[SkiBum1990]

Are studying REG SIMs (other than IRC research) even remotely helpful? I heard from many experiences that most of the SIMS on exam were out of left field, and no SIM study prep really would help. — I guess would be beneficial just for exposure to different style of things…

"The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

B - 79
A - 68, __ (got bumped from Aug 4 release to Aug 23-THANKS AICPA)
R - Oct
F - Nov (HA! 1 month to study working full-time; love NTS rules)

[Anonymous]

It depends on the person. Some people may feel comfortable studying the SIMs. You should definitely study the IRC research SIMs just to get familiar on how to search for answers. I personally don't study the SIMs due to like you said they be out of left field sometimes. I would look at them to get exposed on the different styles like you said. The most important thing is to know or at least be familiar with the information to be able to work yourself through the SIMs. You will also have the IRC which you can use to help you out.

[monikernc]

i think studying them is worth it. when used in conjunction with the actual tax forms i was prepared for knowing what each requires for input, in what order, and whether negative signs were needed. it helps grasp the concepts but there is no guarantee you will see the same topics on exam sims. practice helps for mcqs too. review the AL to get familiar with its structure at https://law.cornell.edu

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[.]

A couple of them were out of left field. A couple of them were similar to the sims I saw in my studies. The Ninja sims only take 2 days to study all of them, so it's not a lot of effort. They are a nice relief after doing 1600 MCQs. My eyes started to bug out and my brain hurt after doing all those MCQs. I got an 89.

FAR - June 2016 - 88
REG - July 2016 - 89
AUD - Aug 2016 - review phase currently
BEC - Sep 2016 -

Wiley CPA Excel & Ninja MCQ

[accountaholicc]

REG was the first exam I sat for, and I went into it with a similar mindset – that the sims were always a toss up so it'd be a waste of time to focus on preparing for them. HUGE MISTAKE. On a test where I was rated at level or above level for all of my MC topic sections, SIMS knocked me on my ass and caused me to fail with a 66. After the fact, I recognized that a few of my exam sims were very similar/almost identical to the practice ones.

I've since changed my study approach, and am a huge advocate for doing as many practice sims as possible. I think it tests the material in a more in depth way that better prepares you for the MC questions as well as whatever format sim they throw at you test day. They suck to practice but it forces you to be flexible in the way that topics are tested. Good luck!

R- 66,77
B- 72, 77
A- 55, 78
F- 8/31

REG- 66, 77
BEC- 72, 77
AUD- 55, 78
FAR- 8/16

Using Becker self study

[SkiBum1990]

@monikernc — I did hear from some others about confusion with whether to use a (-) sign in front of a number and when not to use one (it being assumed negative). Can you give any specific examples of those types of forms? I haven't dived tooo far into REG, so I'm just getting into all of the heavy tax stuff. (jumps for joy)

Thanks you all for your input!

"The mind can only absorb as much as the seat can take"

B - 79
A - 68, __ (got bumped from Aug 4 release to Aug 23-THANKS AICPA)
R - Oct
F - Nov (HA! 1 month to study working full-time; love NTS rules)

[monikernc]

the differences in forms that require no negative v negative is the 1120s and its k-1. do a sim for one or both of those. it effects the income statement and the separately reported items.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[bhunt815]

I haven't taken REG yet but I've passed the other 3 and I always do the SIM's. Maybe not all of them, but over half. The SIM's help me understand some of the concepts that the Becker book and MCQ's don't do a very good job of (section 179 expenses for example).

FAR 04/11/2016 - 84
AUD 05/12/2016 - 79
BEC 07/06/2016 - 81
REG 08/29/2016

[Author]

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