[Lentilcounter]

During one of the most recent AICPA/NASBA webinars, the AICPA presenter bought up the CPA exam blueprints available on the AICPA website. He said that we should reference these blueprints in preparing for the exams and then there should be no surprises. He also said that any content group/topic that is tested at the analysis level is fair game for a simulation. I have created a short summary below. While the language in the blueprints can be somewhat vague, I think if you at least have a mastery of the topics below, simulations shouldn’t scare you.

Balance sheet/statement of financial position
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the balance sheet amounts to supporting documentation
B) calculate fluctuations and ratios and interpret the results while reviewing comparative balance sheets

Income statement/statement of profit or loss
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the income statement amounts to supporting documentation
B) calculate fluctuations and ratios and interpret the results while reviewing comparative income statements

Statement of comprehensive income
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the statement of comprehensive amounts to supporting documentation

Statement of changes in equity
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the statement of changes in equity to supporting documentation

Statement of cash flows
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the statement of cash flows to supporting documentation
B) derive the impact of transactions on the statement of cash flows

Notes to the financial statements
A) compare the notes to the financial statements to the financial statements and supporting documentation to identify inconsistencies and investigate those inconsistencies

Consolidated financial statements (including wholly owned subsidiaries and noncontrolling interests)
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the consolidated financial statement amounts to supporting documentation

Cash and cash equivalents
A) reconcile the cash balance per the bank statement to the general ledger
B) investigate unreconciled cash balances to determine whether an adjustment to the general ledger is necessary

Trade receivables
A) prepare a rollforward of the trade receives account balance using various sources of information
B) reconcile and investigate differences between the subledger and general ledger for trade receives to determine whether an adjustment is necessary

Inventory
A) reconcile and investigate differences between the subledger and general ledger for inventory to determine whether an adjustment is necessary
B) prepare a rollforward of the inventory account balance using various sources of information

Property, Plant, and Equipment
A) prepare a rollforward of the property, plan, and equipment account balance using various sources of information
B) reconcile and investigate differences between the subledger and general ledger for property, plant, and equipment to determine whether an adjustment is necessary

Payables and accrued liabilities
A) reconcile and investigate differences between the subledger and general ledger for accounts payable and accrued liabilities to determine whether an adjustment is necessary

Revenue Recognition
A) interpret agreements, contracts and/or other supporting documentation to determine the amount and timing of revenue to be recognized in the financial statements
B) reconcile and investigate the differences between the sales subledger and the general subledger to determine whether an adjustment is necessary

Account changes and error corrections
A) derive the impact to the financial statements and related note disclosure of an accounting change or an error correction

Contingencies and commitments
A) review supporting documentation to determine whether a commitment or contingency requires recognition or disclosure in the financial statements

Leases
A) interpret agreements, contracts and/or other supporting documentation to determine the appropriate accounting treatment of a leasing arrangement and prepare the journal entries that a lessee should record.

Subsequent events
A) derive the impact to the financial statements and required note disclosues due to identified subsequent events

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Lentilcounter]

@right brained accountant

Keep pushing through with Wiley…

When I finished reviewing with Wiley, I was trending closer to 80.

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Right Brained Accountant]

Thanks @Lentilcounter ! At some point it has to stick, right? Science…

REG - 79

BEC - 78

FAR - 90

AUD - 87

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." Fortune cookie circa 2012

8 exams in 16 months - Licensed CPA 2018

[Anonymous]

@Lentilcounter-resurrecting this thread. My fail was partially attributed to “weaker on SIMS'….How did you use the blueprint and the guidelines you and Ana put together to study the SIMS? Like did you study the material around the ones highlighted on top of doing them? I have done every single Becker SIM, some twice, and my second mock exam on Becker was a 78 with 80s in the SIMS. I did not focus on Ninja SIMS during my review at all with this one because I ran out of time. I remember doing and redoing them all for REG, which might have made a difference between pass or fail even though I didn't think so at the time. I am looking for more clarity around how you paired this blueprint and SIMS to prepare, because I really need a pass this time! I have a solid grasp of the material, but we all know SIMS are a killer… Thanks!

[Lentilcounter]

@anyatver

I did all of the NINJA FAR MCQ at least one time. I took notes as I went through them . Then I went through all the missed MCQ until I got them right. Then in the two weeks leading up to the exam, I did random sets of 66 MCQ in NINJA & WILEY everyday to keep the information fresh in my head. I had a time target of 1.5 hours or less for the MCQ so that I would have 2.5 hours for the SIMs. I also re-read my notes every night.

To do well on the SIMs, I looked at the AICPA FAR blueprint analysis topics and made sure that I knew that stuff really well. With Ana's help, we lined up all the Becker SIMs with the AICPA analysis blueprint topics. I studied these SIMs also in the two weeks leading up to the exam. I also did the AICPA practice exam, which had at least one simulation that was very similar to the real test.

People shrug off the blueprints like its no different from the CSO and that if you have a good study system, that's enough. I disagree and my FAR score is proof of that. Ana's FAR score is proof of it after three 73s back to back and finally an 82 with (stronger on MCQ, stronger on SIMs). There are other people on here who have benefited from using the blueprints in their studies.

Before using the blueprints, I went crazy studying governmental accounting and I think Becker focuses A LOT on it too. If you look at the blueprints though, it isn't an analysis topic so it shouldn't be a SIM. If it is a SIM, it probably is a pre-test question. When there is a lot of content to study as there is for FAR, it helps to know what carries more weight to be more efficient in studying. The way I see it, if something is an analysis topic, it can be a MCQ or a SIM. Know it well!

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Anonymous]

@Lentilcounter-thank you! I am going through the Ninja MCQ as a review now, making notes from the Becker book as I go as well. Then I will do all the ‘missed” once in Ninja and start on the SIMS. I will look at the ones you guys outlined here in more detail. Without disclosing too much, I feel that the most basic accounting task given in a SIM might have done me in on the exam simply because it took so long to sift through the documents. I always look at the AICPA practice test now because for audit I had the exact SIMS from the practice test and it was the only one I didn't review! 🙂 Thank you for the info and the help! Good luck with REG!!!! Don't ignore trusts and estates is all I have to say:)

[Anonymous]

I have a question on this-the blueprint says Analysis type questions are a fair game for SIMS, does that mean application ones wouldn't show up as a SIM? Because there aren't too many analysis type questions in the blueprints compared to others…The topics are consistent with what I saw on my first FAR exam in November…. To those who took it once or multiple times, your response is appreciated!

[Lentilcounter]

@anyatver

First of all, make sure that you are looking at the AICPA blueprints that are effective as of 01/01/2018. I made threads on here for FAR, REG, and BEC but it was using the blueprints from 2017. There weren't many changes for BEC or REG but there were some changes for FAR and AUD.

Secondly, any topic that is tested on the blueprints at “remembering and understanding” or “application” is fair game for MCQ. Additionally, if the “analysis” box is checked next to a topic, it can be a SIM too.

If a topic shows up as SIM that doesn't have an “analysis” box checked next to it, it is most likely a pretest.

My advice to you with FAR (I took it 4 times) is use either NINJA or WILEY to get your average on all the MCQ to at least the high 70s/low 80s. You can get it there by taking notes/studying them and its important to know journal entries with FAR. Make sure you know all the “analysis” topics really well. Schedule two weeks of review before your test, where you do assorted MCQ in a sample size similar to the test and 5-6 SIMs a day.

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Anonymous]

@Lentilcounter-thank you! I have the updated Becker book for exams after 1/1/8 so I will look at the blueprint and check out the analysis topics. I should be in good shape to follow the random MCQ/SIMS regimen starting next week for two full weeks (and two whole weekends! yay). I plan on finishing up taking notes and going through government accounting as well as “missed since last time seen” in Ninja this week. It's amazing how accurate Ninja is-my lowest score right now is the section which was marked “weaker” on my score report. Incidentally, my average in Ninja was 69 before my first attempt. Right now it's exactly 75, but it will definitely be higher by the end of the week!

Btw-I hope REG went well and I am wishing you all the luck in the world on 2/6/18 for score release! 🙂

[Anonymous]

@Lentilcounter and @Ana-you guys are probably enjoying your freedom and not checking this but on a chance that you are-or anyone else who used the blueprints-did you just do the SIMS that lined up to the blueprint or did you do others as well? I have started my two-week before the test review and I find wanting to do more than what's outlined only to realize that if I focus on SIMS I won't have as much time to practice MCQ which is also very important because otherwise i will start to forget…Like yesterday I did 50 MCQs in Ninja, about 30 in Becker and like 6 SIMS, but felt like I didn't do enough? I am starting to feel the panic:) LOL! any suggestions are much appreciated!

[Lentilcounter]

I would do any SIM that correlates with an “analysis” topic and make sure you understand it. Can do you Sims on other topics which aren't “analysis” topics? Sure! But I would only do them if you have the extra time. They will help you in answering MCQ. Also, this thread was created using the FAR blueprint from 2017. Please use the 2018 one from the AICPA website. As for MCQ, I wouldn't do more than 90 to 100 everyday on all topics.

Balance is key during these 2 last weeks of review. Try to get to a place where you can knock out the sample size of the test MCQ in 1.5 hours or less while scoring an 80 or higher. Give yourself 2.5 hours for the Sims. Also, it is important to review your notes everyday. I did it once in the morning and once before bedtime.

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Anonymous]

@Lentilcounter-thank you! I have scored really high on the random sets of MCQ it's the “missed since last time seen” that I keep getting wrong, but at this point it's about 20 questions I keep getting wrong, which I will brush up on over the weekend. Is the gap between average and trending is a concern? I am trying to go by my average scores right now, as I know that's more of an indication where I truly am…. I will keep pushing through the SIMS, do sets of MCQ to keep things fresh during the week and re-assess where I am at over the weekend-as that's the time I can devote to problem areas. Thank you so much for your replies! It's very helpful!

[Lentilcounter]

You are welcome. Seems like you are on the right track.

I would use the median of your scores because it is not impacted by outliers in your score data which is the case for an average.

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[ssaetern]

@Lentilcounter you said you lined up Becker SIMs with the blueprint. Were there a lot of Becker SIMs that lined up to the blueprint? If it’s not too much trouble, can you tell me which ones lined up? Maybe let me know what chapters they were in? Thanks.

AUD - 78
BEC - 78
FAR - 85
REG - 83

So glad to have my life back!

[Anonymous]

@ssaetern-if you look in this thread-a couple of pages back-the SIMS are listed as they line up to the blueprint.

[ssaetern]

@anyatver Thanks!

AUD - 78
BEC - 78
FAR - 85
REG - 83

So glad to have my life back!

[Author]

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