[jeff]

NINJA Study Notes, Flashcards, and Audio: https://www.another71.com/products-page/

Wiley Software: https://www.another71.com/wiley-cpa-software/

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Anonymous]

@Allyson—I think thats the worst part of it all—all of the work we put into this thing, the sacrifice, the long hours studying—only to get hit with an exam that doesn't even touch about 75% of the topics we studied ours asses off for, and to top it off, they even throw in some additional topics that are foreign to us!

I just saw this earlier this morning on the AICPA's website( https://www.aicpa.org/BecomeACPA/CPAExam/ForCandidates/HowToPrepare/Pages/literature.aspx ), which makes sense but at the same time makes me a little angry:

“Within the simulations, candidates must do an online search of professional literature databases to answer questions.”

It sounds as if they've geared their new sims to be on topics that the candidate is NOT familiar with. Who knows, maybe their reasoning is that if you want to work in the industry you will come across issues that you aren't familiar with and will need to research those issues. Either way it ticks me off a bit, I definitely miss the days of straightforward sims(the sims actually saved me on audit) and free points on written comm.

@dufala—your scores scare the heck out of me everytime I see em. Its clear that you've understood and grasped the material each time but were done in by the sims. For my last exam I scored comparable on the MC and weaker on SIMs, my goal this time was to bump it up to stronger on MC, hoping it would make up for my weakness on the sims, but as you stated, that doesnt necesarily push you through. I have a feeling I know what the FAR sim is, as I think I got it on my last exam—which I think I did correctly, and I also think it was thrown out.

[Minimorty]

@Baked – Isn't that quote just referring to the research tab that everyone gets? I dont think it means that you should necessarily be searching through the professional literature for all of the non-research tabs (although this can be helpful). I guess it is just typical vagueness from the AICPA. Should we expect anything different? No.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Baked.

I have a hard enough time trying to answer the research question with the code so I can't imagine trying to use it to show me how to perform a complex calculation.

This is the worst I have ever felt after an exam. EVER.

[jomarie]

Oh no!!!!!! Allyson!!! I hope you did better than you think!!! Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[Anonymous]

@ Baked, don;t let my scores scare you. My 71 in 2010 was a result of lack of appropriate study time (4 weeks half ass). 2011 (1st go) 70 was lack of knowledge of exam changes and complete lack of prep for Sims. My 3rd attempt in 2011 (74) was due to little prep time (took in May and I work in public accounting, thus I didn;t start studying until April 20th, and my study process consisted of going over Becker questions so many times I had them almost memorized). I think we have down now what the AICPA is expecting. Great link bye the way. I truly think they are trying to gear candidates towards research, thus we are going to see some tabs that aren;t going to be familiar that require research. I think I know what FAR topic is being spoken of as it is really the only topic that is dupilcated in FAR and REG in Becker, and I too studied and am prepared for anciliary material questions. I have been reading alot, both Becker, CPA Excel, and doing tons of Wiley questions and Sims and I feel so much more comfortable with the topics now then when I got the 74. I think we will be fine. Grind it our for a few more days, really try and nail down the key concepts, pray, stay confident, and dominate! Good luck. We are going to pass!

[Anonymous]

Those are some encouraging thoughts and words Dufala….you sitting this friday as well? In CA? Best of luck to ya!

[Anonymous]

@Peanut,

Glad to hear your exam went well!

I am a firm believer (at work, testing centers, home, everywhere) of taking my shoes off and sitting “Indian style” when I'm sitting. If someone ever told me to put my flip flops back on while taking the exam, I probably would've responded exactly the way you did, and then called Prometric and b!t*hed some more. The ridiculous sh!t Prometric people come up with to provide as many distractions as possible…

[ExhaustedCPA]

Man I wish we were allowed to discuss the exam! I want so badly to ask what the simulations were for everybody. I hate to say this, I really do, but I found my REG sims to be perfectly reasonable. Don't throw things at me! There wasn't a topic I didn't see in Becker. I wish we could share experiences! I think I got really, really lucky on the test I was given.

Aud 4/2/11 - 86
Far 5/27/11 - 83
Bec 7/1/11 - 82
Reg 8/13/11 - 86! It's over!!!!

[jomarie]

@ Exhausted – Good to hear. I felt the same way when I took REG 2 weeks ago.

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[ExhaustedCPA]

@jomarie – Whew, I'm not the only one. With so many people talking about how insane the sims are, I thought something was wrong with me lol

Aud 4/2/11 - 86
Far 5/27/11 - 83
Bec 7/1/11 - 82
Reg 8/13/11 - 86! It's over!!!!

[T-rex]

@Allyson,

I had a very similar experience to yours when I took REG earlier this year. I was certain that I failed due to the sims, and I was very depressed over it. I didn't know what some of the sims were even asking for and others were on topics that weren't covered in Becker in amount of detail needed to solve them or at all. There was only one sim that I knew what I was doing on. Yet, I ended up passing. Apparently, one can miss a lot of answers on the sims (and MCs) and still pass. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you will pass. Hang in there!

AUD - 95, BEC - 85
REG - 85, Rawrrrrrr FAR - 88
Used Becker for all sections.
CA candidate not residing in CA

[Anonymous]

Thanks, T-Rex. That makes me feel better.

I took REG in May (did not study – 59) and I thought the sims were fair. They were all what I would consider typical REG topics and I knew I would see them in the reviews.

Two of the ones I had yesterday were not covered except by a sentence or two. Boo!

[Peanut]

@Allyson, I'm so sorry to hear about your REG experience. This one really is a beast. I've taken REG X3, BEC, and FAR, REG by far was the mega-beast of the exams-from personal experience. You never know though, I feel like sometimes the worse people feel, the better they do! Keep your chin up. You could be done forever!

@Baked, Yes I am female, Peanut stems from my tiny self. A guy nick-named Peanut?! How manly. A peanut brain perhaps? haha Just kidding. BTW regarding your post about the SIMS and how the exam might be geared towards us doing research per SIM, I found that very interesting. My method for the SIMs on the actual exam is; I go through each SIM one by one, I figured out what they are asking, I research it until I find where they explain that particular topic, then I move on to the next SIM and do the same thing. I rate them in my head which ones are difficult. After I do that for each SIM I go back and try to complete the SIM, this way I can flip back and forth between the research for that specific SIM and the actual SIM to help me figure it out. The ironic thing, that really pi$$ed me off is, I found every single SIM in the research, EXCEPT my research question >:0 grrr

@erincritchfield, Thank you, although it went okay I don't think I got enough brownie points to pass, we shall see! Yes I always sit “Indian style” This is actually my second time getting in trouble for that! The first time was when I took REG in April, she came over and told me my feet couldn't be up on the chair, this second time it was because my shoes were off. I like to fold up into a tiny munchkin pretzel I fit nicely like that and it relaxes me haha leave me alone prometric!

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Aldog]

im trying to ignore all this SIM talk haha you guys are FREAKIN me out…im rolling trhu m.c. per susual with becekr/cpareviewforfree.com(always helps ALOT for those who dont use it) and havnt looked at the sims at all yet…i mean i feel like for the other 3 i didnt even study for the simulations that much becasue its so random you have no clue what youre gonna get…and no way i everrr used the research tab for help (still cnt navigate it well…timewaster for myself)

i guess when i start lookin at the sims itll make more sense-assuming they are just complex tax situations and you have to work through and give exact numbers?

@peanut-very scary you think reg was the beast and NOT far compared to most…i do have a general* tax knowledge, but really limited to high net worth individuals which stinks becasue they phase out of all these rules im learning for us normal-ites in REG1-2 haha

lo0oking forward to dominating this exam @baked wtudying over next 2 months-with one break on labor day weekend for ELECTRIC ZOO in NYC (haha cant pass that up)…just hoping i can set an exam date prior to my bday whihc is october 14th so i can celebrate and chillll for the fall…couple days left of studying/reviewing for you man-goodluck, dont burn out (but deifnitly burn out #punintended), and go with your gut when in that room brotha

201, NJ
FAR-75, AUD-82, BEC-82, REG-84 - CPAldog Official (well almost, hard parts over though!!!!!!!)

[Anonymous]

Appreciate it aldog—there will be some burnout for sure(last time I didnt even make it out of the prometric parking lot before grabbing my supplies). Don't stress too much about the sims–just try and know the material as best as possible. Good luck in October, try and get it done before your birthday so that you can enjoy your fall—you in South or North Jersey? If south—then I know you're going to want to get this exam done so you can fully enjoy the Phillies world series run!

[Author]

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