[secretfire222]

On my score report, I did not receive anything less than “weaker” for any tax/law MCQ topics. Apparently I performed stronger on the multiple choice portion OVERALL and weaker on the sims. Clearly I walked out of the exam thinking I passed but I got killed on the simulations. Any advice? I’ve found that reviewing the IRS code is a waste of time. I’m retaking in early October because it’s clear to me that I know the material, I just have trouble applying it to the problems. Thanks!

AUD - 82, 88 (Lost Credit)
FAR - 70, 73, 79
BEC - 73, 74, 83
REG - 60, 70, 68, 86 (my last score in reverse lol..DONE!)

[kobebryant168]

I'm on the same boat here! I did not receive anything less than “weaker” for any tax topics, except law and I scored a god damn 74! I performed both weaker on MC. I clearly walked out of the exam expecting a pass, so I can only blamed it on the simulations that I did.

[mena je twa]

Both of you, if you have weaker in simulations 99% of the time , they will park you at 74. happened to me 3 times. Try to improve simulations to comparable, and than only you will pass.

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[kobebryant168]

@mena je twa, I knew it…but how to improve simulations is the MAIN QUESTION!

Mind to share? plz plz plz plz plzzzz!

[mena je twa]

Kobe….

Thats a million dollar question everyone wants to know. may be call Phil jackson and ask him:)-

Well, this is how i did it, first, try to increase your MCQ knowledge, be very solid on your understandings of all the corporate and individual forms. Second, try to use the research tab extensively, practice at home every week, 2-3 hrs, throw up a research question, put a kitchen timer next to you and find the answer in3-4 minutes, its all about practice.

Lastly, honestly, i hate to say this, but sometime it is a luck of draw as to what kind of simulations you get, you may be stronger in M-1 recons and you get that part and sometimes life is a bitch and you get a simulations on a part that you are not confident on. So best way is to know every darn thing.

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[kobebryant168]

@MJ+T

seems like I have met a new NBA discussion buddy here haha

I think I do understand corporate and individual forms. I saw some post earlier mentioning the research tab is a life saver…I wonder how that really helps, since simulations usually give out scenarios, how does the tool help?

research questions are, to me, relatively easy, i have never, so far missed finding the answers and very confident I got those right.

You live in Houston?

[mena je twa]

I live in Big D

The only way research tab helps you is if you get stuck somehwere while doing a simulation you can quickly look it up. For e.g If you are confused btw a adjustments or preference item, you can quickly look it up and clear your doubts, its a aid, not a tool to complete simulations

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[kobebryant168]

Haha, Big D

What is Mark Cuban up to? not seeing any roster change this offseason!

Thank you so much MJT,

really gotta pray for those easy simulations!

[jcw1503]

Question…How can you get lower than weaker???

“On my score report, I did not receive anything less than “weaker” for any tax/law MCQ topics.”

Mine just has weaker, comparable, stronger?

FAR - Attempt 1-(70)...Attempt 2 (Passed Baby)-Praise the Lord-Couldn't have done it without him.
AUD- Attempt 1-Passed!!!!!!!!! )-Praise the Lord-Couldn't have done it without him.
REG-Attempt 1-(73)...Attempt 2 (Passed Baby)-Praise the Lord-Couldn't have done it without him.
BEC-Attempt 1-(71)...Attempt 2 (Passed Baby)-Praise the Lord-Couldn't have done it without him.

****What is one Golden Rule for Passing the Exam? 1) Read the question properly. and 2) Leave yourself enough time to answer all of the....
****Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They makes mistakes, but they don't quit.
****Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.

[kobebryant168]

Less than comparable I meant

[sarah210]

How's your time management? One of the things that helped me a lot was leaving enough time for SIMs. For REG, I think I did the MCQs in 1.5 hr and spent the other 1.5 on the SIMs. When I came to a MCQ that I knew was going to take a really long time, I flagged it and moved on. At the end of each section, I went over all the flagged MCQs and decided whether or not to try to figure it out or just click an answer. I never got bogged down or wasted minutes and minutes trying to figure out something on one MCQ.

Leaving that much time for SIMs helped me in two ways– I could *calmly* look through the SIMs and see what I was up against and prioritize accordingly, and I could use the research tab.

When I was studying for the test, I didn't practice any SIMs. I mean, whatever they went over in the Becker lectures I paid attention to, but I didn't practice any of them. I did go through all the MCQs in Becker twice, and most of the lectures twice. I knew what my weakest areas were, and in the two days before the test I focused on those areas. I ended up with 3 SIMs on those topics. I am almost positive I got one of those 100% correct, and the others were good enough. I used the research tab heavily. I have a humanities degree and one of the things I learned how to do in college was to research like a champ. (Who knew that would come in handy when taking the CPA exam?) If you are not that good at researching, you may need to practice, as @mena suggested.

REG- 53, 91
BEC- 88
FAR- 62, 85
AUD- 85

Ethics- 93

[secretfire222]

Thanks everyone, I think I'm just going to redo the entire Yaegar course from scratch (albeit at a faster pace), ninja notes/Wiley again, and focus on understanding as many formulas/comp as I can..and bang it out in early October..I'm so close to freedom x_x

AUD - 82, 88 (Lost Credit)
FAR - 70, 73, 79
BEC - 73, 74, 83
REG - 60, 70, 68, 86 (my last score in reverse lol..DONE!)

[mmcgrad1]

I know Gleim offers a SIM wizard. Maybe that can help.

NIU CPA Review Correspondence is awesome!

I passed all four sections on the first attempt

[kobebryant168]

Gleim offers a SIM wizard

wow, that sounds like a good one, anyone tried?

[Whatdidyou]

Well, since over 50% of people fail, getting rated stronger doesn't necesarilly mean that you would have passed, or passed by much, if there were no SIMS at all. How close were you to that 75?

I think practicing for MCQ's usually does a good job for preparing you both for them as well as SIMS. So just study more, and you'll likely do better in both areas.

Also: Make sure you're leaving enough time for your SIMS.

Having taken it multiple times already, I'm sure you have a better idea of what to expect and what to study for than most of us do, so just think back to all your exams/SIMS you've had and study those areas.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Author]

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