[Anonymous]

My only C in accounting undergrad was intro to tax. I’ve now failed REG twice, putting in the same amount of hours as I did for FAR (around 120-130) each time, using Becker. I don’t know what else to do as I’m not even close to a passing score. Obviously did fine on the other exams, but I believe very strongly in learning the concepts/reasons behind the things that I am learning instead of just strictly memorizing things.

Anyone have any tips/advice?

[lswang]

@taejeen- I barely graduated with a business degree. I got C's in almost every accounting class I took. I wouldn't worry so much. If you put in the effort, you'll be good.

FAR | 81 - July 21 15
REG | 66 - Oct 1 15 | 87 - Jan 7 16
AUD | 90 - Oct 29 15
BEC | 86 - Nov 25 15

[This_Time]

@mdil92—I am glad I came across your post because I am in the exact same boat as you. REG is my last exam and I just had my third attempt and ended up with a 72. Waiting to see the score report email to see what happened. I really thought I had this one. How did you feel leaving the exam for MC's/Sims?

[This_Time]

@mdil92—Some details on what I used

First attempt— Becker, NINJA Sims, and my own notes
Second attempt— I added the NINJA Notes, my own notes and used NINJA MC's and SIMS (Becker Expired)
Third attempt— I added Gleim software and repeated the materials from my second attempt, this is where I saw a substantial bump in my score

The Gleim software is really detailed (MC's are quite long compared to any other software I've used but overload helped) it also comes with roughly 100 SIMS that look and are set up EXACTLY the same as the exam which was extremely helpful. But as you know the SIMS are a toss up so you never know what your going to get.

[taejeen]

@Iswang– I'll give it my best!

FAR 76 (8/1/2015)
AUD 83 (10/17/2015)
REG 85 (1/9/2016)
BEC 83 (2/27/2016) DONE!

[ahugemistake]

I'm mentally preparing myself for my REG score because I'm pretty sure I didn't pass. I will have to retake FAR because of this. Things I noticed during the exam was that the MCQ are really straight forward, my hardest question was on partnerships, which is really well covered in either course you take. The SIMS were definitely tricky, and only because I was so focused on memorizing detailed things like credits and deductions that weren't even referred to on the exam. The exam seemed to be covering the width of the material but not the depth. Really the questions were not hard but just came off as obscure because I wasted too much time trying to understand how to calculate AMT for example.

FAR - 78*
AUD - 66, 79
REG - 73, 76
BEC - 79

[REGismynemesis]

I feel your pain beardown14 and ahugemistake (just look at my user name). It took me 4x to pass REG so I have a lot of REG experience. I agree that you need to understand the concepts in the big areas, but I'll bet you've nailed those by now. I found you have to put down the textbook and do as many multiple choice and sims as you possibly can and here is why: most questions in REG are either fairly basic calculations of the broad topics or else they are obscure and out of left field. The only way you can prepare for the obscure ones is to hope to see their concepts in practice questions and hope you remember some of them during the exam. Trust me on this. That is what got me over the hump.

AUD 88
FAR 78
BEC 82
REG 71, 72, 74, 87

Done!

[mdil92]

@This_Time of the 3 that i took, i felt the least comfortable on my last attempt even though i went into it the most prepared. I thought the MC were much more challenging and the Sims were a nightmare. Would you recommend getting the Gleim book? I've heard mixed reviews.

[EuroAddict]

Maybe try changing your mindset. So my college prof gave me a C in tax when I actually deserved an F. So that just tells you how amazing I was in tax 🙂

I passed reg my first time taking it. I looked at is a fresh new start. I used becker with ninja MCQ's and figured it would teach me everything I would need to know to pass, and they did. Really utilize your study time. Know why the answer was wrong but also know why the answer was right.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[This_Time]

mdil92—I though the Gleim software for the multiple choice and the SIMS were a great supplement to any other software (they send you the book as well but I already went through the Becker book so I did not use it). It just gave me a broader range of questions. What I did was go through all the Gleim questions but then switch to the NINJA multiple choice closer to my exam because those have a closer comparison to the exam questions. I improved quite a bit from my prior score but it wasn't quite enough. I think I agree with @REGismynemesis and just need to keep hammering out the multiple choice and understand the most commonly tested concepts for the SIMS

[This_Time]

@REGismynemesis—This is my 4x for REG as well and last section. Did you do anything different for studying the SIMS on your passing attempt?

[Anonymous]

This will be my 4th attempt. If I don't pass, I'm going to lose FAR. IDK why, but REG just seems so much tougher. It's hard remembering “ok abc applies to individuals, def applies to partnerships, ghi applies to c corps…”

Unfortunately I don't have any advice for you. It seems like all 3 of my REG exams have been completely different. I will say that what helped me finally pass FAR was adding in the Ninja notes and audio. I listened to the audio every free moment (driving, cleaning, cooking, etc) of my day and I rewrote the notes 5 times. I used Roger for the lectures and book. If I had any areas that I needed some extra help on, I went to my Wiley book.

Don't give up! You can do it!

[Zyx]

I passed REG at my second attemp, got 77 by using ninja mcq. I used it as my supplement. Wrote down everything I was not sure, seatched online, read taxtbooks and eveyrhing to help me understand. When you see questions you should be able to answer yourself why the correct answer is being this way. When you get this level, you will pass. That was I did and really helped me pass.

REG: 77 x2
BEC: 81 x3
FAR: 68 retake 10/1
AUD: 8/27

[JT]

I'm not too sure exactly which areas you may be struggling with but one thing that helped me pass REG was actually looking at the schedules (1040's, k-1's, c corp forms, s corp forms etc). I looked at the format to get a better understanding of the forms and conceptually, I was able to visualize what goes where and how things are totaled. Also, whenever I had issues with understanding anything related to tax, and my cpa review material wasn't giving me the clear answer, I went to the IRS website or reviewed the instructions for the returns, or for calculating partnership basis, or understanding phaseouts, etc. I didnt spend too much time with the forms/schedules, maybe 5-10 mins each form to grasp what the heck was going on. I found the instructions pretty helpful.

I also did a ton of mcq's but I think you guys are already on it.

Hopefully this is helpful.

REG-80-1X
BEC-80-1X
FAR-73-1X
FAR-75-2X
AUD-September 2016

[If I can, u can too!]

I think studying IRC codes definitely helped. I read a guy on Ninja forum (who btw got 99 on Reg) recommending to study the IRC code. I'd at least study the sections mentioned in the Ninja SIM or the Income taxes section below:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26

Also do all SIM's available to you, it'll help you tie in the concepts.

Licensed CPA since Apr 16
Order in sequence of passing
FAR-71,71,79
BEC-80
REG-72,77
AUD-56,72,72,72,80! Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!
FAR/BEC/AUD: Becker & Yaeger lectures (Wiley & Ninja MCQs). REG: Becker lectures (Ninja MCQs).

[Senk Tank]

If something didn't work in the past its time to try something new. The CPA board sends you an email a few days after the score release and tells you where you did weaker. I would say really hone in on those sections and try alternative study methods (study the actual tax forms… https://www.irs.gov/Forms-&-Pubs).

Embrace the Pain

"Quality over Quantity" - Tony Horton, P90X

AUD - 84 10/2015
REG - 91 2/2016
BEC - 5/28/2016

[Author]

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