[Miserylovescompany]

It is not my style to trash a product in a forum. However, I may be able to save some of you a bit of time with this product review.My Becker subscription had expired. I needed a review package with good SIMS for FAR. I called CPAEXCEL several times and after great amount of deliberation and comparison, I bought their FAR course.

The material is well presented, however the SIMS have a lot of bugs. In the last three weeks, I completed 24% of the course and I became increasingly frustrated with the SIM cells. My objective was to get enough practice to shave of the precious seconds on the SIMS. Instead, I found that I was always getting timed out.

When I called customer service, I was told that they were aware of all the problems with the SIMS and they were planning to come out with an update in November. Had I been told about this earlier, I would never have bought it. I have decided to return the review materials.I cannot wait till November and lose the next exam cycle.

If any of you have any other suggestions besides Becker and Wiley Test Bank, I am all ears.

AUD: Passed
REG: Passed
BEC: Passed
FAR: Passed

[Mjs157]

Yeah, hurry up.

[Mjs157]

Yeah, hurry up.

[RandomAlt]

@Miserylovescompany …thank you for posting your experience. I use CPAexcel, and as I have not taken any of the four exams yet, did not know how the practice SIMS stacked up to the real exam. For every practice SIM I have taken, at the end I go “there is no way the real exam software could be like this.” It always feels buggy, sluggish.

At least I know to expect something different on exam day.

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[RandomAlt]

@Miserylovescompany …thank you for posting your experience. I use CPAexcel, and as I have not taken any of the four exams yet, did not know how the practice SIMS stacked up to the real exam. For every practice SIM I have taken, at the end I go “there is no way the real exam software could be like this.” It always feels buggy, sluggish.

At least I know to expect something different on exam day.

FAR - [10/07/2013 --> 66] [07/07/2014 --> 86]
BEC - [08/31/2014 --> 86]
AUD - [11/24/2014 --> 88]
REG - [02/14/2015 --> 92]

[Miserylovescompany]

RandomAlt

Buggy is indeed the operative word. I do not expect them to replicate each possible topic, but I do expect them to at least replicate the simulation interface. After all, any one can see the interface on the AICPA site.

I found the SIMS to be extremely lacking in that area. Becker at least simulated the interface pretty well. Unfortunately, my access has expired and I do not feel like shelling out another $800 to Becker.

AUD: Passed
REG: Passed
BEC: Passed
FAR: Passed

[Miserylovescompany]

RandomAlt

Buggy is indeed the operative word. I do not expect them to replicate each possible topic, but I do expect them to at least replicate the simulation interface. After all, any one can see the interface on the AICPA site.

I found the SIMS to be extremely lacking in that area. Becker at least simulated the interface pretty well. Unfortunately, my access has expired and I do not feel like shelling out another $800 to Becker.

AUD: Passed
REG: Passed
BEC: Passed
FAR: Passed

[calicpa]

@Miserylovescompany, I know that gleim has a sim test bank. I don't know if it's any good, but they have a free trial period so I think it's worth checking out.

BEC - 84, 4/6/13
AUD - 77, 5/28/13
REG - 83, 4/12/14
FAR - 83, 10/3/13

Ethics - 90% 4/24/13

150 unit education requirement met!
Work experience met!

[calicpa]

@Miserylovescompany, I know that gleim has a sim test bank. I don't know if it's any good, but they have a free trial period so I think it's worth checking out.

BEC - 84, 4/6/13
AUD - 77, 5/28/13
REG - 83, 4/12/14
FAR - 83, 10/3/13

Ethics - 90% 4/24/13

150 unit education requirement met!
Work experience met!

[Miserylovescompany]

calicpa

Thanks. I intend to play with their trial software this weekend and then decide.

AUD: Passed
REG: Passed
BEC: Passed
FAR: Passed

[Miserylovescompany]

calicpa

Thanks. I intend to play with their trial software this weekend and then decide.

AUD: Passed
REG: Passed
BEC: Passed
FAR: Passed

[tough_kitty]

You may get a free extension from Becker if you show them your NTS. Unless you already used that up.

SIMS on the actual exam are way harder than those in Wiley. I haven't tried any other software but I haven't practiced many sims. I think you just need to make sure you understand all the material. And especially the journal entries!

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

[tough_kitty]

You may get a free extension from Becker if you show them your NTS. Unless you already used that up.

SIMS on the actual exam are way harder than those in Wiley. I haven't tried any other software but I haven't practiced many sims. I think you just need to make sure you understand all the material. And especially the journal entries!

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

[Anonymous]

Helpful tip: If you click on “TBS Tutor” on the left side of your display and select SIMS for the relevant lesson you're studying, you get over an hour to complete them, even if you only select one.

Also I've found practicing SIMS to be a complete and utter waste of time, but maybe that's just me.

[Anonymous]

Helpful tip: If you click on “TBS Tutor” on the left side of your display and select SIMS for the relevant lesson you're studying, you get over an hour to complete them, even if you only select one.

Also I've found practicing SIMS to be a complete and utter waste of time, but maybe that's just me.

[tough_kitty]

Co10101 – it's not just you. I think it's a waste of time even though it's a good idea to try a few but some people might find them useful so I don't want to mislead anyone. Just something to consider.

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

[Author]

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