[jgmart04]

So, I have gotten through all of the study material and am now reviewing everything. I am constantly doing MCQ and actually doing very well. Getting about 80-85 on Ninja MCQ. However, I am struggling with SIMS. I know that I understand the info, but when I take the practice SIM, I can’t piece together the information. (For example, using info from problem text to calculate AMT for an individual. Or calcualting an individual return) I do my best to answer each line, but end up going back to the answer and tell myself “I knew that, why didn’t I concentrate harder?” Does this happen with anyone else? I am really trying to hit these hard in my review sessions. Just afraid I am studying it the wrong way.

Thanks

REG 11/17/14

FAR 02/09/15

[ThePhoenix]

It happens to me. I'm very poor at practicing and trying to simulate a test environment. I make a lot of silly errors when I'm studying that I haven't seemed to make on the tests. I don't even take practice tests anymore. I don't do well on them because I can't get into the “this is a test” frame of mind. When I actually sit for the exams, I am very focused and careful about what the question is asking and what info I need but I can't seem to replicate that focus in practice.

[jgmart04]

How do most of you study for the SIMS? Maybe the mistake I was making while learning new material was using the SIMS as study material. I generally write notes based off of MCQ and Sims concepts and then take another SIM. But I run into the same, fail the SIM, scenario.

[Anonymous]

I have never studied for the SIMS.

If your getting 80-85% on MCQs, you'll pass as long as you aren't the type to buckle under pressure.

[ThePhoenix]

I go through the sims once without really worrying about my score. I just do what I can then look through the answer to try and nail down the concepts. The second time I go through them I try to solve them and usually do a third round for good measure really trying to make sure I have the concepts straight in my mind especially for the real problem areas. I've seen some posts where people say they just go through the solutions and don't try to solve the sims. I have to try to solve them to learn and make sure I'm retaining them though. That's just how my brain works so you may need to try different approaches to see what works best for your learning style.

[jgmart04]

That's basically how I do it. Do my best. Go through the solutions, always tell myself “Man, I knew that. Why didn't I just think it through?”. Then do the SIM again and apply what I have learned. I like going back 4 or 5 days later once the memorized answers have been forgotten to see if I retained it. Hopefully I'll rock out the MCQ and make up for it.

REG 11/17/14

[Author]

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