Hello,
Can anyone give their experience between FAR and REG? I just passed FAR and REG is my last section but I feel like I am burnt out from how hard I studied for FAR. Is REG a little less difficult to study for?
REG has waaaaaaay less material than FAR. FAR has more complicated, multi-step calculations to memorize. So REG problems take less time in general. I kind of felt with REG MCQs, you either knew it or you didn't know it. If you knew how to do it, didn't take too much time.
The problem with REG is you don't know what the exam expects you to memorize because there are a zillion crazy rules, exceptions, exceptions to exceptions, phase-outs, random figures. At first when I was reading the chapter, I was like….OMG… have no idea what I should focus on…. Once you have done enough MCQs though, you begin to understand what you need to memorize and what you don't need to memorize.
It is also very easy to mix up C-Corps with S-Corps with Partnerships. The problem with the review courses, is they just do them in sequence. They don't do comparisons of the 3. I have the same complaint about FAR. The review courses don't give you one lesson on comparisons of IFRS vs GAAP. Instead they just give you a little blurb about IFRS at the end of each lesson.
The FARmaterial is more straightforward. You start to get a sense of the concepts and can use logic and reasoning to figure out a problem. On the other hand, there is nothing logical about REG. The tax laws are just weird and nonsensical. With that said, I would choose REG in a heartbeat if I had pick from those two sections to study again. The volume of material in FAR can be overwhelming and can result in burnout. If I would have taken FAR as my first exam, I probably would have said f@$* it and quit, but I already had passed 2 exams and couldn't give up at that point. REG has a lot less material, and it seemed like the lessons flew by compare to FAR.
Everyones experience is different. Some swear reg is easier while some swear it was harder.
After passing Far with a 76 on my first try i went into reg. I studied while i was fasting for ramadan and that was the time i was mainly reviewing for entity and prop tax..i got a 73 my first time with weaker in those areas
I got my sh*t together and got a 88 the next time
I definitely thought far was harder to study for. It was an awful test that i thought i bombed. But i somehow barely passed it.
You will have your own unique opinion but my tip for reg is to study the crap out of tax and make sure to know the difference between the tax rules for individuals corps s corps partnerships and property tax. I made flashcards for each of those sections and they really helped.
.