[Scared-cpa]

Wiley Question –

Hi, guys!

So I am studying REG and just began the tax portion a couple days ago. These videos are incredibly long (30 minutes or more each) and it is taking me forever to get through each assignment. I learn best when I watch the video, read the study guide and then take notes. However, because the videos are so long, each assignment is taking me much longer than average. For example, I just completed the introduction to gross income and interest and it took me two hours to complete. I’ve got 4 other assignments for today. This is ridiculous but I tried just watching the video and skimming the study guide but my comprehension is awful and it’s reflective in my scores.

So my question is this: how can I stay on track throughout the tax portion of REG with the ridiculously long videos and section readings and ensure I comprehend it? Right now, it takes me at the very least 6 or 7 hours to get through my scheduled assignments for that day, plus I have two summer graduate level courses on top of it. There simply isn’t enough time in the day to do all of it so I need advice on how to push through this time consuming section of REG.

[Umer Bhutto]

Hi

I used Wiley for FAR and BEC and now for REG and AUD. I had the same issue as you did with all parts because i'm trying to complete it within 6 months. The way i tried to structure mine was to skim through the notes especially of tax (property, individual and corporate) because there are way too many rules to learn. After i quickly finished the tax portion (without taking any real notes just trying to understand), i bought Ninja Notes and went straight to the test bank. I then learned the notes, did the MCQs the first time and added any extra notes to Ninja Notes. Also the course has a lot of information that is either redundant or is just unnecessary because its way too much in depth / technical to be tested properly on the exam / remote chance of it appearing on the exam.

[Scared-cpa]

I think that sounds like a good idea but I have two reservations. One, I struggle with tax as it is so skimming isn't sufficient for me. I tried this when I started tax because I saw the lessons were so long and I stunk that part up so I am going to have to go back over it. Two, have you seen my track record with FAR and AUD? I want to make sure I do not repeat that with REG. I'm willing to take the extra time to be as prepared as possible for this exam, however, I know it is not ideal to take very long in going over the materials.

[Umer Bhutto]

I struggle with tax too, always hated it. I guess the best advice would be to keep pushing forward and just decrease the time spent on the lessons by focusing on the major theme of the topic. E.g. if the theme is property for partnership interest exchange then i tried to get the general idea, learn any major formulas / concepts and move on. The details, if any, can be learned by doing problems / TBS / MCQs. Hopefully that would work for you as well

[CPAIN2K17]

I just started the tax part and I agree its brutal. Not to mention half the time I'm completely confused by the tax material anyway. Hopefully it gets better.

[CPA8675309]

Grrr this is not what I needed to read after yet another lazy REG weekend. I've got a few more days of business law to get through before I start tax. I found the same thing with much of FAR. With FAR, I stopped reading the material about half way through and only watched the videos and answered the MCQs (skipped sims as well). I prefer to have the time to read though, because I absorb more info and occasionally with CPAexcel there will be bits of information covered in the reading, but not the video.

Do you find that you gain a lot from taking notes? I know the act of writing is suppose to help you remember (and understand if you're trying to put things into your own words), but over the course of a few months of studying, I wonder how much it helps your memory. I like to take notes at the end of my review focusing on areas I just don't get. If you know it helps, ignore what I just said haha.

[.]

Skip the videos and take minimal notes.

FAR - June 2016 - 88
REG - July 2016 - 89
AUD - Aug 2016 - review phase currently
BEC - Sep 2016 -

Wiley CPA Excel & Ninja MCQ

[Umer Bhutto]

For me it depends, if i read the notes long enough than for me its the same as writing the notes. But i reinforce the concepts by reading the notes and then doing the MCQ of that section e.g. I read teh involuntary tax notes before starting the MCQs of the involuntary tax section. That helps compartmentalize things and helps me retain information. But i agree with everyone else, REG is just a lot of work that just seems unnecessary because no one ever memorizes tax law, that's why they have computers, databases etc. I think of all the parts, REG is the least practical because its basically simplieifed law / tax law with very little real-world application

[RE2PECT]

The tax part will start to click once you hit the mcq's. Don't worry about memorizing all the thresholds. You should only know the ones that don't change every year like corp AMT. Don't be afraid to refer to the book or your notes in the beginning if you can't remember certain details. The most important part about tax is knowing basis inside and out for corps, s corps, and partnerships. You'll almost certainly get a sim or two on it.

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[Anonymous]

I started tax this morning and was slightly terrified by the length of the videos and the number of days the exam plan gave me to complete it. I am not familiar with US tax at all but there will be a change in how I study to be able to sit on my desired date.

I agree with Circadian. Skip the videos and take minimal notes, unless you plan to review your notes in depth afterwards. Only watch videos if you're stuck and need clarification after reading the text (even though a lot of the videos are just summaries of the text).

[ultrarunner]

I used to hate tax, so I struggled when I studied for REG. Anyway, if you don't have any background in tax, watching the video would be essential. I used Roger, but I had so much fun 🙂 Or hitting MCQs will be another option. Like RE2PECT said you will need some time to click tax. Tax is a very broad subject, and REG is just covering a small particle of the big picture. It is hard to understand unless you know the history or background of each tax law. For REG, it is important to understand the basics of tax. I don't think that they would test more than the basics. Good luck!

FAR 72,67,79 (Roger+Wiley test bank)11/15
AUD 80 (Roger)10/15
BEC 80 (Roger)4/16
REG 63,78 (Roger+Ninja MCQs)5/16

[Scared-cpa]

Thanks, everyone!

I found over time that the best way I retain the information is by taking notes because it forces my brain to slow down and really read what it's saying. The videos help me understand it the best and then the reading makes everything come together for me. But it seems like I don't have enough time for this so I'm going to have to make changes somewhere. Today I have just been reading and doing the questions but it is still taking forever because I struggle to understand things just by reading about it. However, I was pretty good in my one income tax class back in college so I am hoping it will do me good here.

Like a couple of you said, I'm thinking about going over it all and then really honing in on the concepts when I start Ninja MCQ because once you've done a thousand or so multiple choice, you usually learn a lot! Plus it helps you get a better idea of what topics the exam focuses the most on. Is it too big of a gamble though to leave probably 50% of my learning of the tax law up to Ninja MCQ?

BLaw wasn't that difficult for me, I really enjoyed it compared to taxes. I'm just trying to push through it.

Also, do I need to memorize what types of taxes, deductions, exemptions, etc. go on what Forms and what type of business entities use which Form?

[Author]

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