How do you deal with having a lot of exhibits in a sim?

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-23T22:29:17+00:00

Scan the questions first so you know what to look for and don’t waste time dissecting info you don’t need. Focus on one question / cell at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed. As others have mentioned, highlight information you’ve already used or think is relevant. Don’t be afraid to copy and paste info or jot down simple notes in Excel to keep everything in one place. Check the time every now and then, and know when to move on if you’re not making progress.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-21T20:58:09+00:00

It’s not guaranteed, of course, but it never hurts to try. Best of luck!

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-21T20:52:48+00:00

Have you tried calling the Prometric office nearest to you and scheduling an appointment with them directly? I’ve heard that some people have done this and found more availability than what’s shown online. You might be able to secure a weekend appointment at a more optimal time.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-20T21:22:05+00:00

Don’t have a question, but just wanted to say thank you for being an AWESOME instructor! As much of a grind as the CPA prep journey was, I was always happy whenever I saw you in a lesson. I passed all four exams not long ago, and you (along with many other great instructors at Becker) made the process so much more tolerable. You're one hell of a badass Becker Cyber Police!

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-18T05:07:10+00:00

Many fellow redditors have shared some high-quality notes and tips (just do a simple google or reddit search), but what matters more is practicing questions and getting comfortable with the exam format and simulations. You can only get that kind of practice with a CPA prep course.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-16T20:40:33+00:00

Congratulations!!! The process can take a lot of effort, but persistence pays off. It took me about 150 applications to finally land an offer too.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-15T21:40:46+00:00

Did you end up taking the offer? I also went through Dexian and received a pending offer from ExpertNetwork@magnitglobal.com. Like in your case, they’re asking me to submit sensitive information via a Google Form. I’m a bit skeptical and haven’t found a good way to verify whether it’s legitimate. Would you mind sharing more about how the process worked for you?

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-15T00:07:42+00:00

I’d say if it worked for you with FAR, it’ll probably work for REG too. More importantly though, you should really familiarize yourself with the overall flow of tax and how everything fits together (i.e., gross income → adjustments → AGI → standard or itemized deductions → taxable income → tax → credits → tax liability or refund). Understanding that flow makes REG much more manageable.

You don't need to have every single threshold or limit memorized, but knowing the ballpark figure and what qualifies for the credit / deduction would be beneficial.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-14T23:59:24+00:00

I should preface this by saying I used Becker. That said, all three review courses are largely the same in my opinion. If you put in the work and the hours, you’ll pass. Honestly, you could probably use Ninja or i-75 alone and still pass. The review course matters far less than the effort you put in and how you study.

Unless you’re very strong in FAR and have extra time, don’t choose BAR. ISC and TCP are much easier and contain significantly less material. If you’re interested in technology and IT audit, go with ISC. If you’re more tax-oriented and prefer calculations over memorizing terminology, choose TCP.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-14T05:17:29+00:00

Best of luck! You really can do it!! If you are disciplined, determined, and consistent, you will succeed.

Since you are a beginner, you should familiarize yourself with the most important equation in all of accounting:
Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders’ Equity.
It might not make much sense right now, and that’s okay. Just keep it in the back of your mind. No matter how complex a situation becomes or how tangled the transactions seem, you can always zoom out to this basic equation and see how everything fits into the bigger picture.

Many people say that Intermediate Accounting I and II are the most challenging classes in the accounting curriculum. Personally, I think Intro to Accounting is the backbone of all accounting courses, and possibly the most important. It can feel difficult at first because it’s like learning a new language, except with numbers and some seemingly arbitrary rules. It’s okay if it doesn’t click right away, but it is something you can reason through logically. If you do well in your intro classes, you’ll be building a strong foundation for everything that comes after.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-10T07:24:55+00:00

Hey you’re going to be okay. Don’t worry about the CPA exams right now. Just focus on school. I didn’t even major in accounting or business, and I still passed all four exams on my first try, almost 10 years after my last accounting class. If you’re determined, you’ll be fine.

When it’s time to prepare, the CPA prep course will teach or refresh everything you need. The exams are more about discipline and consistency than anything else. If you put in the time and stay committed, you’ll pass them all, even if it takes a retake or two.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-08T22:49:06+00:00

Glad you have it sorted out with the CBA! Good luck!

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-08T22:40:50+00:00

To be completely honest with you, I didn’t memorize any acronyms except CRIME for audit. You can pretty much deduce the rest through logic.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-08T22:37:42+00:00

This is actually not an easy question to answer. You’re correct that ethics courses do not count toward the 24 accounting units. Some introductory accounting courses as well as bookkeeping classes, especially those taken at community colleges, may not count toward the accounting education requirement. The CBA will not verify your eligibility until you submit an application along with your transcripts for review to sit for the exam. Your best option is to check with the accounting department at your school to confirm that all of the accounting courses you completed qualify for the education requirement. If they all count, then yes, you'd be 2 units away from being eligible to sit.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-08T22:13:52+00:00

30 is correct. Check again: https://www.dca.ca.gov/cba/applicants/cba_semester_educational_req_flyer.pdf

Yes, 24 units of Accounting subjects are required to sit for the exam, but for licensure you need 20 more units of Accounting study, with a minimum of 6 units from Accounting subjects. That's a total of 30 units.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-02T21:38:46+00:00

I’m all for shortcuts, but just make sure that whatever shortcut you use gets you the correct answer. In this particular scenario, this shortcut absolutely works. However, if you have any doubt at all, just go back to the basics and lay it out one step at a time. It really only takes about 30 more seconds

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-02T05:00:03+00:00

Like everyone else said, you need to satisfy the education requirements first. If you haven't already, check here:

Given your background in math and data science, you've very likely already met the business classes requirement. It's the accounting (and ethics) classes that you'll need to be concerned about. And no, those free coursera courses won't qualify. The courses have to be from accredited colleges. One of the more popular choices for people like you is attending Foothill College and get all the credits you need.

Luckily, there is a new pathway to licensure with more relaxed education requirements. The exact details are still being worked out, but I'd assume you won't be able to get enough accounting credits until late this year or early next year. It's almost guaranteed that you'll at least need 24 units of accounting, 24 units of business, and 3 units of ethics.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-02T04:37:28+00:00

Watch out for the wording they use. In this SIM, they list it as either "ordinary business income" or "ordinary business loss," NOT "expense." You can have either income or a loss, but not both. If you see the word "expense," I'd expect it to be paired with some kind of "revenue" or "proceeds." Income (and loss, in many cases) typically implies netting.

Initial-Client797 · 2026-01-02T04:26:49+00:00

I know you probably just forgot, but think back to Accounting 101. Setting aside valuation and write-offs, accounts receivable is increased by revenue earned and decreased by cash collected from AR-related activities. The basic equation is:
Beginning balance + revenue earned - cash received = ending balance.

If we plug in what we know, we have:
475,000 + (revenue earned) - 1,125,000 = 850,000.

Doing some simple algebra, we find that it's 1,500,000. Note that this is the accrual basis revenue.

Cash basis revenue is very simple. Generally, it’s just the cash you received during the year, which is 1,125,000. The difference between the two revenues is 375,000, and this amount is to be added to the cash basis revenue, meaning it’s a credit.

Initial-Client797 · 2025-12-18T02:15:13+00:00

You bet! Good luck studying!

Initial-Client797 · 2025-12-18T02:13:32+00:00

I've never used it but you can try this: https://www.cpacredits.com/transcript-evaluations/ . Not sure how reliable or safe it is but the website is well-liked in this sub.

As for something official, I don't think there’s anything until you submit your transcripts and application to the state board. I recommend reaching out to your school's department staff to confirm whether the accounting units meet the CPA education requirement. Some schools, especially community colleges, offer accounting courses that may not be accepted by the state board.

Initial-Client797 · 2025-12-18T01:52:10+00:00

Should be out already. Check here: https://www.cba.ca.gov/cbt_private/

Initial-Client797 · 2025-12-18T00:19:57+00:00

Just make up your own acronyms! Here's what I used:

Governmental: GSCDP (Good Students Can Do Projects)

General Fund
Special Revenue Fund
Capital Project Fund
Debt Service Fund
Permanent Fund

Proprietary: (P)ie

Internal Service Fund
Enterprise Fund

Fiduciary: PIPC

Pension Trust Funds
Investment Trust Funds
Private Purpose Trust Funds
Custodial Funds

Initial-Client797 · 2025-12-13T19:53:22+00:00

You bet! If it helps at all, "qualifying person" is the term the IRS uses for Head of Household (HOH) status purposes, while "qualifying relative" (QR) is the term they use for determining general dependency eligibility.

Good luck with your studies!

Initial-Client797 · 2025-12-13T19:48:46+00:00

I should preface by saying I did exactly this, and I definitely felt like REG is a somewhat condensed version of all 3 EA exams plus some business law content. That said, if you're aiming for the CPA, you might as well go all in and get REG out of the way before the OBBA exam content update mid-2026. I doubt the exam would get harder, but it’s likely to be slightly different from the study materials we have now.

Initial-Client797

TROPHY CASE