[so1913]

Hey guys,

Got my score report for FAR (70) where I was surprised I scored “Stronger” on 2 of the content areas and “Comparable” on 3 of the content areas. I scored “Stronger” on MCQ and “Weaker” on Sims. I was hoping to get find an area I was weak in so at least I had some direction on where to focus my studies. I’m not sure what happened with Sims, if I made stupid mistakes, misunderstood what was being asked, or just didn’t know the material well enough. It’s hard to say given the performance by content breakdown they provided being it was all stronger or comparable. I honestly did not practice ANY sims during my review process, I assumed if I understood the material enough, I could work out whatever sims popped up on the exam. I’m preparing to study for a retake that I want to take in 4 weeks and trying to figure how to spend my time. Do you guys find it helpful to spend time on practice sims? Or should I focus putting more work into understanding subject matter through review/re-writing of notes and tons of tons of MCQs. I have purchased Ninja 10pt combo (Notes, Flashcards, Audio, WTB) and will be using that along with my Becker Textbook, Notes, and Flashcards (lectures and test bank expired).

AUD - 90 Pass
REG - 70,61,81 Pass DONE DONE DOOOOONNEEE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 79 - Pass
FAR - 70,82 - Pass

[tough_kitty]

Practicing a simulations is helpful to give you an idea what to expect on the exam. And since you already took FAR, you know exactly what to expect. Most practice sims are easier but you can still look at a few. However, as you suggested yourself, it's better to concentrate on understanding all the concepts in more detail.

Good luck!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[tough_kitty]

Practicing a simulations is helpful to give you an idea what to expect on the exam. And since you already took FAR, you know exactly what to expect. Most practice sims are easier but you can still look at a few. However, as you suggested yourself, it's better to concentrate on understanding all the concepts in more detail.

Good luck!

FAR: 81 (May 2013)
BEC: 81 (July 2013)
REG: 83 (August 2013)
AUD: 82 (November 2013)
California CPA since 1/30/14

[nbad311]

To be totally honest, the only SIMs I spent ample time studying/practicing for of all my exams were REG sims, because I was determined to ace any piece of a tax form I got in a simulation. Yes, it was worth it and probably no surprise that my REG score is my highest passing score so far and the “easiest” SIMs I have encountered, in my opinion. I feel like REG was the easiest test I've taken and it's probably been because I wasn't scared of the SIMs at all and was prepared for them. I didn't come out of that exam saying “SIMs were a nightmare”, but instead “SIMs were definitely doable!”

That being said, I think the exams are passable without overloading on simulation practice. Funny, just like you, I didn't practice FAR sims at all and also got a 70. I tend to not like practicing SIMs because they take sooooooo long and I don't want to spend 2 hours doing a Bonds simulation when the chance of getting that exact simulation on exam day is slim. Also, what pisses me off about SIMs is that they come in so many different forms and sizes – journal entries, calculations, T/F (wait – has anyone actually ever gotten a true/false piece in an exam simulation? IN MY DREAMS) that, even if I practice that Bonds simulation that Gleim provides, it's probably going to be totally different and require different tasks on the actual exam. That's why I focus on understanding the subject matter instead.

For my FAR retake in October, I am going to go through all the MCQs and take the time needed to understand conceptual info first. I am picking out a random SIM here and there and doing just a few along the way. My plan is during my last 10-14 days before the exam, hit up the simulations more while dabbling in MCQs and my notes. Also, I know I need to be prepared for J/Es on FAR sims!!

Good luck! Let me know if you find anything especially helpful when FAR studying because I'm right there with you! Have you scheduled a re-take date yet? Mine is 10/20.

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[nbad311]

To be totally honest, the only SIMs I spent ample time studying/practicing for of all my exams were REG sims, because I was determined to ace any piece of a tax form I got in a simulation. Yes, it was worth it and probably no surprise that my REG score is my highest passing score so far and the “easiest” SIMs I have encountered, in my opinion. I feel like REG was the easiest test I've taken and it's probably been because I wasn't scared of the SIMs at all and was prepared for them. I didn't come out of that exam saying “SIMs were a nightmare”, but instead “SIMs were definitely doable!”

That being said, I think the exams are passable without overloading on simulation practice. Funny, just like you, I didn't practice FAR sims at all and also got a 70. I tend to not like practicing SIMs because they take sooooooo long and I don't want to spend 2 hours doing a Bonds simulation when the chance of getting that exact simulation on exam day is slim. Also, what pisses me off about SIMs is that they come in so many different forms and sizes – journal entries, calculations, T/F (wait – has anyone actually ever gotten a true/false piece in an exam simulation? IN MY DREAMS) that, even if I practice that Bonds simulation that Gleim provides, it's probably going to be totally different and require different tasks on the actual exam. That's why I focus on understanding the subject matter instead.

For my FAR retake in October, I am going to go through all the MCQs and take the time needed to understand conceptual info first. I am picking out a random SIM here and there and doing just a few along the way. My plan is during my last 10-14 days before the exam, hit up the simulations more while dabbling in MCQs and my notes. Also, I know I need to be prepared for J/Es on FAR sims!!

Good luck! Let me know if you find anything especially helpful when FAR studying because I'm right there with you! Have you scheduled a re-take date yet? Mine is 10/20.

REG - 65, 70, 80!
BEC - 35, 62, 79!
AUD - 73, 75!
FAR - 65, 73, 70, 75! DONE.

[so1913]

Thanks nbad311! Yes, I scheduled my retake for 10/11. I would have stretched it out closer to the 20th, but I need to start studying for my REG retake which is scheduled for 11/27. I took REG a little over a year ago (got a 70 as well), so will have to start review from scratch and will only have 6.5 weeks 🙁 If I don't pass both FAR and REG this next test window I lose my AUD credit which is the reason for the big push.

I just wish I had a clear idea how to turn that FAR 70 into a 75. At least for my REG 70, my performance report pointed out clear weaknesses in content knowledge, and I actually knew those were my weak areas already. FAR on the other hand I'm a little lost as to where to focus my studies. As mentioned, sims could be on ANYTHING and NOTHING you actually studied/practiced lol. I actually thought I did ok on the exam sims which makes it worse lol.

AUD - 90 Pass
REG - 70,61,81 Pass DONE DONE DOOOOONNEEE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 79 - Pass
FAR - 70,82 - Pass

[so1913]

Thanks nbad311! Yes, I scheduled my retake for 10/11. I would have stretched it out closer to the 20th, but I need to start studying for my REG retake which is scheduled for 11/27. I took REG a little over a year ago (got a 70 as well), so will have to start review from scratch and will only have 6.5 weeks 🙁 If I don't pass both FAR and REG this next test window I lose my AUD credit which is the reason for the big push.

I just wish I had a clear idea how to turn that FAR 70 into a 75. At least for my REG 70, my performance report pointed out clear weaknesses in content knowledge, and I actually knew those were my weak areas already. FAR on the other hand I'm a little lost as to where to focus my studies. As mentioned, sims could be on ANYTHING and NOTHING you actually studied/practiced lol. I actually thought I did ok on the exam sims which makes it worse lol.

AUD - 90 Pass
REG - 70,61,81 Pass DONE DONE DOOOOONNEEE!!!!!!!!
BEC - 79 - Pass
FAR - 70,82 - Pass

[Anonymous]

I am also seeking an answer to this. How do I study for AUD Sims? What killed me is my Sims on my last exam. I received a 71 and I know I did fine on my MCQ's, but when I got to the Sims, it was a Oh Crap type of moment. I did Sims from Wiley Test Bank and Becker, well none of the Sims on the exam are even remotely close to what I studied for, in fact most of them dealt with journal entry, evidence and such, which was my only weaker area not having gone through FAR first.

[Anonymous]

I am also seeking an answer to this. How do I study for AUD Sims? What killed me is my Sims on my last exam. I received a 71 and I know I did fine on my MCQ's, but when I got to the Sims, it was a Oh Crap type of moment. I did Sims from Wiley Test Bank and Becker, well none of the Sims on the exam are even remotely close to what I studied for, in fact most of them dealt with journal entry, evidence and such, which was my only weaker area not having gone through FAR first.

[G3]

I am in a similar mess, if I don't pass FAR and AUD I lose my REG credit 🙁

I am thinking of purchasing NINJA Notes and WTB because the Becker program expired and I do not want to pay that fortune again! I would purchase the combo but I know myself (I am not an audio/flashcard kind of learner).

I am just waiting for my NTS emails to be able to reschedule

Good Luck!

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]

I am in a similar mess, if I don't pass FAR and AUD I lose my REG credit 🙁

I am thinking of purchasing NINJA Notes and WTB because the Becker program expired and I do not want to pay that fortune again! I would purchase the combo but I know myself (I am not an audio/flashcard kind of learner).

I am just waiting for my NTS emails to be able to reschedule

Good Luck!

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

[Anonymous]

What practicing sims does for me is gets me comfortable with the process generally. For AUD, I did hardly any (translation… um… NONE) sims until the last few days before the exam and I regretted that just becuase I felt a little snipered by the general formats. BEC was a moot point. And for REG I did more than I did for AUD, but looking back I would have had a greater comfort level with the real REG sims if I had done more of them in practice. For FAR I am sim crazy. Whatever they throw at me, I at least want to be able to figure out what they're asking me to do, and I find that's half the battle with the sims.

[Anonymous]

What practicing sims does for me is gets me comfortable with the process generally. For AUD, I did hardly any (translation… um… NONE) sims until the last few days before the exam and I regretted that just becuase I felt a little snipered by the general formats. BEC was a moot point. And for REG I did more than I did for AUD, but looking back I would have had a greater comfort level with the real REG sims if I had done more of them in practice. For FAR I am sim crazy. Whatever they throw at me, I at least want to be able to figure out what they're asking me to do, and I find that's half the battle with the sims.

[mtaylo24]

After I bombed audit for this reason I noticed similar sims were on the AICPA relased test.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[mtaylo24]

After I bombed audit for this reason I noticed similar sims were on the AICPA relased test.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Author]

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