[MR DIM]

Is it possible to get partial credit on the research simulation? For example, if you were to input the correct title and section but the incorrect paragraph would you receive any points?

BEC (5/29): 85
FAR (7/1): 95
AUD (7/24): 87
REG (8/26):

[kplummer517]

I don't know if anyone really knows how these are scored. I'm talking about SIMS in general.

AUD - Passed - 82 (10/1/13), Expires 4/1/2015 (57,62,64)
BEC - Passed - 77 (7/14/14) (53,67,70,74) Half way to CPA!!!!
REG - Passed - 81 (8/23/14) (68) 3 down 1 to go!!
FAR - Passed - 75 (11/11/14) I'm DONE!!!!!

Illinois Canidate

[JamesBJames]

I'm not really sure. I've heard different review courses say that 1) yes, you do need everything correct to get points, or 2) no, you get graded individually on each cell, so if the answer was 1-2-3-4 and you put 1-2-3-5, you would get most of the credit.

At the end of the day, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

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[Anonymous]

I saw something from the AICPA that basically said, if the input in the sims is incorrect, than credit isn't given. Even knowing that, I've still wondered the same about your question. I had a research sim that could have had any one of a few possible answers. I selected what I felt was the best under the circumstances. I should get the score on August 1. Hopefully I guessed right.

[Anonymous]

No, because the research questions are very specific. Often times in my case, they'll ask me to input a subsection and I'll insert a paragraph (which isn't a subsection). Here I offer two pieces of advise with the research.

1) Know the difference between a section, subsection, and a paragraph… as it helped me a great deal in my research studies.

2) The research question will absolutely tell you what it wants as far a section, subsection, and a paragraph… so be sure to catch it when reading.

[MR DIM]

@AgentJohnny006 –

So if the question is asking you for the section only you would leave the paragraph cell completely blank?

BEC (5/29): 85
FAR (7/1): 95
AUD (7/24): 87
REG (8/26):

[Anonymous]

I disagree with AgentJohnny. In my experience, the research has never asked for a specific paragraph or section. It has said something along the lines of, “what questions should so and so ask management regarding internal controls.” (ex. from becker, not from my test 🙂 )

You want to put everything that directs you to that answer.

Also, some research have more than one answer, so if it could be multiples, it will likely accept multiples. This is most common in REG.

[Anonymous]

Heres an example from Roger CPA Review: “Sandy received a gift of stock valued at $2,000 from a friend. Which code section and subsection provides whether or not the gift is includible in gross income?” The question came with two blank cells, one for the section and one for the subsection. If that research question was in the NINJA MCQ test bank, there would only be one blank cell where you put in the section, then subsection… and realize that there is no paragraph number to input,

As far as the CPA exam is concerned, They will give you two separate cells when its only asking for a subsection. They dont trick you by adding a paragraph cell when there isn't one needed. You can always check this AICPA link to see for yourself (make sure your using Internet Explorer before opening the link):

https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam/forcandidates/tutorialandsampletest/pages/exam_tutorial_parallel.aspx

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

@AgentJohnny006, I've been curious about this as well because one of my actual research SIM experiences has involved the question asking for a section and then having blank cells for both section and paragraph. That particular question held me up for a good while just because I was frantic trying to figure out which of the two to include.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure? That hasn't been my experience thus far. The tutorial I linked had a sample research question that asked for a subsection and provided two cells for input. My guess is, that if you see three blanks… then the question must've asked for a paragraph somewhere in the prompt. How did you tackle it on the exam? Did you put a paragraph or enter “0”s?

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'm certain, unfortunately for me if I got it wrong. I don't think this is a disclosure issue since it's not actual exam content (but please remove this if it is, moderator!), but it was for my AUD exam and the SIM specifically asked for the section and had cells for both section and paragraph. I had taken REG immediately prior to AUD and remembered the importance of only giving the exam what it asks for, so I just entered the section and left the paragraph cell blank. But then I thought that was very odd and ended up going back and forth about what to do. For my REG exam research SIM, there was only one cell to complete with the answer up to the applicable stopping point.

When I commented on this in the “AUD Exam Experience” thread, it seemed like this has popped up for a few others before and one person told me that I was correct in leaving the paragraph cell blank if only the section was asked for and that that has come up for them before. I still thought it seemed strange, though, and I'd still like to find a concrete answer somewhere.

[MR DIM]

Amandilee-

Same thing happened to me. Recently took AUD and one of the research questions explicitly asked for the section. As you mentioned, the paragraph cell was included in the response.

I only provided the section in my response and left the paragraph section blank. This has been driving me crazy as I am unsure as to whether or not I should have provided the paragraph in my response as well. My first thought was that it was a pretest (especially because I had 2 research questions), but who knows.

BEC (5/29): 85
FAR (7/1): 95
AUD (7/24): 87
REG (8/26):

[willpassby2014]

Guys /jeff- I owe a ton to this forum. This was driving me crazy too. Thanks.

BEC Passed
FAR Passed
AUD Passed
REG Passed

[Author]

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