[WantToBeDone]

Hi All,

I’m a first time poster but have lurking around here for several months.

I received my second consecutive fail on REG yesterday, and have been feeling very bummed out and lacking motivation. I have already passed BEC and AUD, and am scheduled to take FAR on Aug 31 (although I am not too confident about being able to pass in this time period.)

My question is, I’ve used Becker self study and Wiley questions to supplement. I got a 60 on my first REG score and a 61 the second time. What bothers me the most, is that I felt much more confident walking out of the exam the second time, and I only scored 1 point higher. I’m not sure what else I can do. I was thinking of adding some new study material in, switching up my study location to get more quality hours/less distractions, etc. Can anyone recommend what they thought was the best study material for REG? I really thought I understood it this time 🙁

Thanks!!

BEC - 80
AUD - 85
FAR - 76
REG - 75

[Anonymous]

Don't give up. Take it again. You only have 2 more to left.

[Anonymous]

Dont give up… you are almost there…Fight..!

[goodluck2everyone2]

Let me say that I was in EXACTLY the same boat as you.

Had BEC and AUD done. Had just failed REG for the second consecutive time (improved only 2 points) and had FAR coming up for the first time.

This is what you do. You go absolutely medieval on FAR, pass it first try, and review REG again as if it was your first time studying it. This is what I did and I was able to pass those last two tests in a row.

cool story bro

[WantToBeDone]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the support.

It takes a few days to gain some confidence back after a fail. I have decided to change up my study ways a bit. I am going to stay late in the office to study – I think home has been a little too comfortable, and I would take too many breaks for snacks and to chat with the boyfriend quickly. The office will hopefully keep me focused – afterall, I am there to get things done, it is far from pleasure.

I was also focused too much on what everyone else was doing to pass, not what's best for me. Sure, banging out thousands of MC's helps, but not until I have the groundwork down first. With that comes a lot of reading of the book and practicing of SIMS (always my weakest point.)

I am going to try my best to pass FAR on Aug. 31st – that would be a huge boost just to get done to that final one. After that, a REG retake in Q4 with the new change in study plan.

Hopefully it works out!

BEC - 80
AUD - 85
FAR - 76
REG - 75

[jw_83]

I also just found out that I failed REG for the second time, the first time with a 64 and the second time with a 72. I was so sure I passed this second time around. I used CPAExcel and CPAreviewforfree.com. I am unsure of what to do now. Should I start studying for the next section I was planning on taking which is FAR, or continue to study for REG and retake it. REG is the only test I have taken. Feeling really discouraged right now. Not really sure how I should go about to restudy for it. Should I purchase another review course? Any advice is appreciated.

REG - 64, 72, 81!
FAR - 77
AUD - 79
BEC - 72, 79! And Done!

[mena je twa]

Understand the material really really well… Go in this exam to score a high 90's….72 is not that bad, your knowledge is there, all you need is ironing out some weak points and hoping for a better testlet of questions and simulations next time around….I bet your performance report must have said weaker in simulations….

On the other hand Wanttobe done………You need to understand the material much more better. Or may be you are falling trap to some trick questions…Do a variety of questions , and understand the flow of the tax returns…

Just go at it again and try a different approach next time around. What ever yOU are doing its not working since you are scoring in the 60's, change your method, change your review…or your study pattern…

Goodluck

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[Anonymous]

I agree with the above, go into the test thinking that you have perfected ALL of the material. Don't go in hoping that you will pass even though you know you have deficiencies. For me, that means comfortably scoring in the high 80s if not 90s on all of the homework. With this strategy, you are more or less assured passing absent a huge freak out at the test center or something. On the other hand, the other strategy is just a toss up where you'll likely end up having to retake some tests.

[Anonymous]

I agree with everyone's posts above. Take few days off, and get back at it. I passed REG on 3rd try. Reading the text twice and workings lots of MCQs/SIMs helped me pass!!

[Anonymous]

[lrj]

If you've failed twice, you should have a very good sense of your weak areas. Use this to your advantage. Stop doing large quantities of MCQs and do a surgical strike on your weak points.

1) Get your academic textbook and reread the relevant chapters. The CPA review books will probably only confuse you further at this point.

2) Don't do MCQs, do short-answer and analytic problems out of the textbook, focusing on the areas you're weakest in. Your goal is to build deeper conceptual understanding of the material, which will make MCQs easier.

3) Once you've done that, do a round of MCQs on that area, but don't go crazy and do 1000. The idea with MCQs is to check your understanding. If you've done 60 and you're not getting 80%+ right, go back and do more calculation problems. More MCQs would just be beating your head against the wall.

For your stronger areas, make a list of the details you need to remember, cram on that, then pound out a bunch of MCQs to solidify the knowledge.

Good luck! REG is harder, IMO, than the others. FAR covers a lot of material but at least it all makes sense, REG is mostly arbitrary.

FAR 92 1/3/12
AUD 93 2/2/12
BEC 89 2/28/12
REG 86 7/16/12

Waiting on REG

[jw_83]

Irj and cardinalhoya, you both have pretty high scores. What review materials are you using. I was thinking of switching to something else for FAR.

REG - 64, 72, 81!
FAR - 77
AUD - 79
BEC - 72, 79! And Done!

[jw_83]

Irj and cardinalhoya, you both have pretty high scores. What review materials are you using. I was thinking of switching to something else for FAR.

REG - 64, 72, 81!
FAR - 77
AUD - 79
BEC - 72, 79! And Done!

[lrj]

I used Becker. IMO, I wouldn't recommend one review course over another. My strategy was (with the exception of AUD where it obviously wouldn't have worked) was to rely on the class textbooks more than review courses. I'd go through the Becker lecture, then get out my Intermediate Accounting textbook (or whatever was relevant, but I spent most of my time with that one) and do the homework from the relevant chapter, so I knew the concepts as well as possible. Then do a bunch of MCQs, then assess my weak points and the parts of the lecture most likely to be on the test and go brush up on those.

Doing lots of MCQs is useful if you know the material and need to hammer it into your brain (which makes it an absolutely essential step for making sure your strong areas remain strong), but it won't teach you anything new. If you have a truly weak point, you don't need review, you need relearning. That sounds intimidating but it won't actually take as long as 1000 MCQs. Think of it this way–you probably had at least one bad professor, or tuned out at least one day in class, and never really learned that part of the material. Given that you passed some parts, you're clearly at least somewhat intelligent and you know how you think. If you focus, you can teach yourself whatever it is that you never learned properly the first time. If you're still confused, post a specific question here–someone is sure to be able to explain it to you in a way that will click.

For me, bonds and leases were that topic. The prof that taught me those did everything from real financial statements and never went over the journal entries and basic calculations. I was completely lost the first time through Becker, but I reread the chapters and did the homework and it started to make sense.

FAR 92 1/3/12
AUD 93 2/2/12
BEC 89 2/28/12
REG 86 7/16/12

Waiting on REG

[nearly_there]

@ lrj this is the first time I heard advice to use class textbooks. That's pretty hard core. I have an excellent accounting book from college, but my only concern would be that you might end up learning a whole bunch of stuff not tested, or not in the format that it's tested it. So I would say that its pretty risky. Glad it worked for you though.

Also for REG that's a definate no no, unless you are planning to by the most up-to-date books. Because tax laws change all the time.

FAR - 85 November 2011
AUD - 81 January 2012
REG - 68 March 2012
BEC - 86 April 2012
REG - 92 July 2012

[mla1169]

I know how you feel, but now that I'm done I can tell you it's like childbirth and you DO forget the pain! For my 3rd shot at AUD, I grudgingly followed Jeff's advice and rewrote my notes multiple times. I was dead set against it because I disagreed with the logic but I was willing to try anything. Heh, it worked!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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