[DarkHorse]

I walked out of REG this past weekend feeling like I totally bombed it. My question testlets went from Medium to Hard to Medium/Easier. Sim’s were a joke and I think I completely bombed them. I’m waiting for my score on 3/9 and dont feel hopeful at all. Could be nerves but realistically I don’t think I did well.

I had 2 research questions (which i’ve heard means that 1 of them is the tester) and 4 very hard SIMs. One of which didn’t specify if I was to put 0s or leave blank and I decided to put 0s. The others I just didnt feel that confident and to score a 75 seems a little impossible. The MCQs were harder than the Becker HW questions that I burned through intensively. I am trying to be confident about myself but at the same time have to be realistic.

Moving forward, I’m going to purchase NINJA MCQ’s and spend the next 4 weeks really grinding it out again to do better. I saw where I fell short on the exam and realized I should’ve spent more time learning the stuff and memorizing it rather than doing MCQ’s and flipping to the page that the question was about and answering it and moving on. I read everywhere that everyone was doing MCQ’s to study but really didnt “understand” why I was doing what in the question. I never really even looked at the flashcards that Becker provided until the end to memorize the acronyms/mnemonics.

I just don’t even know where to begin again…I don’t know if I should use the flashcards, go back to MCQ’s, or just do everything over again. I have the full Becker course + the Final Review. I felt when I was doing the lectures and watching the videos I didn’t really grasp everything and thought the MCQ’s trial and error would help. I guess I was wrong…

If anyone has any advice, needs more info on my study methods, or has anything at all please do tell!

[kaydun]

I would have to say it was a mistake on your part not to read through the Becker book to understand the content, the tax stuff ties together so it's really helpful to understand the tax concepts. I personally found the tax lectures helpful, but that might be just how I learn. I'm going through the lectures for the second time, and I'm surprised with how much I understand now, so it might be helpful go through the lectures again since now you have a basis for some stuff.

The thing I'm doing differently with Becker is that I'm watching the the lecture and doing the corresponding set of MCQs right after (Ex. Watch Individual Taxation: Filing Status, then do those particular MCQs). Before, I would watch the whole lecture in one day and do all the MCQs the next day. I'm thinking the concepts will sink in better by practicing right after learning.

But I feel your pain (if you end up not passing); just go forward and really sit down to understand everything. It's is a pain, but it's worth it. Personally my weakness on the tests were R5-R8 because I spent so much time worrying about tax, so I'm going to try to put in more effort in that area.

I'm also thinking of purchasing the Ninja MCQs. I've basically memorized Becker and I've heard good things about it.

FAR - 76 Oct 2015 (Becker)
REG - 87 Apr 2016 (Becker + Ninja MCQ) - 3rd time's the charm!
AUD - 82 Feb 2016 (Becker)
BEC - 85 May 2016 (Becker)

[Nessie]

DarkHorse,

Don’t despair just yet. I thought I did OK on the REG MCQ, and bombed the SIMS. For SIMS I was tested on the one area I did not know at all. Anyway, I ended up with 88. If you want suggestions for studying, if you did end up failing, I agree with kaydun. I would go over everything twice- 3 times. So look at the material initially, don’t move on until you know it. Then before the exam, spend one day devoted to reviewing each chapter of the Becker book. Then, two days before the exam, spend an hour going over each chapter. The day before, just relax. This way, you will have gone over everything 3x.

Sometimes you need to mull over the info and let it sink in. I am often amazed how much I pick up the 2nd time I go over the book. I also agree with kaydun in that you should watch the 40 or so minute lecture on each topic, then read the book, then do the questions. In other words, don’t do all the lectures all in one go.

Good luck.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[sar_rah]

Well, hopefully you passed! I honestly walked out of every exam thinking I did horribly and failed. While I haven't taken reg yet, I can attest that a 2nd in depth go through helped A LOT! The first time I went through R3 and R4 I felt like knowing all of this was ultimately going to be impossible, and that my 3 passed CPA exams will be worthless because I'll never be able to retain this much information. After my first pass through of feeling lost and bombing the HWs in the 60s…once i finished the rest of the material (and prob about a month later) I reread R3&4, took so many detailed notes to help myself understand things, did the HW problems i missed on my first go through (and some I missed again….whoops!) but then took a 50 question progress test on the 2 chapter and scored a 93%.

I'm a stickler for repetition. Even if it's been a while since last seeing the material, with each go through a little more sticks and files away in your brain and becomes easier to draw from memory next time. I know some people have a photographic memory and are fine after reading something once..but for me, I need to see things many times. I've read all my other Becker books at least 3x cover to cover which has brought me success, and I plan on doing the same with REG

AUD: 98
REG: 91
BEC: 86
FAR: 83

DONE DONE DONE and DONE all on the first try! It IS possible, just keep on studying!

[Author]

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