[gans555]

I am taking REG on July 16th (first test) and the main point I hear is that the simulations are brutal. Being worth 40%, seems like if you nail the sims, you can pass the exam with ease. I am using Yeager along with Wiley and Wiley test bank. How do I practice for all simulations? I really do know the material well yet when it comes to filling out forms, i am lost. Any advice?

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about:

I know the depreciation recapture rules very well, i.e. section 1231, 1245, 1250, 291. But then I got a sim on Wiley to fill out form 4797. (I never felt so lost in my life, didn’t know where things went.) After doing once and seeing the answer, its a piece of cake. But what about all the other forms that I might see, like installment sales, like kind exchanges, form 1065, form 1041, 706. I mean I know all this stuff in theory but I would just feel lost if I had to fill out a form. Any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

gans, I feel the same exact way. I have been through all of the Wiley sims now and I was comfortable with the material until I tried those (including the form 4797). Now I'm incredibly nervous for the exam. And you always hear how the practice sims don't come close to the real thing. Great…

[gans555]

Eliz, I'm almost positive this is the key to passing the CPA exam. Ok, let me put it to everyone this way. I just graduated college with an accounting degree and did a tax internship in the spring. Manually filling out forms is such a great way to learn and visually see what is really happening (this includes using software). However, I really doubt anyone has filled out all the forms that could be tested. I've never filled out a 1041, or 706, or a bunch of other tax forms but I know the stuff in theroy. I can literally say that if I get those forms I would be so lost. And come on, while people may think it's easy because the directions are right on a piece of paper, they are so wrong. Whenever your doing something you've never done before, its so hard. And you're nervous because you don't want to get it wrong.

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