[G3]

Since this is my 7th attempt (and last chance to save REG) I need to conquer this once and for all!!!

From reading a lot of AUD stories it seems that SIMs are extremely important. I seem to be testing weaker in that area no matter what I do.

I have WTB, did all the SIMs and even printed them out for more review.

I have tried using AL but besides the research question, it never really helps me 🙁

Anyone who has passed this beast – what did you do for the SIMs?

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[Not a Quitter]

I passed AUD on the third try. First time I made a 74 and did stronger on SIMS but weaker on MCQs. Second time I made another 74 but it was the opposite. I use CPA Excel and I did make an effort on the practice SIMS in that course. I truly felt like they prepared me fairly well.

FAR- 85 I'm DONE!
BEC- 75
REG- 60,60,75
AUD- 74,74,83

CPAExcel used for BEC, AUD, REG
Exam Matrix used for FAR plus NINJA Blitz, cpareviewforfree and a little CPAExcel

[Not a Quitter]

I passed AUD on the third try. First time I made a 74 and did stronger on SIMS but weaker on MCQs. Second time I made another 74 but it was the opposite. I use CPA Excel and I did make an effort on the practice SIMS in that course. I truly felt like they prepared me fairly well.

FAR- 85 I'm DONE!
BEC- 75
REG- 60,60,75
AUD- 74,74,83

CPAExcel used for BEC, AUD, REG
Exam Matrix used for FAR plus NINJA Blitz, cpareviewforfree and a little CPAExcel

[OtherGuy]

I never really studied for SIMs and just focused on MCQs. I always just assumed the knowledge I gained from doing MCQs would transfer over to SIMs.

Since the layout of SIMs are so highly variable, studying specifically for them seems to be inefficient to me.

Passed all sections.

[OtherGuy]

I never really studied for SIMs and just focused on MCQs. I always just assumed the knowledge I gained from doing MCQs would transfer over to SIMs.

Since the layout of SIMs are so highly variable, studying specifically for them seems to be inefficient to me.

Passed all sections.

[HeartsMimiCPA]

I don't think you can really prepare for SIMs like MCQs, you just have to have an overall understanding of the information. I remember when I took AUD the first time I was so clueless as to what the SIMs had to do with AUD. The second time I had a better grasp of the material so when I saw the SIMs I knew how they related to Auditing. It's like MCQs are testing on individual pieces of Auditing where SIMS are the moving parts, they relate to how everything works together…idk if that makes sense or is even helpful

AUD - 65, 89!
REG - 70, 89!
FAR - 78!
BEC - 77!

Finally!
Experience 06/30/15
Ethics-Done

VA Licensed 09/15/15

[HeartsMimiCPA]

I don't think you can really prepare for SIMs like MCQs, you just have to have an overall understanding of the information. I remember when I took AUD the first time I was so clueless as to what the SIMs had to do with AUD. The second time I had a better grasp of the material so when I saw the SIMs I knew how they related to Auditing. It's like MCQs are testing on individual pieces of Auditing where SIMS are the moving parts, they relate to how everything works together…idk if that makes sense or is even helpful

AUD - 65, 89!
REG - 70, 89!
FAR - 78!
BEC - 77!

Finally!
Experience 06/30/15
Ethics-Done

VA Licensed 09/15/15

[10keyLeah]

I worked on what I learned were my weak points from my first attempt. I continued to pound MCQ's and go over Ninja materials. Granted my first set of SIMS were just monsters, and my second set was much easier. AL is a huge help with SIMS, but I didn't have a single SIM on my first exam where it was useful. That was just my luck of the draw.

It sounds like this could be a part of your issue with saying that you haven't been able to use AL, but I'm not so sure since you've sat 6 times. I would suggest taking the topics you are having any issues with and becoming very familiar with those topics.

Are you getting so anxious over SIMS that you aren't *really* reading the questions? I think that was part of my problem on my first attempt.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[10keyLeah]

I worked on what I learned were my weak points from my first attempt. I continued to pound MCQ's and go over Ninja materials. Granted my first set of SIMS were just monsters, and my second set was much easier. AL is a huge help with SIMS, but I didn't have a single SIM on my first exam where it was useful. That was just my luck of the draw.

It sounds like this could be a part of your issue with saying that you haven't been able to use AL, but I'm not so sure since you've sat 6 times. I would suggest taking the topics you are having any issues with and becoming very familiar with those topics.

Are you getting so anxious over SIMS that you aren't *really* reading the questions? I think that was part of my problem on my first attempt.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[Iron_Victory]

I would study SIMS on topics you are weak on for AUD. It is important to know the topics BUT I will argue that knowing the topic for MCQ and for SIMS is a bit different.

If you spend all your time training your neurons and brain synapses to recognizing MCQ correct answers I feel that the SIMS will suffer and from my own experience this is true. IF you have a fair enough grasp of the material then you may be able to pop off answers but most folks, myself included, only have a decent understanding of many topics and it is far from perfect.

AUD - (74),78
BEC - 85
FAR - 86
REG - 84

[Iron_Victory]

I would study SIMS on topics you are weak on for AUD. It is important to know the topics BUT I will argue that knowing the topic for MCQ and for SIMS is a bit different.

If you spend all your time training your neurons and brain synapses to recognizing MCQ correct answers I feel that the SIMS will suffer and from my own experience this is true. IF you have a fair enough grasp of the material then you may be able to pop off answers but most folks, myself included, only have a decent understanding of many topics and it is far from perfect.

AUD - (74),78
BEC - 85
FAR - 86
REG - 84

[G3]

@ HeartsMimiCPA

My last score was what you got on the 1st attempt – how did you study differently to increase your score by 14 points?

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[G3]

@ HeartsMimiCPA

My last score was what you got on the 1st attempt – how did you study differently to increase your score by 14 points?

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[Texas CPA]

As others have said, you just have to understand the info. One thing that helped me was to finish the MCQs with plenty of time and utilize the AL and use it to research it for answers you may not know. I got an AUD SIM I could not answer but I was able to go through the AL and actually found an example that was very similar to the SIM. I ended scoring stronger on SIMS. The AL actually helped on over 1/2 of the AUD SIMS.

I wish I could tell you what the SIM was but I was amazed the example was almost word for word for the SIM.

Look at the SIMS as sort of an open book test.

The problem is, that takes time.

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[Texas CPA]

As others have said, you just have to understand the info. One thing that helped me was to finish the MCQs with plenty of time and utilize the AL and use it to research it for answers you may not know. I got an AUD SIM I could not answer but I was able to go through the AL and actually found an example that was very similar to the SIM. I ended scoring stronger on SIMS. The AL actually helped on over 1/2 of the AUD SIMS.

I wish I could tell you what the SIM was but I was amazed the example was almost word for word for the SIM.

Look at the SIMS as sort of an open book test.

The problem is, that takes time.

Reg - Passed 82 Nov 2012 - Becker
Aud - Passed 86 May 2013 - Becker
BEC - Passed 88 Aug 2013 - Becker
FAR - Passed 88 Nov 2013 - Becker

https://www.becker.com/cpa-review

Texas CPA

[HeartsMimiCPA]

@G3, The first time I took AUD I studied all wrong. I thought I could watch the videos, make notes from what they told me to highlight, do MCQ's and pass. My 65 is reflection of that kind of studying. I didn't have a real understanding of the information

On retake I went back to my tried and true study techniques.

-I read the book myself (skipped the videos)

-made notes from my highlighted portions

-made flash cards

-I did MCQs in Becker and WTB, whichever questions I got wrong I printed and reviewed.

I don't think I actually read the notes I took but the process of reading, and then typing helped me learn the info. I also practiced “going with my gut” I think a lot of times we start second guessing ourselves during the test and I made sure I went with my first instinct.

AUD - 65, 89!
REG - 70, 89!
FAR - 78!
BEC - 77!

Finally!
Experience 06/30/15
Ethics-Done

VA Licensed 09/15/15

[Author]

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