Review Strategies of Saint Louis University

CPA Board Passers

Abdul, Aiza B.
Charlene K. Lacwasan
0918-6780500, 09298159981
aiza_0716@yahoo.com, Sheith_29@yahoo.com
09186780500

Judith F. Lawagan.
Ghale L. Limog
0912-5276649, 0918-6542589

Bernalynne A. Repoyo
09154838786
bealyn@in.com

Keywords:
Certified Public Accountant, CPA Licensure Examinations, CPA Licensure Examination Passers, Formal Review,
Undergraduate Education, Review Strategies

ABSTRACT:
This study aimed to identify tested and proven review strategies of CPA Board Passers from Saint Louis University
for the years 2008 and 2009 and communicate them to the Accountancy students to help them anticipate and
prepare for the CPA Board Exam and at the same time improve on their study habits as undergraduates. On the
review strategies, the variations on the health management, time management, study habits, review focus and
preparation of CPA Board Passers for the years 2008 and 2009 during their undergrad years in Saint Louis
University and formal review.
I. Introduction
Since the beginning of humankind, accounting
is known as the language of business and
business is something that cannot be torn away
from people for as long as we could remember.
Therefore, literally this kind of attachment
indicates the importance of accounting in our
lives. The concept and terms of accounting are
used to describe and measure the events of
daily business activities. An accountant
measures, aggregates and reports financial
information necessary for the sake of decision
making by organizational managers, owners,
investors, government agencies and other
users. From the previous statement, we can
see the indication that shows how accounting is
important in careers. Everything needs
accounting. Whether you are a doctor, or an
ordinary office worker, you would still need to
play with numbers and take into account the
cost of things that you used or used by
someone else. Timely and accurate information
on operations is crucial to success in the recent
days of rapidly changing business environment,
and the accountant is the one responsible for
the critical business function that mostly
though indirectly affects our career and
everyday life.
(http://bizcovering.com/accounting/accountin
g-impacts-to-your-career-and-everyday-life/)
Looking at it from the career wise point of
view, accounting has been, through its’
importance and the sort of information that it
brings opens many career opportunities for
people. These opportunities generally are in
the public accounting field where many
accountants are needed. The ever growing of
business environment opens a wide road for
many people to become an accountant. A
critical function they perform is the
preparation and certification for accuracy of
financial reports used by individuals outside of
the firm such as in investors or government
agencies.
http://bizcovering.com/accounting/accounting
-impacts-to-your-career-and-everyday-life/
In the private accounting field, private
accountants are employed by businesses of all
types and sizes. They develop accounting
reports used by the firms’ management for
internal decision making as well as prepare
reports for external users. Because of the
importance of accurate information to decision
makers, the internal accountants of many firms
are often important members of the
management team.
(http://bizcovering.com/accounting/accountin
g-impacts-to-your-career-and-everyday-life/)
All of this is because of either one of the two
main factors; to survive and maintain in the
industry or to be profitable. But of course,
many are mainly because of the latter
There's so many metrics you can put around
financial information -- growth metrics or
declining metrics. Just so many things that will
help you understand what is happening in that
business. Accounting gives us that opportunity.
Accountants help maintain the integrity and
ethics in business, and by doing accounting
properly, we maintain the ethics in a business.
Also, accountants provide advice. They provide
advice on taxes, on the status of a business,
and they really help you see in insight into how
your business is doing. And that's why
accountants and accounting is important.
(Shanis Windland)
The CPA credential carries enormous
weight in business and financial circles.
CPAs are considered some of business' most
trusted advisers, according to a recent
survey conducted by the American Institute
of CPAs. Specifically, when small business
owners were asked how often they rely on
outside business counsel, half said they rely
on their CPA "always" or "often," ranking
just slightly behind one's spouse or family
member.
This trust is not surprising, considering the
strict requirements to enter and stay in the
profession. Achieving CPA status takes
intelligence, ethics, integrity and lifelong
commitment.
The exam is not the only requirement. CPAs
also are required to follow a strict code of
ethics and perform within the high standards
of the profession. Every two years, they
must complete 80 hours of continuing
professional education to keep up with the
new rules and regulations in the financial, will generally seek to become certified public
accounting and business world. accountants (CPAs).

Private Accounting Private accountants are

As the profession has evolved, so have the
services CPAs provide. CPAs no longer are
simply number crunchers and tax preparers,
but business and financial strategists who
help chart the paths of individuals and
businesses. Individuals turn to their CPAs
for tax and financial planning services,
investment advice, estate planning and
more. Businesses are tapping CPAs to not
only manage finances and taxes, but also to
determine profitable new product lines, seek
creative financing opportunities, help
diversify investments and provide a variety
of other consulting and business services.
As technological advances, globalization,
new laws and regulations, and marketplace
competition continue to complicate financial
and business decisions, CPAs will be called
upon to analyze information, determine
effective financial and business strategies,
and help individuals and businesses achieve
profitability.
(http://www.macpa.org/Content/20957.aspx)
employed by businesses of all types and sizes.
They develop accounting reports used by the
firms management for internal decision making
as well as prepare reports for external users.
Because of the importance o f accurate
information to decision makers, a firms internal
accountants are often important members of
the management team.
(http://www.isu.edu/academic-
info/majors/accounting.html)
Looking at it from the career wise point of
view, accounting has been, through its’
importance and the sort of information that it
brings opens many career opportunities for
people. These opportunities generally are in
the public accounting field where many
accountants are needed. The ever growing of
business environment opens a wide road for
many people to become an accountant. A
critical function they perform is the
preparation and certification for accuracy of
financial reports used by individuals outside of
the firm such as in investors or government
agencies.
(http://bizcovering.com/accounting/accountin
g-impacts-to-your-career-and-everyday-life/)

It can be concluded that in the era that we are

living in today, Families, and retirees depend
on the credibility of financial reporting for
their futures and livelihoods. With financial
pressure amounting in many peoples’ lives,
accounting is seen as important in so many
ways that it is almost impossible to live without
it.
(http://bizcovering.com/accounting/accountin
g-impacts-to-your-career-and-everyday-life/)

The importance of accounting information to

business opens many career opportunities for
accountants. These opportunities generally are
in: Public Accounting Public accountants
provide consulting services to organizations and
individuals. A critical function they perform is
the preparation and certification for accuracy
of financial reports used by individuals outside
of the firm such as investors or government
agencies. Those following a career in this area
Conceptual Framework(Paradigm)

Undergrad Review Strategies:

- time management
- study habits
- study focus
- Review preparation
- Health management

Formal Review:
- time management
- study habits
- study focus
- Review preparation
- Health
CPA Board Exam
Individual Result

Effective Review
Strategies
II. Methodology Classified and rearranged the items from general
questions to specific ones.
This is a study of the effectiveness of review
strategies and techniques of CPA Board Passers for
the years 2008 and 2009 from Saint Louis University. Then screened the items and simplified compound
Critical analysis was made on the different review statements which might invite different
strategies and techniques used and applied by the interpretations from respondents.
respondents during their undergrad years and formal
review before they take the CPA Board Examination.
Revised the items with the help and suggestions of
It called for the descriptive-correlation method of
the adviser and other authorities in this subject.
research.
The instrument was divided into three categories:
The aforementioned method, i.e., the descriptive
research answers the question ‘what is?’. It is
Part 1 of the questionnaire is composed of sets of
concerned with the condition or relation that exists;
data which established how the respondents manage
practices that prevail, beliefs, point of view, or
their time during their review. How they spend,
attitudes that are held; processes that are going on;
maximize and keep track of their time among others.
effects that are being felt; or trends that are
developing (Best, 1970).
Part 2 dealt with identifying the study habits of the
respondents. Statements were so formulated to
The respondents of this study are the CPA Board
establish how the respondents handle their
Passers from Saint Louis University. They provided
studying environment and technique they used to
the data on their time management, study habits,
review.
study focus, review preparation and health
management during their undergrad years and formal
Part 3 contained statements to reveal how they take
review
care of their health during the review period.
.
Covered by this study were one hundred nine
Considering that there are one hundred nine
graduates of Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
respondents, the researchers sent the questionnaires
from Saint Louis University who successfully passed
electronically in addition to personally contacting the
the CPA Board Examination during the years 2008
respondents to get the data needed. After validating
and 2009.
the instrument especially that of face validity, the
data was tallied and processed to produce the results
The sets of data used to answer the problems in this
and findings. A relentless effort was made to ensure
study come from the questionnaires sent to all of the
retrieval of the distributed questionnaires.
respondents. Such data reflected the time
management, study habits, study focus, review
Various descriptive statistics were employed in the
preparation and health management of the
description of the data that was gathered since this
respondents. There were also sets of data which were
study was of the survey type.
specifically needed to establish the profile of the
respondents.

In the construction of the research instrument, the

following steps were resorted to:

First, the researchers plunged into intensive review of

related studies and professional literature to gather
concepts/items which was included in the research
tool and contributed to the answering of the sub-
problems of the study.

Next is the listing down of items contributive to the

respondents passing the CPA Board Examination.