[Paul99a]

Hi all. I’ll take FAR (my first section) in a couple months.

Question –how similar are test prep software simulations (wiley, gliem) to the real thing? Not in terms of content, but in terms of user interface. Are the real Prometric interfaces similar to working on a real PC?

For example, on my current test prep, you pull up a little calculator but can input to calculator with mouse clicks only. Spreadsheet is not functional — only allows input, cannot check sums. Word processor has cut and paste but cannot move text around.

Is this how the Sims in the real test are?

Thanks

Paul

FAR-84/AUD-80/BEC-81/REG-Nov'11

[Anonymous]

i dont have wiley or gliem software but i can tell you the calculator sounds similar to your description. You click on the top section and a calculator pops up. You can use your numeric pad to input your calcs (way faster than manually clicking each number via mouse). For the spreadsheet, there are sum, and other formulas but not exactly like excel. I never used the spreadsheet function, or copy paste function.

I believe there's an identical software found on cpa-exam website you can visit and practice?

[SeanM]

The UI in Becker is almost identical to the actual exam, right down to the piece of crap calculator.

FAR-87; AUD-89; BEC-85; BEC-84
DONE!

[Anonymous]

Functionality of the actual test calculator, spreadsheet and word editing programs are basic. So basic that while taking the FAR exam I noticed half-way through a sim that the font had changed styles and I was unable to change it to all one style. I wasted time trying to change font so my letter to the CFO wouldn't look ridiculous – to no avail. I eventually wrote a disclaimer at the bottom of the letter describing the problem I was having.

The calculator is just as basic as the one on your windows based pc's accessory list.

Don't think you're gonna' build any macros within their spreadsheet program because you'll be sorely disappointed.

They're basically one-step above what we used to call “dumb” terminals.

[Anonymous]

I used Gleim and found it similar enough that I didn't have any issues with the exam (well, no issues in terms of using the program…).

The AICPA has their own practice exam and tutorial here: https://www.aicpa.org/BECOMEACPA/CPAEXAM/FORCANDIDATES/TUTORIALANDSAMPLETEST/Pages/exam_tutorial_parallel.aspx

Note that the tutorial is long and boring but that the practice exam is short. Also, the practice exam won't download with Windows 7 – I had to call and they gave me an email address to someone who sent me a link to virtually log into one of their computers. Or just use a computer without Windows 7. Hope this helps!

[Author]

Replies