KJCPAwannabe
offlineMember
Im using Becker 2011 and taking mine mid January and I am unsure if I should be studying 2012, 2011, or 2010 rates.
Im curious if it even matters though cause they said they rarely change the actual rates and dollar amounts.
jamesjohnson11
offlineMember
That's a good question. You should probably email becker to find out. Based on my experience with reg, there are basically no questions that ask you thinks like what is the standard deduction for 2011, or what is the phase out for IRA contributions and stuff like that.
See Pee A
offlineMember
On my exam from a few weeks ago, I don't recall having any questions that were so specific about the amount of a deduction or anything else that would be specific to a particular year. When it comes down to it, that would be an "easy" question since it's just memorization and the CPA exam tends to shy away from very simple and meaningless memorization like that. Of course, a lot of stuff in BEC like IT security and whatever is basically useless so my argument is already false. Good luck!
jdj017400
offlineMember
@KJCPAwannabe
From the AICPA website (http://www.aicpa.org/BECOMEACPA/CPAEXAM/EXAMINATIONCONTENT/NEWPRONOUNCEMENTPOLICY/Pages/new_pronouncements.aspx):
"For the federal taxation area, the Internal Revenue Code and federal tax regulations in effect six months before the beginning of the current window may be tested.
For all other subjects covered in the Regulation (REG) and Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) sections, materials eligible to be tested include federal laws in the window beginning six months after their effective date, and uniform acts in the window beginning one year after their adoption by a simple majority of the jurisdictions. "
I am retaking REG 01/15/2012 (from original test of 11/30/2011). I'm using Becker 2011 materials still (combined with the million pages of updates/corrections from their website). I'll be studying as if this test will be based on 2011 material.
Hope this helps!
CPAMan
offlineMember
@See Pee A- My experience with REG was different. The MC questions on the actual exams are actually easy. I mean, real easy. But here's the problem.... the topics that I end up getting asked on the exam are on small nitpicky details that you probably overlooked or felt it was too minor to work yourself up on when studying. But had you studied that nitpicky detail, that question on the exam would've been a piece of cake. And when I say nitpicky, I mean that it's only covered in one or two sentences in your review book.
So, to answer the OP, I would study the current amounts. If this is something that changes year to year, you may not get asked on it, but it won't hurt to study them because it is slightly possible you may get a question on it. But based on my experiences with taking this exam, they've always been current with their questions.
RedRage00
offlineMember
I don't know how people leave the testing center remembering what is on their exam? It's like they wipe my head clean when I walk out. The only thing I usually remember is like 1 or 2 SIMS, but I can't remember any of the MCQs. I'm too focused on my time ticking down and getting through them.
So to answer your question, I don't remember lol
Yvonne570
offlineMember
This will be good to know as well. I have to schedule a retake (NTS to expire 1/18) for hopefully my final exam and made the Becker promise. I only hope to get revised 2012 materials. LOL, and may purchase Wiley 2012 for this. I need quite a bit of time to prepare for this one considering this is by far my weakest area.
CPAMan
offlineMember
@SoCalCPA- Thanks. But I'm not hoping to get a better exam next time, I'm hoping to be better prepared next time, which I will be. I'm going to change that 74 to a 94. I don't care how much it kills me.
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