A recent question I got by email:
First let me say that your video lessons and detailed study manual are fantastic! I’m pleased that I’m not finding the material very hard to grasp conceptually and I think that is largely due to how you have it presented. My main concern with this exam being my first FSA exam is just the sheer amount of material. I feel like there’s enough in section A alone to create a 5 hour exam. Even though I’m making good progress through the study manual (taking notes along the way) and video lessons, I feel like I’m probably not retaining very much of this… after finishing my first pass through all the material should I just start looping through it all again multiple times? I’m trying to take your advice and save any memorization for last so I haven’t attempted any of that yet.
It is very normal to feel frustrated that you aren’t retaining everything because of the simple, frustrating fact that there is A LOT of material on a 5-hour FSA exam! So what you are feeling is very, very normal and I would not let it be cause for concern. This feeling also sets in for a lot of people when they are about 3/4 through their first pass. That is often when the fatigue of studying truly sets in for most people in August or February, depending on the sitting.
Each year, I am more and more amazed at how many people get such an early start on LP, and the big advantage that you have right now is time. You will have plenty of time to iterate over the material between now and August, at which point you will definitely want to shift to memorizing more and more.
It is very important to keep in mind that you do not have to attain perfect knowledge of the syllabus material to pass or even get a 10. There is just too much, and as you noted, some topic areas could fill an entire exam by themselves. The tax and regulation material in Section E is particularly large in scope. It could easily make an entire course by itself. (So pace yourself for that too.)
Fortunately, the human mind is an amazing thing and will retain far more than you can probably imagine, especially if you persistently expose yourself to the syllabus material and continue to make your own notes. Note-taking is extremely valuable for helping you retain information and stay engaged even if you can’t remember all your notes in your head. It is FAR better than just passively watching the videos.
As I said earlier, by starting early, your key advantage is time, but it can also be a key disadvantage if you burn out too early. That’s why study “vacations” are especially helpful if you being studying with 5+ months before the exam. Don’t be afraid to take a vacation from studying this summer. You will not lose any key information and you will likely even gain by giving your mind a break.