I'll post more in depth write up after I sit for BEC.
Using Roger as primary resource. I also purchased the Gleim TB with books as many people said Roger MCQs were not enough.
I don't really regret dropping the $500 on the Gleim books and TB, but I don't think it was necessary.
I used Gleim to do 600 additional questions for FAR, and I use the books if I am having trouble with a topic with Roger.
The Gleim books also offer an index, where as Roger books do not, so that's super helpful if you want to look for the page a specific term is on.
FAR I did the normal approach, videos, questions, next chapter. Held off on SIMs until the end.
AUD REG and BEC new approach is cram all the videos as fast as possible, then just straight into the MCQs.
Skim a chapter in the book and then do all the MCQs for that chapter, move on to the next chapter.
If there are more than 100 MCQs and I am polling well, I only do 100, or 80 if polling over 90%, then leave the rest for the end.
For REG I did 100 in each and left the rest of tax for the end, wanted it fresh in my mind after I finished the law questions.
I would advise cramming all the videos for AUD and BEC. I have 15 years experience in tax, and did the EA exam, so REG video cram will probably not work for most. AUD is more conceptual, so you really need to see the whole picture soup to nuts, before the individual stages start to make sense.
FAR is a beast. If I had to do FAR again I would dedicate Sundays to doing comprehensive MCQs to keep the earlier topics fresh in my mind. I had to relearn so much in that last review week.
I'm not much of a note taken. Sometimes I regret that, most times I don't. I'd stick to writing down the mnemonics or formulas.
I cannot stand to read a book, not sure if reading comprehension due to age, or wandering mind or what my problem is.
I have learned through this process that I am an audio visual learner. I can recall quite vividly the things that were written on the whiteboard during the video lectures. That ability to recall what I saw has helped me tremendously.
For REG I took notes on the MCQs. If I got a question wrong, or guessed correctly, I would write down on one line in a notebook the item or thought I did not know. The day before my REG exam I read through the 6ish pages of one liners.
I truly believe that it does not matter what review course you use. Any of them will help you pass. Just comes down to dedication, hours and MCQs. If you understand the topics, and what they are asking for, you will be able to work through any problem they throw at you.
I am sure my 15 years of experience in a small tax practice have helped me under the new exam format. When you work in a small practice you do everything. I handle everything from my firms server/IT/computer issues to advising clients on tax and business decisions. Critical/out of the box thinking is a must.
Test taking skills, eliminating 2 of the answers, trying to pick the best of the remaining 2, and not questioning your instincts are also very helpful, and a big old helping of LUCK. Tell me what exam you are working on and I can tell you what I did for that exam.
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