[jwliu84]

Hi All:

I have been reading all the discussion here since I started taking the exam back in Aug 2011.

Although this is my first post, I would have to say I really appreciate all the information that I have gathered here from all you guys!

So long story short, here is some background about my CPA exam status up to this point.

I have passed FAR, AUD and BEC using Gleim with above 90 scores, however, I got my first fail on REG with a 74 when I took it 2/28

While not completely surprised by the result, I am still a bit discouraged and disappointed when I found out about REG.

My performance report indicated that my weaker areas were the Sims and tax on property transaction.

I have used the same approach studying for REG as I have for all the other ones: Read through the Gleim book once and do all the CPA MCQs that were in the Gleim test bank (about 1500 MCQs in total)

One thing I really liked about Gleim was the fact that it tells you which questions were actual past CPA questions, and which ones were created by Publisher, the publisher ones I think are pointless to do b/c they do not truly reflect the actual level of difficulty of what will be/has been on the exam

With all that being said, I would like to throw out that budget is an absolute concern for me. I have spent way too much money on this exam and I am recently in the process of relocating to another state (no job yet), any money I can save would be very helpful

Now all this leads me the series of options I would like to get some advice from you:

1. Ninja Notes & Wiley test bank – I have heard good things about them from reading all the posts here.

However, with another NTS for $257, I am looking at shelling out another $500 all together if I were to purchase both of them. What do you guys think?

2. Becker 2011, I have a friend that started taking the CPA exam with me around the same time, she uses Becker and is willing to lend them to me for free.

3. Go back to Gleim 2011 and redo everything. Last time I did not have any time to look at the Sims in the Gleim book,

although I am not too sure how helpful it would have been, but that is at least a part of the materials that prevents me from saying that I truly went through 100% of the Gleim book

4. I have heard that even if you failed with only 1 point, you would still have to prepare as if you were starting from fresh.

I know that I over prepared a bit on the B-law portion for REG, as also indicated on my performance report. I would like to know how should I really prepare for this retake? I would absolutely need to pass it this time around since this 74 has delayed my moving plans already, the soonest I will find out about my score at this point will be 5/7 (given the fact that I will take it before 4/20)

So what do you guys think? Which option should I go with? Anyone here that is in a similar situation?

One thing I do have to say is REG is a absolute bi***, I always sucked at tax back in school where I got my accounting degree. Not to mention that I saved it last to take and it was a bad idea since my motivation was wearing thin and getting burnt out with all the studying.

Thanks guys!

[jeff]

Welcome!

In light of your 74 – I would repeat exactly what you did to get the 74 and toss in some NINJA/Wiley to supplement and get you into 75-land.

No shortcuts – re-study just like you did and toss in some study boosters.

[jwliu84]

@ Jeff – another71.com

Thanks Jeff for the input, I have to say your site has been really helpful in terms of putting together a platform where all CPA candidates can share info & discussions as well as keep each other motivated and focused.

Your 10 min youtube video on AMT was really helpful and I can say I was very lucky to have clicked on it the night before my last REG exam.

When I walked out of the exam, I definitely did not feel as confident as the other 3 exams, but I was thinking that I should still have passed with a 75 or 76, unfortunately that was not the case for me.

I am asking for advice mainly b/c I want to make sure I pass this next time and not have this CPA exam hinder my progress of transitioning to a new stage of my life.

I felt like maybe another week would have prepared me better but I was at the end of the Feb testing window and could not extend it anymore.

Any other inputs from other forum members? ANY advice is welcomed, or even just sharing your experience if you were so close yet so far away?

Thanks again guys!

[Peanut]

@jwliu84, if you don't mind, you could leave me your email. I took REG 3 times, I might have some good tips for you. I'm just too sleepy to type them all out now.

If you're going to spend any $ at all, buy the Wiley testbank! That is 100% your best bet. It helped me boost my REG score 20 points!

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Anonymous]

I got a 74 on REG too last year. Very discouraging, I agree. But crack open the books and restudy as if you got a 50. Studying again for only 1 more point will just give you another 74 next time. Study A LOT harder now and start from scratch. I know it sounds crazy, but it's what you have to do in order to ensure that you pass next time as you will get a completely different exam next time. I suggest you do lots of practice Sims in the Wiley book and software. And don't forget to split your Business Law and Tax study times 50/50. Do not underestimate Business Law. Be proficient in BOTH areas.

Good luck. Don't give up. You're so close!

[jwliu84]

@ CPAMan:

Thanks for the input, as you have suggested, studying as if I got a 50 is a good approach to take; b/c it really is gonna be a complete different exam. In retrospect, I started to realize that I also did not get a lot of the Circular 230 questions right after studying again. I think sometimes luck does play into this a bit. For AUD and FAR, I took the same approach with almost the same level of effort (ok, maybe a lil less on REG to be honest) but I passed those with 90s and I just felt like all the questions I saw on the exams for those tests were the ones I actually did study and knew right away. On REG, there were a lot of questions that I knew I saw them in the book and in which section but I just did not know it right off the bat like I did for AUD or FAR and ended up having to “educationally” guess them.

I also knew I was over prepared for B-law b/c I saw that some folks were too light on them and got burnt and that is why I almost spend a little too much time on it trying to memorize every little thing I saw in the Gleim Book. Who knows maybe my exam this time will be heavy on B-Law and which is why it is a complete different exam.

@ Peanut: Sorry for the long delay, if you are still willing to, my email is jwliu84@yahoo.com

Anything you can share with me might be helpful and will be greatly appreciated.

Last but not least, it seems like the general consensus is that all REG simulations are tax related, is this something that is verified? If so, then I will not spend too much time on going through the simulations for B-Law.

Thanks a lot again guys!

[Author]

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