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Accounting Institute Seminars
Objectives Of Seminar


SEMINAR OBJECTIVES

Some people ask the specific objectives of the seminar. It is designed to:
  • 1. Review and increase their understanding of the specific topics tested.
  • 2. Improve their ability to communicate that understanding to the grader.
  • 3. Increase the effectiveness with which they use the limited examination time.
These objectives are intended to increase the score they earn on the upcoming exam above what they would otherwise earn.


OUT OF COURSE STUDY TIME

It is helpful (but not required by any stretch of the imagination) to read the summaries before the seminar. People who are able to do so can better keep up with the fast pace of the seminar. To read the summaries takes 7-10 hours per section.

Many people have taken our course right before the exam and gone on to pass without having time to do more than read the summaries before the exam. We don't embarrass people by putting them on the spot during the seminar. We are there to help them, not to make them feel uncomfortable.


People with a previous score in the upper 60's and 70's stand a good chance of passing after our seminar. Our self study books (perhaps in conjunction with the seminar) are a more appropriate resource for exam sections with a lower previous score.

Some people find they have scores near passing on some exam sections and lower scores on others. We suggest that those people concentrate on the sections in which they are strongest. After they have credit for some exam sections they can go back to the other areas and study them in detail without having to worry about the passed sections again.


Each seminar is taught by either Ken Smith or Al Francisco, the authors of the course. No audio or video tapes are played - the entire course is live, in person. They do use a video projector to reinforce what they are talking about.

Organization of Seminar

The CPA review seminar is organized with a workbook in a three ring binder. The workbook consists of three parts:
  • The INTRODUCTION, which discusses the CPA exam itself, the type of questions asked, points allocated to each type of question, grading of the examination, and administration of the exam. The introduction is intended for your reading outside of the seminar, either before or after the seminar. The last page of the introduction is a course evaluation, which we ask that you fill out during the course and hand in as you leave the last day you are at the course. We will have a completion certificate for you to pick up at that time. Some people find that the course helps them meet part of their firm's continuing education requirement. Others are reimbursed by their firm for part of the cost of the course. The completion certificate is useful for both purposes.

  • The COURSE pages, which include outlines designed for your notes and the questions which will be worked in the class. In addition, there are further homework questions for you to work outside of class, either before or after the seminar. The answers to the questions and explanations of answers are included so you can grade your answers and learn more from reading the explanations.

  • The SUMMARY pages, which are summaries of the rules likely to be tested on that section of the exam. These summaries include a detailed index for you to use in locating specific rules while you are studying. Each summary section also includes a detailed dictionary of technical terms likely to be tested on that section of the exam. Some people read the summaries as we are discussing the rules in class, taking them out of their workbook and flipping through the pages as we move from topic to topic. Most people find they have plenty to do during the seminar and prefer to read the summaries either before or after the seminar. Those who have the time benefit most by reading the summaries before the seminars and again after the seminars. They are better able to keep up with the fast pace of the seminar after having read the summaries in advance. Reading the summaries again after the seminars reinforces the concepts before the examination.
The SEMINAR begins with a short discussion of the format of the questions asked on that part of the exam. Then it moves into a discussion of important rules likely to be tested. After an area is discussed you are asked to work several questions illustrating the way the rules may be tested. When you finish the questions we take a short break, giving you a chance to stand up, have a cup of coffee or a soda, and ask questions of the instructor.

Some people prefer to save their questions for the breaks, while others like to ask them during the course. We do try to limit questions during the course to material likely to be tested, but we are happy to discuss other areas during the breaks. After the break we explain the answers to the questions you worked, give you a chance to ask more questions, and then move on to another topic.

The seminar starts at 8:00 a.m. each morning and ends at 6:00 p.m. each evening. We do our best to break for lunch between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Breaks are planned every hour and a half or so throughout the day.

When you arrive the first day please look for the registration table and initial by your name on the roll sheet. The introduction section of your workbook includes a course evaluation page. Please fill it out at your convenience during the course. Before you leave your last day please drop off the evaluation and pick up your completion certificate.

For more information on Accounting Institute Seminars, see about AIS.


Accounting Institute Seminars® (AIS) provides intensive review courses for people taking the United States CPA examination. These seminars are taught in person by one of the two authors of the course and are offered in a number of cities in the U.S. each year.

For information on the seminars, return to the CPA Exam Home Page at AIS-CPA.COM.

We also offer self study CPA exam books written by the same authors. Most are available on-line, for download to your computer. The electronic version is less expensive than paper books. You can magnify pages on your screen, fill the screen (view - full screen), search for terms, and print pages. Best of all, you can start studying it now instead of waiting days for it to arrive!

Here is the list of our currently available E-BOOKS CPA REVIEW.

For more information on e-books or for paper copies, refer to CPA REVIEW SELF STUDY BOOKS.

Comments or questions to Yvette at Yvette Email Address

If you would like to know more about AIS, see answers to questions frequently asked about AIS and the intensive CPA exam review seminars.

Call AIS Toll Free at (800) 635-9442

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