[A1lessio]

Hello Everyone,

I decided to go for it and sign up for REG on Sept 7th. I work in public accounting and my busy season really picks up after Sept 15th. So far I finished Becker chapters 1-4 in great detail. Not just highlighting, but writing out the chapters, scoring between 68-80% first time doing problems and doing pretty well on sims. I passed the Enrolled Agent exam about 2 years ago and the tax questions are extremely similar. Working in tax also helps tremendously. I plan to finish 4(now), 5 and hopefully get most of 6 in this week and weekend. Any advice on how to study the next 2.5 weeks? I may take a Becker practice exam 2 days before and if I score in the 65-70 range take the exam and if not pay the $50 to change the date. I passed audit with an 86, but studied my a%% off for 7.5 weeks! Hopefully my background in tax and some extreme late night and weekend cramming will get me to that 75.

Also, I believe the score release date is on the 20th of Sept. So after the exam I will just continue studying for Reg until that date and if I fail take it again in Oct.

AUD (08/02/2016)

[hawkgolf12]

I spent 8 months working tax as an intern and felt it prepared me very well for the REG exam, so there may be some similarities in our tax experience. I half assed studied full time for about 3 weeks and was able to score an 81 using Becker and a few days of Ninja MCQs (400 or so at 66%). I spent the majority of my time really nailing the information in Becker 1-4 rather than just hitting MCQs as hard as possible. I wanted to be comfortable with the material rather than just seeing MCQs and thinking I knew the concept. I would also suggest focusing on 5 as much as you do chapters 1-4. In my experience with the exam, I did not see very much from Becker 6-8, not to say there isn't going to be, but I don't recall seeing all that much from these chapters. Studying for SIMs almost seemed pointless because I'm not sure there is much you can do to prepare for them. They are out of left field, but very manageable if you focused on understanding the concepts and know the material. Final piece of advice, know the mnemonics for Individuals, Corp, S-Corp, Partnership, Estate, and Properties tax. Those will carry you a long way.

REG - 8/9/16
AUD - 9/8/16
FAR - 10/28/16
BEC - TBD

Becker & Ninja MCQ

[Kettlepot]

“Also, I believe the score release date is on the 20th of Sept. So after the exam I will just continue studying for Reg until that date and if I fail take it again in Oct.”
This is exactly what I'm doing and I think it's the best approach if you're not on a strict deadline. I finished all of my Becker materials and now I'm doing Ninja MCQs until Sept 7. I am Trending at 71% right now on the Ninja MCQs so I've got a ways to go, but I fully intend to keep hitting the MCQs until Sept.20 when scores are posted and then either re-taking in early Oct or switching to BEC.

I don't like the Becker practice exams very much. You don't get that immediate feedback of a right/wrong answer, and it can lead to either false confidence if you happen to score an 80 on it which could lead to you not studying anymore after taking the practice exam, or it could demoralize you if you happen to make a 65 on it just because it happened to ask a lot of questions in your weak areas.

I would say to not change the date no matter what happens. IF you take the test and fail it there's no harm done and you get another shot at it in October. IF you change the date to October then you lose your 3Q shot and you dontt really gain or save anything other than enrollment fees. Don't get me wrong, those fees are pretty pricey, but not worth giving up a shot for!

Far: 49
BEC: 79 (Expired)
AUD: 51, 67, 64
REG: 59, 64, 59, 69

[A1lessio]

Thanks for the feedback!

AUD (08/02/2016)

[littlemissrocky]

I take REG on sept 8th. Ive been drilling MCQ for the last week, but I still feel like there are SO MANY small and hard-to-remember exceptions.

Does anyone know any mnemonics for the exceptions to the rules?

B- TBD
A- Scheduled 8/816
R- Scheduled 9/8/16
F-84! (7/12/16)
"If you can shape it in your mind, you will find it in your life." - A little inspiration from a fortune cookie

[A1lessio]

Should I just skip the sims for now? I sometimes waste a whole day or night trying to complete them all and often get very frustrated.

AUD (08/02/2016)

[CPA2BEE]

The devil is in the details with REG! Pay attention to the little things with this one. Good luck everybody!

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Author]

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