[alabe]

Took REG today.. not feeling the best about the exam. Anyone else think it was harder than the others? I’ve taken all but audit thus far. After each test I just feel so defeated studying for so long and still feeling like I don’t know hardly any of the material confidently. Really hoping I’m not the only one.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 79
FAR - 75
REG - 75

So close to becoming a CPA!

[Anonymous]

I found REG ridiculously challenging. It is the lowest score I have received thus far: 65. Too much random information with crazy rules and exceptions. I thought it was much harder than FAR and probably had more random information too.

Hoping for a pass on my retake.

Goodluck and know you are not alone!!

[Anthony]

I found it to be the hardest out of the four parts even though it was the highest of my scores. Just nonstop DRS/enhanced sims up the ass when I took it.

AUD - 82
BEC - 80
FAR - 81
REG - 82

FAR - 74 first attempt

[Anonymous]

REG is the worst. I'm studying for a retake now and it makes me wanna vomit. Just finished studying FAR and I didn't feel like that at all, but transitioning now back to REG and all I can say is YUCK 😛

[jenpen]

I took REG on Monday. I've been on this journey for 2.5 years now, and this was the only part I passed on the first try. After re-taking it on Monday, I have no idea how I managed to do that.

I feel like I did ok, I just don't know if I did ok enough to get a 75. I was completely caught off guard on the SIMs and basically guessed on at least 2 of them. I've kind of got it in my head that I'll be taking it again, but I figure as long as I get one pass this window (I take BEC next month) then I'll be fine.

AUD - 85
BEC - 84
FAR - 82
REG - 78

Ethics - 95
Licensed in IL & MO

AUD - 56 - 68 - 61 - 9/8/16
REG - 75
FAR - 7/15/16
BEC - TBD

Wiley CPAexcel and NINJA 10 Point Combo

[Anonymous]

Me too! For some reason tax has always been something that just doesn't click with me. Literally the night before the exam I found out some rule I thought applied to one thing was actually for another thing like how did I miss that the whole 5 months I've been studying REG! I wish I had taken REG first. I heard so much about how hard FAR is, and I wanted to do the hardest one first. At least with FAR there were real conceptual ideas going on behind the calculations. REG is so many random rules put in place just for funsies.

I took REG a few weeks ago, got two easy MCQ testlets. The SIMs didn't seem terrible, but with this one that seems to be a bad sign around here. I'm planning to retake with a different review company after I do BEC. It's nice to hear others agree. So many people hear I solidly passed FAR and AUD and just go “Oh REG will be so easy for you then.” Even the Prometric proctor said that! They don't understand lol

[GAPilot715]

I took REG 10/31. I also felt it to be very challenging. I don't do tax, so I knew this was going to be an obstacle for me. I felt going into the exam that I was sufficiently prepared (as much as can reasonably be expected for these exams). I wasn't surprised by anything on the exam.

With FAR and AUD, I never really noticed a difference in the level of difficulty between the MCQ testlets, with REG I noticed a considerable difference in the level of complexity and difficulty. I really had to work in the second testlet. SIMs weren't impossible. There were some instances of “tricks” where you could get caught off guard if you didn't know the rules or read all the information given.

You never can tell with these exams. I was real iffy about whether or not I passed FAR, and I did well. I feel the same way about REG. I'm certain I didn't bomb it, but I feel like it could go either way. But it's over now, all you can do is move on and await the score release. Good luck everyone!

Licensed CPA

 

FAR - 92

AUD - 92

REG - 86

BEC - 91

 

[CPA2BEE]

If you don't work in tax, I could really see how REG might be the toughest exam. But keep in mind, an exam that seems very tough can be a good sign! The exams where I walked out saying “There is no way I passed” ended up being my highest scores, and when I thought I did well I failed. The CPA exam is a mysterious beast that works in a weird way. Easier said than done, but try not to sweat it until you get your score. The exam is done and your score will be whatever it will be!

CA CPA - est. Dec 2016

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Anonymous]

I just don't get tax. I mean, there is no rhyme to the reason. If you are good at remembering a bunch of random little pieces of information then you can do well with tax, but it's literally one of the most robotic, unfulfilling, and soul-sucking professions and study material around!

With FAR at least there are concepts and theories and reasons for why things are the way they are. Tax on the other hand is almost completely arbitrarily random and BLAH….lol.

Most of my experience is in audit but I do have about 2-3 years of tax experience as well. A robot can literally replace a tax accountant very easily and I'm sure that's actually happening more and more with the software and automated processes coming out.

[chitown87]

For those of you who walked out of REG thinking it was the hardest of the exams, what were your thoughts walking in?

Did you feel as though you were prepared? Did you expect it to be as hard as it was? Something else?

I started studying for REG 2.5 weeks ago. It will be my first section; I decided to take it first as I thought it might be the most challenging for me due to having audit and financial accounting experience but no tax. However, with 60 hours of studying under my belt, I am feeling more confident and like the material is “clicking” for me. My trending score on Surgent is 86% and that's without really getting into the business law section yet.

I'm just not sure if this is false confidence or what, especially since I have not yet taken a single section of the exam and don't know what to really expect.

I'd really like to take REG the first week of December, but am not sure if I should wait until January to take it then.

Thanks!

[tygolfer]

To me, FAR was the hardest exam I took, but REG was the hardest to prepare for. There is just as much if not more information than FAR, and the material is dry. Luckily I actually really enjoyed my business law class in school, so that didn't take long to relearn. I agree with Brickell, tax is super random and there is no rhyme or reason for they way things are. Tax is just super dry, and a ton of info, but I found once I knew the information it was much easier to apply to questions than FAR.

I would recommend using the AL as much as possible for REG, I can almost guarantee it increased my score at least 5-10 points by using the AL for SIMS.

AUD - 92
BEC - 84
FAR - 77
REG - 89

MDS CPA Review and Ninja MCQ for final review 2 weeks prior to each exam

 

[Anonymous]

The biggest problem with REG is that some of the Review Courses inadequately prepare a candidate for the brutal Sims – at least BECKER did not prepare me. My Sims almost required a candidate to have experience actually working in the Tax Profession rather than learning from a Review Course. I admit that there were some holes in my studying, but looking back the Sims were still very random and a few were barely touched in Becker. I had to scour the IRC and ask questions on A71 to get clarification about what the examiners really wanted because I could not find the answers in Becker’s book, MCQ, or Sims – no lie.

I don’t mean to scare anyone with the Sims but that was my experience. If you work in tax or are strong in tax you may not have the problems I faced. All I can do now is pick myself back up, work out my weaker areas, and really try to conceptualize certain areas of the IRC with diagrams and formulas.

Goodluck everyone.

[alabe]

See tax is the line of accounting that I enjoy and I enjoyed studying for the exam and the material I learned. FAR is by the worst material to study for me. I have a retake coming up. But I agree felt like I bombed BEC and passed thought I did good on FAR and failed miserably. So I still have a little bit of hope, but am prepared to retake it. I felt good going in, averaged a 75 or above on all the progress test I took through Becker. Just felt like the whole exam tested on such minuscule topics. But like everyone said what my score is, it is. So I’ll either pass or retake. At this point I’ll studying as much as I have to get all four parts of this passed and over with. Can’t wait to have my free time back!

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 79
FAR - 75
REG - 75

So close to becoming a CPA!

[alabe]

I do agree that I feel like Becker did not adequately prepare you for the exam. I’ve felt like this on all parts I’ve taken. I don’t know if it’s how I’m studying or just the course not clicking with me.

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - 79
FAR - 75
REG - 75

So close to becoming a CPA!

[GAPilot715]

As far as review systems go, Gleim will make you hate your life for REG, but I think it did a very good job of preparing me for REG SIMs. The Gleim SIMs are comparable to some degree, but I think the practice MCQs hit you so hard that it sets you up to do well on SIMs. The Gleim MCQs are so difficult and complex, working the actual test SIMs seems bearable. Gleim also has a lot of good DRS SIMs that are very accurate compared to the real thing.

Licensed CPA

 

FAR - 92

AUD - 92

REG - 86

BEC - 91

 

[TommyTheCat]

im with you alabe, i enjoy tax and its really interesting stuff as a profession. Its very logical and if you enjoy working closely in the field of law tax can be enjoyable without having to pursue the full gamut to get your JD. Its fascinating working with high level tax attorneys on the gnarly messes people get themselves into.

its also really neat getting to help people legally save hundreds of thousands or even miliions in taxes that they can save for their family or for plowing into their business. I know lots of folks dont like REG or tax specifically and to each their own, but those that downplay it as some meaningless or robotic professional probably have never tried it or never got good enough at it to get to the more interesting levels.

Im also enjoying FAR much more than studying for AUD, FAR is very logic driven like tax.

AUD - 85
BEC - 89
FAR - 91
REG - 97

[Author]

Replies