[everydaystruggle]

It seems each section of the exam seems to have a few chapters that I end up spending the most time on. For example I found myself saying “If only I would have know Becker’s BEC chapters 3 and 5 were killers than I would have planned accordingly!”

Since most of us here are using Becker I was hoping you guys could shed some light on which REG chapters are likely to be the most challenging and most time consuming.

Please help me avoid becoming blind sided by nightmarish REG chapters!!!!!! Thanks in advance!

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[NY GT girl]

I felt R5-R7 were difficult, but that is because my background is in tax and I happen to be taking corporate and partnership tax this semester in my masters program. I think what you find challenging depends on whether or not you have been exposed to a lot of tax… But that is just my opinion. If you haven't had much tax, you might struggle with R1-R4 as well.

Additionally, in my opinion, I think Becker tends to have harder MCQ than the exam. Its also important to consider the weighting of the material. Business law is only in the MCQ and makes up 1/3 of the exam. While I thought those were challenging when I was studying, they didn't seem too terribly heavy on my actual exam.

NY Candidate using Becker: FAR (2/20) - 81, AUD (4/3) - 92, REG (5/3) - 95, BEC (5/29) - 89 DONE!!!

[Anonymous]

I struggled the most with R3 (corporate tax). I enjoyed the business law chapters, although I did devote a lot of time to them…

[everydaystruggle]

Thanks for the replies.

I can handle theory and memorization much better than complex calculations so I figure ch 1-4 will be the most difficult for me and I am hoping that ch 5-7 will come easier.

With REG, the text has so many details that are not covered in the MC I am having difficulty doing a CH outline. At this point I am concentrating on the areas tested in the MC (excluding supplemental MC) and areas noted in lectures. But not knowing the other information scares the He** out of me.

I felt Becker did an awesome job preparing me for FAR and AUD, not quite as great on BEC. Did you guys feel becker prepared you well for REG or did you find yourself wishing they had covered those minute details in more depth?

[Anonymous]

I felt most prepared going into REG. I thought Becker did a decent job with most of it, but yes there were definitely aspects of the exam that were not covered in enough detail with Becker. For example, I may have known the tax treatment of something (recognize, don't recognize, or partially recognize)… but maybe not how to apply it well enough to a simulation. I know that's vague… but it's the best I can say. I walked away from my simulations feeling bitter. We'll see how the scores play out.

[Anonymous]

everydaystruggle – if you're looking for more coverage on some of the transactions, I recommend going to Becker's update site and check out the 12/2009 updates where they have posted supplemental homework problems for like kind exchanges; with boot, without boot, with assumed mortgage, with un-like property, etc. That and Phil's REG vido posted on club 75 which covers 1231, 1245, and 1250 as well as walking you through a like-kind exchange are keys to getting yourself more practice on items that Becker might have not covered in depth in the review. One thing I learned about Becker is that sometimes when they haven't covered stuff in the lectures, you'll find it in their flashcards, supplementals MCQs, and their final review product. For instance in their final review product they walk you through a half a dozen sims, with tax forms to fill in, etc., which for visual learniers like me are helpful for getting the connections between the tax forms (1040, K-1, M-1, schedule E, schedule B) to click. I purchased the full monty with Becker, and so far have felt prepared for all 4 parts. Waiting on REG score.

[FL_CPA2010]

I had the hardest time with R4 and R6 with Becker. The R6 wasn't necessarily difficult, but I did have problems trying to keep all the info straight. I felt that Becker prepared me very well for the MCQ's as there were no surprises. The sims were another story. My sims were ridiculous and nothing I had seen before. But…I did well enough on the MCQ to pass the exam 🙂 The supplemental problems on like kind exchanges; with boot, without boot, with assumed mortgage, with un-like property, etc. will be good practice as well. Those types of questions can get tricky. But for the most part, the Becker questions are much wordier and in more depth than the actual exam questions.

REG 79 (Becker); BEC 63 (Becker) 70 (Yaeger); AUD 66 (Becker; 11/30 - Becker); FAR 11/24 (Yaeger/Wiley)

[Megan]

I'm glad this question was asked because I'm getting great information for my exam in 2 weeks! I had SUCH a hard time paying attention during the R6 and R7 lectures that I felt like I didn't get much out of them. Now for non-stop MCQ for the next two weeks!

BEC 52, 61, 74, 77
AUD 80
REG 75
FAR 50, 60, 70, 74, 83...DONE!!
..Texas.. Baby #2 born 4/11/11

[jeff]

I have a like-kind exchanges and partnerships REG video @ Club 75 that people have found very helpful on exam day.

You MUST know 1231, 1245, 1250 assets and like-kind exchanges with and without a liability involved. I was weak in these areas heading into my back to back 74s and it cost me.

The video is free to watch and access to Club 75 for a trial membership costs a penny.

If you don't like it…bail…simple as that.

https://club75.another71.com/

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

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

[Anonymous]

FYI – I watched the video Jeff is referring to, the day before my REG exam and it definitely helped things click for me!

[Author]

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