[Anonymous]

I just have a quick question about the REG sims as I’m taking the exam next week. I’ve been using CPAexcel and Wiley TB and one thing I’ve noticed about the simulations: the Wiley ones are typically longer (sometimes significantly) than the majority of the CPAexcel ones.

With CPAexcel, many of them are shorter, sometimes only consisting of 4 to 5 cells to fill in, which I can knock out in just a few minutes in some cases. With the Wiley ones, I typically find myself spending much more time on each one, and they tend require far more detailed knowledge of the topics the question is testing. Can anyone provide some insight as to how much time they typically spend on the sim section of the actual exam?

Thanks in advance!

[peterolintoisawesome]

I did becker, and when I did their sims, there were a couple of sims that were only 3 or 4 fill in the blanks. For my actual exam I remember two fairly long ones, one short one, and two research questions. So overall it wasn't too bad, but I spent a fair amount on them.

AUD-96
BEC-83
FAR-7/19/13
REG-87

[IwannaBaCPA]

In my experience – having taken REG twice – there is a variety of sims you may encounter. Make sure to leave yourself plenty of time for them since they count for 40% of your score. It is def worth it.

I didn't really practice any sims so I cannot speak to what you have practiced compared to the actual exam. I think everyone's exam and exam experience is quite different. Some people just plain get lucky – they get two research sims or sims in topics that are relatively easier…

Good luck!!

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the advice! As a side question, does anyone know exactly how the sims are weighted? I ask mainly because of the research sims, which you pretty much get 100% right or wrong, as opposed to the longer sims which take considerably more time and effort. I assume those research ones don't count as much?

[IwannaBaCPA]

Sims are all worth the same – no matter the difficulty. Check out this for more information on how the exam is scored: https://www.aicpa.org/BecomeACPA/CPAExam/PsychometricsandScoring/ScoringInformation/DownloadableDocuments/How_the_CPA_Exam_is_Scored.pdf

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Author]

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