[baylor.bear95]

So i just took REG today and it went about how most people on here have said it has been going. If I had not have already read past experiences, which still passed I would probably say I got 70 (maybe). The MCQs weren’t too horrible. However, I thought there were a ton of “favorite” topics and questions that both NINJA and Becker loved to continuously repeat that never even showed up on the exam. Even the topics I knew i was gonna see were formatted in a way very different then both ninja and becker had shown them in.

Now to the sims…..WTF was that. I don’t think they could have chosen more obscure topics or included more minute exceptions/variations to common topics even if they tried. If the research questions wasn’t in the last testlet i dont know what i would have done cause it took me a good 30 minutes to find the right answer. I maybe felt okay to good about 1 or 2 other sims and the rest I was just trying my best. What worries me the most about the sims section is on my BEC exam and my REG mocks there was always 1 or 2 sims that were question heavy (15-20+ questions) and contained a lot of selections for answers rather than straight typed in numbers. I feel like when you get to select an option you usually can know that answer for sure without actually knowing the calculation, which provides a lot more opportunity for points. However, this was not my experience on the exam which is troublesome.

If this were a normal test with normal grading I’d think my performance was worth around a 60%, but I’m praying for the same outcome as others who have shared their experiences and some of the AICPA grading magic.

[JxL]

Praying the same here. The mcq is weird, but the Sims! Never seen some of these questions in mock exam or practice questions in the topic chapter, hoping that's the one they take out. Oh the research, not expected area and difficulties, also took me half an hour.

[baylor.bear95]

Yeah there was just no possible way I could have prepared for those sims in any way.

[Jack_J]

Are the SIM topics not in the Blueprints? If that is so then you/we need to protest to the AICPA.

[Rae M]

I took the test on April-15th and have been having nightmares since. I passed FAR and AUD on first try with Becker. But REG Sims were totally different from what I have ever encountered. I know sims gives partial credit, however, I can't imagine how the partial credit would be in my favor if some sims questions had 4 fields to fill only (all of which involved multiple layers of calculations).

I also do agree that the MCQs are mostly Blaw so if you are studying for REG, please make sure you are solid on those subjects!

[mjavier]

Took the exam for the first time on April 27th, REG is the first part I studied for too. I was so nervous and anxious to take the exam so I was completely restless the night before, I only had 3 hours of sleep. 🙁 I think MCQs were manageable but I did flag I think about 10 the questions I wasn't sure about. My brain was definitely not in good condition during the exam, I was so frustrated. Two of the sims I had no idea how to do and just tried guessing even the research question I don't know if I got right. It's a miracle if I do pass. Planning to take FAR next but I just can't start studying for my next section, REG is so draining. :'(

[JxL]

I took reg the same day as you. My mcq were mostly tax questions. But the Sims were just like you described, spent all the time not even sure if I got it right and that not sure how I can get partial credits, unless they weight each choice differently even if they are wrong choices. Don't think I will pass, but still have to wait 7 days!

[mjavier]

@JxL if you took the exam the same day I did.. our scores are not gonna be posted until May 23rd right? Yeah, same feeling.. so frustrating 🙁

[JxL]

I meant to @Rae M . I took it on the 15th.

[PNS2CLT]

I took my exam this morning, and I'm disappointed with myself. My FAR expires tonight, and my BEC expires in a month, so I had a lot riding on this exam. I'm an idiot for putting myself in this position — I took a 17-month break after scoring high on FAR and BEC.

As mentioned, the MCQ were straight outta Ninja whereas the simulations were straight outta The Twilight Zone. If I had more time, I would've picked up a few more “easy” MCQ that I blew, but I doubt it would've helped with the SIMS. i feel like I failed, but I felt the same way after taking FAR (and scored in the 90s). I definitely didn't do as well, but we'll see. The three week wait will be torture… I might begin studying for my possible retakes.

One thing I will mention…. before the AICPA updated the exam software, each SIM advised you to use the authoritative literature as guidance (even when it wasn't helpful). Man, I wish they would've kept that reminder, would've gotten all the points for a SIM that I blew.

Good luck everyone!

[JxL]

@PNS2CLT I tried to use the authoritative literature but like you said it was not helpful especially after they updated the software. I feel like the interface on the literature research is not as comfortable and easy to use like before .

[PNS2CLT]

The practice exams available on the AICPA's website now offer full access to the same authorize literature database that's utilized on the exam. My biggest suggestion to anybody taking any exam is to get comfortable utilizing it before exam day. Not only will you save time — I found the answer to my AUD research question in less than a minute, and my REG question in three minutes, just by using key search phrases, but it'll provide guidance to many of the SIM topics. I familiarized myself with it, but forgot we had access to it during non-research questions. I blew an entire SIM in which the AL gives sufficient guidance to the point where I would've gotten all the points.

It really sucks that I put myself in this position (not knowing for nearly a month after my FAR expires, and right before my BEC expires, if I passed REG). Even if I fail REG, I'm really close, and could easily prepare for a re-take, along with FAR, by month's end. The problem is scheduling — after I get my NTS reissued, there will only be a few days, and trying to schedule for any Prometric exam in Southern California during the summer generally requires you to do so in advance. Ugg!

[fortofik]

Just took the reg today on May 1st. WTF was that. Sims were horrible.

[TommyL]

I take REG next Monday. Now I am freaking out

[Michelle1605]

I just took REG this morning and after reading all these negative comments about the SIMs, I'm afraid I must have failed them because I thought they weren't too bad. Hopefully I'm not just in outer space. I noticed most of you have been using Becker and I used Wiley to prepare so I am hoping that's the difference.

[mjavier]

@Michelle1605 I used Wiley too 🙂

[Author]

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