Failed REG again.. Time to change to new MCQs?

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #1496577
    Sam
    Participant

    Scored 63, then 61…I solely used NINJA MCQs for REG (attempted all but 200 questions) and I was trending at 75%.

    Could anyone who passed REG tell me if I should continue to use NINJA MCQs or maybe switch it up to something like Wiley? Should I read my becker book? I felt pretty confident regarding my preparation for the exam.

    I need to change something but unsure how…Your help is appreciated!

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - 79
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    Sam
Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
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  • #1496593
    RE2PECT
    Participant

    Sorry to hear you didn't pass. How did you do on the sims? Most people that fail ended up weaker on sims, myself included. In my opinion, Ninja doesn't have good ones to practice. I purchased Gleims's test bank for my retake and worked all the tax sims three times. I think they're similar to what would be on the exam. The software and AL are practically identical to the real thing and the sims are very challenging. I'm feeling confident heading into my exam next week and hope that was just the push I need to get me over the hump. Good luck on your retake!

    Btw, you can sign up for a 2 week trial to WileyCPAexcel. You can go through the whole test bank and sims in that time for extra practice.

    "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."

    Roger & Ninja

    FAR: 75
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, 73, 82
    REG: 68, 82

    FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
    AUD: 73, 81
    BEC: 71, retake 8/29
    REG:

    #1496595
    jeff
    Keymaster

    It sounds like you're taking the dreaded software shortcut … books and videos are boring, so you're doing active learning only. I could be way off.

    Your Trending Score wasn't high enough for confidence (it should be in the 80s), and if you only did MCQ…then you shouldn't be leaving 200 MCQ un-touched. My guess is that your Avg score was 70-ish.

    Please don't perceive my bluntness for being rude…just trying to help.

    You should read your book, reset your MCQ stats, take notes, hit the review phase, and walk into your exam when you're trending mid-80s with an avg in the mid-70s minimum.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #1496607
    imsotiffanyy
    Participant

    Did you work on the AICPA released questions? I used those to identify the areas that I needed to work on, the bad parts is that some of their released questions do not come with explanations so I had to do more research on them.

    They were all I used and I passed the exam.

    Give me your email and I can send you those questions if you can't find them.

    Never say never.

    Aud - 78 - 8/29/2017

    Bec - 85 - 2/11/2017

    Far - 85 - 11/29/2016

    Reg - 82 - 1/14/2017

    #1496619
    jeff
    Keymaster

    The AICPA released questions are included with NINJA MCQ … they are linked at the bottom of the login page.

    AUD - 79
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 76
    REG - 92
    Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
    NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71
    #1496623
    Sam
    Participant

    @RE2PECT, thank you. I may end up using Gleim but I really do not want to pay an arm and a leg for review material.

    @Jeff, I honestly learn more from the active learning . I feel like reading wastes so much time because it is not practical.
    I passed BEC solely using NINJA MCQs and reading NINJA Notes ONLY. That being said, I tried the same with REG but I will take your advice and read my book and do ALL the NINJA MCQs (I did complete all the Ninja SIMS) chapter by chapter……



    @imsotiffanyy
    , I did work both the HARD and MEDIUM AICPA released questions. I felt like I was ready for the exam but it seemed like the exam had more detailed questions than I practiced on NINJA..

    NOTE: I do attempt every question with an understanding and do not just memorize the answers. If I know the answer but cannot come to the reasoning for the answer, I mark it incorrect to be honest with myself.

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - 79
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    Sam
    #1496629
    Goingallin
    Participant

    I think people think reading the book and doing “some” multiple choice questions are enough but I think that's the difference between passing and failing for most. Of course you have the few exceptions that does well with little studying.

    I study with multiple choice questions only BUT I do all the mc questions at least twice. Can't say you gave it your all until you utilize those mc questions to its fullest.

    AUD - 87
    BEC - 77
    FAR - 75
    REG - 82
    donotgiveup!!
    #1496650
    Sam
    Participant

    @Jeff, I also want to add that the 200 MCQs I left out were Business LAW considering that I thought I attempted a sufficient amount of law questions (which I hardly saw on my exam vs tax questions).

    When I passed BEC with a 79, I was also “trending” around 75%-78-%.



    @Goingallin
    , Yes I agree that I could've attempted the MCQs more and trended in the 80s. But I do not think I have that much time to go over the MCQs twice considering I work 50 hours a week especially with budgeting these couple months…

    I think CHANGE is needed and I will add reading to my studying schedule. The question is do I purchase NINJA MCQs again which I am comfortable with or get a new set of MCQs that my eyes have not seen…….

    AUD - NINJA in Training
    BEC - 79
    FAR - NINJA in Training
    REG - NINJA in Training
    Sam
    #1496671
    imsotiffanyy
    Participant

    @Sam, I read the roger book I had twice and I found it really helpful to solidify some concerns for me too.

    Never say never.

    Aud - 78 - 8/29/2017

    Bec - 85 - 2/11/2017

    Far - 85 - 11/29/2016

    Reg - 82 - 1/14/2017

    #1496712
    Needs Advice
    Participant

    I just passed REG using only Ninja materials. Specifically, I read and re-wrote the Ninja Notes a bunch of times, listened to the Ninja Audio on the way to and from work everyday, and I did all of the REG MCQs more than 2 times each and then some. I didn't hit my review phase with the MCQs till I had answered all of the questions correctly at least one time. I hate reading, so the notes were a great alternative. I hate videos, so the audio was a great alternative. I love MCQs and those were great and challenging. During my final review I turned a bunch of the trouble questions and Ninja Notes into flash cards that I crammed the last three days and the day of the test. This was my first time using this method, previously Wiley, and was the first time passing as well. I will definitely be implementing this methodology going forward.

    I HAVE a life now.

    AUD - Passed

    BEC - Passed

    FAR - Passed

    REG - Passed

    BEC: 7/31/16 (Awaiting Results)
    AUD: 9/8/16
    REG: 10/22/16
    FAR: 12/3/16

    #1496731
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    @sam sorry to hear that. This is my experience.I scored 72 in my first attempt and 86 in the 2nd attempt. I used BECKER. I bought Ninja notes and GLEIM(used only for SIMS) on top of Becker. I think for REG – reading the Becker book and listening to lectures helped me a lot in understanding the concepts. I read the BECKER book at least the TAX portion 2 times.I didn't read the BLAW and Ethics section. Chapter 1 to 4 only. In my opinion even a small topic in TAX can't be ignored. Again for BEC I didn't even read the book. Just listened to the lectures and practiced MCQ's. REG is a different ball game altogether.I found reading the book helped me a lot.

    #1496734
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Review materials are not the problem.

    You need to understand the way you learn. Figure out when, and where works best for you to study.

    For me, its super early AM and I prefer having lots of bright white flourescent lights.

    A review course sometimes, does not give you a fundamental base for certain things. I know for REG Becker did a not so great job explaining the rules for all the taxable entities. I had to rent a textbook from Amazon to get a good theoretical foundation.

    Figure out your learning style..Don't approach the book as a wall of knowledge to absorb. Try to engage with the material. Review everywhere. If I'm in the shower, i would recite a mnemonic or talking stuff out. If I'm on the toilet Im doing the same thing. If I had a free second, Im scribbling down anything that comes to mind.

    #1916452
    Ramana
    Participant

    @Cessnapilot:
    Can you share what text you used for the basics? I plan to use Wiley CPA Excel. I hope they do a better job than Becker

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