October 2017

TIP #1 - Pace yourself. When preparing for the CFE Exam Prep Course, you must maximize your energy level. Study your most challenging section of the Prep Course at your high energy times, which are usually in the early evening. Later in the evening, work on your more knowledgeable sections or the one you enjoy the most. Some applicants put off the tough studies until later in the evening, when they become tired, and it is more difficult to concentrate. Reverse that. This alone can help to improve your concentration.

TIP #2 - Check your progress after each study session. This allows you to identify topics to review in more detail, your strong and weak areas. If you have completed studying for the day, simply end that session of the Prep Course software. The session summary screen will automatically appear giving your results for the current session.

TIP #3 - Recognize key words alternative when answering True/False questions. 

John D. Gill, J.D., CFE, Vice President – Education, offers advice on how to best answer true/false and Multiple Choice Questions on the CFE Exam Prep Course.

TIP 4# - Tell yourself that you can do it!  Studying for the CFE Exam is essentially a self-motivated process, requiring hard work and dedication. But if you believe you can do it, and work a little every day toward you goal, you will make it.

September 2017

IP #1 - Develop a comfort level. We recommend that you begin studying with your strongest area to develop a comfort level with the material and the Prep Course. Begin the Prep Course by answering a few questions from any section to get a feel for the course. You can study at your own pace. The course will automatically track your selections and help you determine your strong and weak subject areas. 

TIP #2 - Don’t “overthink” the questions. The most common mistake people make when taking the prep course is to overthink the questions. Although the questions can be challenging, they weren’t written to be deliberately tricky. If you find yourself agonizing over the choices for each question, you are spending too much time on it. Look for the main idea and try and think, “What concept are they trying to test here?” I can assure you, each question was written to test a specific fact or concept. 

TIP #3 - Mark the questions. If you are having difficulty with a question, mark that question. This allows you to go back and review any marked question in that section. Each sections stores its on marked question.

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.

August 2017

TIP #1 - Know what you’re being asked before you select an answer. Identify each question in the CFE Exam Prep Course that has one or more correct option. Evaluate each answer in a multiple choice question and eliminate options you know to be incorrect. Treat each option as a true/false question, and choose one that's "most true".

TIP #2 - Select the best answer. If an exam answer is only partly true or is true only under certain narrow conditions, then it’s probably not the right answer. Compare each answer for differences, then refer to the back to the question to find your best answer.

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 percent or better on all four sections of the Practice Exam.

TIP #4 - Maintain a positive attitude. Don't let more difficult questions raise your anxiety and steal your valuable time. Move on and find success with other questions.

July 2017

TIP #1 - Select a good study place. Select a good study place. You need a good place to be prepared to study. It is important to have uninterrupted study time. Once you begin, focus only on one section in the CFE Exam Prep Course and try not to do too much studying at one time. Begin with your strongest area first to develop a comfort level.

TIP #2 - What happens if I choose the wrong answer? After you choose an answer in a Prep Course section and click the Submit Answer button, the answer you chose, along with the correct answer, will be displayed in a bar in the middle of the screen. The bar will be green if you answered correctly or red if you answered incorrectly. A detailed explanation of the answer is printed immediately below the colored bar. The reference materials from which the question was taken, along with the page number, is provided below the explanation. 

TIP #3 - Set a timeline: The Prep Course includes a timeline to remind you of your goal for completing the CFE Exam. The following video shows you how to do this.

TIP #4 - 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.

June 2017

TIP #1 - Know what to do after you complete the CFE Exam Prep Course. When you have completed your course, we will send you the Exam Activation Key. After you enter the exam key, you have 30 days to complete all four sections of the CFE Exam and submit it to the ACFE for grading. I recommend the first section you take of the CFE Exam be the section you studied last in the Prep Course. 

TIP #2 - Why should I guess when I am not sure? 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 #3 - Multiple Choice. 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.

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. 

May 2017

TIP #1 - Facing multiple choice questions may cause you to overthink. Resist the tendency to read too much into the questions and answers - Don't overthink. Read the question once, then (without looking at your options) think of a good answer. Then see if this matches one that’s listed. If it does, select it and move on!

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 - Do I have to purchase any additional reference books? Not necessarily; the Fraud Examiners Manual gives you a detailed explanation of the answer to each study question.

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 - 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. Turn off your cell phone, and do whatever you can to stay focused on your studies.

April 2017

TIP #1 - Decide how soon you can start studying. Preparing for an 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.

TIP #2 - Guess when you are not sure. 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 -  Choosing the best answer. While answering questions in the CFE Exam Prep Course, you must select not only a correct answer, but the best answer. It is important that you read all of the options and not stop when you come upon one that seems likely to be correct.

ACFE Vice Program Director Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, offers advice on how to handle questions in the CFE Exam Prep Course.

Motivation. Make sure that you prepare well in advance before taking the CFE Exam so that you can focus all your energy on doing well. Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself, and don't let others, or other interests, distract you from achieving your goal of becoming a CFE.

March 2017

TIP #1 - Check your study progress. After each study session, I recommend you check your progress. It  allows you to identify topics to review in more detail. If you have completed studying for the day, simply end that session of the Prep Course software. The session summary screen will automatically appear (if you have answered at least one question), giving your results for the current session. The screen will display the number of questions you attempted and the number you answered correctly, as well as a percentage.

TIP #2 - Studying well in advance pays off at the end. 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 by following the steps below. 

• Start studying soon after you purchase the course.
• Develop and follow a plan for getting yourself through this volume of material, starting (if possible) with the section you are most familiar with.
• At the beginning of each study period, do a 10-minute review of the previous period's material.

TIP #3 - Identify the best answer. While answering questions in the CFE Exam Prep Course, you must select not only a correct answer, but also the best answer. It is important that you read all of the options and not stop when you come upon one that seems likely to be correct.

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.

January 2017

TIP #1 - Avoid Procrastination. We recommend you start studying soon after you have purchased the CFE Exam Prep Course. Draw up a schedule for yourself to ensure you dedicate at least an hour or two a day to studying. Using the Prep Course Study Chart (PDF) can assist you in organizing and prioritizing your preparation for the CFE Exam.

TIP #2 - Pace yourself. When preparing for the CFE Exam Prep Course, you must maximize your energy level. Study your most challenging section of the Prep Course at your high energy times, which are usually in the early evening. Later in the evening, work on your more knowledgeable sections or the one you enjoy the most. Some applicants put off the tough studies until later in the evening, when they become tired, and it is more difficult to concentrate. Reverse that. This alone can help to improve your concentration.

TIP #3 - Mark that question. If you are having difficulty with a question, mark that question. This allows you to go back and review any marked question in that section. Each sections stores its on marked question.

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 - Be confident! Your confidence will positively affect your Exam performance. Once you are obtaining passing results in your studies, picture yourself passing the exam and becoming a CFE!

December 2016

TIP #1 - Familiarize yourself with the Prep Course software. Develop a comfort level with the Prep Course by exploring the different tools and features available. You can use the software to set target dates for yourself and measure your progress toward obtaining your certification. 

TIP#2 - Don't overthink. When you’re facing multiple choice questions, resist the tendency to read too much into the questions and answers. Read the question once, and then think of a good answer without looking at your options. If your answer matches one that’s listed, select it and move on!

TIP #3 - Recognize alternative approaches to answering different types of questions.

John D. Gill, J.D., CFE, Vice President – Education, offers advice on how to best answer true/false and Multiple Choice Questions on the CFE Exam Prep Course.

TIP #4 - Study intensively -"If you only casually look at your material, you will only casually remember it." Your memory will always help you to recall your strengths. What you knew yesterday you will know tomorrow for the exam. However, if you don't know it now, you can't expect to recall the information at the exam. Correct your weaknesses now to improve your knowledge base and to improve your chances of passing.

November 2016

TIP #1 - When preparing for the CFE Exam Prep Course, maximize your energy level. Study your most challenging section of the Prep Course at your high energy times, which are usually in the early evening. Later in the evening, work on your more knowledgeable sections or the one you enjoy the most. Some applicants put off the tough studies until later in the evening when they become tired, and it is more difficult to concentrate. Reverse that. This alone can help to improve your concentration.

TIP #2 - Examine your Prep Course progress. The Detailed Status Report shows your progress by breaking each section down into subsections and the percentage of correct answers in each subsection. This can be used to determine which sections you need to study further.

TIP #3 - Set a timeline: The Prep Course includes a timeline to remind you of your goal for completing the CFE Exam. The following video shows you how to do this. 

TIP #4 - Motivation. Make sure that you prepare well in advance before taking the CFE Exam so that you can focus all your energy on doing well. Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself, and don't let others, or other interests, distract you from achieving your goal of becoming a CFE

October 2016

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 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 - Check your progress. Checking your progress after each study session allows you to identify topics to review in more detail. If you have completed studying for the day, simply end that session of the Prep Course software. The session summary screen will automatically appear (if you have answered at least one question), giving your results for the current session. The screen will display the number of questions you attempted, the number you answered correctly, and the percentage.

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 - Be confident! Your confidence will positively affect your Exam performance. Once you are obtaining passing results in your studies, picture yourself passing the Exam and becoming a CFE!

September 2016

TIP #1 - Narrow down options. 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 choices to one or two alternatives, and then compare them and identify how they are different. Finally, make an informed choice. 

TIP #2 - Read all options. Don't 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 -  Take note. This allows you to go back and review those questions 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.

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 - Be confident! Your confidence will positively affect your Exam performance. Once you are obtaining passing results in your studies, picture yourself passing the Exam and becoming a CFE!

August 2016

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 - You should guess when you are not sure.  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 - 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 percent 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.

July 2016

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 displayed on the screen. 

TIP #2 - You should guess when you are not sure. Why? 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 of getting that question right. 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 - It's not necessary to purchase any additional reference books. The Fraud Examiners Manual gives you a detailed explanation of the answer to each study question.

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 - Motivation. Make sure that you prepare well in advance before taking the CFE Exam so that you can focus all your energy on doing well. Follow up on the priorities you have set for yourself, and don't let others, or other interests, distract you from achieving your goal of becoming a CFE.

June 2016

TIP #1 - Develop a comfort level. We recommend that you begin studying with your strongest area to develop a comfort level with the material and the Prep Course. Begin the Prep Course by answering a few questions from any section to get a feel for the course. You can study at your own pace. The course will automatically track your selections and help you determine your strong and weak subject areas. 

TIP #2 - Answer all questions to the best of your knowledge. You should guess when you are not sure. 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 - Choose the best answer. While answering questions in the CFE Exam Prep Course, you must select not only a correct answer, but also the best answer. It is important that you read all of the options and not stop when you come upon one that seems likely to be correct.

ACFE Vice Program Director Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, offers advice on how to handle questions in the CFE Exam Prep Course.

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.

May 2016

TIP #1 - 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, 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 #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 - Multiple Choice. 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.

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.

April 2016

TIP #1 - Preparing for the CFE Exam begins with a conscious decision to start studying. We recommend beginning with your strongest area to develop a comfort level with the material and the Prep Course process. Start a session by selecting 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 - How can I identify my challenging areas? Checking your progress after each study session allows you to identify topics to review in more detail. If you have completed studying for the day, simply end that session of the Prep Course software. The session summary screen will automatically appear (if you have answered at least one question), giving your results for the current session. The screen will display the number of questions you attempted and the number you answered correctly, as well as a percentage.
 

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

TIP 4# - 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. .

 

March 2016

TIP #1 - Don't overthink. When you’re facing multiple choice questions, resist the tendency to read too much into the questions and answers. Read the question once, then (without looking at your options) think of a good answer. Then see if this matches one that’s listed. If it does, select it and move on!

There are four answer options, 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 - 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 displayed on the screen.

TIP #3 - Take notes. Mark your challenging questions and take notes. This allows you to go back and review those questions 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.

TIP #4 - 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.

February 2016

TIP #1 - Check your progress after each study session. This allows you to identify topics to review in more detail, your strong and weak areas. If you have completed studying for the day, simply end that session of the Prep Course software. The session summary screen will automatically appear giving your results for the current session.

TIP #2 - 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 #3 - Do I have to purchase any additional reference books? Not necessarily; the Fraud Examiners Manual gives you a detailed explanation of the answer to each study question.

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

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.