[Anonymous]

I am wondering which review best prepares us for the exams. Can you please respond by stating the materials you used and how practice MCQs compared with actual tests? This will help those of us who are taking or will take (retake) the exams. So if you had Becker and Becker MCQs were right on whereas Becker SIMS were harder then please respond with “A-1-5”.

A – Becker

MCQs (1 – right on, 2 – harder, 3 – easer); SIMS (4 – right on, 5 – harder, 6 – easier)

B – NINJA

MCQs (1 – right on, 2 – harder, 3 – easer); SIMS (4 – right on, 5 – harder, 6 – easier)

C – Roger

MCQs (1 – right on, 2 – harder, 3 – easer); SIMS (4 – right on, 5 – harder, 6 – easier)

D – Yaeger

MCQs (1 – right on, 2 – harder, 3 – easer); SIMS (4 – right on, 5 – harder, 6 – easier)

Thanks all!

[futuremdcpa]

They all use similar questions licensed by the AICPA. I think Becker did a good job preparing me for REG, even though after I left the exam I felt like I just failed. What I did was read the book (which is outlined very nicely), do the MCQ's over and over and over! Not to memorize the answers, but I would slowly read every right/wrong answer choices, and make notes. The thing that helped was probably the MCQ's over anything.

No one can prepare you for the SIM's. You just have to fully understand everything to be able to apply it to the SIM's. Overall I like Becker so far. The lecture are sometimes boring and dry, but the structure is good. Good luck.

REG: PASS || BEC: PASS || AUD: PASS || F: SCORE PENDING..

[momto5]

This is a little difficult as each section could be different. Overall:

FAR: A-1-6

AUD: A-1-4

For FAR the exam SIMS took longer than they did in Becker and were a little more complicated, I thought.

For AUD the exam SIMS were about the same difficulty as Becker – at least mine were.

SIMS are tough to judge because it really comes down to how well you know the material, not if you practiced that particular SIM. I haven't yet run across any that were exactly like Becker had me practice.

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[Anonymous]

futuremdcpa and momto5 —

Thank you both for your replies. I always want to know what I am up against and so I try to learn/know as much as I can … aside from the Becker and Wiley practice MCQs and SIMS, I did try the sample tests on the AICPA website and from my understanding, these are actual tests from prior years. Perhaps they are sharing only the easy ones because quite honestly I don't think these are the questions that will freak most of the candidates out(?!). Reading the comments in this site really scares me but the restults of my own tests counters these feelings.

momto5 — great scores! I am very impressed. How much time do you put in for every section. I am guessing that you must have 5 children and that must take a whole lot of time caring for them too.

[momto5]

Well my user name may be a little deceiving – yes, I have 5 children, but they are all grown. I am older than most of the others taking this exam. I work full time and study almost every evening and the better part of every weekend. I didn't really keep track of hours of study, but took about 13 weeks for FAR, 7-8 weeks for AUD, and am on my 6th week for BEC with the test on the 30th. I admire anyone who can get through this process with kids still at home – I don't think I'd be able to do it! I have a wonderful husband who takes care of the household duties so that I can spend all my free time studying. The people who support us are invaluable and are just as anxious as we are that we get this done! We need to remember to thank them often.

Good luck on your CPA adventure. And don't let all the comments freak you out unnecessarily. You won't know exactly what type of challenge you are facing until you take your first exam. Everyone has different abilities, different circumstances, different distractions to deal with, different study habits, and on and on…….. There are some that want to do their absolute best, and there are some that want to do just enough to get by. The exams are challenging, but not impossible.

If I've learned anything over the years, I have learned not to judge my outcomes based on what others' experiences have been. In high school I did not attempt an accounting class because everyone that I knew that took it hated it and said it was difficult. Little did I know (until I got to college) that I would have loved it! I was just talking to the wrong people! So read these posts to recognize the challenges, learn strategies and stumbling blocks, support and help others, rejoice with those who pass, and encourage those that don't. But don't let them scare you into thinking you won't be able to do it.

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[Anonymous]

I am very, very thankful for your response. One of my other concerns actually was that I too am older than most candidates and that this might be a point against me should AICPA have a preferred demographic, especially when I read that the SIMs are “pre-assigned”. That really got me thinking … who assigns the sets? Are these random or by raffle… there isnt much information. I had to ask Jeff and am still waiting for his reply.

I noticed that my memory is not as good as before … and gosh I get so sleepy its hard to put in 2-3 hours study after a long day's work. Nonetheless I strive in the hopes that something good will come out of this.

Good luck to your BEC!!

[momto5]

@cheska_0222

I know what you mean about the memory AND the sleepiness! I usually try to get an hour of studying in before work if I can. I am more of a morning person than a night person. Sometimes I find myself falling asleep between reading the question and the answers of the MCQ's – that's when I know I need to go to bed!

I don't think there are any “points against” us for age by the AICPA. Not even sure they would know our age when testing. I believe the test each person gets is quite random. It is just that the MCQ's are – well, I don't remember what they call it, but after your first testlet, the second testlet questions are chosen for you based upon how you did on the first testlet. Then the third based on how you did on the second. So if you got lots of them correct on your first one, the second one may be more difficult (but also worth more points). If you did terrible, the second one may be easier (but worth less points), etc. The SIMS evidently are not chosen based on how your MCQ's went – you just get a random set. At least this is my current understanding of the whole thing.

Good luck with FAR! It is good to get that one out of the way early!

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[Author]

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