[krokofilen]

So I made it through the entire REG book in 40 study hours (which I think is safe to say was among the most dull 40 hours of my life). Does not feel like I picked up a whole lot from that, except identification of “trouble areas”. I did however take notes in a neat Excel format that I used for FAR, which ended up being 111 printed out pages… whohoo.

I now got about 150 study hours left, distributed over exactly 3 weeks before exam day.

My problem with REG is a) that I am completely fresh to anything relating to US taxes (being a non-American, and a non-tax professional) and b) that I also found taxes to be the most difficult and most boring topic back in college.

To sum up, REG will be a challenge for me, and I am just about to get started on my 3-week journey. My strategy is to cram NINJA MCQs, and review my notes simultaneously. I have not done any MCQs thus far, so I am not completely sure in how to tackle them. They are 1,867 in total, and with 150 hours I will for sure not have time to go through all of them twice, not even the ones I fail (taking into account that I will probably fail 50% or so since I am starting with the MCQs “from scratch”).

So… any recommendations out there in terms of appropriate MCQ cram strategies for REG? Would you do random, or topic by topic? What topics would you start with? Would you run new questions everytime, or do random (i.e. mixed unseen and seen questions)?

Thanks for any kind of advise. REG is really freaking me out due to the taxation stuff (especially taxation of individuals).

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[Anonymous]

I highly recommend printing out the 1040 form, and Schedule A. I would almost say it's mandatory. Any other 1040 schedule or any other tax form (e.g. partnership) can help, but aren't mandatory.

But the 1040 and Schedule A are MUST knows. It'll make the stuff less intimidating since you can see how everything is broken down (filing status, income, deductions to AGI, deductions from AGI, etc).

And I'm not saying memorize the 1040 and Schedule A. But know it enough so that instead of learning individual tax as this one giant blob of information, you're able to understand how an alimony from the side of a recipient is different from the side of the giver in terms of where it'll be on the 1040. It's really important to memorize the Schedule A IMO, since they test that a lot.

I hope you have Becker. Because they basically go through the content as it is in the 1040, and if you follow along with the 1040, it'll make things less intimidating.

[krokofilen]

I will print 1040.

Still not doing good at all, around 50% on new questions at this point. Got 12 days to go 🙁

What trending score did you have the last week?

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[krokofilen]

For AUD I was trending around 85% at this time, and for FAR around 80%.

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[Anonymous]

@krokofilen are you doing any Becker mcq? or your reading the Becker book and utilizing ninja mcq only?

[krokofilen]

aspiringcpa2014:

I read all chapters of Becker in 33 hours. It was not the best 33 hours of my life.

I then started with the NINJA MCQs, sort of topic by topic, but only 1/3 of the questions. Now reviewing notes before I continue with another 1/3 of the questions.

My strength is that I am dedicated, disciplined and structured in my studies. My weakness is that I hate taxation, and don't know anything (at all) about US taxation nor US business law.

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[krokofilen]

aspiringcpa2014:

I read all chapters of Becker in 33 hours. It was not the best 33 hours of my life.

I then started with the NINJA MCQs, sort of topic by topic, but only 1/3 of the questions. Now reviewing notes before I continue with another 1/3 of the questions.

My strength is that I am dedicated, disciplined and structured in my studies. My weakness is that I hate taxation, and don't know anything (at all) about US taxation nor US business law.

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[Anonymous]

Haha your not the only one who hates tax trust me! And if it makes you feel better the state I live in only required you to take ONE tax class for the cpa exam. I know many candidates have not taken a lot of tax classes. The exam is strictly from an academic perspective so you don't need experience to be able to pass the exam. I know your smart you will pass. Keep up the hard work and keep us posted!

[Kimboroni]

You've still got a lot of study hours left for it to click. Don't despair!

Great advice above about using tax forms for the big picture. Work through some by hand. I bet it will help. Also, while there are tax savings and whatnot, ultimately the goal for the IRS is to send as much money as possible to the government, so think of that while you are working through things. For example, if you can't remember what basis to use for gifts/donations/etc., usually it's the one that will result in a gain (taxable), rather than a loss. Things like that.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[krokofilen]

Up at 68-72% now, individual taxation yet to come though (planned to go through notes on Friday and do 150 MCQs or so on Saturday).

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

[Author]

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