[reyrey57]

I took FAR 8/2/11 & I was feeling pretty good about the multiple choice, but the simulation killed me! I probably finished 50% of them. Has anyone passed FAR without finishing the sims?

FAR (8/2/11)
BEC (10/1/11)
REG (1/1/12)
AUD (6/1/12)

[pshustler]

I agree with you in that aspect Minority. The partial credit on the SIMS is huge

BEC - 86
AUD - 94
REG - 88
FAR - 89

[ScruffMcGruff]

Loved reading your experience from your first post CPAMan. I've already taken AUD and I'm waiting for the results back. I feel similarly to what you described. I think/know I did well on the MCQs, but the Sims I have no clue (I think I did great on 3-4 of them and 3 others I probably bombed…).

When trying to ‘guesstimate' my score, I'm coming up with around 75-80% if you use the numbers/percentages given by the AICPA. Hopefully I will be in for a pleasant surprise like you rather than a letdown.

AUD - 85
FAR - 78 (lol@ FAR Sims)
REG - 85
BEC - August

[Anonymous]

Hi,

If there is anyone readying this that has recently passed the FAR section, can you please respond to the questions below:

Is it possible to pass the FAR exam without correctly answering any simulation questions?

Can you offer any advice, tips on preparing for the exam, and how to study for simulations? Thanks in advance for your help! I am getting ready to take the FAR in one week and really could use as much advice and help as I can get.

Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who left two sims completely blank on FAR and passed with a 76.

[HighMileageDude]

Definitely can still pass. There were times I had to guess on entire tabs and likely got entire tabs wrong and still passed by a good amount. Chances are if you find it hard, others do too.

When i first get to the SIMs and open up the tabs, I panic for the first 10mins or so just staring at things. Then once you calm down you realize hey I know a thing here and a thing there. Just fill in as much as you know and for the rest, guess!

[Anonymous]

Thanks HighMileageDude! Do you have any advice you can offer before I take this exam again…… I really would like to pass it this time I am so tired of studying the same material?

[HighMileageDude]

Keep in mind that PASSING is just whatever the AICPA's volunteers feel is the “test performance is

required to ensure the protection of the public interest.” It's not a percentage correct of SIM tabs or anything. Even if you feel you bombed certain SIM tabs – you may still have performed well enough on the enough pieces of all the SIMs tabs to “ensure the protection of the public interest” 🙂

HOW THE CPA EXAM IS SCORED (according to AICPA):

“Volunteers who are licensed CPAs with recent experience supervising entry level CPAs

participated in a passing score study. They reviewed test questions and how candidates

performed on those questions in order to make judgments of what test performance is

required to ensure the protection of the public interest. The results of this study were

used by the Board of Examiners (BOE) as a guide when it established the passing

scores for each section. These passing scores were then mapped to a score of 75 on

the scale used to report scores.” – https://www.aicpa.org/becomeacpa/cpaexam/psychometricsandscoring/scoringinformation/downloadabledocuments/how_the_cpa_exam_is_scored.pdf

[wendywhite]

Bump

I ran out of time – big time on FAR.

I had 3 of 7 questions done and I looked up and had 21 minutes left. I went into panic mode.

I threw some stuff into two of the sims – but they were advanced & difficult and I'm sure I got some wrong in them and one was only half filled out. Two sims were completely untouched. A third only 1/2 filled out. I was absolutely certain I had failed because of that – but prior to that I was feeling great about my mc. My MC saved me, I'm sure.

FAR 11/2012: 80
AUD 2/19/2013: 90
REG 5/14/2013: 76
BEC 11/2013: 85
Ethics: 100
Waiting on the packet....

[Author]

Replies