“The worst exam I’ve ever taken was a 10-hour exam over two days to become a certified financial planner. My business partner is very musical, so she came up with songs and catchphrases for all of the things we had to memorize. Studying with a partner is definitely the way to go.” —Cindy Golub financial planner, G-Squared Advisory in Mamaroneck
“There are three methods I use: One, purchase any books or instructional guides that will help me prepare for a specific exam. Two, watch instructional videos online, because it gives you a more visual understanding of what you have to know. Finally, get practice questions from an online database; they’re modeled directly from the actual exam.” —Michael Tran, network engineer, Pragmatix, Inc. in Elmsford
“I’ve had to take tons of tests for licensing for insurance. Ironically—I am not a morning person—I did my best studying then, when my mind was fresh. I got up at 6 am and would study until about 9 am before I got flushed with management details and distractions. I just had so many books, so much reading, and so much studying to do!” —Linda Rey, AMIM partner, Rey Insurance Agency in Sleepy Hollow
“I took a professional study course that lasted about five months—it included a great amount of homework. For another part of the CPA exam, I used a take-home study guide, but professional courses and study guides are now mostly done through the Internet, whether it’s a webinar or printed material.” —Vincent Miniaci CPA, director, Marks Paneth & Shron in Tarrytown
“I use flash cards, but I also keep a notebook that I write in as I read. Writing helps me recall the information most. I have to take a test every two years to renew my license, and I take an online class before each test. While in the class, I study as I go along.” —Gail Leone, associate broker, Claire D. Leone Real Estate in Scarsdale
