November 2015

TIP #1 - Answer all questions to the best of your knowledge. You should guess when you are not sure. Why? Because if there are four answer options, you have a one-in-four chance of getting that question right. If you have ruled out one or two options as wrong, your chances are even higher. But if you do not guess, you have no chance at all. If you guess five times, you might get one or two more right.

TIP #2 - Additional reference books are not needed. If you are using the CFE Exam Prep Course to prepare the CFE Exam, no additional reference books or materials are needed. However, you are encouraged to review the Fraud Examiners Manual if you want more information than is provided in the CFE Exam Prep Course. The relevant information from each reference is included in the Prep Course question/answer feedback. Additionally, a small percentage of questions on the CFE Exam come from the Corporate Fraud Handbook, which is an excellent reference.

TIP #3 - If you are having difficulty with a question, mark that question. Marking a question allows you to go back and review it at any time. When you are ready to review your marked questions, please note that the program will only present those questions you have previously marked within the selected main section

ACFE Program Director Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, CPA, CVA, offers advice on how to handle questions that may be challenging to you on the CFE Exam Prep Course.

TIP #4 - Get a feel for "what it's all about." Your brain can begin to round up any existing knowledge you have that will help you as you read. If you prefer to skim through the Fraud Examiners Manual prior to the CFE Exam Prep Course, first begin by looking in the table of contents, which contains each of the four study sections and the associated subsections. Then start by reading a paragraph or two or several pages in a sequence. If you use this approach and start to skim through each section, you might end up discovering that you aren't just skimming through the manual; you're simply reading it with an understanding.

October 2015

TIP #1 - Learn how to take an active role in studying. If it has been a while since you've studied, you may find it difficult to concentrate at first. We recommend beginning the Prep Course by answering a few questions from any section to simply get a feel for the course. Since the course automatically tracks your correct and incorrect selections, as well as your strong and weak subject areas, you can study at your own pace.

TIP #2 - Know what to do after you complete the CFE Exam Prep Course. Because you studied with the Prep Course, you already have the CFE Exam installed on your computer. When you have completed your course, select Request Exam Activation Key within the course. We will send you the Exam Activation Key by email, once your complete CFE Exam application is verified. After you enter the Exam Activation Key, you have 30 days to complete all four sections of the CFE Exam and submit it to the ACFE for grading. You must complete each section in one sitting, but you do not have to complete all four sections at once.

TIP #3 - Take study breaks to stay focused. Stop studying when you are no longer being productive.

Angela Archie, CFE expresses the importance of taking study breaks during CFE Exam Prep Course

TIP #4 -Study every day or as frequently as your schedule allows. You should study each section of the CFE Exam Prep Course with a time budget in mind. As you reach milestones on your timeline, you will see yourself moving one step closer to realizing the overall goal—succeeding on the CFE Exam.

September 2015

TIP #1 - Preparing for the CFE Exam begins with a conscious decision to start studying. We recommend that you begin studying with your strongest area to develop a comfort level with the material and the Prep Course process. To begin a session, select one of the four main sections and begin answering the questions. After you choose an answer and click the Submit Answer button, the answer you chose, along with the correct answer will be noted and color coded on the screen.

TIP #2 - Read each question carefully. While answering questions in the CFE Exam Prep Course it is important to read all of your options. Don’t stop when you come across an answerthat seems likely. Eliminate the choices you know are incorrect, and then relate each remaining answer choice back to the question to see if it fits. Narrow down the choice to one or two alternatives, then compare them and identify how they differ. Finally, make an informed choice.

TIP #3 -Recognize Alternative Approaches to Answering Different Types of Questions

TIP #4 - Stay focused. This is the key to a good understanding. If you are studying at home, choose an area that will serve as your study headquarters. Make sure you have good lighting, minimal distractions, and enough room to be comfortable. Disconnect your home phone, turn off your cell phone, and do whatever you can to stay focused on your studies.
 

August 2015

TIP #1 - Studying well in advance pays off at the end. Study every day or as frequently as your schedule allows with a time budget in mind. Start by following these three steps:

1. Begin studying soon after you purchase the Prep Course.

2. Develop and follow a plan for getting yourself through this volume of material, starting with the section you are most familiar with.

3. At the beginning of each study session, complete a 10-minute review of your previous study session.

TIP# 2- Should I guess when I'm not sure? Yes,  because if there are four possible answer options, you have a one-in-four chance of getting that question right. If you have ruled out one or two options as wrong, your chances are even higher. But if you do not guess, you have no chance at all. If you guess five times, you might get one or two more right.

TIP# 3 - Take advantage of the Fraud Examiners Manual, which is included with your CFE Exam Prep Course.

In this video, ACFE Vice President - Education, John D. Gill, J.D., CFE, offers advice on how to take advantage of the Fraud Examiners Manual, which is included with your CFE Exam Prep Course.

TIP #4 - Stay focused. This is the key to a good understanding. If you are studying at home, choose an area that will serve as your study headquarters. Make sure you have good lighting, minimal distractions, and enough room to be comfortable. Disconnect your home phone, turn off your cell phone, and do whatever you can to stay focused on your studies.

July 2015

TIP #1 - Preparing for the CFE Exam begins with a conscious decision to start studying. We recommend that you begin studying with your strongest area to develop a comfort level with the material and the Prep Course process. To begin a session, select one of the four sections and begin answering the questions. After you choose an answer and click the Submit Answer button, the answer you chose, along with the correct answer and a detailed explanation from the Fraud Manual will be displayed on the next page.

TIP #2 - Read each question carefully. While answering questions in the CFE Exam Prep Course it is important that you read all of the options and not stop when you come upon one that seems likely. Eliminate some choices you know are incorrect, and then relate each remaining answer choice back to the question to see if it fits. Narrow down the choice to one or two alternatives, and then compare them and identify how they are different. Finally, make an informed choice.

TIP #3 - Qualify for the Money-Back Pass Guarantee. To qualify for the Money-Back Pass Guarantee, you are required to answer each question at least once. In addition, you must earn a score of 85% or better on all four sections of the Practice Exam.

ACFE Vice President - Education, John D. Gill, J.D., CFE, offers advice on how to qualify for the Money-Back Pass Guarantee as you prepare for the CFE Exam.

June 2015

TIP #1 - How do I begin studying with the CFE Exam Prep Course?
First, we recommend you begin the Prep Course by answering all questions in the database correctly at least once. If you incorrectly answer a question, it will return to the question pool and you will be asked it again at a future time.

TIP #2 - Is it true or is it false?
If any part of the question is false, then the entire statement is false. However, if part of a statement is true, the entire statement is not necessarily true. Read through each statement carefully and pay attention to the qualifiers and keywords.
•Qualifiers like never, always, and every mean that the statement must be true all of the time. Usually these qualifiers lead to a false answer.
•Qualifiers like usually, sometimes, and generally mean that the statement can be considered true or false depending on the circumstances. Usually these qualifiers lead to an answer of true.
•Pay close attention to words like NOT, FALSE, and INCORRECT in questions. One word can change the entire meaning of the sentence.

TIP #3 - VIDEO TIP

ACFE Program Director, Bruce Dorris, offers advice on how to take an active role in studying. The questions on the CFE Exam Prep Course mirror the format of the CFE Exam itself.

TIP #4 -  Motivation. Tell yourself that you can do it! Self-motivation is important. Reward yourself with positive thoughts when you complete a section. Think about your values and goals and decide if you are reaching them. Decide on your best learning process for the remaining sections. Believe that you can succeed, and you will.