22 point increase in one month studying for Regulation. Went from a 56 to 78.

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  • #175996
    hamza
    Participant

    After studying for close to 150 hours I failed Regulation the first time around, I have zero tax experience. So I was worried about this section. I was using Yeager CPA review as my primary source and I did use Wiley test bank and ninja notes as well as CPA review for free questions for both my attempts. The first time I took the exam, that was on 30th of Nov 2012 and I got my score on Dec 7th 2012. I got a 56. I started studying the day I got my result on the 7th of Dec and retook the exam on the 4th of Jan 2013 and I got a 78. Three main factors helped me increase my score. One studying smarter instead of studying harder. The second was pure luck. I got horrible sims the first time around and the second time around I got “easier sims”. Or it could be my prep made the sims seems easier. Lastly Ninja Audio was a big help. I was very skeptical about paying 97 dollars for each part, but I was discussing with my father ( about study strategies) and I told him about them, but I didn’t see the point. 5 min later he bought them for me before I could even say anything. So I guess my father deserves a lot of credit as well 🙂 I guess he really believed in you Jeff.

    I am a slow learner and I take a long time to grasp concepts that have calculations involved in them. In general I see a lot of advice on this forum, where people say to hammer out mcqs with a focused frenzy. This theory did work for me for FAR and BEC. But in REG it back fired spectacularly, due to my OWN fault. Even though I had read in the forums and ninja notes about grasping the concept of calculating “basis” for passing the Reg exam, as I was going through my Mcq, I really had not mastered the differences between calculating basis between S-Corps, C-corps, Partnerships and property transactions. So by the time I had finished doing questions on S-Corps, C-corps, Partnerships and property transactions, I started applying partnership basis to c-corps and s-corp basis to c- corps. By the time I had done recommend yeager wiley questions, the wiley test bank questions and the CPA review for free questions. I was so confused and started mxing and jumbling everything up.

    ONE: For my first attempt when I went through the Yeager videos, I did not take my own notes because I figured I had the ninja notes I don’t need to take my own notes, first big mistake, at least for me. Ninja notes are awesome for the Business law and ethics part. Meaning you can watch the yeager lectures without taking too many of your own notes and ninja notes will suffice. Don’t get me wrong though, for the tax part the ninja notes are a great review IF YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON. But if you don’t understand what is going on in the first place, studying with them will seem pointless for the tax part ( again I am talking about myself here, I believe I am a below average candidate so for me once I understood what the hell was going on the ninja notes were good review for tax).

    TWO: I was like screw it, I am only studying from one main Source for Mcq’s. And I choose the Wiley test bank ( buy it from another 71.com, Jeff sells it much cheaper than Amazon or Wiley ). So this time around I would watch the Yeager Videos, pause after couple of minutes and make my own notes. In addition I kept a separate notebook where I would write down the basis calculation for each part. For example what increases basis? what decreases basis? how does it affect the transferor? how does it affect the transferee? what affect does it have on the corporation, what affect does it have on the partnership? What is the difference in calculating basis for a partnership vs s- corp ? How are they similar? How are they different? In addition I would sometimes try to answer mcqs questions but saying how the answers will be different if this was a s-corp instead of a c- corp, or whatever. I hope you get what I am saying.

    THREE: The first time around I didn’t do any wiley tax sims for the most part. I only did individual tax sims, mainly because I though I didn’t need to all the sims in the wiley test bank. BIG mistake. First do the mcqs in the chapter. Second work all the mcqs you got wrong. Third work all the mcqs for that chapter again, yes all. Then DO THE SIMS FOR THAT CHAPTER. Do not be lazy about this, it WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU. Unless you can do the sims for that chapter you have NOT MASTERED THE MATERIAL. Just worry about the tax sims if you do not have much time.

    FOUR: I broke the exam down in 6 main areas in order to review to keep my head straight.

    – Individual Taxation ( one section )

    – Corporate taxation (S and C) Partnerships and Transaction in property (one section)

    – Other tax issues: gift, estates and trust. (one section)

    – Federal Responsibilities and Securities act was one section. (one section)

    – Contract, Sales and Commercial paper I lumped together in one section. (one section)

    – (Agency, debtor creditor relationship , sales, bankruptcy, regulation of employment and environment, secured transaction and business structure) I lumped it together in one section.

    You may Notice I left out Property NOT Transaction in property. The test bank goes into way too much detail for property questions the Yeager recommended questions in the Wiley book should be good enough. Don’t waste your time doing all the property questions in the test bank. Note: You have to do all the transactions in property questions. I hope I did not confuse you.

    FIVE: Be smart how you use the wiley test bank. For example you will notice I lumped Corporate taxation (S and C corp) Partnerships and Transaction in property in one review area. First go individually through these sections. Till a 75 % accuracy at a min. Then combine Corporate taxation and partnership and test yourself, 20 questions at a time till you are getting 80% right in each practice session. Then add transaction in property. Study the above mentioned six areas in step 4 separately.

    SIX: For each Individual chapter. Work the mcqs, then the sims, then listen to the ninja audio. Then read the ninja notes. Then again listen to the ninja audio this time having the ninja notes open in front of you. Then listen to the ninja audio whenever you want to reinforce concepts. Finally get the ninja flash card app the drive the point home. It’s the same thing as the ninja notes but it’s good for memorization.

    SEVEN: Have rich parents, who are doctors, who will buy all this ninja stuff for you. Seriously though don’t try to be cheap like me, first time around I was like man I paid for this yeager review and I bought the ninja notes. Screw the audio and the flash card app. But I have to grudgingly accept ninja audio is GOOD REINFORCEMENT.

    EIGHT: Do not study at home. Home is a place for chilling, your thoughts will distract you, go to your public library or find a college lib or go to Starbucks make sure you get those ear plugs that block out noise. Actually use a stop watch to time the number of hours you actually study. Not the amount of time you sit on the table and stare out of space and dream about what you will have for dinner. If you want I can even post the topic and number of hours I studied per day but that will be overkill. I hope that was helpful.

    FAR - 80 Feb 2012
    BEC - 77 July / Aug 2012
    Reg - 56 30th Nov 2012 . Re-take Jan 4th 2013 - 78
    AUD - 73 October 2012, Re took it on Feb 1st 2013 - 76
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    DONE !

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total)
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  • #447877
    pinaycpa
    Member

    This is very helpful…thank you for sharing!

    FAR 04/21/2012 - Passed
    AUD 07/28/2012 - Passed
    BEC 10/20/2012 - Passed
    REG 2/28/13 - Horrible exam ever! - Passed
    I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!

    #448000
    pinaycpa
    Member

    This is very helpful…thank you for sharing!

    FAR 04/21/2012 - Passed
    AUD 07/28/2012 - Passed
    BEC 10/20/2012 - Passed
    REG 2/28/13 - Horrible exam ever! - Passed
    I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!

    #447879
    jeff
    Keymaster

    Great writeup!

    You have a really cool dad btw 🙂

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #448002
    jeff
    Keymaster

    Great writeup!

    You have a really cool dad btw 🙂

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #447881

    Awesome padre you have there! But seriously, thank you so much for this. I am so glad to see you were successful and in turn are now helping others. I take REG on Monday and I am so worried 🙁 the subtle differences between calculations for basis amongst C ad S-corps, partnerships, and prop. transactions is one thing I'm freaked out about! However, your plan has inspired me to become a little more systematic this weekend, and just get it done.

    One thing I do is I listen to the REG ninja audio whenever I'm cleaning my house each week ^_^ I've heard each section all the way through at least 3 times and it has implanted information in my mind that I didn't even know I had when I'm doing MCQs. I still recommend listening to it at least once while taking notes, though.

    Why was there bacon in the soap?!

    BEC 4/19/2013: 79 - the "easiest" one doesn't mess around lol
    AUD 11/13/12: 90...NOT SURE IF SRS
    REG 2/11/13: 87!!!!! LOLWUT!!>???!?
    FAR 8/18/12: 81 MOFOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (srsly thought I failed lolol)

    Passed all 4 on the first try using Roger, NINJA Notes for FAR, and NINJA Audio for REG & BEC.

    #448004

    Awesome padre you have there! But seriously, thank you so much for this. I am so glad to see you were successful and in turn are now helping others. I take REG on Monday and I am so worried 🙁 the subtle differences between calculations for basis amongst C ad S-corps, partnerships, and prop. transactions is one thing I'm freaked out about! However, your plan has inspired me to become a little more systematic this weekend, and just get it done.

    One thing I do is I listen to the REG ninja audio whenever I'm cleaning my house each week ^_^ I've heard each section all the way through at least 3 times and it has implanted information in my mind that I didn't even know I had when I'm doing MCQs. I still recommend listening to it at least once while taking notes, though.

    Why was there bacon in the soap?!

    BEC 4/19/2013: 79 - the "easiest" one doesn't mess around lol
    AUD 11/13/12: 90...NOT SURE IF SRS
    REG 2/11/13: 87!!!!! LOLWUT!!>???!?
    FAR 8/18/12: 81 MOFOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (srsly thought I failed lolol)

    Passed all 4 on the first try using Roger, NINJA Notes for FAR, and NINJA Audio for REG & BEC.

    #447883
    pia ach
    Member

    Thanks for sharing your strategy,it is really helpful. I am taking my exam on feb 25th and really frustrated since i have gone through the Yaeger video so many times, and still not able to retain the information. I am planning to drill the MCQ's for the next 2 weeks. Congrats on passing.

    Finally done!!! Experience-pending. Ethics- Pending.
    Reg 78 / 73/82.
    Aud 74/89.
    BEC 72 /78.
    FAR 74/ 73/ 82.

    #448006
    pia ach
    Member

    Thanks for sharing your strategy,it is really helpful. I am taking my exam on feb 25th and really frustrated since i have gone through the Yaeger video so many times, and still not able to retain the information. I am planning to drill the MCQ's for the next 2 weeks. Congrats on passing.

    Finally done!!! Experience-pending. Ethics- Pending.
    Reg 78 / 73/82.
    Aud 74/89.
    BEC 72 /78.
    FAR 74/ 73/ 82.

    #447885
    hamza
    Participant

    Thanks guys ! Glad I could be of some help. Piach, Finnish weirdo and pinaycpa good luck for your exams. Jeff, thank you for ur kind words.

    FAR - 80 Feb 2012
    BEC - 77 July / Aug 2012
    Reg - 56 30th Nov 2012 . Re-take Jan 4th 2013 - 78
    AUD - 73 October 2012, Re took it on Feb 1st 2013 - 76
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    DONE !

    #448008
    hamza
    Participant

    Thanks guys ! Glad I could be of some help. Piach, Finnish weirdo and pinaycpa good luck for your exams. Jeff, thank you for ur kind words.

    FAR - 80 Feb 2012
    BEC - 77 July / Aug 2012
    Reg - 56 30th Nov 2012 . Re-take Jan 4th 2013 - 78
    AUD - 73 October 2012, Re took it on Feb 1st 2013 - 76
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    DONE !

    #447887
    hamza
    Participant

    Finnish weirdo kill it on Monday bro. Pia ach I get my audit results on 25 my last exam. I am going to be crying or celebrating that day. Hopefully I passed audit.

    FAR - 80 Feb 2012
    BEC - 77 July / Aug 2012
    Reg - 56 30th Nov 2012 . Re-take Jan 4th 2013 - 78
    AUD - 73 October 2012, Re took it on Feb 1st 2013 - 76
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    DONE !

    #448010
    hamza
    Participant

    Finnish weirdo kill it on Monday bro. Pia ach I get my audit results on 25 my last exam. I am going to be crying or celebrating that day. Hopefully I passed audit.

    FAR - 80 Feb 2012
    BEC - 77 July / Aug 2012
    Reg - 56 30th Nov 2012 . Re-take Jan 4th 2013 - 78
    AUD - 73 October 2012, Re took it on Feb 1st 2013 - 76
    ------------------------------------------------------------------
    DONE !

    #447889
    zi007ad
    Participant

    WOOOOW such an amazing post ! i loved it so much !! filled with helpful information ..

    *COLORADO*
    REG: 58,41,74,74,74,74,77
    BEC: 67,76*,79
    FAR: 62,68,60,75
    AUD: 76*,64,66,81
    * Expired

    #448012
    zi007ad
    Participant

    WOOOOW such an amazing post ! i loved it so much !! filled with helpful information ..

    *COLORADO*
    REG: 58,41,74,74,74,74,77
    BEC: 67,76*,79
    FAR: 62,68,60,75
    AUD: 76*,64,66,81
    * Expired

    #447891
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @hamza how long did it take you to work through each section? I sit REG in two weeks.

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total)
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