[jeff]

This is for people taking their exams in the April/May 2010 testing window.

Recommended prep time for REG is 5-6 weeks @ 20 hours a week.

Study Notes: https://www.another71.com/cpa-review-store/

Study Videos: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam/cpa-exam-review-video/

[Anonymous]

allen which flashcards did u use and what was the count??????

[Anonymous]

I tried to make flashcards of everything that I didn't have down cold. This served a couple of purposes. First, by writing it down an additional time I was forced to internalize the concepts a little more than just looking at them on paper. Second, after initial review of the flashcards I could separate the cards into “needs-more-work” and “maybe-one-more-review” piles. It simplified my studies a lot by separating the cards that way.

I would flashcard the basic principals for any concepts you find to be important. I probably had close to 100 by the time I finished. I would definitely flashcard the basics for each entity structure (S Corps seem to be an exam favorite), pervasive tax principles, and basic law principles. I think I probably made flashcards for all the law concepts.

This helps a lot in conjunction with a study of MC questions. When you don't understand an MC or get it wrong. Make a flashcard of the principle being tested.

That's what worked for me on the other exams and we'll see if it worked out this time (in seven more weeks, aaarrrggg).

Keep at it and you'll be well prepared. It's easy to let the last few weeks slip by with minimal studying but these are your most important weeks. Put the social life on hold, turn off your phone (and any email notifications) while studying, and don't access this site (during your study time, that is). Those types of things really take you out of study mode because your brain isn't fully engaged in what you are doing.

Sorry for the way-to-long response.

[Anonymous]

elsie,

One more thing (quickly). Don't force yourself to completely memorize each flashcard. Just try to become as familiar with the concept on each card as possible. Excess memorization can also be a negative.

[starrman813]

HI, Just took REG yesterday. I took FAR in March, and came home in tears cuz I thought THAT was a Ball Buster of an exam. It kept getting harder and harder, and I skipped on tab of Sim1, as it was a weird subject out of left field….ended up with 93. I thought Audit was a Breeze…only got an 88.

However, this REG…I don't know what to think….I think I only got 3-4 wrong on Testlet 1, cuz testlet 2 was very difficult, and #3 was no different.

But….the sims….were all Tax related. Did anyone else feel like the written portion dealt with a partnership issue that was not covered by Becker AT ALL!!! I went home and looked on DVD and in book and found nothing that would have helped me answer the question. Perhaps it is a “future” graded sim?

My question then is, I have heard only 1 written portion gets graded. If they grade this one, I blew 10 points, because I B.S'd my way through an answer. The 2nd written Sim I nailed and did a super job on. Anyone else feel same about sims on Wave 1 REG?

Also, for those about to take….here is a tip for any sim….use the research tab to help you answer other tabs if you are stuck. i.e. in Audit…look up “adverse opinion” and you will find a sample paragraph to use as reference. For REG…most tax questions can be answered in the Research Tab….just use the split screen.

But, on this particular written question…I could not get any help even by looking up in research tab. I just hope they grade the 2nd one.

Does anyone know how they choose which written one to grade???? I'll pass if they grade Sim 2, but will lose all most of the 10 points, if they choose sim 1

Thanks

[VicDiMoneJr]

HELP!

I'm taking REG for the first time this Friday, and later today I will have just finished going through the Becker lectures. Any advice (outside of rescheduling the test) on what topics I should really focus on over the final 3.5 days before the test? Also, should I do more practice sims instead of working the multiple choice?

Thanks!

FAR - 11/24/09 - 78
AUD - 1/21/10 - 64
BEC - 2/26/10 - 78

[jeff]

There is a REG video in Club 75 that will help you…it's free.

https://club75.another71.com/

[Anonymous]

i just took REG today and it was horrible. what are the chances of me passing if i did okay on the mc and really bad on the SIMs? also, i always thought that the examine was curved? i just went on the cpa website and it said the following:

“The CPA Examination is NOT curved. Every candidate’s score is entirely

independent of other candidates’ examination results.

The CPA Examination is a criterion-referenced examination which means that it rests upon pre-determined standards. Every candidate’s performance is measured against established standards to determine whether the candidate has demonstrated the level of knowledge and skills that is represented by the passing score. Every candidate is judged against the same standards, and every score is an independent result.”

[Anonymous]

pls david which material did u use to study???????i will soon be sitting for mine and i am worried about the sims even though i feel comfy with my studies in tax using yaeger. scared of bss law too. where u able to do an ok job with communication? if so i am sure u will do good.

hope u pass.

[Anonymous]

i used becker…like starman said above, there one was written part that didn't seem to be covered in the material.

i am praying every day. good luck to you.

[starrman813]

Elsie, I used Becker as well. Without giving away secret info…I can only say this. I've been an accountant for 16 years with a bachelors from DePaul, a great acctg program. Recently finished my masters. These tests are tough, especially FAR…

I was told REG was a bit easier than Audit and FAR, but since I work on Finance and accounting and audit related tasks daily, I feel REG was the hardest so far. In general, I thought the multiple choice was fairly easy in Testlet 1, with 5-6 challenging questions…but each testlet is different, even if you get the same Testlet 1 as others in your window.

If you felt the MC was really easy in Testlet 2…you probably didn't do as well as you thought in Testlet 1….as they get harder, the better you do.

Personally, I thought Testlet 1 was fairly easy, but Testlet 2 got pretty tough, and #3 wasn't much easier.

The sims….well, let's just say they weren't bad except one of the writtens was on subject matter that is rarely covered in a classroom, and was certainly not covered in the Becker Material.

My only hope is that when you see that in a question or sim…it's possible it is a “future-test” question and not being graded….I can only hope. I do not want to take this again, I want to pass all 4 the first time.

As far as knowledge….like all others have posted, you need to have basic knowledge of all areas, UCC, Basis in C-corp and partnerships, DNI, Inheritance taxes, personal taxes (deductions vs. adj to AGI), M1 reconciliation, Ethics, Liability, Property Insurance, the list goes on and on. This exam seemed like they threw the kitchen sink at me.

Given the job market, without both CPA, MBA and experience…I will be hard pressed to get a better job. The market is starting to open up and many C-level jobs are becoming available but CPA is becoming more requested than MBA, and many now want Both +Industry Experience + Experience on their software. I'm just afraid if I have to re-take REG in July, it will be end of summer before I have CPA going into fall when jobs typically dry up again.

Hoping we all pass!!!

FAR 93

AUD 88

REG 4/10

BEC 5/9

[Anonymous]

pla any tips on how to find the research questions ? i think there is a method but trying to figure out how?

[FL_CPA2010]

VicDiMoneJr – With that little bit of time left, I would go through EVERY MC question in Becker, don't even work on the sims. If you can nail the MC testlets, you can do well enough to pass.

I feel like I nailed the MC, even though they didn't seem to get harder as I went through. They may have gotten harder, but I probably just knew the material well enough that I didn't notice. I know that I totally bombed the sims, as they were nothing I had seen in Becker and couldn't even figure out what they were asking. I BS'd both of the written communications, getting most of my info from the research tab. I felt confident that I had passed bc there were no surprises on the MCQ's; and I figured I could have scooped up some kind of points in the sims. I probably got like 90% or better on the MC, and considering my score of 79, doesn't say much for the sims.

Becker is awesome for REG! I took the test on a Monday and took the Th and Fr before off from work so that I had 4 solid, uninterrupted days with nothing else to do but study for REG. I did use the final review and the Becker flash cards, and I would add tidbits of notes to the flash cards if I felt it was important. I also purchased the Wiley audio CD's to listen to in the car on the 4-hr drive to Tampa, which is where I sat for the exam. Not sure if it helped or not, but I am sure it reinforced some of the business law material (which I think has more grey areas than the tax material). I have since purchased the Wiley audio CD's for BEC, and also have a file on my MP3 player. I listen to it on my drive to and from work which is 45 mins each way, and the MP3 while I'm at the gym, doing laundry, cleaning, etc. It has helped tremendously with BEC, but I had it from the first point in my studying.

Good luck to everyone!

REG 79 (Becker); BEC 63 (Becker) 70 (Yaeger); AUD 66 (Becker; 11/30 - Becker); FAR 11/24 (Yaeger/Wiley)

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I have current passed BEC and AUD. I am studying for REG. I purchased and installed Beckers review course in May 2009. It is telling me that is will expire May 2010. Does anyone know if they will extent so I have the full 18 months to use beckers materials and not just one year? Thanks

[Anonymous]

pls i need advise on my final twoo weeks. any ideas???????? do i do only mc's?? i regret not purchasing flashcards. also any ideas on bss law bcos the questions seem so tricky eben when u understand the gist of it. any tips to th research which appears easy if one has thee right strategy to tackle.

thanks in advance for any help!!!

[VicDiMoneJr]

FL and Jeff thanks for the tips! I've been focusing on MC (skimmed through most of the Sims) because I feel I remember the concepts a bit better when going through the repetition. Today's the day, hopefully I can pull another 78!

FAR - 11/24/09 - 78
AUD - 1/21/10 - 64
BEC - 2/26/10 - 78

[Author]

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