CPA exam preparation question

I realize we are all different and we learn in many different ways but what do you consider to be the best way to prepare for this exam?

Regardless of the classes/books you may use, i.e., Beckers, Bisk, Wiley, Gleim, etc., is doing problems over and over the key here? When doing a problem, do you immediately go to the answer section, determine the correct answer for the problem, circle the correct answer for the problem (and write the calculation next to the problem) and study from that? (That's how some friends of mine are preparing.) Or do you leave the problems blank and then keep solving the problems over and over?

Is understanding the concepts by reading the text over and over more important than doing tons of problems? How often do you study each day? Hours and hours?

FWIW. Gleim, hide the answer, work the problem, check against the answer. Correct, go on to next, wrong, put it aside and try again in a day or two. From my recollection of the Gleim of twenty or so years ago.

Some people can do the re reading route. AIR, most people get the most efficiency with doing the problems.

Last thing I read said the national average was 800 hours of study past the four year degree. That was on the old test. Haven't heard of any studies on the new test.

If you are self-motivated and want really flexible schedule, the answer would be CPAEXCEL. This program is used by many univs in US including Univ. of Texas, which shows one of the highest CPA exam passing rate. Try

Good Luck...