[cdelval11]

After 3x failed attempts to do REG in 2017, I finally decided to never put myself thought the CPA again. Having passed all three parts and them expiring was a big setback for me and I was done and over. I quit.

But 2019, I was feeling some type of way and wanted a comeback so decided to start all over again. I took REG AGAIN in March only to find out 3 days ago that I failed again. I laugh at myself, I really don’t know what to do anymore. What is it? I might not be putting the required effort, but I feel like I did. But did I? I’m not sure, I have a hard time focusing and staying motivated. REG is my kryptonite. The whole CPA is … but I want to defeat it!!!!!

I am back to this forum to see if someone can shed some light … and reading through It, I know I am not alone. I know there is a lot of people like me … In the same situation. Sooooo …. I came across “The Lazy Man Strategy” and I am thinking very seriously to try that shit. I am probably one of those LAZY people and maybe that’s what I need. My attention span for lectures are for like 20 seconds. I get easily distracted with my own thoughts so … maybe MCQW cramming is my option?

If someone has some tips on a this strategy, please let me know. THIS IS MY LAST RESORT (Linking Park’s voice).

Seriously, I am defeated … and now I have to study for FAR because my NTS expires June 10. So I can’t even go back to study REG.

The quest remains …..

[Brokenglass]

If you already passed 3 in the past, that means whatever strategy you used was effective, so I wouldn't make any big changes, but I will share my thoughts.

Because there's a crazy amount of material on each section, I've always thought cramming is the way to pass these exams. I would study more hours per day and less days in total, and as close to the exam date as possible. You will feel like crap while you're studying, but on exam day you'll realize that you retained more material.

I think the multiple choice is everything. I also did all the sims but I placed greater emphasis on MCQ. I didn't use the book or take notes but I did do lectures. I never took a mock exam. I felt like those would stress me out and that's the last thing I wanted on exam day. They do measure your knowledge but that doesn't help you learn more material. Before exam day, my plan was to be light on myself that way I'm not mentally drained when I take the exam. So to review I would only go over flashcards the 2 days before the exam. I never did any questions or tried to learn more material. By that time you might realize that you already forgot a lot of material, but that's ok, can't do anything about it.

On exam day, while doing the multiple choice, If two answers are close, I would only give it thought one more time and if I still can't figure it out I just pick my first choice. If I don't know the question, I just read the answers once and guess, don't need to waste time on something I don't know. For the sims, those are tricky, sometimes it's smarter to go over all the exhibits first that way you later find the info faster, sometimes it's better to go through them as you answer each part. I normally go through them all before, but I've regretted it several times because they have given extra info. Some sims will take 10 mins some will take 40 min, but somehow I managed to finish on time on each section, so I wouldn't rush there. For the BEC writing part, to prepare I read all the examples provided by Becker as part of my final review 2 days before the exam. I thought that would help me remember some material too.

One last thing, I never studied two sections at the same time, and in case I failed any section, my plan was to only study that section after and take it as soon as I could, which I did with FAR.

Good luck!

[Recked]

Everyone says the Gleim testbank for REG is the hardest out there.
If you're looking to just hammer MCQs until your eyes bleed, and be completely devastated by a test bank, I think that's the one for you.
_
If REG is your Achilles heel I would not even start on FAR until you pass REG. Get that one out of the way first.
$200 bucks lost to an expired NTS is way better than 100-200 hours and another lost passing score on FAR.

[cdelval11]

@Brokenglass

Thank You for your feedback, I appreciated a lot. The sections I passed was when I was fresh out of collage and I think that gave me some advantage because my brain was fresh. But I took a year long break, so I am pretty much new on the game.

How many hours daily did you spent in every section doing MCQ's approximately?

[cdelval11]

@Recked

I feel like I am burnt out with REG. But you are right, I should try to attempt REG first, and maybe I wont have to lose FAR and attempted before the NTS expires If I can cram all the material. It will be crazy, but I don't want to suffer for an extended period of time any longer hahaha

[Tncincy]

@Recked I am going the cram route. Currently I am using ninja mcq's. Do you think the Gleim test bank is better or more challenging? Just looking for what works.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Recked]

I think most test banks have all the same AICPA previously released questions, so I don't think it matters much.
The only exception to the test banks being all similar is Gleim's REG section, rumor has it that all the EA questions are baked into the Gleim REG sections, so it really digs a little deeper on the tax stuff.
_
I like Gleim's analytics, or more specifically the way the course is broken down into 20 chapters, and then each chapter is further broken down into smaller sub-units.
It allows you to really narrow in on exactly which topics you are consistently missing points on.
I would assume Ninja has something similar, but I can't say from personal experience. Check out the Gleim free trial, which will give you access to the first chapter or all 4 parts for a week. From there you can take MCQs and see the breakdown that I am talking about in your post quiz results.
The Roger course had lots of chapter breakdowns, but wasn't so great on helping you narrow down your wrong answers beyond the chapter levels to the individual topics within that chapter.

[Skynet]

Gleim will really wear you out with REG, but it did really help me pass all four sections.

The strategy with REG is that you really have to focus about 70% of your time on Taxes and Property Transactions. That's where most of the questions will come from. The other 30% will be for B Law. Reviewing and studying the SIMs is also a must. You can't just hit the mcq's only.

That was my strategy to focus on a majority of my study time with Taxes and Property Transactions.

[Tncincy]

@Skynet, Thanks, this is what I need to know. I'll try the free trial.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Brokenglass]

@Cdelval11 I studied 4-6 hours a day. I wasn't working so it was doable.

[ak_cpawannabe]

Don’t give up! Just keep taking the test. Even if it takes you ten times. Keep signing up for REG! My friend took her FAR exam 5 times! I was in test center 10 times total.l but got this beast cpa license finally. My prior boss told me this is the test of determination and it helped me get through it with that thought. I’m the most average accountant ever. I do not consider myself too smart or anything. But having that hunger and pure determination to pass really helped me.

Anyways, my study strategy was this: studied 2 months for most exams including REG using Wiley Cpa Excel. They are great and give you everything you need to know with small short lessons. Then the last 2 weeks before exam I would re-read every chapter very quickly. So I would read maybe ten chapters a day again. This gave me super fresh knowledge on exam. Really focus on taxation. It’s worth a lot of points on exam. And just keep going! Just tell yourself that you will not give up even if it takes you 50 times to go to prometric center!:) You got it!

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