[passthisthing]

I didn’t.

I took REG and it was um, interesting? disappointing? The first time I took it a few years ago I got a score that’s just too low to post. But I take blame, as I didn’t study has rigorously as I could have. This time I made sure not to cut corners and really try to understand the concepts more than just memorize. I was hammering out MCQs, taking notes, retaking notes (that helped), reviewing consistently, listening to audio on my commute, and keeping my mind fresh with flashcards.

Anyhow, the first “oh geez” moment was when Testlest 2 popped up. None (and I really mean none) were wordy, and all were very straightforward to the point that I knew I must have severely messed up Testlest 1 either because I made careless mistakes or I guessed wrong. I had flagged a few and made educated guesses for 3 of them and the rest I wasn’t convinced enough to change my answer. Unlike last time, this time I tried not to panic, and figured, I’ll knock these out and maybe Testlet 3 might get wordy, tricky, or simply get questions that are more involved than just “A-B = answer”. So on to Testlet3… and man, it was still the same. It seems odd to say, but i was hoping for hard, lengthy, questions that involved more than basic/simple calcs because it might have giving me hope/clue I was heading in the right direction and because I was doing well on the practice MCQs so here was my chance to prove to myself I studied well.

The second and more surprising “oh geez” moment was when I didn’t see ANY ptr/corp dist/gain, trust, etc. like-kind type of questions — the stuff people say you should have a good grasp on. I was hoping for like-kind question those are fun. I find boots and basis entertaining (sorry, I geeked out and I digress). Given that I had increased focused on concepts such as corps/s-corps stuff, partnership., I was shocked I didn’t get these. So I’m not sure if that is normal or becuase my MCQs weren’t going to well. I’m wondering if others have had similar experience, or was it just me?

Still keeping it together, I just tried to remain calm and tackled SIMS. Out of all the sims, I am confident that I got half of one SIM right, 1 that I completely guessed (read: marked all “0”), the research facts were easy to understand, but I just had the hardest time nailing down the section that 100% relates to the situation. As for the other SIMs, I had to educated guess and hope I got partial.

For folks (and friends of folks) that have passed, and with the combo of my super straight forward MCQs and not seeing the “challenging” concepts on the exam, and getting hosed on the SIMs, would it be reasonable course of action to mentally prepare for a re-take. I’ve got FAR next and given that is a massive beast., I’m not sure how to handle a re-take of REG while studying for FAR (mentally and physically). Obviously if by miracle and by the grace of the CPA Gods, I pass, that would give me some motivation to take on FAR.

Thanks for reading!

[Jess774]

@passthisthing

I failed BEC twice and had quiet a bit of time before I could retake BEC due to only being able to take it once in the testing window. So I moved on to FAR and I regret it. I should've just kept on BEC before attacking the beast. Some people will probably tell you to keep going and move on from REG, but I personally would study for FAR until I got my score. If I found out that I didnt pass REG, I would go back to REG. REG is tough and I would want to keep studying while the material is somewhat fresh in my head. I've also only passed one exam so far so maybe I'm not the best person to be giving advice haha.

As far as the REG exam:
I took REG and thought I did pretty good on the MCQs (maybe high 70s), but thought that I got maybe 50ish% of the SIMS right. My MCQs were pretty wordy. I ended up passing with a 75. I thought that I might have had a chance, but was leaning towards failing. I lucked out and got a 75.

Ugh, I know the feeling your're talking about when you're taking the exam and you feel a lump in your throat and are about to panic. It takes a lot to not panic. This whole process is a challenge in so many ways.

As far as you passing, you might have a chance. I hear some people say they thought they bombed and then they end up with a great score. The scores that i've received werent a shocker to me. I was always in the ballpark (guessing how I scored).

When do you get your score, the 24th? I get my FAR score on the 24th =( I'm pretty sure I failed. I'm thinking I got in the high 60s.

REG - 75
BEC - 70, 64, 81!!!!
FAR - 67, 69, retake: Oct 2016
AUD - 8/25/16

[Jess774]

I wouldn't describe my MCQs as being straight forward. I thought I had a good number of questions on the “tougher” subjects.

REG - 75
BEC - 70, 64, 81!!!!
FAR - 67, 69, retake: Oct 2016
AUD - 8/25/16

[passthisthing]

@Jess774 – Yes, that is what I was afraid of (re: ease of MCQs). I do not get my score until June 9 if I'm not mistaken – so three painful weeks, which makes FAR tough to kick off.

I was fairly comfortable going in and knew I had gone through the material especially the challenging concepts. So I'm not even sure where to restart studying.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[passthisthing]

Wanted to see if anyone else could shed some light or share their experience. 🙂

[Trele6]

If you don't have any sections passed yet, I would stick with REG, just for the sole purpose that taxes change annually usually, which is way more than any of the other subjects.

However, if you have passed a section, I wouldn't just sit around and wait, I would tackle the next section and if you do fail plan to re-take REG after you are done tackling the new section.

Just my two cents. The REG questions I got I felt were pretty tough probably a MED-HARD-MED, SIMs were pretty tough as well.

I am more in your boat for FAR. My MCQ's were MED-MED-EASY, SIMs I felt were brutal during the test, but now my hindsight makes me think there were probably pretty easy and I just goofed them up.

Oh well, I get my grade in 7 days, will be ecstatic with a 75 in FAR.

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[passthisthing]

@trele6 – Thanks for the suggestion. It does make sense as this is my first exam in the lineup. Re: your REG experience, when you said hard, do you mean wordy, more involved calcs?

I guess what stumps me (or why i'm analyzing a bit) is that there were a couple of MCQs that I was just plain stumped on or had a major memory block. But, for the rest I felt like I understood what was being asked so I must have just made careless mistakes. I say this because in my quest to ensure I left time for the SIMS I was trying move through the MCQs as fast as possible. I didn't have time to double check answers and for the most part went with my first instinct without re-reading the question to make sure i'm answering what they asked. That might be why it went downhill from there.

I'm sure you rocked FAR and I'm hoping you meet or beat your REG score! Good Luck.

[Trele6]

Yeah I had some very wordy questions, however had some that tested the obscure items that I figured wouldn't be on the exam so those were hard per se.

I was happy though that the two subjects I didn't want to see didn't actually pop up on my test. I had nothing for ATM or Farm income which was perfect.

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[cpagal]

I had the same issues with REG. Everything was to the point, but it was if my brain studied another section. I swear the first and third testlets had many of the same exact questions, which made me second guess the first answer I had given.

I ended up with a passing score, so fingers crossed the same will be for you also.

FAR - 08/30/15 - 90
AUD - 11/12/15 - 92
REG - 01/19/16 - 82
BEC - 02/29/16 - 83

Passed all on 1st attempt using GLEIM (full program) and NINJA (MCQ only)!!!

Louisiana Licensed CPA

[passthisthing]

@cpagal – thanks for sharing. Yeah I guess the fustrating thing many people may experience is that you study so much material and only and handful of topics show up — of course, the stuff you don't want to have appear.

Also, mind if I borrow your FAR score real quick? It will come in handy for the next nightmare that is FAR. Haha 🙂

Thanks again.

[pickanicken]

Now that I have taken all 4 exams, I can say that across the board I have had repeat questions on all exams. In REG I had a repeat in the 3rd testlet that was in the 1st. In BEC I had a repeat question in all three testlets. In AUD I had a repeat in the 3rd testlet that was in the 1st. And yesterday when I took FAR, I had a repeat in all three testlets. I wish I could mention the topics, but I'm sure you could assume that the topics were the more heavily tested.

REG - 81
BEC - 83
AUD - 86
FAR - 78 (Done!)

[Trele6]

Hope the repeated question was one you knew, if not that would be a double wammy.. When I took FAR it was the first time I had a word for word exact question that was also in my Becker study materials.

I will also say after having taken two test now, REG and FAR. I feel like a lot of the stuff that is emphasized in Becker over and over again isn't nearly as heavily tested as I thought it would be.

There are quite a few topics that I spent tons of time on because Becker said you better know it etc, and ended up seeing one frigging question on it whereas I expected 4-5.

First go at the CPA! Only using Becker
Reg / Nov 2015 - 87
Far / Apr 2016 - 79
Bec / May 2016 - 80
Aud / Aug 2016

[passthisthing]

@pickanicken – yeah, I was told it was normal to get some repeat questions. But if you nailed those question – you racked up some good points there! Good Luck – you are almost done!

@trele6 – “feel like a lot of the stuff that is emphasized in Becker over and over again isn't nearly as heavily tested as I thought it would be.

There are quite a few topics that I spent tons of time on because Becker said you better know it etc, and ended up seeing one frigging question on it whereas I expected 4-5.” Dude/Dudette – you took the words right out of my mouth! I hear you.

[Author]

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