[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Just finished up with the new exam format for Regulation and wanted to share my experience to those that are also taking it this quarter! Prior to taking the new format, I failed REG with a 70. I felt so defeated that I ended up leaving 2 simulations pretty much blank and walked out an hour early. . Thought I was going to receive a 30 so was pleasantly surprised with the 70.

1) Before taking the new exam, I read that there would be 9 simulations (2-4-3), but mine only contained 8 (2-3-3). I allocated 45 minutes for each MC testlet, 30 minutes for the third testlet, and an hour each for the fourth and fifth testlets, which worked out great. I didn’t feel rushed at all.

2) Be mentally prepared to work on the simulations. The multiple choice will fly by once you get a rhythm going, but the simulations will literally take every ounce of brainpower you have. You’ll have the option to take a 15 minute break after your third testlet that doesn’t eat into any of your time. YOU WILL NEED THIS.

The new format is no joke! I thought the content of the exam questions was more difficult on this exam for sure. I just feel more confident in this exam because I prepared better. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing! I failed with a 70 on the March 10th exam.

How did you study for the simulation? How did you use AL? My problem is that I don't know how to use AL efficiently. I am using Becker to practice. I tried to use AL to check my answer, but I couldn't find the exact thing I was looking for.

[wakefern58]

Thanks for the input @Amacio!

Did you feel as though the material changed or it was the same material but more difficult?

[Anonymous]

@carolineeee I used Becker to study for all my exams thus far and never really worked on all of the simulations. I usually will just skim the answers to the simulations a few days before to just refresh myself of the real-world applications of the exam material. I tried to use the AL on my exam, but was totally unsuccessful in finding what I needed. In my experience, I feel that if you just hammer down on the multiple choice questions then you'll know the concepts to help with the simulations pretty well. I think the hardest part of taking the CPA is preparing yourself for the simulations. When I first started taking the CPA, I thought the simulations on the exam would be like the ones I saw in Becker, but they never are, which makes it hard to prepare. Think of the Becker simulations as more of a strategy tool to see the format of the simulations rather than what you'll actually see on the exam.

@wakefern58 In my opinion, the exam material was exactly the same on this test versus the Q1 exam. There were no questions that seemed absolutely foreign to me. I couldn't even really tell which MC questions were the pre-test questions. I felt as though my questions were a little longer on this exam. Additionally, I felt that they threw in more garbage information on the new format that wasn't needed to answer the question.

Hope this helps 🙂

[joonpark1212]

@amacio822
First of all thanks a lot for sharing your experience. It sounds like you did well on the exam. hope you will be getting that PASS!
Just out of curiosity, did you take the exam on the weekend? Considering April 3 is the first weekday for Q2 I thought today would be the first day the new format opened.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot!Hope you pass!

[thelatebloomer]

@amacio822: That's definitely a good feeling when you come out of the test having felt like you were prepared, even when it was challenging.

72 questions in 45 minutes is a pretty good pace. So you must have felt pretty good about the material. I'm concerned I will take longer than that. But with 2.5 hours left to do the 8/9 sims, it seems like you should have plenty of time to go through authoritative literature as needed. I think I'm going to need to practice my MCQ pace so I can make sure this happens.

What was the main difference in your study the second time? What were you weak on the first time?

[Anonymous]

@amacio822 Congrats on tackling this beast again! I took Reg right before the end of Q1 and failed. You mentioned that you prepared better. How did you do this? and how long did it take you? I've still yet to study for this exam since knowing my failed score on 3/21/17. However, I really want to take it before the end of Q2. Can you share your strategy please? thank you!

[Wannafree]

@amacio822 ,did you notice any difference in MCQ ? You mentioned about review material , did you use your old material ?

[passantsalama]

I want to ask if you felt the same while you were studying for REG new verison. The MCQS in Becker software dont cover all the material in the textbook (eg credits and AMT for C-CORP) not enough questions.
I want to ask aslo if there were complex calculations on the MCQ or they were very straight forward

[Author]

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