[jeff]

A long wait til’ September…

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[T-rex]

I HATE the waiting game! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I'm so anxious right now I don't know what to do with myself. Sigh. I need to go chill out.

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Anonymous]

Rawwwwwwwwwwwwwwr. Now get some sleep.

[Whenindoubt]

Anyone else having a hard time relaxing while waiting for scores to be released?

Since this is my last exam, I really don't have anything to focus on like I did with the previous tests. I'm having a really hard time actually integrating back into my “normal” life. I guess i got so used to my hectic studying lifestyle that now I'm just not sure how to best spend my time doing other things. Don't get me wrong, I have a ton on my plate, but aside from caring for my kids/husband, studying was next in line. Not to mention that every time i think about score release time i feel like I'm going to have an anxiety attack. I don't know if i could face studying for REG again. I'm sooo looking forward to the time when i can put this all behind me!!

BEC: 75 11/8/10
AUD: 89 2/22/11
FAR: 78 5/17/11
REG: 72, 83 10/17/11
DONE!!!!

[Minimorty]

2 research!! Woohoo! I was due.

MCQ:

First testlet was pretty easy, 2nd and third were tougher but comparable to eachother.

Sims:

2 research, 2 straight-forward, 2 off the wall

I definitely don't feel as deflated as I expected to. I am still hoping for a really big curve.

I finished the first three testlets in an hour, so I had 2 hours for sims. I used a little over an hour and walked out with about 50 minutes remaining. I hope this isn't a bad sign.

I have my fingers crossed for everyone. Let's ride out these three weeks together. Yeeeeehaw.

[T-rex]

@minimorty, That sounds great!

@Allyson, Okay, sleepy time now. Night-night! Rawrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[KelRose]

Since I am waiting on my last score result (hopefully) I decided to finally join in on the conversation.

I could not help but laugh and read all the posts aloud to my fiance about others sharing their misery with their significant others. Poor guy…if he puts up with me through this he's gotta love me.

I can honestly say I am more nervous now than I have ever been waiting for a score. The biggest reason being my BEC will expire.

Last window I took FAR without putting much effort in. I started strong doing sections 1-6 of the 9 FAR sections (Becker) and then got super busy the 4 weeks before my scheduled exam and didn't look at anything. I was relaxed going into the exam thinking there was no way I would pass, but I would pray for a 75. Guess I was a few prayers short with the 69 I got.

After putting in the study time this window I was honestly so much more nervous going into the exam.(Now I didn't have the excuse of not studying if I don't pass) Everyone kept telling me “oh you were close without studying half as much so you should definitely pass this time” Talk about putting more pressure on me.

Last window I answered questions to the best of my knowledge without stressing over questions. If I didn't know I made the best educated guess I could and moved on. Time was not an issue. This window I got hung up on difficult questions during the 2nd testlet, wasted too much time, and had to rush through the 3rd testlet to give myself adequate time on the sims.

This window, because I had studied more, I felt like I knew the info on the specific topic of the question inside and out so if I just reread it a couple more times I would be able to figure out what they were really asking. ummm NOPE! How frustrating it is to feel like I would be able to answer the question IF ONLY I knew what they were asking!

BEC: 85 Expires if I don't pass FAR this window 🙁
AUD: 74 87
REG: 75
FAR: 69 8/13**

[yankeeaccountant]

Hang in there Kelrose!

It ain't over till its over.

I definitely felt that way on the sims for REG. It could have been written in Swahili for all I know……

Let's hope it was prettest.

Best of luck

[Anonymous]

Good morning! Just took my first section yesterday.

Is it September yet?

[mena je twa]

Minimorty….

You are one of the few that i noticed on this forum so pumped up about receiving 2 research questions on the exam…..

I have always struggled in the past trying to get the research done, since i could never tell if i have searched exactly what the examiners were looking for. Is there any whay you can tell ?

Also, is it safe to search the IRC tax code as if you were searching something in google? And also do you ever use the advanced search or just the search within option>?

Thanks for your time…

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[Minimorty]

@mena je –

You have to embrace the research questions! They are free points!! I just hope neither was a pre-test, but not much I can do about that.

Yes, you can just treat the search box like Google, except I generally keep it to one or two key words. I also use the table of contents as a check to make sure it makes sense. I've never used the advanced search, probably because I havent needed to.

Also, on all four of my research questions so far (far 1, aud 1, reg 2) the section in the authoritative literature has been almost word for word with what the question was asking. Make sure you read the subsections above and below whatever comes up in your search. Each time I have gotten a research question it was crystal clear when I found the answer. Last night, I found the first one in less than two minutes, but the second one took me a solid 12 minutes to find. But when I found it, I knew it was right because it answered exactly what the question wanted.

One more good thing about research questions: one less ACTUAL simulation you have to get through.

[mla1169]

Mini , I agree. The research questions are the ones that you know right off the bat because if what you find is not verbatim, you probably have the wrong answer. Wish the entire exam was research questions!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[mena je twa]

Thanks Minimorty….It really hels

One more quick clarification, since we are on this subject..I take regulation tomorrow and dont want to take any chances , or else my FARE will lapse..

Does the search and search- within button opearte differently? Or do you only use one of the buttons? The reason i ask is…say for eg. a C- Corp sold one of its investment and realized a loss..so if the questions asks me what code section provides the authority regarding the treatment by corporate taxpayers for this realized loss….

In this situation, is it ok to use keywords like” offset capital gains” and once i get some hits then shall i proceed to search- within?

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[Minimorty]

First, I havent used the search within function. I know what it does by using Google, but havent found it helpful in the simulations.

Second, I wouldn't search for key words that are not in the question. In the example you provided above, what made you think of searching for “offset capital gains.” I would tackle this problem two ways. I would do a quick search for “capital loss” and see if anything relevant came up. If that doesnt work I would just use the table of contents. You know it would be in Subtitle A – Income taxes. Then you look at those and choose Chapter 1, then Subtitle P, Part II, Section 1211(a). — By the way, notice how “offset capital gain” is nowhere to be found in that section?

I would spend like 20 minutes today getting used to the table of contents.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/usc_sup_01_26.html

[mena je twa]

Ok got you now….. I will let you know how my exam went after taking it tomorrow…I will practice the TOC for a lil bit today, using your approach…. Thanks for your help once again..

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[katelyn]

Joining the wait for scores today after taking FAR. On the bright side, I'm going to start studying AUD tomorrow which will keep me quite busy.

AUD: 92 (10/2011)
BEC: 82 (7/2011)
FAR: 55 (8/2010); 88 (8/2011)
REG: 62 (8/2009); 87 (1/7/12)
DONE!

[Author]

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