Personalized 1-on-1 instruction lets you focus on your specific weak areas—whether that's consolidating journal entries, mastering tax calculations, or understanding audit procedures—rather than moving through material at a fixed pace. A tutor can adapt explanations to your learning style, answer questions in real-time, and create a study plan aligned with your exam timeline and target score.

Many students struggle with the breadth of material across all four sections, the complexity of FAR concepts, and time management during the exam. Others find it difficult to apply theoretical knowledge to scenario-based questions or balance exam prep with work and other commitments. Personalized tutoring helps you tackle these challenges systematically by breaking down complex topics and building test-taking confidence.

Your first session typically includes an assessment of your current knowledge, a discussion of your exam timeline and goals, and an overview of which CPA sections need the most attention. From there, you and your tutor will create a customized study plan that prioritizes your weak areas and builds toward consistent passing scores on practice exams.

Most candidates spend 300–400 hours preparing for the entire CPA exam across all four sections, though this varies based on your accounting background and target timeline. With personalized tutoring, you can study more efficiently by focusing on high-impact concepts and avoiding gaps that might require rework later. Your tutor can help you create a realistic schedule based on your current knowledge and exam date.

Yes, many candidates benefit from taking FAR first since it's the most comprehensive section, followed by AUD, REG, and BEC. However, the best order depends on your strengths and work experience. A tutor can help you determine the most strategic sequence based on your background and which sections align with your job responsibilities.

Look for tutors who are CPAs themselves or have extensive accounting experience and a proven track record helping candidates pass the exam. They should be familiar with the current exam format, understand common pitfalls, and be able to explain complex topics clearly. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who have the expertise and teaching ability to guide you toward success.

Practice exams are essential—they help you identify knowledge gaps, build stamina for the actual test, and get comfortable with the question format and time constraints. Most successful candidates take multiple full-length practice exams and review their results thoroughly. Your tutor can use practice exam performance to guide your study focus and help you develop strategies for different question types.