[popzvegas88]

Hi all,

I am taking REG in two days. I am getting 80% or better on comprehensive MCQ’s and just took the AICPA Sample Test. It looks like I am pretty prepared.. but I am still worried about the REG Sims.

The only consistency I’ve found in reading other people’s exam experience and advise is to utilize the Authoritative Lit. function wisely. I wanted to hear from community members who have passed, failed, and are currently preparing for REG. Anyone’s input is welcomed and encouraged. 🙂

A few questions are:

1) What are some strategies that you guys use for quickly finding what you are looking for in the Auth. Lit. sections?

2) Do you just click the section/subsections to find the item you are looking for?

3) Do you utilize the ‘Search’ or ‘Advance Search’ functions?

4) How do you determine the key terms or criteria when you read a section?

5) Are there any unique fields that you’ve found effective within the ‘Advanced Search’ function?

***Asking for strategies in general terms, not exam disclosures of course. :)***

Any tips for navigating these areas would be greatly appreciated. It definitely looks like Becker’s Auth. Lit. is a cliff notes version of the real thing (compared to the AICPA’s sample test).

10/13/13 - FAR *PASSED* 76
12/01/13 - AUD *PASSED* 84
01/09/14 - BEC *PASSED* 84
02/27/14 - REG *PASSED* 81

[NYCaccountant]

I could not really find anything in the Authoritative lit. Maybe I just suck at researching, but it's not been really helpful to me.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[NYCaccountant]

I could not really find anything in the Authoritative lit. Maybe I just suck at researching, but it's not been really helpful to me.

FAR - 93
REG - 87
BEC - 84!!!!
AUD - 99!!!!!! CPA exam complete.

[popzvegas88]

Haha well you must know your **** well enough if you got a 93 on FAR and a 87 on REG. That's impressive.

10/13/13 - FAR *PASSED* 76
12/01/13 - AUD *PASSED* 84
01/09/14 - BEC *PASSED* 84
02/27/14 - REG *PASSED* 81

[popzvegas88]

Haha well you must know your **** well enough if you got a 93 on FAR and a 87 on REG. That's impressive.

10/13/13 - FAR *PASSED* 76
12/01/13 - AUD *PASSED* 84
01/09/14 - BEC *PASSED* 84
02/27/14 - REG *PASSED* 81

[10keyLeah]

First, be sure to read the question and understand what is being asked.

I personally tried to use the search and search within functions. I also used quotations. Hopefully you'll get a few key terms within the question itself. I didn't just click a section/subsection and take off reading, but I did read the section/subsection headings to get a clue about whether I was in the right area. If the question is about estate tax and you are in individual tax section, then its obviously probably not the right section.

Here is a link to the tax code that Cornell U. Law School has on their website

:https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26

I hope this helps you out.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[10keyLeah]

First, be sure to read the question and understand what is being asked.

I personally tried to use the search and search within functions. I also used quotations. Hopefully you'll get a few key terms within the question itself. I didn't just click a section/subsection and take off reading, but I did read the section/subsection headings to get a clue about whether I was in the right area. If the question is about estate tax and you are in individual tax section, then its obviously probably not the right section.

Here is a link to the tax code that Cornell U. Law School has on their website

:https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26

I hope this helps you out.

Ninja Combo, Yaeger, Wiley -- Licensed CPA, May 2015

[popzvegas88]

very much so! 🙂 Thank you!! I certainly don't think that this topic is so critical htat it determines a pass/fail situation… but hopefully it will help ‘tighten up' someone's final prep to get a little added insurance against bombing some SIMS 🙂

10/13/13 - FAR *PASSED* 76
12/01/13 - AUD *PASSED* 84
01/09/14 - BEC *PASSED* 84
02/27/14 - REG *PASSED* 81

[popzvegas88]

very much so! 🙂 Thank you!! I certainly don't think that this topic is so critical htat it determines a pass/fail situation… but hopefully it will help ‘tighten up' someone's final prep to get a little added insurance against bombing some SIMS 🙂

10/13/13 - FAR *PASSED* 76
12/01/13 - AUD *PASSED* 84
01/09/14 - BEC *PASSED* 84
02/27/14 - REG *PASSED* 81

[Anonymous]

As of yesterday I just got my REG score back (Texas was late). Scored a 71 on my first shot at REG ugh. Results had me comparable and stronger in every category and stronger overall in MCQs. Only one “weaker” area… SIMs.

I knew during the exam I was killing the MCQs and felt so confident going into the SIMs and then they were just so obscure and odd it just ruined me. I've got my rematch for the first Saturday in the next window to take this beast down. I'm going to practice SIMs with CPAExcel & Gleim but I feel like they're just so hard to prepare for.

[Anonymous]

As of yesterday I just got my REG score back (Texas was late). Scored a 71 on my first shot at REG ugh. Results had me comparable and stronger in every category and stronger overall in MCQs. Only one “weaker” area… SIMs.

I knew during the exam I was killing the MCQs and felt so confident going into the SIMs and then they were just so obscure and odd it just ruined me. I've got my rematch for the first Saturday in the next window to take this beast down. I'm going to practice SIMs with CPAExcel & Gleim but I feel like they're just so hard to prepare for.

[RedSoxFan77]

Bobcat87, I had a similar exam experience. I felt confident with the MCQ testlets, they definitely got harder, but when I got to the SIMS, I was blown away by how obscure they were. I was so sure I failed because I didn't feel prepared for the SIMS at all but turns out I passed. The only thing I can think of that explains my passing score is my SIMS guesses were accurate.

It's really difficult to prepare for REG SIMS, they were completely different for each of my exams.

*Edit – I didn't find the AL useful at all in my third attempt but maybe that's because I wasn't using the search tools properly.

FAR 75
AUD 74, 82
REG 58, 74, 83
BEC 68, 75
Licensed 7.1.14!!!

[RedSoxFan77]

Bobcat87, I had a similar exam experience. I felt confident with the MCQ testlets, they definitely got harder, but when I got to the SIMS, I was blown away by how obscure they were. I was so sure I failed because I didn't feel prepared for the SIMS at all but turns out I passed. The only thing I can think of that explains my passing score is my SIMS guesses were accurate.

It's really difficult to prepare for REG SIMS, they were completely different for each of my exams.

*Edit – I didn't find the AL useful at all in my third attempt but maybe that's because I wasn't using the search tools properly.

FAR 75
AUD 74, 82
REG 58, 74, 83
BEC 68, 75
Licensed 7.1.14!!!

[popzvegas88]

Ugh yeah I felt like I did well on the Research questions (2) but when I tried applying the AL to other sims I definitely missed some and spent a TON of time on each one. I had 90 minutes for the SIMs and still feel like I didn't have enough time! lol… I just hope there is SOME chance that both research questions are not pre-tests.

10/13/13 - FAR *PASSED* 76
12/01/13 - AUD *PASSED* 84
01/09/14 - BEC *PASSED* 84
02/27/14 - REG *PASSED* 81

[popzvegas88]

Ugh yeah I felt like I did well on the Research questions (2) but when I tried applying the AL to other sims I definitely missed some and spent a TON of time on each one. I had 90 minutes for the SIMs and still feel like I didn't have enough time! lol… I just hope there is SOME chance that both research questions are not pre-tests.

10/13/13 - FAR *PASSED* 76
12/01/13 - AUD *PASSED* 84
01/09/14 - BEC *PASSED* 84
02/27/14 - REG *PASSED* 81

[CPA soon]

I tried searching some info on AL for other sims but that didn't go well for me, it was a waste of time.

FAR - 71, 68, 74, (8/31/14) 78 ✔
REG - 67, 71, 71, (10/18/14) 78 ✔
BEC - (11/29/14) 86 ✔
AUD - 73, (4/4/15) 86 ✔

I can't believe this is over! 2 years and 3 months..

[Author]

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