[Anonymous]

So I just got my failing score(73) for REG. I am just hoping for some feedback from my fellow a71ers—I’ve been using Becker and don’t really blame the review course for my grade, I definitely feel like I can re-study for this thing and put in some more work to get over the hump, at the same time I worry about whether or not I will continue to get anything from doing the same questions over and over again.

Those of you who’ve done retakes—-particularly for REG—what was your plan of attack? Did you supplement a new question bank? This is the only thing I am really considering at this point, so if you did that, what are some effective yet reasonably priced supplements I can add to Becker? I’ve heard Wiley mentioned in the past…. I’ve also considered ponying up for the becker final review in the hopes that it will provide additional questions that I haven’t seen/memorized already.

And lastly—the sims were what ended up killing me(weaker in that area)…I am not even sure how I’d study for those sims that I received, any advice to get over that hump would be great.

[Anonymous]

I am in the same boat as you. Just got a 74 which I am appealing, but still sitting in Aug 2011.

I am supplementing with CPA Excel and possibly Wiley, depending on how I feel about CPA Excel which I hear is pretty good. Becker is amazing, just a bit light on tax and heavy on law, which appears to be the opposite on the actual exam. I also think the Sims provided by Becker are not indicitive of the actual ones on the exam. There needs to be more tax sim examples and less law. I will still use Becker, but am using CPA Excel and giving myself 2 full months (and that's after getting a 71, 70, and 74 the past 3 times), so hopefully this time I will be done for good!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I've heard good things about CPA excel, best of luck on your retake. 74 hurts(as does my 73!), on one hand I wish I would've just bombed it but on the other hand we must be pretty damn close, I hope we pick up those extra points we need on the next showdown with REG. Good luck on your appeal too!

[kandisjoy]

I've taken and failed REG twice this year. I did well on the MCQs this time around, but not as well on the TBSs. I'm just going to try to practice looking stuff up, because that's what you really need to do for REG. The simulations are just plain awful.

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Anonymous]

I would advise you guys to supplement Becker's Passmaster questions with Gleim's test prep cd. The good thing about Gleim's test bank is that the answers to the questions are scrambled so it's a more difficult to memorize the answers.

[Trying Again]

@ Baked – You have the time (i.e. REG is your last exam), do the review course again. Act like you are just starting and don't know anything about REG, take notes, listen to the lectures and do the questions as complete each section. Then for the final review do all the questions again and don't forget the NINJA notes.

@ EPRESOGNA – You are just wasting time and money by appealing a score. I seem to remember that the chances of a score change are like 0.02% or something like that. Just do what I told Baked to do and you will pass the next time.

Licensed CPA since September 2011

[Anonymous]

That is my plan of attack for the most part @trying again. I've got a vacation planned for next week so July 5th is when I will start over, will have to take another week off late July for my wedding and then its going to be 4 weeks of intense studying in August. Scheduling a late Aug exam just to allow myself as much time as possible to re-study for this thing, Becker expires in Sept so I want this to be my last attempt, otherwise it could get dicey with expired software and a final attempt in Q4(FAR and AUD both would expire if not but thats looking too far ahead at this point haha).

@bullandre appreciate the suggestion

[Anonymous]

I'm with you Baked CPA. I am starting right after the July 4th holiday and going right up until the end of Aug. When I got the 74, I think I may have been subconsciously memorizing the answers to Becker. I understood the concepts, but I think fresh new questions and Sims is a good idea. Plus I put in about 4 weeks as I thought I had this stuff down.

I've seen other people post on here about using the research tabs in the Sims. I truly believe this is the only way to pass. The study software can only get you so far. I think managing my time more efficiently with the multiple choice (my goal is to leave 1:45 for sims) and using the research tabs for everything if I am not 100% certain on might be the way people are passing.

Good luck!!!! We are getting this done in August!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Darn right we are, I figure the next time around we will both be better prepared—I agree about using the research with the sims, which is what I tried doing but even doing so I couldn't figure them out. According to my score report, I was comparable to passing candidates in the multiple choice—which tells me I could definitely get better at those and pick up a few extra points next time. I will see you around here in Mid to late September, hopefully as we both receive great news.

[Anonymous]

When I study the Sims now, I am going to practice using the research tabs to get comfortable with the type of key words to search for. I can almost guarantee, based on what I have seen thus far and without giving any test info away, that basis in and out of entities, filing deadlines and exlcusions, and wacky return prep (maybe a Sch F, or even an installment sale Sim as I noticed Becker covered this in the 2011 book a bit more than in the 2010 version). We will get this done. I am very confident. With a 73 and 74 this past time, we are knocking on the door. Good luck!!!!!!

[J.]

I just got my results and I received a daunting 72. The TBS seemed to be the epitome of my failing grade. I felt great about the MCQ and actually felt like I flew through them leaving myself an hour to tackle the TBS. unfortunately that was not enough time! I will definitely try to allow even more than an hour on my future exam. The time is ticking for me as well. I have until August 3 to pass this dang exam before my auditing exam expires. I need more simulation practice, any advice for software that has inexpensive TBS type problems? I don't think I have quite figured out the research tab process to the fullest either…..any advice?

AUD – 81

FAR – 83

BEC – 75

REG – 68 -61 – 72 (2011 exams are harder! second and third taken in 2011)

[Author]

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