[Da Bears]

This will be last exam assuming I passed BEC (Felt confident walking out). I have noticed the general dislike towards REG because of its difficulty. I am currently using N. Illinois University review program and using Becker questions. Is REG a note card type exam consisting of a lot of memorization of phase outs and such? I didn’t use note cards for other exams.

I don’t start work till busy season and am fresh out of college. I listen to a lecture one day then reread the next, doing problems, and taking notes. I usually hammer out ~1500 MCQS the week leading up to exam day. I have read that a lot of people struggle with REG sims. Do you guys know of any materials that provide a lot of sim practice? Also, could anyone give me a breakdown of the exam. I believe I’ve read that its 60% Tax, 20% Law, 20% something else. Any specific areas within those percentages would be helpful, such as property tax is 5% etc.

I know I’ve scored well in the other exams but I enjoyed those classes and did well. I took only one tax class at college and it was pretty general, got an A, but it was overview as the teacher said.

Thanks!

FAR- 8/14/12 91
AUD- 10/16/12 88
BEC- 11/07/12 92
REG- 01/05/13 86
NIU CPA Review

[Starlight]

IMO you've got a pretty solid approach. They do't really seem to test phaseouts. There's no coverage of property tax or state taxes, it's really all just federal. The breakdown on how much each subject gets hit really varies from exam to exam, some people think REG tests heavier on business law and others think tax, it just depends on the questions you get. If you know the material sims aren't really that bad. One of my sims was on a topic that is just brushed over in Becker though, so don't just brush off topics because they're not as heavily emphasized.

(PS Go Bears! Hopefully Campbell pulls through for us on Monday)

REG: 86
AUD: 92
FAR: 84
BEC: 87
Ethics: Passed!
Licensed 11/20/12

Supporting my husband on his CPA journey: 75% of the way there!

[thistooshallpass]

I used the same approach for all the exams, even though REG was awful it still worked. I wouldn't try to change up your style. Trying to guess what % to spend on each topic is useless imo, your best bet is to study everything evenly, then spend extra time on the topics you don't understand as easily. The only thing I did less of on REG was the practice SIMS in Becker, I only did a couple since I came to the conclusion the actual SIMS are so much more complex on the exam, its a waste of time to “practice” them. I don't think there is much memorization in REG, I found it much more important to understand concepts. They don't expect you to memorize all the year specific dollar amounts, etc that change over time.

AUD 85 (2/12) Using Becker
FAR 81 (5/12)
BEC 79 (7/13)
REG 85 (10/1)

"It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."

[Roma]

@DaBears,

Broadly speaking, the %'s you mention are correct with the 3rd area being “Ethics, Professional & Legal Responsibilities” which also includes tax stuff (e.g. Treasury Circular #230 & AICPA standards).

Check out the AICPA web site for the Content Specification Outline (CSO's) for the exact % coverage in the 3 areas along with the topics covered under each area. I found this a good measure of my progress & preparedness.

I took the exam a week ago and it seemed to match the CSO pretty well.

Using Wiley
FAR = 94 Feb 2012
BEC = 92 April 2012
AUD = 95 July 2012
REG = 91 Nov 2012

[jeff]

Grab some free REG notes…

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-study-plan/

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

[Da Bears]

Thanks! Yeah hopefully smith sits out for the game too but doubt it since he doesn't have a concussion history like jcut. Campbell has a cannon as long as the o line doesn't lay down…49ers are a tough d though. I will scoop up those notes Jeff, thanks. My strategy has faired well thus far just the whole starting my career and it being my last exam probably are messing with me!

FAR- 8/14/12 91
AUD- 10/16/12 88
BEC- 11/07/12 92
REG- 01/05/13 86
NIU CPA Review

[Da Bears]

Thanks! Yeah hopefully smith sits out for the game too but doubt it since he doesn't have a concussion history like jcut. Campbell has a cannon as long as the o line doesn't lay down…49ers are a tough d though. I will scoop up those notes Jeff, thanks. My strategy has faired well thus far just the whole starting my career and it being my last exam probably are messing with me!

FAR- 8/14/12 91
AUD- 10/16/12 88
BEC- 11/07/12 92
REG- 01/05/13 86
NIU CPA Review

[Author]

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