Best Study Plan for the SEE Exam to Become an Enrolled Agent?

As someone who passed all three parts of the SEE exam last year, I can definitely share what worked for me. The key is to find study materials specifically designed for the exam - the IRS isn't testing your general tax knowledge but rather specific areas outlined in their test specifications. I'd recommend starting with the free materials from the IRS website. Download their SEE exam bulletin which outlines exactly what topics are covered. Then invest in a comprehensive review course - I personally used Gleim which has fantastic study materials, practice questions, and simulated exams. Surgent and Fast Forward Academy are also solid options many people use successfully. Don't try to learn everything at once. The exam is divided into three parts for a reason. Focus on one part at a time, master it, then move on. And practice questions are absolutely critical - they help you apply the knowledge and get used to how the IRS phrases their questions.

I used taxr.ai to help me prepare for the SEE exam last year and it was a game-changer for me. I was struggling with understanding some of the more complex topics like basis calculations and partnership taxation. Someone recommended https://taxr.ai to me and it really helped break down these difficult concepts. What I found most helpful was uploading practice questions I was struggling with and having them explained in a way that made sense to me. The system analyzes tax documents and explains them in plain English, which helped me understand the underlying principles rather than just memorizing answers. It became my go-to resource whenever I got stuck on something while using my main study course (I used Surgent). Definitely check it out along with whatever main course you decide on.

Just wanted to follow up after trying taxr.ai for my SEE exam prep. I was skeptical at first (as you probably saw from my earlier comment), but it's actually been incredibly helpful. I've been using it alongside my Surgent materials for about two weeks now. When I hit concepts I was struggling with (like passive activity loss limitations), I uploaded some practice questions and the explanations I got were way clearer than my main materials. Being able to ask follow-up questions until I really understood a concept made a huge difference. I'm not abandoning my main study materials, but having taxr.ai as a supplement has definitely improved my confidence with the more complex topics. I feel like I'm actually understanding the "why" behind the tax rules now instead of just memorizing.

After failing Part 3 of the SEE exam twice despite hours of studying, I was desperate to find a better approach. The IRS helpline was impossible to reach for clarification on certain topics I was confused about. Then I discovered https://claimyr.com and it literally saved my exam preparation. I was able to speak directly with an IRS agent who clarified several confusing points about business entities and retirement plans that I had been interpreting incorrectly in my studies. You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The service connected me to an actual IRS representative who was surprisingly helpful in explaining some exam-related concepts. This cleared up my misconceptions and helped me focus my studying on the right areas. Just having those key questions answered made a huge difference in my understanding.

I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After failing Part 2 again last month, I was desperate enough to try anything, including Claimyr. I was still skeptical but figured it was worth a shot to get some clarification on foreign income exclusions and treaty benefits that kept tripping me up. I was shocked when I actually got through to an IRS specialist within 40 minutes (vs the 3+ hours I spent on hold previously). While they obviously didn't provide exam tips, they were able to thoroughly explain how certain international tax provisions actually work in practice, which cleared up my confusion completely. Understanding the practical application of these rules made the exam concepts click in a way my study materials hadn't accomplished. Just passed my retake yesterday! Sometimes getting information straight from the source makes all the difference.

Don't overlook the IRS's own materials! I downloaded all the publications relevant to each part of the exam and used them alongside my Fast Forward Academy course. The publications are free and straight from the source. Part 1: Focus on Publications 17, 501, 503, 504, 519, 590-A/B Part 2: Publications 334, 535, 542, 544, 550, 551 Part 3: Publications 15, 225, 536, 946 Having these publications as references helped me understand the "why" behind many answers, especially on the trickier questions. Study the key publications first, then move to practice questions.

Has anyone tried the self-study approach without buying a course? I'm on a really tight budget but determined to get this done.

I'm in a similar situation as you - just starting my EA journey and feeling overwhelmed by all the study options out there! Reading through these responses has been really helpful. One thing I'm noticing is that everyone emphasizes the importance of practice questions, which makes sense since the exam tests application of knowledge rather than just memorization. I'm leaning toward starting with the free IRS materials and publications that Dylan mentioned to build my foundation, then investing in a comprehensive course once I understand the scope better. Has anyone found certain parts of the exam significantly harder than others? I'm trying to decide if I should tackle them in order (Parts 1, 2, 3) or start with whichever might be easiest to build confidence. Also curious about timing - how far apart did people space their exam attempts? Thanks for all the detailed advice so far - this community is incredibly helpful for newcomers like us!