[hanseny007]

Hi, I just found out yesterday that I got 70 on REG. It was my 3rd try and I was very disappointed at myself. When I was finished with the exam, I felt pretty good, but the result was pretty disappointing.

I’ve used in the past Becker and CPAExcel and I made up my mind that I needed more than what I used to study with.

I went ahead and purchased the Ninja Notes and Ninja MCQs.

Can you guys tell me if those two would be sufficient to get another extra 5 points that I needed?

And if I push myself really hard, can I have enough time to take the test on 5/31/2014?

Any advice or tips would be appreciated. I was very close to give up yesterday, but I picked myself up and re-wrote the Ninja Notes on the Individual taxation and Partnership.

Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

My best advice is to hammer down the ethics and blaw portion of the exam. Its roughly 40% and in my opinion is relatively straightforward. Tax sucks and the sims are basically guaranteed to come from it so just try your best to understand it theoretically and computationally.

Also if you took the exam this quarter you'll have to wait till the next quarter to retake it.

[Anonymous]

My best advice is to hammer down the ethics and blaw portion of the exam. Its roughly 40% and in my opinion is relatively straightforward. Tax sucks and the sims are basically guaranteed to come from it so just try your best to understand it theoretically and computationally.

Also if you took the exam this quarter you'll have to wait till the next quarter to retake it.

[AGI]

I have the same problem too, got a 72, I think I missed a few questions and I know which one I missed (which made me more upset). Overall, I know what I miss and I think I will get it next time.

I don't think you can re-take the test again in the same test window? So … 5/31? My plan is to skip REG and do AUD in July and go back REG in August. It's kinda rush but I think if I cramp a month in REG I should be okay? After all, what sticks in my head is in my head…

I used Becker, Wiley Book + TB, and Free Online Resources… I have never use NINJA notes so I can't tell you. (I don't have time to write my notes and read my notes. In fact, I did not take notes at all so I got nothing to read).

Since I didn't pass the test either, I don't think my advice worth anything, but this is what I am planning to do:

1) Do NINJA MCQ. Not that I think it is good, but seeing different questions inspire me. Also, it covers questions that I never see or never think of. Chances are: If you already do your Becker and TB for 2 or 3 times, you KNOW THOSE QUESTIONS. If you read the first three line of the question and you know the answer without thinking, that's not helping. You are not studying. Trust me, if you see the exact same questions on the test, you will know the answer. The important thing is: I discover the Becker TB and Wiley TB do not cover the test material good enough, it's totally different question. I would really recommend trying something new….

2) Free Online Questions are good for you. It requires you to **think**, so you can understand the material better. It also increase your ability to “pick and guess the right answer” when you have no clue what the question is asking about

3) If you take notes when you read and you review them before you take the test, and you fail. Then there is a problem. Maybe it's time to read someone else's note, go online search other people's notes. Hey, you don't have to copy them, just read them and pick out the ones that you don't know. This way, you cover new material, better prepare for the test, and “skip the textbook reading time”. (This is very important for a person that can barely squeeze out one hour to study each day and cannot sit in front of the textbook for more than 30 minute)

4) If you don't understand a topic, and the book is not helping you. I would recommend reading the actual law or text on FASB / IRS / whatever. That will help you define a lot of stuff and help you stay clear.

5) NINJA MCQ Sim is interesting.

6) I do recommend hammer down ethics. Although I doubt if the 40% did appeared on my test (feel like only 20%-30%). Hammer down the common tax credit also, and the stuff that you hate and you wish they are not on your exam. (If you hate something that means you haven't master it yet). Also, if you have trouble remembering when particular credit phase out (I do), I recommend reading any VITA textbook. Plenty of shortcut that will make you remember.

6) Last point, get to the test center early and don't panic. Panic is the worst problem, I panic in the test, that's why I fail. (I wouldn't find the test center because of railroad construction and I get off the wrong exit in the right station.) I totally lose focus in the test and I was kinda surprise I still get 72. If I didn't panic I know I would pass. Have total confident. I would say if you feel depress / hopeless / negative emotion, then don't study. It's not helping anyway, the stuff is not going into your brain. Take a break, workout all your energy or go to the seaside (cause I live 5 minute from ocean). Don't think, go to bed take a nap and wake up continue again. Don't feel the emotion and study, then your stuff is going to go into the brain and you will be able to know what you are doing….

Conclusion: Brainwash yourself you will pass and you will. I think the CPA exam overall is much easier than driving a car (because anything unexpected will fly into your path in NYC).

New York - NYC
Passed CPA Exam (11/2014)
In search for a position in NYC that will fulfills the license requirement.

[AGI]

I have the same problem too, got a 72, I think I missed a few questions and I know which one I missed (which made me more upset). Overall, I know what I miss and I think I will get it next time.

I don't think you can re-take the test again in the same test window? So … 5/31? My plan is to skip REG and do AUD in July and go back REG in August. It's kinda rush but I think if I cramp a month in REG I should be okay? After all, what sticks in my head is in my head…

I used Becker, Wiley Book + TB, and Free Online Resources… I have never use NINJA notes so I can't tell you. (I don't have time to write my notes and read my notes. In fact, I did not take notes at all so I got nothing to read).

Since I didn't pass the test either, I don't think my advice worth anything, but this is what I am planning to do:

1) Do NINJA MCQ. Not that I think it is good, but seeing different questions inspire me. Also, it covers questions that I never see or never think of. Chances are: If you already do your Becker and TB for 2 or 3 times, you KNOW THOSE QUESTIONS. If you read the first three line of the question and you know the answer without thinking, that's not helping. You are not studying. Trust me, if you see the exact same questions on the test, you will know the answer. The important thing is: I discover the Becker TB and Wiley TB do not cover the test material good enough, it's totally different question. I would really recommend trying something new….

2) Free Online Questions are good for you. It requires you to **think**, so you can understand the material better. It also increase your ability to “pick and guess the right answer” when you have no clue what the question is asking about

3) If you take notes when you read and you review them before you take the test, and you fail. Then there is a problem. Maybe it's time to read someone else's note, go online search other people's notes. Hey, you don't have to copy them, just read them and pick out the ones that you don't know. This way, you cover new material, better prepare for the test, and “skip the textbook reading time”. (This is very important for a person that can barely squeeze out one hour to study each day and cannot sit in front of the textbook for more than 30 minute)

4) If you don't understand a topic, and the book is not helping you. I would recommend reading the actual law or text on FASB / IRS / whatever. That will help you define a lot of stuff and help you stay clear.

5) NINJA MCQ Sim is interesting.

6) I do recommend hammer down ethics. Although I doubt if the 40% did appeared on my test (feel like only 20%-30%). Hammer down the common tax credit also, and the stuff that you hate and you wish they are not on your exam. (If you hate something that means you haven't master it yet). Also, if you have trouble remembering when particular credit phase out (I do), I recommend reading any VITA textbook. Plenty of shortcut that will make you remember.

6) Last point, get to the test center early and don't panic. Panic is the worst problem, I panic in the test, that's why I fail. (I wouldn't find the test center because of railroad construction and I get off the wrong exit in the right station.) I totally lose focus in the test and I was kinda surprise I still get 72. If I didn't panic I know I would pass. Have total confident. I would say if you feel depress / hopeless / negative emotion, then don't study. It's not helping anyway, the stuff is not going into your brain. Take a break, workout all your energy or go to the seaside (cause I live 5 minute from ocean). Don't think, go to bed take a nap and wake up continue again. Don't feel the emotion and study, then your stuff is going to go into the brain and you will be able to know what you are doing….

Conclusion: Brainwash yourself you will pass and you will. I think the CPA exam overall is much easier than driving a car (because anything unexpected will fly into your path in NYC).

New York - NYC
Passed CPA Exam (11/2014)
In search for a position in NYC that will fulfills the license requirement.

[Anonymous]

‘Can you guys tell me if those two would be sufficient to get another extra 5 points that I needed?'

This is impossible to answer. Technically, you already had enough material in Becker & CPAexcel to pass – so you still do but now have more resources. Although I will agree, REG was by far the most difficult section for me.

I recommend to the Becker practice exams – Do 30 MCQ in the test. Becker will automatically weight the questions towards topics/chapters that are supposed to be more heavily tested. When you finish, go to each question you got wrong or were unsure of when you answered it, re-read all the answers, click the button that takes you to the text/lecture and read/listen to that portion. Once you ‘understand' why your answer was right and the other answers were wrong for each question, repeat. Then repeat again and repeat again. Each time you do this you'll likely get some repeat questions, but don't worry about it – if you really didn't want that then you could do 100 MCQ practice tests – however, I think it is better to go over the answers shortly after answering the questions themselves – so that you remember what you were thinking.

‘but I picked myself up and re-wrote the Ninja Notes on the Individual taxation and Partnership.'

For me, writing notes didn't really help a whole lot, but everyone learns differently.

[Anonymous]

‘Can you guys tell me if those two would be sufficient to get another extra 5 points that I needed?'

This is impossible to answer. Technically, you already had enough material in Becker & CPAexcel to pass – so you still do but now have more resources. Although I will agree, REG was by far the most difficult section for me.

I recommend to the Becker practice exams – Do 30 MCQ in the test. Becker will automatically weight the questions towards topics/chapters that are supposed to be more heavily tested. When you finish, go to each question you got wrong or were unsure of when you answered it, re-read all the answers, click the button that takes you to the text/lecture and read/listen to that portion. Once you ‘understand' why your answer was right and the other answers were wrong for each question, repeat. Then repeat again and repeat again. Each time you do this you'll likely get some repeat questions, but don't worry about it – if you really didn't want that then you could do 100 MCQ practice tests – however, I think it is better to go over the answers shortly after answering the questions themselves – so that you remember what you were thinking.

‘but I picked myself up and re-wrote the Ninja Notes on the Individual taxation and Partnership.'

For me, writing notes didn't really help a whole lot, but everyone learns differently.

[Author]

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