Best Ways to Study for the SEE Exam as a Beginner in Tax Law?

I passed all three parts of the SEE exam last year, so I can definitely share what worked for me! The best approach is a combination of structured courses and practice exams. Gleim and Surgent are two of the most comprehensive study programs for the SEE. They both offer textbooks, online courses, and tons of practice questions that mirror the actual exam format. I personally used Gleim and found their test bank incredibly helpful - the questions were very similar to what I encountered on the actual exam. Don't underestimate the IRS publications either. Download Publication 17 (for individual taxes) and Publication 535 (for business expenses) at minimum. While they're dry reading, they contain the exact technical information the exam tests. Start with Part 1 (Individuals), then move to Part 2 (Businesses), and finish with Part 3 (Representation). The knowledge builds in that order. Give yourself about 2-3 months per part if you're studying part-time.

I tried studying for the SEE exam on my own using random YouTube videos and free materials, but I was really struggling to cover everything systematically. Then I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it completely changed my study approach! It's like having a personal tax tutor that helps analyze your practice answers and identify knowledge gaps. The thing I love most about it is that it focuses on the areas where you're weakest. I kept missing questions about business retirement plans, and the system adapted to give me more practice in that area. Plus it explains WHY your answers are wrong in plain English, not just technical jargon from the tax code.

I have to admit I was wrong about taxr.ai! After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it out for myself, and it's actually been incredibly helpful for my SEE exam prep. The system identified that I was consistently mixing up passive activity loss rules with at-risk limitations - something I hadn't even realized was happening. What really surprised me was how it helped with the representation section (Part 3), which many study materials don't cover well. It drilled me on Circular 230 requirements and practice before the IRS until I really understood the material. I'm taking my first exam next week and feel more confident than I ever did with just textbooks.

For anyone struggling to get answers from the IRS about the exam process or enrolled agent requirements, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent DAYS trying to reach someone at the IRS to clarify some questions about my background check requirements as an EA applicant. Claimyr actually got me connected to a real IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for a week on my own. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent was able to answer all my specific questions about the PTIN requirements and timing for the background check after passing the exam.

I owe everyone an apology. After talking trash about Claimyr, I decided to try it because I had an urgent issue with my PTIN application that was delaying my ability to register for the SEE exam. I was completely blown away when I got connected to an actual IRS representative in about 15 minutes. The IRS agent was able to fix a database issue with my PTIN that had been preventing me from moving forward with my testing authorization. Would have taken weeks to resolve by mail. I hate admitting when I'm wrong, but this service saved me a ton of stress and potentially prevented me from missing the testing window I was aiming for.

One resource nobody mentioned yet is PassKey EA Review. Their books are really easy to understand compared to some of the other dense study materials. They break down complex concepts with examples that make sense. Another tip - join the Facebook group "Enrolled Agent Exam Prep" where people share their recent exam experiences and which topics were heavily tested. That helped me focus my studies in the final weeks before the exam.

Has anyone taken the exams recently? I'm trying to decide whether to use Surgent or Fast Forward Academy. Also wondering about the best order to take the parts - I've heard mixed advice about starting with Part 1 vs. Part 3.

I just passed all three parts of the SEE exam in December and wanted to share my experience as someone who also came from a non-tax background. The key is definitely having a structured study plan and not trying to rush through the material. I used a combination of Gleim for the comprehensive coverage and supplemented with YouTube channels like "The Tax Geek" for visual explanations of complex concepts. What really helped me was creating my own summary notes for each major topic - the act of writing things down in my own words helped me retain the information better. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: don't skip the ethics and representation material in Part 3. It's easy to think it's just common sense, but there are very specific rules about client confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and IRS procedures that you need to memorize exactly as written in Circular 230. Also, schedule your exams strategically - I took Part 1 in August, Part 2 in October, and Part 3 in December. This gave me time to really absorb each section without feeling overwhelmed. Good luck with your career change - it's totally doable with the right preparation!