[jeff]

We have a lot of “I took __ today threads” so to consolidate, here is the official thread.

Please – Not even a hint of exam disclosure per AICPA rules.

AUD

BEC

FAR

[mtaylo24]

Took regulation yesterday for the third time. This exam was actually reasonable (a little too reasonable), including the simulations. I don't believe in the testlet thing anymore, but I felt well prepared using ninja this go round. It's just mind boggling how these exams are worded compared to what you see when prepping, and how the examiners pick the most obscure theme for each exam.

The prometric staff was killing me walking back and forth throughout the entire exam (lol). I definitely don't feel as horrible as I did when I took FAR last month. Hoping for a positive result next week!

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Anonymous]

@mtaylo24 would you say the DRS sim was manageable?

[mtaylo24]

^^^^I had two and I felt they were complete manageable and I kind of found them interesting. One even had me look something up in the AL. Working in GL accounting for the past 5 years, Im used to providing/requesting/reviewing support.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Anonymous]

@mtaylo24 thanks for your response. Would you say the AL was really helpful for the SIMS? i.e., were you able to answer some SIMS questions using the AL?

[mtaylo24]

I found it useful for the research and one of the DRS sims. I treated the other 4 as extended multiple choice problems, and didn't really feel it necessary to use the AL…

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[CPANOVICE]

@mtaylo 24 Hello, I have my exam September 1st. Really panicking right now. What would you say would be the must-know topics right now I should review?

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[mtaylo24]

I'm not allowed to tell you specifically, but with 4 years of sitting for these exams its best to know everything (even the small stuff). There were plenty of times where I would sit for one prepping for one thing, and then be bombarded with something completely different. Once you make it through your review program once or twice, keep your final review as random as possible, that way you can keep everything fresh. Best of luck!

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[CPANOVICE]

@mtaylo24 Thank you..I hope you receive good news soon!

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[Anonymous]

@mtaylo24 Thanks for your response.

Since you have taken this exam previously, what did you do differently this time that you think helped you the most?

[mtaylo24]

^^^I prepped using Gleim the first two times, but that beast of a testbank is way harder than the actual exam, and it was harder for me to grasp the test bank. They make up their own questions, use enrolled agent questions, as well as AICPA release questions. I've been on Ninja MCQ hard for the last week and 1/2 and had a goal of making it to the review phase, which I did on Friday. The questions on Ninja were shorter, and faster for me to get through, but they were still tough. Hopefully, I get over the hump.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[D]

Just got home from my REG exam:

Testlet 1 was medium, Testlets 2 & 3 felt medium/ hard. A little less computational stuff than I'd anticipated but boy do you need to know the details and how things are computed to still get the answers to the non-computational items! (Captain Obvious, I know)

SIMS – I had 70 minutes remaining and used up every bit. As I just mentioned in another post, I had the pleasure(?) of experiencing 2 of the new DRS. They didn't feel “hard”, however in both of them I struggled to understand what exactly I needed to calculate with regard to the said tax topic. Also, I wish the exam had zoom in/out capabilities for the documents provided. Its more of a hindrance than anything when I have to scroll up and down to recap the whole document and add amounts up, versus being able to zoom out and look at it straight on and compute that way.

Ok, I'm off my DRS soapbox. I'll be curious to hear if anyone else felt the same though.

Nonetheless, I can't say I'm coming out out of this feeling super confident – and I feel like if the test got me anywhere, it was with the SIMS. Fingers still crossed and praying that on Sept 9th I'll get the news that I can move on to my LAST section (FAR)!!!!

----------
AUD - 74, 77! (1/2016)
BEC - 80! (5/2016)
REG - tbd (8/2016)
FAR - tbd

Study materials: NINJA MCQ/Audio/Notes

"I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!"
----------

[SkiBum1990]

anddd I'm over here dying trying to master every computation possible… exam Oct 3rd…. just gonna lay on the floor for a minute….

"The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

B - 79
A - 68, __ (got bumped from Aug 4 release to Aug 23-THANKS AICPA)
R - Oct
F - Nov (HA! 1 month to study working full-time; love NTS rules)

[D]

Ha! @skibum thats plenty of time. You'll get em down. Just keep doing the NINJA MCQs!

----------
AUD - 74, 77! (1/2016)
BEC - 80! (5/2016)
REG - tbd (8/2016)
FAR - tbd

Study materials: NINJA MCQ/Audio/Notes

"I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!"
----------

[bhunt815]

I took REG yesterday and felt pretty good about the MCQ's and pretty bad about the SIM's. I just plain blew it on one of the SIM's. I guess mental fatigue set in because I used book value instead of tax basis for a number, and several calculations were based on that number. Dumb dumb dumb. I might have passed. It will likely be within 5 points one way or the other.

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[Yolonge]

Took test last Saturday (8/27)

MCQs were fairly doable, I do not feel so bad about it but looking back I know I missed 2 questions.

Simulations on the other hand were all blurr…

With fatigue and dumb mistakes I felt really horrible about them.

I was little iffy on research as it was little vague and confident that I misread DRS sim (100% sure). As for other 4 2 were crap shot (including filling 0s and random guesses) and other 2 maybe 50% if lucky.

I sense a retake.. overall angry at myself for dumb mistakes. Going to study little every day so I can retain the information..

Need CPA God to pass with lucky 75 else retake in October.. 🙁

All the bigger items were not tested and they gave me rather small topics. I do not think I have any anything like in ninja sims (I reviewed explanation for most sims in ninja reg)

Materials: Wiley book + Ninja MCQ

FAR - 83 (Jan 2016)
Study time: 6 weeks
BEC - 87 (April 2016)
Study time: 2 weeks
AUD - 92 (July 2016), (74 Feb 2016), (72 May 2016)
Study time: 4 (Feb) + 2 (May) + 3 (July) = 9 weeks total
REG - (70 April 2016)
Study time: 3 weeks

[Author]

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