[keish123]

I just took the exam two weeks ago and i feel like the Simulations were the reason i failed this exam! I mean obviously i knew it wasn’t going to be an easy task but i thought I was prepared. Out of the 6 simulations i only understood maybe 2 or 3. I really need some advice on how tto tackle these simulations for REG! I am currently using Becker and since I failed with a 68 I plan on using the Wiley test bank to hopefully help me the second time around. Also, the three hours given didn’t feel like it wasn’t enough which was also an issue for me!

[Priscilla]

Hi,

I had same issue…. I failed REG and now studying for my re-take in January.

I got Wiley Test Bank and planning on doing EACH sim on the software. There's really no method to prepare for the sims… just practice and hope for a sim topic you're good at.

I've taken AUD (twice) and REG (once) and believe me, all we can do is practice…

Good luck!

AUD - Done
REG - Done
BEC - Done
FAR - August 2015

[Priscilla]

Hi,

I had same issue…. I failed REG and now studying for my re-take in January.

I got Wiley Test Bank and planning on doing EACH sim on the software. There's really no method to prepare for the sims… just practice and hope for a sim topic you're good at.

I've taken AUD (twice) and REG (once) and believe me, all we can do is practice…

Good luck!

AUD - Done
REG - Done
BEC - Done
FAR - August 2015

[JC0107]

i took REG three days ago for the second time after i failed it with 55 in August. I wasn't prepared when i took in August and the simulation questions i had back then were nightmare… i left 3 of them blank because i had no idea how to tackle them… Second time around, I supplemented Becker material with Ninja audio and i think i did better this time than last. I am not sure whether I made 20 points jump, but the simulations questions i had this time were so much easier and doable. I didn't have problem finishing (guessing some of them) all of the simulation questions.

When i took REG in august, i had two simulation questions on areas Becker didn't focus at all. with these exams, i think sometimes it's luck of the draw…

[JC0107]

i took REG three days ago for the second time after i failed it with 55 in August. I wasn't prepared when i took in August and the simulation questions i had back then were nightmare… i left 3 of them blank because i had no idea how to tackle them… Second time around, I supplemented Becker material with Ninja audio and i think i did better this time than last. I am not sure whether I made 20 points jump, but the simulations questions i had this time were so much easier and doable. I didn't have problem finishing (guessing some of them) all of the simulation questions.

When i took REG in august, i had two simulation questions on areas Becker didn't focus at all. with these exams, i think sometimes it's luck of the draw…

[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

Wow! I was just going to post a thread like this, nearly verbatim. I got my score report this morning and I got a 74. I scored “stronger” than passing candidates in ALL categories with the exception of “weaker” in SIMS.

How exactly do you study for these things? Especially when kicking butt on MCQ's proving that you know the material? It's beyond frustrating as with the SIMS you don't know what they are going to throw at you.

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

Wow! I was just going to post a thread like this, nearly verbatim. I got my score report this morning and I got a 74. I scored “stronger” than passing candidates in ALL categories with the exception of “weaker” in SIMS.

How exactly do you study for these things? Especially when kicking butt on MCQ's proving that you know the material? It's beyond frustrating as with the SIMS you don't know what they are going to throw at you.

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[Kenada]

I am in the same boat as Ron, I was strong on MCq's and weak on the SIM's

I didn't find the SIM's super hard but I didn't find the research question so I think that was a factor and one of the SIM's i realized my errors after I left the exam room.

So all in all I would say – know you concepts and Material well, practice your MCQ's – So as many SIM's as you can and that is the only way to pass this exam.

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[Kenada]

I am in the same boat as Ron, I was strong on MCq's and weak on the SIM's

I didn't find the SIM's super hard but I didn't find the research question so I think that was a factor and one of the SIM's i realized my errors after I left the exam room.

So all in all I would say – know you concepts and Material well, practice your MCQ's – So as many SIM's as you can and that is the only way to pass this exam.

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[keish123]

Thanks everyone! I think just practicing the SIMS over and over again…Ughhh as frustrating as it is that is the only conclusion to being prepared for them. Also, what InsiWinsi said is true..knowing the concepts. Another question should i just re-do all the MCQs and SIMS over and over again until test day? Or is there something I else I should use.Taking REG again in January wish me luck!!!

[keish123]

Thanks everyone! I think just practicing the SIMS over and over again…Ughhh as frustrating as it is that is the only conclusion to being prepared for them. Also, what InsiWinsi said is true..knowing the concepts. Another question should i just re-do all the MCQs and SIMS over and over again until test day? Or is there something I else I should use.Taking REG again in January wish me luck!!!

[Kenada]

I am retaking REG in Jan too. I will re do all the MCq's – I will re write my notes, I will practice the SIM's as well, Which ever topics i am doing badly in I will spend more time learning it and getting it locked down. But I will practice everything again. It will be like starting from scratch accept I won't watch the lectures since I am going to do my own notes and learn better by doing questions and seeing why i got them right/wrong.

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[Kenada]

I am retaking REG in Jan too. I will re do all the MCq's – I will re write my notes, I will practice the SIM's as well, Which ever topics i am doing badly in I will spend more time learning it and getting it locked down. But I will practice everything again. It will be like starting from scratch accept I won't watch the lectures since I am going to do my own notes and learn better by doing questions and seeing why i got them right/wrong.

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

[Tati45]

Hi guys,

I also struggled with the SIMS and after the third try, I passed REG. Here are my few suggestions:

Review all the tax sections and do several tax-related MC and SIMS. For the SIMS, I purchased GLEIM multiple choice questions online because it comes with lots of SIMS for practice. You are allowed to try each SIM 3 times but that is more than enough. GLEIM is more difficult than what its presented on the exam but it's a great practice for the weak areas. GLEIM really breaks down the tax areas by topics (partnerships, corps, s-corps, individual, property transactions, estates, trusts, etc). Wiley is great for multiple choice questions but I think GLEIM does better in separating the different topics. I also ran out of time during the exam and was unable to complete the research question but thankfully I was able to answer the other SIMS.

Second suggestion, buy NINJA notes. I found these helpful and straightforward. Sometimes the book is wordy but the NINJA notes just cut through all that jumbo. Last, make your own notes. Make notes of your weak areas or MC you answered incorrectly. Make charts (rules for contributions vs. rules for distributions and treatment for shareholder vs. corporation). I know there are so many rules and details that make this test challenging but if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!!

Overall for this exam, I used GLEIM book, GLEIM MC & SIMS, Wiley MC & SIMS, NINJA notes, my own notes, my own charts, love from my family, and blessings from above.

Best of luck guys!!!

AUD - PASSED
REG - PASSED

My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
-Abraham Lincoln

[Tati45]

Hi guys,

I also struggled with the SIMS and after the third try, I passed REG. Here are my few suggestions:

Review all the tax sections and do several tax-related MC and SIMS. For the SIMS, I purchased GLEIM multiple choice questions online because it comes with lots of SIMS for practice. You are allowed to try each SIM 3 times but that is more than enough. GLEIM is more difficult than what its presented on the exam but it's a great practice for the weak areas. GLEIM really breaks down the tax areas by topics (partnerships, corps, s-corps, individual, property transactions, estates, trusts, etc). Wiley is great for multiple choice questions but I think GLEIM does better in separating the different topics. I also ran out of time during the exam and was unable to complete the research question but thankfully I was able to answer the other SIMS.

Second suggestion, buy NINJA notes. I found these helpful and straightforward. Sometimes the book is wordy but the NINJA notes just cut through all that jumbo. Last, make your own notes. Make notes of your weak areas or MC you answered incorrectly. Make charts (rules for contributions vs. rules for distributions and treatment for shareholder vs. corporation). I know there are so many rules and details that make this test challenging but if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!!

Overall for this exam, I used GLEIM book, GLEIM MC & SIMS, Wiley MC & SIMS, NINJA notes, my own notes, my own charts, love from my family, and blessings from above.

Best of luck guys!!!

AUD - PASSED
REG - PASSED

My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.
-Abraham Lincoln

[CPA 2BSoon]

Ron, I was the same as you! I was surprised at my score report which showed “stronger” in 3/6 areas and “comparable” in the other 3. I also got “stronger” on MCQ, but “weaker” on sims. I used Becker, which is all I used for the other three exams and passed them all on the first try. However, I didn't finish my sims on FAR and still managed to pass.

The Becker sims are way easier than the exam – that's the only con I have with them. I was thinking of Wiley test bank for the sims & MCQ, and possibly the NINJA notes? However, buying those two separate seem to be cost-ineffective. The 10-point combo might be better overall.

Tati, would you say the sims on Wiley are good or is Gleim way better (compared to the exam)?

B: 75
A: 95
R: 90
F: 80

[Author]

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