[K_Sunshine5]

Hi A71!

Ok, so the reason for this post is to try to get some motivation/advice to study for REG. I passed FAR back in February and recently took AUD a couple weeks ago and am feeling like I passed, but it’s the CPA exam so you never know until you get your score! I took a week off from studying and started on REG this past Sunday. I’m not sure what is going on but I just cannot muster up the motivation to study like I did with AUD. I think it’s that REG scares me. I’m not a tax or business law person at all and quite frankly, I am dreading this section.

Another thing that probably isn’t helping is that I am using Yaeger and it has been great for FAR and AUD but Phil Yaeger gets under my skin (and he’s the only one that teaches REG). He drives me absolutely nuts sometimes. He is always messing something up or saying something wrong. It just irks me. Needless to say, I’m having a hard time learning from him. The thing that has really helped so far are the REG Ninja notes which I am reading and will start copying soon.

I plan on taking REG July 14th. My goal is to get 160 hours done by then but at this rate, I might have to push back the exam if I don’t get my butt in gear! Maybe it will be easier/better as I go along?

With all that being said, I think REG will definitely be my hardest section. Even harder than FAR was for me. Does anyone have any advice and/or motivational words? Am I the only one that feels like this about REG? Or is it mostly a general consensus that REG is difficult and crazy? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks everyone and good luck to everyone taking exams this quarter!

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Serena]

REG has been my nemesis. I have taken it 3 times and I am waiting on my score for the third time. Having put myself through the torture so many times, I feel I have some advice to give.

First, don't tell yourself you can push back the exam. Just stick with the test date you chose and adjust your schedule and make any sacrifices you have to to stay on track. You definitely have plenty of time to get thru all the material by July. Use the ELL method. In fact, you may be givin yourself too much time and you risk getting burned out or forgetting things you studied at the beginning.

Yes, it's hard, but trust me, you don't want to (or have to) take it as many times as I did.

Second, Using the ninja notes is a good step. If you hate your review material, it's possible to just toss it aside and use the notes and just work a ton of MCQs. When you find yourself not understanding a topic, go back to your book or review material to read about it in depth. When you miss questions, read the explanations and make your own notes about it. I guarantee you will learn a lot more from the questions you miss if you do this.

Third, listen to Jeff's podcasts. They are great motivation and will provide advice you didn't even think to ask for.

Lastly, the sections you are most afraid of (tax and b-law) you should give extra attention to so that you become comfortable with them. Drill the MCQs. Rewrite the notes.

I personally never used a video course for any section… Just ninja audio, ninja notes, and a test bank with a reference book for in depth explanations. And yes, I have had to take reg 3x but I blame myself for not becoming comfortable with business law and studying smarter.

Good luck to ya!

AZ
AUD - 10/20/2011 - 77
BEC - 7/28/2012 - 79
FAR - 4/6/2013 - 79
REG - 4/18/2013 - 75 (3rd time's a charm!)

[K_Sunshine5]

Thanks so much Serena! Definitely all good advice! I think I'm going to give the ELL plan a try. The hardest part for me is the morning since I am a horrible morning person lol. But this exam calls for a lot of dedication so I just have to force myself to wake up early to study. I think I'll feel much better being able to get an hour in before I start my day. Again, thanks for your advice! Crossing my fingers that you get a passing score this time and never have to look at REG again :)!

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[smp73]

I second everything Serena said about REG. I, too, am waiting for my score for a 3rd time. The first time I gave myself WAY too much time to study and I ended up forgetting a lot. Stick to that date. It is hard to get yourself out of bed early to study but you will feel accomplished by the time you get to work.

Good Luck!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[Serena]

I am not a morning person either, but with a family and a job, mornings became crucial to getting more practice in. Even if it isn't the full hour, you will feel better that you got in some bonus time.

Smp, fingers crossed for you too! I took reg on the 18th so we will have to find each other on here again on score release day.

AZ
AUD - 10/20/2011 - 77
BEC - 7/28/2012 - 79
FAR - 4/6/2013 - 79
REG - 4/18/2013 - 75 (3rd time's a charm!)

[J]

As much as Phil Yaeger might drive you crazy (and he does screw around a little bit in tax) and irk you with his “now… then… it says here” kind of stuff, he prepares you well for REG. I took REG last Friday and although I am fairly sure that I screwed up myself, it wasn't Phil Yaeger's fault. There wasn't a question on the exam regarding material that I had not seen before, and I really think he does a GREAT job with the business law material.

My biggest issue with REG (and I did mention this in a previous post) is the simulations come out of nowhere on topics that I would judge as trivial, or certainly not stuff that would accurately represent the knowledge of an “entry level CPA”. I'm sure you're going to see at least a couple on there that make you think… “there is no way that I could have adequately prepared for this”.

Anyway, good luck. In hindsight, I actually believe that REG was by far the “easiest” of the three parts that I have done thus far, yet surely the part on which I fared the worst. I was very well prepared and just had one of those days where I do not think that I got it done… but it's a very doable exam.

[K_Sunshine5]

Thank you so much everyone! @Inter, that makes me feel better about Phil. I will definitely need good preparation for this section. Hopefully I feel the same way you do about Phil when this is all over!

Also, do you all think that 12 weeks is too much? I am aiming for 160 hours which is about 13 or so hours per week if I were to study for 12 weeks (I work full time and have a one year old so I'm quite busy). I know that with FAR I gave myself 16 weeks and agree with Serena that is might be TOO MUCH time. I ended up forgetting what I learned early on too. I'm just afraid I won't be able to get enough study time in if I take it at the beginning of July…

FAR: 65, 77!
AUD: 72, 72, 80!
REG: 64, 84!
BEC: 83!
Ethics: 98!

Delaware CPA as of May 23, 2014 at 10:43am EST.

"She believed she could, so she did."

[Author]

Replies