[cpa_challenger]

Hi future CPAs,

I took FAR for the first time this past week and all of my sims except for my research sim of course had multiple pages of supporting docs to go through. I did not expect all of them to be as long and comprehensive as they were so I am not sure if I just happened to have worse sim booklets than others or if anyone else had a similar experience to me. Overall I did my best and answered them to the best of my ability in the time I had, but I am not very confident in my answers and did not get to check any of my work :/

Feel free to share your experience if you’d like!

[Anonymous]

I had SIMs like this for REG back in May.

I'm curious whats the best way to prepare for these types of SIMs. I don't feel like NINJA prepares you well enough for them. Also knowing the material and mastering the practice MCQs alone doesn't necessarily mean we'll score well on the SIMs. So hoping others can shed some light…

[Ralphie Dos Nachos]

yes I took far on July 11th. It was laughable what they gave me to do on the sims. Ridiculous amount of information and documents to go along with every single sim I had. Had only 1 DRS, and the research I think I got right but I practically guessed on everything else. Doubt I passed.

[countinCoconuts]

The SIMS were ridiculously difficult. Truthfully, the hardest part was going back and forth between the supporting documents and trying to figure out what info was relevant vs non-relevant and still stay within the required time frame. It was really testlet 4 and 5 (the ones with 3 sims) that the difficulty picked up.

I think for the next time around (I'm pretty sure I didn't pass), I'd focus on proper time management per SIM as well as working through all the supporting docs.

I think the AICPA can do a better job of making the fonts smaller on the SIMS so you're not constantly scrolling up and down between split screens, it would save alot of time. Or at least incorporate 2 computer screens because the whole split screen thing is ridiculous, especially with the large font sizes.

Also, for those of us who are already working accountants, Incorporating a full working Microsoft Excel program would make the exam go faster in my opinion. Also including Excel in the MCQ's would be great. I mean, don't we all live and breathe excel anyway?

[Parthamis]

well I certainly do not feel good about FAR now… 9/08

[BBHYX]

Having 5-8 docs is now the norm for the new enhanced sims and DRS since Q2….usually, on my exams, I get maybe 2 or 2 sims that do not have supporting docs but tend to have HUGE paragraphs of info at the top. Then all the others have at minimum 5 documents attached.

[alpal617]

I am so glad I'm not the only one that thought this. I took it on May 10th and I thought I got super unlucky with awful sims. I actually cried when I left the testing center lol. Two days until my score release and I'm so nervous!

[Tncincy]

So what's the best prep for sims…I know there is some examples in the mcq ‘s but practicing them I understand is in vain. So how do you get familiar with the format whether plenty of documents or few.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[alpal617]

@Tncincy

Do you have Becker? I recommend doing ALL of the Sims in Becker and reviewing ALL of the sims from your mock exams. If you do this, you shouldn't have a problem. My biggest regret on the exam was looking back and wishing I had paid closer attention to more of the sims I saw in Becker

[Anonymous]

I took FAR on July 31. Just my 2 cents, but I dont think it was difficult, just ridiculously long and comprehensive.

I'm unlikely to pass it this time, but I will take it again early Oct. I will report back here to see if the length and difficulty have changed.

[Tncincy]

@sunsun621 : No I don't have becker but I don't want to take another part sim blind. I am ninja only.

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[Meg267]

I took FAR on the 14th. The sims weren't as bad as I thought they were going to be. After seeing the forums about FAR sim difficulty, I had planned to spend 20 minutes per simulation. I was totally expecting them to be difficult and time consuming. I finished the exam with 30 minutes left. I thought the sims were more relatable to what I do in private accounting. I'm hoping I passed.

[CoachEmUp]

I think the sim “difficulty” is a bit over-hyped on this board. Disclaimer: I had 2 months to prepare with no job so I was locked in and ready to go on test day. But in reality I thought a lot of the skills they tested were similar to the types of things you would do when performing actual accounting work at a private company.
The difference is really that you're on the clock. Many others have said it and I certainly found it to be true during my exam: The better prepared and faster you can do the MCQ's the better off you'll be. I had 2 hours and 40 minutes left for the 8 SIMS and took my time and didn't freak out or rush through them. I finished with 2 minutes left and probably could've gone quicker but went slow to make sure I was reading the questions and answering what they were asking.

[SoldierGirl]

@CoachEmUp
Hi, thank you for sharing your experience. You recommended that MCQs should be done fast, but will the time saved from MCQs be carried to Simulations? For instance, the first SIM is 30 minutes, if you saved 15 minutes from MCQs, your first SIM will ran out in 30 minutes not 45 minutes, right?
Thank you again.

[Ben]

@SoldierGirl

You are not timed per-section, you have 4 hours total. You can spend 30 minutes doing MCQ and have 3.5 total hours left for sims or spend 3 hours on MCQ and only have 1 hour left for sims.

[SoldierGirl]

@Ben,
Thank you so much for the prompt reply help.
Best,

[Author]

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