[Anonymous]

Is it just me that keeps wondering how people pass REG? Currently using Becker and I just feel like I am not retaining the material AT ALL. I am on Chapter 3 right now..corporate taxes …alot of material to digest.. I didn’t thoroughly understand chapter 1 and 2 but I moved on hoping to come back later. My test is currently scheduled for third week of November.. I am starting to panic might not have time to go through chapter 1 and 2. People keep telling me to keep moving, but how can I move on if I don’t understand the material. I am doing poorly on the homework problems.. Please I need suggestions..For those that passed how did you study?? HELP HELP!

[nevertoolate]

@Texan_Stuck_In_OK – I am also using CPAExcel while supplementing with Ninja Audio on my commutes. I am schedule to take REG on 11/24 after having to postpone. I am finishing up business law and will start tax next week. So far I am retaining the information well. CPAExcel tends to repeat information within each section but they seem to build on to each other. I don't mind spending more time reviewing repeating information so long as the time I put in helps me pass the exam.

REG - 68, 81
FAR - June 2016
AUD - 58, 63, 84
BEC - 71, 79

CPAexcel (Gold), Ninja Audio, and Ninja MCQ

"Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful"

[Texan_Stuck_In_OK]

@CPA50 what cram course did you get…I would really love to get this over with!

@nevertoolate I usually watch the video, then do the EQs in study mode first so I can see all the rationale why an answer is right or wrong, then do the EQ in exam mode. Then move on to the next section. I think I'm at about the same place you are: I'm just finishing up Article 9. This stuff is so dry!!

A 88, B 76, F 84, R 76 Passed 2014

Licensed in OK

[Skynet]

I'm studying for REG right now. The only thing I will say is that study the Taxes, Taxes, Taxes. Figure to spend 80% of the time on taxes and the other 20% on Bus Law. Majority of the mcq's and sims are on Taxes. So make sure you know them well especially the Tax forms. Print them out and study them.

[Uhartsoccer21]

You have to commit the tax laws to memory, like each adjustment / itemized deduction for individuals, how there treated, how to compute deduction, which Form and which section of the Form they appear on, AMT is tough but try to let it stick; same for different business entities. This will require writing a lot of notes, and making connections between them so they stick in your head. I would worry about understanding the material before doing crazy amounts of MCQ.

A - 89 10/23/2014
R - 90 2/27/2014
F - 75 5/25/2014
B - 83 8/28/2014

[thelawnwranglers]

just so you know you can work becker MCQ on a tablet or smartphone

[taxgeek83]

Skynet hit it on the head – print out the tax forms and their related schedules and study them. 1040, 1120, 1120S and 1065. I've been working with this stuff for years so I have it down pretty well, but it was all Greek to me when I first started learning, and I found that studying the forms and working with them helped.

I don't know if your (or my for that matter) materials have any mock tax returns, but if not, try Googling some outside resources to get ahold of some. Working through the forms will teach you how they operate, and hopefully make a lot more of the deductions/etc. make more sense conceptually than just trying to memorize everything.

[Texan_Stuck_In_OK]

@taxgeek

Are you talking about forms already filled in with examples, or could I go to irs.gov and print blank forms?

Thanks for the advice!!

A 88, B 76, F 84, R 76 Passed 2014

Licensed in OK

[nevertoolate]

@taxgeek83 – thanks for the advice. Once I'm in the tax section I'll try using that method of working on mock tax returns. I am truly trying to understand the material and not just memorize. Especially when working EQ's; I try and understand why a choice is right, but also understanding why the others are wrong and linking them to the material. Thanks again – sound advice.

REG - 68, 81
FAR - June 2016
AUD - 58, 63, 84
BEC - 71, 79

CPAexcel (Gold), Ninja Audio, and Ninja MCQ

"Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful"

[taxgeek83]

I would see if you can find some problems out there that you can work. Do you have an old tax book? There might be some good mock scenarios in there that you can work using current tax law (rates, deductions in effect, etc.). Here are a few links:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4491w.pdf

The first is this year's VITA practice book. The answers in the back apparently use 2012 software; rates, etc. will be different for your exam, but it will give you a good starting point as far as figuring out where things go on the return.

https://apps.irs.gov/app/understandingTaxes/student/simulations.jsp

The second is a link to “Understanding Taxes” portion of the IRS website. There are a few scenarios in there that you can work through. It looks pretty basic but might be a jumping off point if you are starting totally from scratch.

https://tax.cchgroup.com/downloads/files/contemporary-tax-practice/M1-Partnership-Taxation/T1-Partnerships-General-Formation-Issues/A-Legal-Formalities.asp

The third is a link to a CCH lesson on partnerships. It has some lessons and quizzes. Again, fairly basic but a good jumping off point.

Finally, if you can't find any mock scenarios, I'd highly recommend printing out the forms from the IRS website and studying them. Most should come with line-by-line instructions, so that might help you understand them.

[Anonymous]

Thank you all for the tips. Good luck to everyone here. hopefully we can report back with good news. Please feel free to share any new tips/ discoveries anything. It was really helpful reading these suggestions. I think I will stick my Becker material for now. I also have the roger cram which I will use for review later. Good luck once again everyone!

[thechapman]

I didn't do any MCQs for the 3 business law chapters, so I had more time to focus on tax…my score is below. Just another perspective

Passed - 2014

[Anonymous]

I just finished the lectures for Chapters 3 and 4 and now time to pound the MCQs. I am using Becker, supplemented with Ninja notes. My test is one month from today and the pressure is on as I have an expiring score at the end of November. It also doesn't help I am a nervous wreck anticipating November 3rd and my FAR score 🙁

[funtimesNOT]

Hey guys….I am also using CPAexcel. I started with tax and for the most part it made since (I had a great tax teacher) that being said I went back to get a taste of Blaw and I hit a wall. I JUST don't get it! It is like German. I had a plan to do tax on weekend and blaw on weekdays (after 10 hour work) but the blaw is just to hard to retain after a 10 hour day at work! I don't know what to do!

AUDIT - 79
FAR - 64, 77
BEC - 69, 71,79 - DONE!
REG - 60, 75

Nothing in the 80s ; however, I worked full time the whole time! (like 10 hour days) so it can be done 🙂

[Author]

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