2015/11/27

Factors To Consider When Preparing To Take EA Exam

By Marci Nielsen


If you are a tax practitioner and still unsure whether you need to become an enrolled agent, it is high time you make up your mind and register for the Enrollment Examinations as soon as possible. Being an Enrolled Agent would allow you to command high fees, work across states and also establish yourself as one of the best tax experts in the US. However, in order to claim the title of an Enrolled Agent and all the benefits that come with it, one has to first pass the Enrolled Agent Examination. Enrolled Agent Test is a unique test that covers topics on business taxation, individual taxation and representations. Below are tried and true tips to help you pass your EA exam in your first attempt.

The first step when preparing for any exam and not necessarily the EA test is to start early enough. There is absolutely no reason to start cramming at the last minute especially when preparing for a test covering something as hard as taxation. Starting preparation early will also help you avoid added anxiety on the examination day.

EA tests are normally very comprehensive and test a lot of conceptual and computational mastery of issues relevant to taxation. There are also lots of material covered in the exams. As such, the surest way to perform well is practice using past papers. This way, you will get familiar with the questions that you are likely to face in the main exam.

During your studies, it is also important to give more attention to the key topics. Of course everything you learn as tax expert is very important. However, not all this knowledge will be examined. Because of this, you need to know how to identify topics that are most examined and focus more on them. This information you can find from past IRS tests or even from the internet.

One reason why most candidates fail EA tests is because they schedule the exams too far in advance. This forces them to take the exams even if they are not fully prepared for it. Before you schedule an exam, you should remember that you only have four attempts per year to sit and pass any part of the examination. Because of this, it is highly recommended that you use practice simulations before scheduling your Enrolled Agent Examination.

Joining a study group can also be of help. These days, you do not necessarily have to look for physical location to meet with your group members. You can even form a whatsapp group or meet via facebook and discuss.

As the exam date approaches, you will also need to dedicate more time to relax and unwind. This is not the time to start panicking or cramming. In fact, you should not cram when preparing for the test as it will prove counterproductive.

It is also important that you arrive early on the test site. This will help you avoid being over anxious. Of course anxiety is a normal process of any performance related process. However, too much of it usually have negative consequences.




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