| The enrolled agent exam 2010 testing period | | | | and a half hours to complete each part of the |
| opens on May 1. Students must obtain a preparer | | | | exam. What is the best approach for time |
| tax identification number (PTIN) from the IRS | | | | management on the test? |
| before they can register with Prometric to take | | | | Publisher: On average, a person has roughly 2 |
| the test. Both the PTIN and test registration can | | | | minutes each to answer all of the enrolled agent |
| be done online. We strongly advise you not to | | | | exam questions. If you can get your average |
| schedule your exam dates all at once. | | | | time down to say 1 minute 30 seconds that |
| The IRS divides the exam into three separate | | | | should give you plenty of time to review your |
| parts, each containing 100 questions. The enrolled | | | | questionable answers at the end. I prefer the |
| agent exam pass rate varies by exam part. The | | | | answer, mark and move strategy myself. |
| difficulty of each part depends on your | | | | Editor: Could you explain what that is? |
| experience; however, most people do the best on | | | | Publisher: Sure. Students take the EA exam on a |
| the Practices and Procedures exam while the | | | | computer, which allows them to mark questions |
| business exam is often the most difficult. Each | | | | and later return to review them at the end. The |
| student must pass all three parts before | | | | exam score will depend on the number of |
| registering with the IRS on form 23 to become | | | | questions answered correctly. Incorrect answers |
| an enrolled agent. The EA exam pass rate has | | | | do not count against you any more than |
| increased each year since the format changes in | | | | unanswered questions. Guessing on difficult |
| 2006. This improvement is in part due to the | | | | questions will allow the test taker ample time to |
| amount of quality enrolled agent courses available | | | | complete the questions they are most likely to |
| today. You will have a tough time with this exam | | | | answer correctly. A guess also has a 25% chance |
| without the right amount of EA exam preparation. | | | | of being correct. Just don't forget to review the |
| A brief Q & A with a leading publisher of EA | | | | marked questions at the end. |
| study guides. | | | | Editor: Can an experienced tax preparer or CPA |
| Editor: How much time does it take to prepare | | | | rely on experience to pass the EA exam? |
| for the EA exam? | | | | Publisher: I'm sure there are some people that can |
| Publisher: Funny you should ask. I hear this almost | | | | pass without any enrolled agent exam |
| daily. Regrettably, the answer is not easy because | | | | preparation, but even the most veteran prepares |
| each individual has differing abilities. We | | | | can be humbled by the exam. Anyone considering |
| recommend the average person study for at | | | | taking the EA exam should first take an |
| least 100 hours. Our enrolled agent exam prep | | | | assessment to understand his or her probability of |
| course is designed to substantially reduce the time | | | | success. We have free tools available online that |
| necessary to prepare. | | | | help individuals understand their readiness before |
| Publisher: I understand that a person has three | | | | scheduling their enrolled agent exam dates. |