At some point during CPA preparation, many candidates consider tutoring.
It usually happens after weeks of consistent study when something still feels unclear. Practice scores may stall. Simulations may feel unpredictable. Or a retake may force a hard question: what exactly needs to change?
Before committing, most candidates want to understand how CPA tutoring actually works and whether it is different from simply studying harder.
CPA tutoring is not about replacing your review course. It is about refining how you use it. The difference is subtle but important.
What CPA Tutoring Is Meant to Solve
A CPA review course gives you structure and content. It offers lectures, practice questions, and simulations. It is designed to cover the full scope of the exam.
Tutoring, on the other hand, focuses on you.
It addresses questions such as:
- Why are you missing certain types of questions?
- Are you misreading prompts?
- Are you spending too much time on low-impact topics?
- Is your simulation strategy inconsistent?
- Is your study schedule realistic?
In other words, tutoring is less about delivering content and more about diagnosing inefficiencies.
The First Step: Identifying the Real Problem
Effective CPA tutoring usually begins with a diagnostic conversation. This is not a formal test, but a structured review of your preparation.
A tutor may examine:
- Past exam performance
- Practice score trends
- Simulation weaknesses
- Study habits
- Time constraints
The goal is clarity.
Many candidates assume their issue is content knowledge. Often, the issue is execution, time allocation, or misunderstanding how the exam frames questions.
Once the root cause is identified, preparation becomes more focused.
Building a Personalized Study Strategy
After identifying weak areas, tutoring shifts toward restructuring your preparation.
This may involve:
- Adjusting your study timeline
- Reallocating time toward high-weight topics
- Introducing simulation practice earlier
- Refining how you review incorrect answers
Instead of restarting your entire review course, tutoring helps you use it more effectively.
For example, a candidate struggling with AUD may not need more lectures. They may need help understanding how to apply professional skepticism to multiple-choice questions. A candidate struggling with FAR simulations may not need more formulas. They may need help breaking down complex prompts methodically.
Tutoring narrows the focus.
What Happens During a CPA Tutoring Session
A typical tutoring session is interactive, not lecture-based.
Rather than covering material broadly, sessions often involve:
- Walking through missed MCQs
- Analyzing why wrong answers seemed tempting
- Practicing simulation breakdown strategies
- Discussing pacing decisions
- Reviewing exam-day execution approaches
The session is less about teaching from scratch and more about correcting thinking patterns.
That correction is where improvement often happens.
The Ongoing Feedback Loop
One of the most valuable parts of CPA tutoring is continuous feedback.
In self-study, you answer questions and move on. If your reasoning was flawed, you may not realize it fully.
Tutoring creates a feedback loop. Weaknesses are identified quickly. Study priorities shift based on performance. Small execution errors are corrected before they become habits.
This ongoing refinement makes preparation more efficient.
When CPA Tutoring Makes the Most Sense
Not every candidate needs tutoring.
It becomes most useful when:
- Practice scores plateau despite effort
- A retake is required
- Simulations remain confusing
- Study time is limited and must be used carefully
- Confidence drops due to repeated mistakes
Tutoring is most effective when there is a specific friction point in your preparation.
What CPA Tutoring Does Not Do
It is important to be realistic.
Tutoring does not:
- Replace consistent study
- Eliminate the need for practice
- Guarantee results
- Shorten preparation without effort
It improves clarity and efficiency. The work still belongs to you.
How Andrew Katz Tutoring Approaches CPA Tutoring
Andrew Katz works with candidates who already have review courses and need refinement rather than replacement.
The focus is on:
- Identifying high-impact weaknesses
- Optimizing how review materials are used
- Improving reasoning on MCQs
- Structuring simulation execution
- Adjusting study timelines realistically
The goal is not more content. It is better execution.
Final Thoughts
CPA tutoring works by turning broad preparation into focused preparation.
A review course gives you the tools. Tutoring helps you use them effectively.
For candidates who feel stuck, confused, or inefficient, tutoring can bring clarity to the process.
The difference is rarely about studying more.
It is about studying with direction.