[Jasper]

I have read several posts and it seems that many have run out of the time on the REG exam, leaving 2 to 3 sims unfinished.

My experience with the other exams have been:

FAR-finished with about 5 minutes to spare and I seemed to feel rushed on this one.

BEC- more relaxed when taking and I finished with about 15 minutes to spare.

AUD- also more relaxed when taking and I finished with about 30 minutes to spare.

With all the three above, I used the remaining time to check answers on the sims and make last minute changes after careful consideration.

How is everyone else’s experience when taking REG? I have mine scheduled for the end of Feb 2014.

FAR 82
BEC 82
AUD 93
REG 87

[10keyLeah]

REG can be a tight squeeze time wise. I finished, but I wished I had more time. I didn't have time to go back and get a second look at MCQ before moving forward, and I didn't have time to utilize the AL for SIMS. I tried to spend about 30 minutes per testlet so I would have over 1 hour for SIMS. \

I've read plenty of posts here on the forum of people that do run out of time and leave SIMS blank. Just be aware of your time and try to plan.

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

[louiseb]

I think Audit and REG should switch test lengths. I finished Audit 30 minutes early and ran out of time for REG. I barely got 2 sims finished and then it was the most helpless and panicked feeling watching the clock run out…I felt like I had done pretty well on the MCQs too, but then it felt like the entire exam was literally slipping through my fingers. I left one sim completely blank and just frantically selected numbers frm the drop down boxes for another….I drove home in the foulest mood and was so convinced that I failed that I actually studied for 2 hours every night until scores came out so that I wouldn't completely forget any of the material….Low and behold I got an 82 and almost fell out of my chair when saw the score. I can only assume that one of the sims that I left blank was a pretest. It was such a pleasant surprise to find out I passed that it almost made the miserable feeling of thinking I failed worth it ( not really).

You just never know how the tests are going to treat you….

FAR 77

AUD 91

REG 82

BEC 12/6/13

FAR 77
AUD 91
REG 82
BEC 12/6/13 82 Done!

[louiseb]

I think Audit and REG should switch test lengths. I finished Audit 30 minutes early and ran out of time for REG. I barely got 2 sims finished and then it was the most helpless and panicked feeling watching the clock run out…I felt like I had done pretty well on the MCQs too, but then it felt like the entire exam was literally slipping through my fingers. I left one sim completely blank and just frantically selected numbers frm the drop down boxes for another….I drove home in the foulest mood and was so convinced that I failed that I actually studied for 2 hours every night until scores came out so that I wouldn't completely forget any of the material….Low and behold I got an 82 and almost fell out of my chair when saw the score. I can only assume that one of the sims that I left blank was a pretest. It was such a pleasant surprise to find out I passed that it almost made the miserable feeling of thinking I failed worth it ( not really).

You just never know how the tests are going to treat you….

FAR 77

AUD 91

REG 82

BEC 12/6/13

FAR 77
AUD 91
REG 82
BEC 12/6/13 82 Done!

[passedthecpa12.6.13]

If you leave with it unfinished, you are doing something wrong, and need to re-evaluate your test-taking strategies.

[passedthecpa12.6.13]

If you leave with it unfinished, you are doing something wrong, and need to re-evaluate your test-taking strategies.

[lleon]

Taking REG in January, sounds like SIMS tend to be much more involved than other sections. I finished AUD in 1.5 hours, BEC and FAR in 2 hours, didn't feel like the SIMS req'd that much time. Definitely approaching this one as if I'll need every last second though, last thing I want to do is go in thinking SIMS will be a breeze.

Licensed in Arizona

[lleon]

Taking REG in January, sounds like SIMS tend to be much more involved than other sections. I finished AUD in 1.5 hours, BEC and FAR in 2 hours, didn't feel like the SIMS req'd that much time. Definitely approaching this one as if I'll need every last second though, last thing I want to do is go in thinking SIMS will be a breeze.

Licensed in Arizona

[Anonymous]

@passed

These tests are a completely different animal. Not finishing an exam isn't necessarily a sign of poor test taking skills.

In fact, I think when it comes to this test, some may benefit from a quality over quantity approach. I didn't finish any of the four sections and my lowest score ended up being an 88. This is coming from a person who made top grades in school and has never had a problem (until the CPA) finishing tests.

[Anonymous]

@passed

These tests are a completely different animal. Not finishing an exam isn't necessarily a sign of poor test taking skills.

In fact, I think when it comes to this test, some may benefit from a quality over quantity approach. I didn't finish any of the four sections and my lowest score ended up being an 88. This is coming from a person who made top grades in school and has never had a problem (until the CPA) finishing tests.

[Jasper]

All, thanks for responding to my post.

I was given advice from a fellow CPA candidate that pacing yourself is the best policy when taking these exams, allowing no more than 1.5 minutes on average for each MCQ. Essentially, my goal when I take the REG exam end of Feb is to be done with all the MCQ's in about an 1 hour and half. This will leave 1.5 hours for the SIMS, about 15 minutes for each SIM on average.

With all tests, I never go back and check my answers after completing each MCQ section. Each MCQ, I read through carefully and pick what I believe is the correct answer. Then I read through it a second time just to make sure that I did not misread it before advancing to the next MCQ. If I seem like I am not keeping within my time parameters, then I will try to pick up the pace. Once I complete the SIMS section, I will go back and check it thoroughly before selecting the quit button.

I rarely will change an answer if I am making a guess, even if I am waffling between two selections.

FAR 82
BEC 82
AUD 93
REG 87

[Jasper]

All, thanks for responding to my post.

I was given advice from a fellow CPA candidate that pacing yourself is the best policy when taking these exams, allowing no more than 1.5 minutes on average for each MCQ. Essentially, my goal when I take the REG exam end of Feb is to be done with all the MCQ's in about an 1 hour and half. This will leave 1.5 hours for the SIMS, about 15 minutes for each SIM on average.

With all tests, I never go back and check my answers after completing each MCQ section. Each MCQ, I read through carefully and pick what I believe is the correct answer. Then I read through it a second time just to make sure that I did not misread it before advancing to the next MCQ. If I seem like I am not keeping within my time parameters, then I will try to pick up the pace. Once I complete the SIMS section, I will go back and check it thoroughly before selecting the quit button.

I rarely will change an answer if I am making a guess, even if I am waffling between two selections.

FAR 82
BEC 82
AUD 93
REG 87

[zieba]

I failed BEC for the first time because I got hung up on a variance question (the confusing multi kind, I forget). I remember going back and redoing it on scrap, I kept saying to myself “I know this and I want this point!” I got to the writing portion and freaked out because of how little time was left and did not finish the writing portion. I failed with a 74. Had I let that 1 MCQ go – or two or four, we all have a few – and formed my thoughts on the back end, I would've had it.

For audit, as well as tax, and just recently financial. I have ALWAYS been able to fish our the answers to at least 1-2 SIMS from the authoritative literature. It's not an exact science, the payoff however is getting an entire SIM right when you do land the hit for an illustrative example in the codification for example.

Pick what you think is best, but do not dwell on an answer. There are more battles to be won up ahead…

BEC was also the only exam where I've run out of time. I'll sit there and polish the SIMS, or keep hitting the literature until time is up, but my boxes are all filled out by then.

Take a pass at the MCQ, flag if unsure, move on. Bam, bam, bam. Go back to the flags and take a fresh look (1min), if you don't? It's C, mark it and move on.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[zieba]

I failed BEC for the first time because I got hung up on a variance question (the confusing multi kind, I forget). I remember going back and redoing it on scrap, I kept saying to myself “I know this and I want this point!” I got to the writing portion and freaked out because of how little time was left and did not finish the writing portion. I failed with a 74. Had I let that 1 MCQ go – or two or four, we all have a few – and formed my thoughts on the back end, I would've had it.

For audit, as well as tax, and just recently financial. I have ALWAYS been able to fish our the answers to at least 1-2 SIMS from the authoritative literature. It's not an exact science, the payoff however is getting an entire SIM right when you do land the hit for an illustrative example in the codification for example.

Pick what you think is best, but do not dwell on an answer. There are more battles to be won up ahead…

BEC was also the only exam where I've run out of time. I'll sit there and polish the SIMS, or keep hitting the literature until time is up, but my boxes are all filled out by then.

Take a pass at the MCQ, flag if unsure, move on. Bam, bam, bam. Go back to the flags and take a fresh look (1min), if you don't? It's C, mark it and move on.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[Ligi84]

@zieba – it's so funny that I had the same BEC experience. It also involved a variance question – a subject which I know very well since college. I kept getting for an answer a number that was not in the a b c d choices. So I got stubborn and I wanted to resolve that problem – I ended up spending like 5-6 minutes on it and still did not get it right (I just lost track of time, I was that furious with that question). Luckily it was my last testlet, but I was going well over my budgeted time and I had another 6 questions left to answer. So for the rest I just skimmed through and picked an answer. I have no idea how I ended up with a 82 on the exam. Whew.

[Ligi84]

@zieba – it's so funny that I had the same BEC experience. It also involved a variance question – a subject which I know very well since college. I kept getting for an answer a number that was not in the a b c d choices. So I got stubborn and I wanted to resolve that problem – I ended up spending like 5-6 minutes on it and still did not get it right (I just lost track of time, I was that furious with that question). Luckily it was my last testlet, but I was going well over my budgeted time and I had another 6 questions left to answer. So for the rest I just skimmed through and picked an answer. I have no idea how I ended up with a 82 on the exam. Whew.

[Author]

Replies