How I Studied Smart and Passed the EA Exam in 2025
You’ve got your PTIN and scheduled your Prometric exam — now it’s time to study smart.
In this part, I’ll share the real 2025 study system, trusted resources, and test-day strategies that made all three EA exam parts feel manageable.
1️⃣ Understanding the 2025 Exam Structure
The EA exam (Special Enrollment Examination) still has three parts, each 100 questions, 3.5 hours.
The 2025 content outline reflects new adjustments from the IRS EA Information Page.
- Part 1 – Individuals: Form 1040, credits, deductions
- Part 2 – Businesses: Schedule C, corporations, partnerships
- Part 3 – Representation & Ethics: Circular 230 rules, client communication
2️⃣ Recommended Resources & Official Links
There’s no single official textbook, but here’s what consistently works for most candidates:
- Gleim EA Review 2025 – Complete textbook + adaptive practice bank.
- Fast Forward Academy EA Prep – Video lectures + Prometric-style mock tests.
- IRS Publication 17 – Authoritative reference for individual tax topics.
- IRS Publication 463 – Travel, gift, and car expense rules (often tested in Part 1).
The mixed approach helped me balance concept retention and speed.
3️⃣ Weekly Study Plan Template
Here’s a flexible 10-week plan you can tailor to your schedule:
- Weeks 1–2: Intro topics + familiarize with IRS forms (Form 1040, 1120)
- Weeks 3–5: Deep study + chapter tests (target 70 % accuracy)
- Weeks 6–8: Full-length mock exams with timer
- Weeks 9–10: Review weak areas + memorize key thresholds and credits
4️⃣ Exam-Day Mindset & Timing Tips
Prometric’s 2025 policy still allows reschedules within 30 days. Each part is 3.5 hours, no penalty for guessing.
- ⌛ Max 2 minutes per question on first pass.
- 🧭 Flag tough ones and return later.
- 🪪 Bring the same ID used for your PTIN account.
- ☕ Eat before arrival — no food allowed inside Prometric rooms.
Time management really matters.
5️⃣ Motivation & Progress Tracking
Use a simple spreadsheet to log study hours and accuracy rates.
Sharing updates in EA forums like r/EnrolledAgent on Reddit keeps motivation high and alerts you to 2025 topic changes.
- ✅ Set mini goals (e.g., finish 5 modules = reward yourself).
- 📈 Track scores weekly to see improvement.
- 🤝 Join study partners online for accountability.
Once you see how credits, deductions, and forms connect, you’re thinking like an EA.
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