Practice Like You Play

Coaches are always telling athletes to approach practice as if it were a game. For example, just look at Caitlin Clark, the WNBA rookie sensation, who is praised not just for her game-day performance, but for her relentless work ethic in practice. Her teammates and coaches often talk about her competitive spirit in every drill and scrimmage—she practices like it’s the championship game, every single time.

That’s a habit shared by the greats, from Steph Curry perfecting his shot before every Golden State Warriors game to Patrick Mahomes running full-pace reps at Kansas City Chiefs practice. When you treat practice like the real thing, those habits pay off when it counts.

The same principle applies perfectly to professional exam preparation. How you practice with exam questions carries over directly to your “game-time” exam performance.

Think about it: professional athletes don’t prepare for the championship by casually tossing a ball around while scrolling through their phones. So why would you prepare for a career-defining exam any differently?

The way you approach your practice questions establishes neural pathways that your brain will rely on when you’re sitting in that exam room. If you’ve trained yourself to need constant stimulation or breaks while studying, you’ll struggle when those aren’t available during the actual exam.

To maximize your chance of success on any professional exam—whether it’s the CPA, CIA, CMA, or EA—you should:

1. Take quizzes straight through without stopping. On the actual exam, you won’t have the luxury of pausing whenever you feel like it. Train your focus and endurance by completing practice sessions without interruption.
2. Eliminate distractions completely. Put your phone in another room. Turn off notifications. Close unnecessary browser tabs. The exam environment will be controlled and distraction-free—your practice environment should be too.
3. Don’t check answers until you’ve completed the section. During the real exam, you won’t get immediate feedback after each question. By waiting to review your answers, you’re building the mental stamina needed to progress through multiple questions while managing uncertainty.
4. Time yourself appropriately. Set a timer that mimics the time constraints of the actual exam. Learning to pace yourself is just as important as knowing the material.
5. Create physical conditions similar to the testing center. Sit at a desk in a quiet room. Use a basic calculator if that’s what you’ll have access to. Wear clothes similar to what you’ll wear on exam day. These physical cues help prepare your body and mind for the actual experience.

When you practice under conditions that mimic the actual performance environment, you’re engaging in what scientists call “context-dependent learning.” The brain forms stronger memories when the context of learning matches the context of performance.

Additionally, every time you practice focusing for extended periods, you’re strengthening your brain’s attention networks. Just like physical exercise builds muscle, mental exercise builds cognitive endurance.

Our review system is specifically designed with this “practice like you play” philosophy at its core. Our system requires you to commit to your answer choice before viewing explanations, simulating the real exam experience. This isn’t just a feature—it’s a deliberate strategy to help you succeed.

Successful candidates develop the focus and endurance needed to maintain concentration throughout a lengthy exam.

While the original example focused on CPA candidates, this approach works across all professional certifications:

• CIA exam candidates benefit from practicing case-based scenarios in a focused environment, developing the analytical stamina needed for the CIA exam’s complex situations.
• CMA exam candidates need to practice moving between computational problems and essay sections without losing focus—something best developed through disciplined practice.
• EA exam candidates must build familiarity with tax code navigation under pressure, which requires concentrated practice sessions.

Our review systems for each of these certifications incorporate the same proven approach: realistic practice that simulates exam conditions.

Many exam candidates unknowingly sabotage their chances by:

1. Studying in short, disconnected bursts – This doesn’t build the mental endurance needed for a 4-hour exam.
2. Constantly checking social media or emails – This trains your brain to expect and seek distractions.
3. Studying in comfortable but unrealistic environments – Lounging on a couch or bed doesn’t prepare you for sitting upright at a testing station.
4. Looking up answers immediately – This prevents you from developing the confidence to move forward despite uncertainty.
5. Studying with background noise – This doesn’t prepare you for the quiet intensity of the testing center.

Want more ideas? Check out more of our study tips here!

Here’s how to implement the “practice like you play” approach in your own exam preparation:

1. Designate a distraction-free study space mimicking exam conditions.
2. Schedule regular practice sessions using our timed quizzes and simulations.
3. Gradually increase your focus duration until you can maintain concentration for the full length of your exam.
4. Analyze your performance patterns to identify when your focus typically wavers, then work specifically on building endurance in those time frames.
5. Practice the full exam experience at least 2-3 times before your actual exam date.

When exam day arrives, you’ll experience something remarkable if you’ve been practicing like you play: the test will feel familiar. While other candidates might struggle with the pressure and unfamiliar format, you’ll slip into the same focused mindset you’ve been cultivating throughout your preparation.

This isn’t just about passing an exam—it’s about developing professional habits that will serve you throughout your career. The ability to focus deeply, work methodically under pressure, and maintain attention to detail are valuable skills in any field, especially accounting, auditing, and financial management.

Remember those elite athletes we mentioned? Their game-day performance isn’t magic—it’s the natural result of thousands of hours of focused, intentional practice. Their championship moments were secured long before, during those practice sessions when no one was watching.

Your exam success works the same way. By approaching your review materials with the same focus and discipline you’ll need on exam day, you’re not just studying—you’re rehearsing for success.

Ready to experience the difference? Explore the Gleim CPA Review or our other specialized exam preparation systems designed to help you practice with purpose.