[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

[Paul]

Don't neglect the Sims.

BEC 10/29/16
FAR 11/26/16
REG TBA
AUD TBA

[Anonymous]

@Pawn Maker

Thank you so much for replying. I feel so angry, it feels as if I am going through stages of grief. What is your strategy for the retake? I am thinking of re-scheduling AUD and take REG on January as well.

[Anonymous]

I am using becker for REG, taking the exam very soon. Pete keeps telling us focus on tax. Anyone has different experience? I am skipping the chapter 8 as I don't have time anymore.

[letsrun4it]

REG is tough. Of all 4 sections the first time I took REG was the most confident I was going into any test, maybe it would have been BEC but that was my first exam and I got a 74 and studied my butt off for 2 more months and only got a 78. I felt like I knew EVERYTHING. Make sure you use multiple question banks.

BEC: 85
REG: 74, 78
AUD: 86
FAR: October?

[Eli]

Can anyone give me any tips or insights on navigating/searching the IRC for the research questions/sims?

I'm taking REG on Monday for the first time. In the past, I have not had any issue with the research question. Unfortunately my access to the AICPA literature expired a month ago, and I stupidly requested a new one yesterday so I don't think I'll get approved before my exam. This means I won't be able to practice navigating through the IRC. I've taken the practice exam on the AICPA site which gives you access to a limited section of the literature, but it's pretty worthless. If there is anything important I should know about navigating or searching, please let me know.

[Anonymous]

Beyond upset right now.

I've passed FAR, BEC, and AUD with scores in the 80's. I just finished taking REG this morning and wow.
The MCs went kind of like they did on most of my other exams. I think I got medium, hard, hard. Given how I felt on other exams going through the MC, I took it as a good sign.

Then I got to the SIMS… Wow, simply impossible. There's no other way to put it. Three SIMs with material that Becker barely touched or got into, and to top it all off, I butchered the research question. Ugh, it had to happen with my last exam.

This is what gets me upset with the CPA exam. The CFAI releases their curriculum/books which contain the entirety of what can be tested on the CFA. With the CPA, you have to rely on the providers, and if they don't cover certain material ,or barely brush through it, you can get seriously screwed on the exam.

Sorry, just ranting after that exam experience. I wish everyone the best with this exam. Now the wait until December 8th begins.

Question – My NTS is covered till 11/29. Do I have to wait until December 8th to find out if I passed and sign-up for another NTS for REG? Do you think it'd be possible to sign up for Jan 2 or 3? (do they even administer exams on the first?)

[Maitoure]

@Asmodey wow!!! now not sure how iam going to sleep. been struggling to study and exam is on the 5th. From your experience, any chapters to focus on?? I dnt think I'll pass not ready… I was struggling with chap 3 & 4 and decided to do the study backward i.e chap 8 down? is that worth it?

[Anonymous]

For Reg, I used Becker and Chapter 3 and 4 was terrible. It is a review for people who took Tax Courses. I literally had to go buy a textbook on Amazon on just Corporations, Partnerships and Estates. It was heavy duty but I could not remember all the material. I needed a fundamental understanding of some things.
I had to buy a separate textbook on Governmental and Not for Profits when I took FAR. I am a true learner and alot of memorization drives me nuts

[RE2PECT]

Just took REG today. I'm so beyond pissed that I can't even go home right now.

The mcq's went fairly well. Wasn't anything totally out of left field. I will say that I spent a ton of time studying certain topics and didn't even have a lot of questions on them.

The sims on the other hand were completely mind blowing! I had 90 minutes for them and was still sitting there after a half hour and hadn't even answered anything. Couldn't find the research, which for FAR and AUD I found in less than a minute. The rest of them were on topics I was familiar with, but the way they were set up I had no idea how to answer them. The lack of instructions on these exams drives me crazy!

I was so upset I just put all 0s and walked out. I knew I was going to have a problem with the sims because I only did like 30 of them and the Ninja ones are a cakewalk compared to the exam. I wanted to do more, but ran out of time and couldn't reschedule my exam because my NTS expired today.

I'm gonna take a few days off because I'm totally burnt out. I'm thinking of buying Gleims test bank, since I hear they have good sims to practice.

I knew it was going to take a miracle to pass, but I didn't think I'd get completely blindsided by the sims. I don't know how anyone can pass this exam without practicing them.

Sorry for the rant, but I'm just so sick of studying and need my life back. This exams taken a toll on my marriage and I haven't been able to spend as much time with my son as I want. It just really sucks knowing that I have to go into the new year with this exam still hanging over my head.

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

[Sticky Nicky]

respect…I've heard alot of people thinking they bombed REG and wind up passing anyway…It's not over til its over…If i were u Id keep studying and take it again first spot in Jan. if need be. Im overwhelmed with REG as well and i have like 9 days left to study,,,i just havent found the motivation like i did with BEC and AUD.

[mtaylo24]

Keep your head up @Re2pect…take a look at the last page, many of us felt crappy and pulled through. You never know until score release!

@StickyNicky Don't slack now…Keep the streak going dude! (easier said than done)

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)

[RE2PECT]

Thanks guys, but I can't possibly see any way I passed by just putting zeros on all of the sims lol.

It sucks because I was averaging 72 and trending 82 on Ninja after a little over 3000 mcq's. I knew I needed more time, but felt like I could pull off a miracle.

Stickynicky, make sure you practice some sims. The exam might not be on the same topic, but at least you'll get an idea on how to answer them. Even though I feel the actual exam sims are way harder than any practice ones, they make you apply what you've learned in a different way than just doing countless mcq's.

I saw that Gleims having a sale this weekend on their test bank. I know you use it mtaylo. Do you think it's harder than Ninja and are the sims anything like the exam?

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

[mtaylo24]

Dang our tests were the complete opposite. Sims were my highlight, I thought a got a 0 on the MCQs. Zeros on all of your sims though 😅? I refuse to believe that. On the bright side, one of the sims will be thrown out bc its a pretest.

The sim wizard w/ Gleim was probably the only useful feature they had for REG. I didn't really try the Ninja ones. I just ran through the tax sims in the end. Didn't even attempt them, I would just review the answer explanations. It actually was helpful for the S-Corp, Partnership, and AEP sims I had, but then again, MCQs could have helped me figure those out as well. FYI, Gleim's Reg MCQs are just retarded. Every question is a essay. If you have the time and patience to make it through that guantlet, you will do great…I lost patience every time!

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)

[RE2PECT]

I def just put zeros lol. It's the first time I ever gave up in the middle of an exam. I can make a ton of excuses, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter. I just have to be ready for the rematch in January. I'm planning to take it towards the end of the first score release window.

I'm going to take a few days off and come back strong. I'll probably purchase Gleim just for the sims. At this point I'll buy anything if it'll help me pass lol.

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

[Anonymous]

@asmodey @re2pect totally feel you guys on the SIMS. My sims were absolute killer as well. Even research was hard to find pretty sure I didn't get the right paragraph lol and for last sim I put all zeros huh. MCQ went how they did in other exams but sims are giving me nightmares. Let's just hope somehow curve is in our favor and we pass haha

[Author]

Replies