Preparing for the Common Final Examination (CFE) is one of the biggest milestones in the CPA journey. It takes focus, discipline, and a lot of case writing, but it also gives future CPAs the chance to build confidence in everything they’ve learned along the way.
At DMCL, we know the CFE can be a challenging season, which is why supporting our CPA students and writers is an important part of the experience. From mentorship and study resources to peer connections and practical work experience, our goal is to help students feel prepared, supported, and confident as they move toward designation.
We recently asked a few of DMCL’s successful CFE writers to reflect on their exam prep experience, including what worked for them, what they’d do differently, and what advice they’d share with future writers.
Build a routine that works for you
When it comes to CFE prep, structure matters. Several of our writers said that having a clear study routine helped them stay focused, organized, and consistent throughout the process.
For Jordi Ashcroft, one of the biggest challenges was staying motivated while studying from home all day. Being surrounded by distractions made it harder to focus, so she changed up her environment.
“I often found myself going out to places to study, such as the library or a café with my noise-cancelling headphones,” she shared. “The change of scenery made me more productive.”
For Shawn Goh, the volume of case writing was one of the most overwhelming parts of preparing for the CFE. What helped was breaking the process into smaller, more manageable steps and focusing on progress rather than perfection.
“Each case I completed was a step closer to my goal,” he said. “Celebrating small wins along the way helped keep my motivation up, even on tough days.”
Anum Sarfraz also found that structure made a major difference. Following the Densmore schedule helped her stay organized and avoid both overpreparing and underpreparing. She also found that using flowcharts and marking guides during debriefs helped her approach assessment opportunities more efficiently.
The common thread? There’s no single “right” way to study for the CFE. The key is finding a routine that keeps you accountable, focused, and moving forward.
Practise like it’s exam day
A strong study schedule is important, but so is realistic practice. Several writers emphasized the value of writing cases under exam conditions so that the format, timing, and pressure felt more familiar by the time exam day arrived.
For Alex Andang, that meant building his routine around the actual CFE schedule.
“We would meet at the library and start our practice case right at 9 a.m. to simulate exam conditions,” he said. “If it was a longer case, we would debrief the next day. For shorter cases, we would debrief in the evening.”
Shawn took a similar approach by treating each practice case as if it were the real exam. Over time, this helped him build confidence and reduce anxiety as the CFE got closer.
That kind of practice can make a big difference. It’s not just about knowing the technical material. It’s about learning how to manage your time, organize your response, and write clearly under pressure.
Find the right support system
CFE prep can feel intense, but our writers were clear on one thing: you don’t have to go through it alone.
Study buddies came up again and again as one of the most helpful parts of the process. Alex found that having a study buddy helped him stay accountable to his schedule. Shawn found the balance between independent study and collaborative debriefing especially useful. Anum learned best by teaching concepts to someone else, and her study partner had strengths in areas where she wanted to improve.
“Luckily, we both had different strengths,” Anum said. “I understood financial reporting better, and he understood management accounting better, so we were able to teach each other.”
That peer support was often connected to the broader support available at DMCL. Writers talked about the value of mentors, managers, office space, study resources, and connections with others going through the same experience.
Jordi found it especially helpful to have a mentor who had written the exam the year before and could provide feedback, extra cases, and practical suggestions.
“Since she had written the year before, she had a fresh perspective on what they were looking for in the exam,” Jordi said.
For CPA students, having people around you who understand the process can make the experience feel much more manageable.
Use feedback to improve
Case writing is a skill, and like any skill, it improves with practice, reflection, and feedback.
Alex said one thing he was glad he did was write extra cases during his flex days and have his mentor mark them. The additional feedback helped build on what he was already receiving through Densmore and CPABC.
Looking back, one thing he would do differently is rewrite practice cases after receiving feedback and time himself while doing it.
“Knowing the answer to an assessment opportunity doesn’t guarantee being able to write that answer within the suggested time,” he said. “That skill comes from rewriting the solution within the time allocated.”
It’s a practical reminder for future CFE writers: debriefing matters, but applying the feedback is where improvement really happens.
Take breaks and keep perspective
The CFE is demanding, and staying focused doesn’t mean studying every minute of the day. In fact, several writers said taking breaks was essential.
Jordi found that stepping away when she felt frustrated helped her come back with a clearer mind. Anum received advice that stuck with her: don’t over-study, because it can do more harm than good. Shawn was reminded that feeling nervous before the exam is normal, and that the CFE is one part of a much bigger CPA journey.
Alex shared a piece of advice that captures the balance between preparation and perspective:
“You already have the knowledge to pass the CFE. You qualified for the exam. Now it’s about learning the rules of the game and showing up on exam day with a plan.”
For future writers, that may be the most important takeaway. CFE prep isn’t about being perfect. It’s about building the structure, confidence, and exam-writing skills to show what you know.
Supporting CPA students at DMCL
Every CFE journey looks a little different, but the experiences shared by DMCL’s recent writers show how much support, structure, and encouragement can matter.
At DMCL, CPA students have access to resources like Densmore, mentorship from experienced team members, study leave, practical client work, and a network of peers who understand the process. These supports help students build their skills not only for the CFE, but for the next stage of their careers.
If you’re looking to grow your accounting career with a firm that supports your whole CPA journey, learn more on DMCL’s CPA Program page.
