my weakest topics have been tax and finance (I'm doing well in as”

“It's a CPA Canada module. Most likely they're using the learning materials provided by CPA Canada”

“I will definitely do that. Like I said, the main thing I’ve currently been doing this past week after finishing my first pass at Audit and PMA for Septembers exams is “relearning” IF1, planning on doing FR by Sept 10th, and so on and so forth. In addition to the case writing videos I’ll definitely be starting to watch, do you think what I’m doing makes sense, and should I be putting extra emphasis on the A and B level competencies over the Cs? Thank you so much again.”

“Read some examples from prior years. The CPA answer and the candidate answer. You will see that you don’t need too much. Allocate time and stick with it. Stop writing and move on. Leave 30 min to conclude”

“Most people think they failed but end up passing. Its unfortunately how its designed lol I passed first try and I’m no genius.”

“Does anyone have any tips for the CPA PM module? I'm getting all RCs on every IP and practice case, which has never happened before. I honestly found the Core 1 exam easy and had 2 hours to kill. Core 2 was harder, and I didn't have time to spare, but not as hard as this. Is the exam really this difficult, and will the CFE really be as difficult as this? To my understanding, an RC is a fail for the CFE. I'm writing up to the time constraint to get RCs, and I realize I'm not getti”

“I took core 1 last semester but didn’t pass it and now I am doing core 2 module while also rewriting the core 1 exam. Anyone who has written both exams together have any tips on how to make it? Any suggestions you think would be helpful in passing both in this semester? Thanks in advance! submitted by /u/Educational-Menu5080 [link] [comments]”

“Honestly just do your best but after receiving feedback actually take time to debrief it and learn what they want you to do and how to answer questions the CPA way.. additionally go over the quants since those can be difficult for lots of people. It’s okay to struggle with core 2 cause lots of people do! I personally found redoing the AOs I did horrible on helped a lot. I also did the retired exams and practice cases again when I was studying for the exam itself.”

“Doing Core 2 rn with CPA Western School of Business and I'm actually kind of struggling with the homework (specifically the integrated problems and cases). In Core 1 I mastered the format and actually finished the module with distinction. However, I've been getting anywhere between 50% and 70% with my written assignments in this course and I feel like I need to adjust my approach. How did you look at this module differently vs Core 1? (Also absolutely doesn't help that I have an inve”

“Could anyone share their FAR notes with me? I’d love to study more thoroughly and strengthen my preparation. It would be really helpful! 🙏📚 #CPA #FAR #CPAExam #StudyCommunity submitted by /u/rea__hh [link] [comments]”

“I graduated 7 years ago, never worked in accounting, now I'm back studying CMA... The thing is that I don't even remember or know what materials we used back in university, and I feel completely lost when it comes to cost and management accounting. So I was wondering what is the best book or material I could use in order to master cost accounting. Thanks in advance! submitted by /u/Waste-Cucumber-1601 [link] [comments]”

“I skirted around the Power BI questions in my PREP courses. They are coming up again now in PEP cases. Is it possible to avoid them here too? I know they aren't tested on core final exam/CFE and I don't want to waste my time on content I don't *need* to know. What do you recommend? submitted by /u/emigal25 [link] [comments]”

“I'm just finishing up Core 2 week 2 and I'm struggling. I'm okay reviewing the individual chapters and the MCQ, but I'm struggling with how to approach the cases, how to format the cases, and how to do it all within the recommended time frame. Feeling very overwhelmed and I have no motivation to study. I feel like I'm shooting myself in the foot here. I need to get my butt in gear soon before I fall too far behind. submitted by /u/emigal25 [link] [comments]”

“u/UsurpDz did you ever do the readings? how did you do the PC or IP without the technicals from reading the book? I am doing PEP too and i have heavy adhd so your story/strategy inspires me, have always been a crazy procrastinator in uni so struggling to adapt to this quite a bit”

For me, Core 1 was the worst PEP module. It’s so content heavy and I’m fairly certain that it’s designed to weed out the number of candidates. I had to totally give…

“Hi everyone! I'm starting full-time in Audit at a Big 4 this September, and I'll be taking CPA Western School of Business (CPAWSB) Core 1 in October. Since I'll be learning a new job while starting PEP, I'd like to use the rest of my summer to get ahead. If anyone has personal study notes, summaries, flashcards, or practice tips from Core 1 that they'd be willing to share, I'd really appreciate it. I'm not looking for anything that isn't meant to be shared, just t”