[COVER U CPA]

Just curious how everyone else’s exam experience was if you have taken Reg in Q3 or Q4.

In my other sections, I measured if my testlets were medium or hard based on how long it took me to complete them. In Reg, for the first time it took me more time to complete Testlet one (55 mins) than it did testlet 2 (35 mins). I know part of the reason for this was because testlet one had A LOT more calculations in it where as testlet 2 had more definition based and business law questions. However, I couldn’t help but feel testlet 2 was also easier than testlet 1 by a long shot. But not that testlet 1 was necessarily hard.

Then came the sims. Sims always make me feel like crap. I had 3 DRS in which you had to fill out a letter with a bunch of options. These ones are so hard I feel like cause you have to go through like 10 supporting docs, and the answer all have different numbers. I got one of these 3 mostly correct; the other two I basically made a best guess but they were not confident guesses at all.

I also had a sim that specifically said use the AL to find these answers and it had ten blank cells. And then I had a normal research sim. I’m hoping both of these count since they weren’t as bad and I got em both correct. I know if you have two research sims one is throwaway, but in this case the first one wasn’t a normal research sim…. it had a bunch of cells.

The other 3 sims were cells and you had to plug in numbers based on calculations. I feel like I got half of two of them correct and the other one didn’t feel good about at all.

So I feel I got 3 sims correct, 2 half correct and 3 I really did not feel good about. I feel like it will all depend if they throw away a AL sim or one of the actual harder ones.

How did everyone else do? I hate this waiting a month nonsense and feels good to read other experiences

[mfbc23]

@Blue Collar Nerd
Thank you! I need all the luck I can get. This REG is actually a retake from where I got a 72 the first time and this retake seemed impossible! Good luck to you too… you've got one left : )

AUD: 83 (Aug. 2015)
FAR: 78 (Nov. 2015)
REG: TBA
BEC: TBA

[readytobedonewthecpa]

@mfbc23 I'm taking REG in a couple of days. Are there any areas you suggest I focus on right before?

[mfbc23]

@readytobedonewthecpa
I suggest you get a very good understanding of basis, affecting shareholders as well as S Corps and C Corps. Get a good grasp on like kind property transactions, the corporate tax return (along with the schedules) and the the gift tax rules. Also brush up on the individual tax topics and basic contract and agency rules. Hope this helps!

AUD: 83 (Aug. 2015)
FAR: 78 (Nov. 2015)
REG: TBA
BEC: TBA

[readytobedonewthecpa]

@mfbc23 helps a lot thanks!!

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to share my REG Q4 experience. I sat today, and for parts of the exam I felt pretty prepared, while for others not so much. I made the smart decision of doing the Prometric test drive last week, so when I showed today I knew what to expect. When I took my practice exam a few days ago I tried to set up my workspace so it emulated the Prometric layout, and I used a similar calculator, graph paper and a sharpie to simulate the exam experience as much as possible. My Prometric location was pretty up to date, and my computer was new with a 23-inch screen and pretty fast processor.

Once I got rolling, the first MCQ testlet went by pretty quick, and the second seemed harder, or I flagged more questions anyway. Who knows though… Once I got into the SIMS, I started to feel lost on some of the material. I definitely messed up parts of the DRS, but I think I nailed the research question. It pays to proofread though. I actually pressed submit on the second to last testlet, but went back instead to check over some stuff, and discovered I had made a simple typo when entering the research citation. Whewww… I had two SIMS that both seemed like they could have been pre-test questions, and two that required using the AL (besides the research).

I'm cautiously optimistic, and am just hoping I maximized my points on the SIMS enough.

I used Gleim as my primary review course, and NINJA MCQ as a supplement. I like Gleim, and the only thing I'm going to do differently when I start FAR is to make flashcards for each SU, and keep reviewing them while I'm starting new material. Hopefully that way I don't have to do as much overall review the last couple weeks before the exam. I think ten to fifteen flashcards for each SU (200-250 total) would be realistic to study, and the process of making them forces you to condense the material and get a good grasp of the important concepts.

Now, what to do until Dec. 19th?

[Anonymous]

Took REG earlier this month and felt like I blew through the MCQ testlets (~1hr 20 mins), leaving me ample time for the Sims. Much to my dismay, the Sims ended up taking way much longer than I had anticipated and that's with getting the AL research in under 1 min. I had 2 DRS, and 1 where I needed to refer to the AL for all answers.. didn't see that coming at all.

I used Becker strictly to study and definitely felt the actual MCQs are easier than Becker but the Sims are something else. Not feeling great about it but hoping for the best on Dec 19, hopefully it won't be my first fail =(

[Bo dont know diddley]

Nothing new to add from my experience; it lines up pretty well with everyone else's. I took Reg yesterday and I prepared using Roger. My mid-test panic attack (in the first MCQ testlet which took me an hour to bomb) came in the form of me questioning why I purchased Roger, but from what I gather here Gleim and Wiley users were no better/worse off. So, yay?

Best of luck to everyone. As someone else said, I plan to study Reg as if yesterday didn't happen tho the number of empty beer cans in my apartment indicates otherwise.

[Lentilcounter]

@benj2017

Since I am using Gleim, I have the following questions for you. Do you feel like GLEIM prepared you adequately for the exam? Are GLEIM's MCQ and simulations harder or equal to the test? Why do you think the simulations on your exam were especially difficult? I like your review idea. I think its important especially for sections like FAR and REG to have almost two weeks of review time.

Thanks.

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Anonymous]

@lentilcounter ,

I going to wait until I get my score to post definitely on this topic.

Generally speaking though, as other people have said Gleim has some MCQ's that are probably harder than what you'll see on the exam. Some of the Gleim SIMS are definitely challenging, but I think a lot of it is luck of the draw and what your strong and weak areas are.

Time management is key to SIMS I think, and identifying what the AICPA is trying to test you on and how they are trying to trick you (before you start digging into the problem's details) will help you keep a clear head.

As all the exam review courses state, you need to manage your time and maximize your points.

[shawn in VA]

2 hours is plenty for SIMS under new format for REG. I left 1.50 for SIM and was fine. the MCQs finished in 1.50 …left exam with 1 hour left and managed 75

[Anonymous]

@shawn in VA

You are definitely wrong about the time needed for Sims and this is not personal. Lol.

Candidates, make sure you leave AT LEAST 2 Hours for the REG Sims – No Lie!! 5 of my Sims were DRS with multiple complicated documents (again, no lie).

Everyone is different, but leaving less than 2 hours for REG Sims is not wise…

Goodluck everyone.

[emichelle2321]

I took it today. You need at a bare minimum 2 hours for SIMS. I’m certain I didn’t pass due to my neglect of BLaw and ethics but otherwise nothing came out of left field. Just my own fault thinking I could skimp on studying those areas.

[Author]

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