[William_777]

I took REGS mid-November, and now I’m prepping for FAR. I didn’t use the spreadsheet for REGS, as always, I used paper or my brain.

But the problems in the Financial Review seem too complex, and they may be better addressed by way of the spreadsheet.

I never learned to use the spreadsheet in school. I wrote everything out by hand. Does it help much? Is it hard to learn or use? Is it more reliable than the calculator?

Thanks,

wm

[oneFREAKINGpoint]

Stick with what you're used to. If you're not comfortable using the spreadsheet, don't do it unless you have the time to learn it and be comfortable (and more efficient) with it prior to test day. Hell, I'm comfortable with spreadsheets and I didn't even use them on my exams.

It's definitely a good tool to learn to use in the long run if you're in the accounting field, though.

As for reliability…garbage in, garbage out. The tool is only as good as the user's knowledge of it. 🙂

[Anonymous]

OneFreakingPoint is right, although to be ULTRA SAFE it can't hurt to learn how to perform basic arithmetic in Excel just in case you get a sim requiring you to input answers into a spreadsheet. For the Yaeger review they recommend working MCQs using the sample test spreadsheet tool available on the AICPA sample test webpage. Again, probably not necessary, but it can't hurt.

For actual accounting work you'll be at a HUGE advantage or disadvantage depending on how comfortable you are using spreadsheets, so the sooner you familiarize yourself the better 🙂

[Anonymous]

Warning: if you decide to learn Excel so that you can practice using the spreadsheet function, don't expect the test spreadsheet to perform the same way. It's a really basic (dumbed-down) version and can be frustrating if you're familiar with Excel. If you're using Becker materials, their spreadsheet version is pretty much the same as the one on the test.

Absolutely agree with oneFREAKING point: It's definitely a good tool to learn to use in the long run if you're in the accounting field, though.

Best of luck!!!

[Author]

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