[megasaurus]

My FAR credit will be on the line if I don’t pass REG in Q2. I’ve passed the other 3 exams and I need to put this thing to bed. I just received my 2nd REG fail. Both were a 67. I’m dumbfounded, as I’ve never stayed the same or regressed with retakes. I either pass or show significant improvement. Now I’m stunned and questioning everything I’ve been doing. I did Jeff’s ELL plan, got through the material and reviewed. It wasn’t perfect (clearly) I was working at least 50hrs every week w/ busy season being in full swing and my husband was laid off 3 weeks before my exam. I was definitely not at my best mentally, and I own that.

So, busy season wraps up 3/15 for me. I’m pissed off and ready for a fight, I want to make sure I pass and not just pass, but kill it. For those of you who have done that, what did you do? I’ve got 2mths. I want to make it count. I’ve got Becker, Ninja audio and Ninja Notes.

Thanks in advance!

[QuesoDip]

I just took REG and it was also my first exam and attempt.

Do you know what your weak areas are? Work on those – know them inside and out, left to right, midway to start and start to midway and end.

Since you have Becker, make sure you do ALL the MCQs and at least touch the tax SIMS once or twice. I found that Becker did a pretty good job on some areas while lacking in some topics. Your weak areas may be the ones Becker didn't do a good job in (in my opinion anyways). Also invest some cash in the Wiley Test Bank if you haven't done so already. Do all the questions and understand them. Take your time through the ones you're unsure about. Even if you got a question correct – click the wrong answers and understand why the answer is wrong. I found this specially useful in situations where I narrowed it down to 2 choices and got lucky on my guess.

There are a few areas which I heavily focused on and I think contributed to my score. Since you won't be retaking it until 5/15 you can afford to spend time diving deep into your problem areas. I had particular difficulty understanding AMT and Trust/Estate taxation. The Wiley TB helped me through this more so than Becker. Don't be afraid to spend some quality time in a single topic if you don't fully understand it. Time is not really your enemy here, you have 2 months to basically review and improve on your knowledge, you've already seen most of the material at least twice before. Don't forget to continuously “review” other parts also. You may know the requirements to claim someone as a dependent today but you might forget them in 6 weeks.

It's super important to focus on Tax since it makes up the bulk of the exam, but I think the B. Law portion provides for quick and easy points you can almost steal if you've spent more time on it than the next person. Professional ethics and standards is also another section which provides for quick and easy points. I know I saw several questions on my exam that dealt with B. Law that I would bet my score that 90% of other test takers got wrong because they were maybe half a sentence in an obscure page somewhere that Becker didn't even review. Seeing all the Becker and WTB questions for B. Law will help you tackle almost anything they throw at you.

Once you feel as ready as you can be knowledge-wise, hammer out MCQs between Wiley and Becker until your eyes bleed. Do progress tests of 20-30 questions from all the sections, take an actual exam on Wiley every 2-3 weeks or so. Keep touching all the material and never give up. You can and you will do this. Forget about practicing the simulations in the software, MCQs will better prepare you. If you can answer the MCQs you can pull the information together on a SIM. Don't skip seemingly odd tax topics – pretend you will see a question on every single item you study, that will motivate you to really learn it. Don't skip out on anything because it's hard, defer it at most. Sometimes I looked at AMT and it looked like a foreign language. I had been studying for hours and didn't have the energy to put any more thought into it. Put the book away and look at it first next time.

My controller recommended this to me. Pull up a 1040 and trace all the schedules to it. Have a firm idea of how everything is related and gets how it is pulled into the 1040. I found this exercise to really help me out in understanding individual taxation. Now do the same thing for the corporate book to tax reconciliations. You said your busy season is wrapping up, that means you're currently working. Do you ever see your client's financial statements? Quiz yourself on what you would have to do with them if your manager asked you to prepare their tax return. What schedules would you have to fill out? What's the form called? What goes on the form? What line items go where? How are they classified? If you can do this, you've pretty much covered almost all of tax. Now review partnership taxation and anything else that reviewing the 1040 and your exercise at work didn't provide for.

Don't think you don't have time to do all of this, you can do it. I did it. I work 50 hours a week while attending a masters program and I still pump out 20-30 hours of studying a week. There are others like me and like you on here who have done it and you will do it too.

Post any questions pertaining to topics you can't understand. I've derived a lot of value from this board in terms of understanding concepts and seeing things a different way. I must have looked at 5 to 6 different explanations of AMT before it finally clicked.

REG - 88 - 8 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio/Flashcards, Wiley TB)
FAR - 87 - 10 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio)
AUD - 98 - 6 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio, Ninja MCQ)
BEC - 87 - 2 Weeks (Becker & Ninja Audio)

[QuesoDip]

I just took REG and it was also my first exam and attempt.

Do you know what your weak areas are? Work on those – know them inside and out, left to right, midway to start and start to midway and end.

Since you have Becker, make sure you do ALL the MCQs and at least touch the tax SIMS once or twice. I found that Becker did a pretty good job on some areas while lacking in some topics. Your weak areas may be the ones Becker didn't do a good job in (in my opinion anyways). Also invest some cash in the Wiley Test Bank if you haven't done so already. Do all the questions and understand them. Take your time through the ones you're unsure about. Even if you got a question correct – click the wrong answers and understand why the answer is wrong. I found this specially useful in situations where I narrowed it down to 2 choices and got lucky on my guess.

There are a few areas which I heavily focused on and I think contributed to my score. Since you won't be retaking it until 5/15 you can afford to spend time diving deep into your problem areas. I had particular difficulty understanding AMT and Trust/Estate taxation. The Wiley TB helped me through this more so than Becker. Don't be afraid to spend some quality time in a single topic if you don't fully understand it. Time is not really your enemy here, you have 2 months to basically review and improve on your knowledge, you've already seen most of the material at least twice before. Don't forget to continuously “review” other parts also. You may know the requirements to claim someone as a dependent today but you might forget them in 6 weeks.

It's super important to focus on Tax since it makes up the bulk of the exam, but I think the B. Law portion provides for quick and easy points you can almost steal if you've spent more time on it than the next person. Professional ethics and standards is also another section which provides for quick and easy points. I know I saw several questions on my exam that dealt with B. Law that I would bet my score that 90% of other test takers got wrong because they were maybe half a sentence in an obscure page somewhere that Becker didn't even review. Seeing all the Becker and WTB questions for B. Law will help you tackle almost anything they throw at you.

Once you feel as ready as you can be knowledge-wise, hammer out MCQs between Wiley and Becker until your eyes bleed. Do progress tests of 20-30 questions from all the sections, take an actual exam on Wiley every 2-3 weeks or so. Keep touching all the material and never give up. You can and you will do this. Forget about practicing the simulations in the software, MCQs will better prepare you. If you can answer the MCQs you can pull the information together on a SIM. Don't skip seemingly odd tax topics – pretend you will see a question on every single item you study, that will motivate you to really learn it. Don't skip out on anything because it's hard, defer it at most. Sometimes I looked at AMT and it looked like a foreign language. I had been studying for hours and didn't have the energy to put any more thought into it. Put the book away and look at it first next time.

My controller recommended this to me. Pull up a 1040 and trace all the schedules to it. Have a firm idea of how everything is related and gets how it is pulled into the 1040. I found this exercise to really help me out in understanding individual taxation. Now do the same thing for the corporate book to tax reconciliations. You said your busy season is wrapping up, that means you're currently working. Do you ever see your client's financial statements? Quiz yourself on what you would have to do with them if your manager asked you to prepare their tax return. What schedules would you have to fill out? What's the form called? What goes on the form? What line items go where? How are they classified? If you can do this, you've pretty much covered almost all of tax. Now review partnership taxation and anything else that reviewing the 1040 and your exercise at work didn't provide for.

Don't think you don't have time to do all of this, you can do it. I did it. I work 50 hours a week while attending a masters program and I still pump out 20-30 hours of studying a week. There are others like me and like you on here who have done it and you will do it too.

Post any questions pertaining to topics you can't understand. I've derived a lot of value from this board in terms of understanding concepts and seeing things a different way. I must have looked at 5 to 6 different explanations of AMT before it finally clicked.

REG - 88 - 8 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio/Flashcards, Wiley TB)
FAR - 87 - 10 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio)
AUD - 98 - 6 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio, Ninja MCQ)
BEC - 87 - 2 Weeks (Becker & Ninja Audio)

[Anonymous]

Queso, great writeup!!!

[Anonymous]

Queso, great writeup!!!

[jlondon]

@QuesoDip Excellent Post!

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[jlondon]

@QuesoDip Excellent Post!

BEC: 69, 57, 72, 73, (anticipated for 4/4/2015)
AUD: 65, 63, 74, 84!!! (expires 7/31/2015)
FAR: 63, 57, (scheduled for 4/1/2015)
REG: ... 42, (Anticipated to be around 5/20~)

-Every Set Back is a Set Up for a Major Come Back #motivation

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed." - Michael Jordan

"You are not your past, but the resources and capabilities you glean from it" -Jordan Belfort

[Anonymous]

Thanks for such a great post. I am two weeks into studying reg and it is a LOT to take in. I'm trying to eat this whale one bite at a time… Hoping to test by the end of May.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for such a great post. I am two weeks into studying reg and it is a LOT to take in. I'm trying to eat this whale one bite at a time… Hoping to test by the end of May.

[megasaurus]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the tips and the encouragement. I'm still feeling pretty overwhelmed, especially at the of losing FAR. But like Jeff says, I can pout or get mad. I know which is the correct answer.

I'm thinking about buying Wiley to supplement my Becker materials. It can't hurt, and I think the novelty of it will ensure I'm not just memorizing the Becker questions since I just recently went through all of the MCQs.

Thanks again and please keep the study tips/plans coming. I'll take anything I can get to slay this beast.

[megasaurus]

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the tips and the encouragement. I'm still feeling pretty overwhelmed, especially at the of losing FAR. But like Jeff says, I can pout or get mad. I know which is the correct answer.

I'm thinking about buying Wiley to supplement my Becker materials. It can't hurt, and I think the novelty of it will ensure I'm not just memorizing the Becker questions since I just recently went through all of the MCQs.

Thanks again and please keep the study tips/plans coming. I'll take anything I can get to slay this beast.

[RayHCPA]

Megasaurus – I totally feel your pain. REG was my biggest nightmare! I don't know why it was so difficult for me but I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I hate taxation and don't do this type of work for a living.

My first try was 8/13 and I scored a 67. That time I took Becker live courses and study software but it was a very busy time for me so I wasn't mentally prepared. The second time I had to take it two weeks after FAR in 12/13 because I was trying to beat the CA licensing pathway change. I literally studied for only two days prior. I scored a 73, which was devastating. I seriously wanted to give up, but after a couple of days I was pissed enough to try it again. This time I took the exam last month and studied for 2 weeks prior with Becker software and utilizing Jeff's Ninja blitz, which made a big difference and helped remind me of the important concepts that I had learned previously but forgotten. One other thing I did differently during the exam was utilize the authoritative literature during sims. I had not done this on any other exam. At first it seemed useless but as I dug through the literature I actually was able to find answers I needed to help me with the sims. I passed with a 78 which my lowest out of all the exam scores but I would have been happy with a 75. Good luck on your retake, hope the next time is the charm.

CA Candidate

AUD - 7/8/13 - 85
REG - 8/20/13 - 67, 12/5/13 - 73 2/27/14 - 78
BEC - 10/1/13 - 86
FAR - 11/24/13 - 87

[RayHCPA]

Megasaurus – I totally feel your pain. REG was my biggest nightmare! I don't know why it was so difficult for me but I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I hate taxation and don't do this type of work for a living.

My first try was 8/13 and I scored a 67. That time I took Becker live courses and study software but it was a very busy time for me so I wasn't mentally prepared. The second time I had to take it two weeks after FAR in 12/13 because I was trying to beat the CA licensing pathway change. I literally studied for only two days prior. I scored a 73, which was devastating. I seriously wanted to give up, but after a couple of days I was pissed enough to try it again. This time I took the exam last month and studied for 2 weeks prior with Becker software and utilizing Jeff's Ninja blitz, which made a big difference and helped remind me of the important concepts that I had learned previously but forgotten. One other thing I did differently during the exam was utilize the authoritative literature during sims. I had not done this on any other exam. At first it seemed useless but as I dug through the literature I actually was able to find answers I needed to help me with the sims. I passed with a 78 which my lowest out of all the exam scores but I would have been happy with a 75. Good luck on your retake, hope the next time is the charm.

CA Candidate

AUD - 7/8/13 - 85
REG - 8/20/13 - 67, 12/5/13 - 73 2/27/14 - 78
BEC - 10/1/13 - 86
FAR - 11/24/13 - 87

[iwantopass]

Megasaurus, I can relate to you since we are in the same boat. I also passed all 3 the first time i took them and REG is my last. My AUD credit is on the line if I don't nail this exam. I feel so frustrated and lost for strategy after failing REG twice. What's killing me are the sims. The ones i encountered on both attempts are the ones not given emphasis on the review and test materials I used. I'm still trying to pull myself together after receiving a failed score last saturday.

QuesoDip, you said suggested pulling up a 1040 and trace all the schedules to it. Have a firm idea of how everything is related and gets how it is pulled into the 1040. Do you still have all the forms you used for the review?

Thank you QuesoDip and RayHCPA. It's a good thing that I came accross this forum. Your posts are encouraging. Please continue to help me, Megasaurus and all the other CPA aspirants out there.

[iwantopass]

Megasaurus, I can relate to you since we are in the same boat. I also passed all 3 the first time i took them and REG is my last. My AUD credit is on the line if I don't nail this exam. I feel so frustrated and lost for strategy after failing REG twice. What's killing me are the sims. The ones i encountered on both attempts are the ones not given emphasis on the review and test materials I used. I'm still trying to pull myself together after receiving a failed score last saturday.

QuesoDip, you said suggested pulling up a 1040 and trace all the schedules to it. Have a firm idea of how everything is related and gets how it is pulled into the 1040. Do you still have all the forms you used for the review?

Thank you QuesoDip and RayHCPA. It's a good thing that I came accross this forum. Your posts are encouraging. Please continue to help me, Megasaurus and all the other CPA aspirants out there.

[QuesoDip]

@iwanttopass – Check your email and good luck!

REG - 88 - 8 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio/Flashcards, Wiley TB)
FAR - 87 - 10 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio)
AUD - 98 - 6 Weeks (Becker, Ninja Audio, Ninja MCQ)
BEC - 87 - 2 Weeks (Becker & Ninja Audio)

[Author]

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