[futureCPA12]

I’m trying to figure out how they can make a Regulation SIM tough…

I mean if you get a tax form to fill out, how hard could that actually be?

And anything calculation-wise would be some simple formula or a partnership/corporation situation. What am I missing here?

And for those that have mastered these REG SIMs, what prepared you?

Thanks!!!

[Anonymous]

They can give you something you're not expecting at all, that's what they do! Then they make it difficult to interpret the directions, or make the fact pattern so long you're tempted to just throw your hands in the air and give up, or waste your time staring blankly at the screen while you freak out.

I think what prepared me was EXPECTING to get some nasty stuff, and convincing myself well ahead of time that I would not panic nor even bat an eye. Rather, I would simply dive in an calmly attack my responses. It's pretty likely you're going to get something you don't expect, so just practice as many SIMS as you can (and hopefully some of them will be something you didn't expect) and don't let anything beat you. Prepare well. I don't think there's really anything else you can do.

[Anonymous]

That's what I thought at first; “How bad could it be”. Because I was using Becker and their sims were kind of easy.

Until I got one that had 3 options in each excel row, of which you had to determine how much is *******. All I can say is that after 2.5 hours you can fall easily for the stupid tricks they throw at you.

Just know the terminology they use, that screwed me up the first time. Also, I would try and use the AL as much as you can.

[2012passtheCPA]

I took REG 4 times total. Just so you know I went in the first three attempts with the mindset of “SIMs won't be my downfall. How hard can they be?” I then studied according to this strategy. Looking at the SIMs barely and “glancing” over them when I did look at them.

My scores reflected this. Honestly, do not have the attitude of “how hard can it be to fill out a tax form”. I did, and believe me that's when they give you one that you said to yourself when you saw it in your review materials “there's no way in hell they are going to test me on this”. I'm not saying harp on every single tax form, because the probability they test you on all of the ones you prepare for is very small.

After all this it boils down to one simple message, DO NOT TAKE THE SIMS LIGHTLY!! Your score will reflect it if you do. I have 3 exams worth of non passing scores to prove it.

Good luck!!

[MintsRGood]

@OP I wish that you could see me smiling and slowly shaking my head at this post. I'm not intending that to be mean but clearly you have no idea what you are up against. Just because you pulled a fast one on FAR SIMS (i.e. leaving 2 blank and still passing) does not mean that you can play fast and loose with the REG SIMS. If the SIMS for REG were as easy as filling in boxes on a tax return, don't you think that the pass rate would be through the roof on this section? Watch your exam Karma and take the SIMS seriously or else you are going to end up with SIMS that will have you crying in your car after leaving prometric and will see 74 on score release day. I'm right there @2012passtheCPA but swap Audit for REG!

Personally the REG SIMS saved my behind as I know I felt pretty battered after the MCQS…I was fortunate that the SIMS I received were all within my wheelhouse with one crazy and ridiculous exception (I work in public accounting and prepare year-end accounting+ business/individual/estate/trust returns) but they were all still challenging. What materials are you using to prepare? I used the Wiley textbook and test bank and found their SIMS extremely helpful. I would encourage you dream about your worst topic and find an associated SIM. Work that one inside and out until you can see the solution in your sleep. Don't neglect also the topics you feel strong in…keep working the stinkers and rotating all topics so you stay fresh!

I don't play around with disclosure but I promise you that there are a vast array of SIMS that the exam can torture you with in the tax world without requiring you to simply fill in a form! 😉

Keep reviewing and practicing, and good luck on the 29th!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[peetree]

For what it's worth, out of the three exams I've taken, REG sims were probably the most challenging and rage inducing…

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[futureCPA12]

Believe me, @mints, its not that I'm underestimating the SIMs, because I know they are very difficult. I'm just not quite sure how hard they can get. From the FAR SIMs, I could tell you that studying the SIMs in Becker did not do any good. Anything I couldn't answer was either because I didn't grasp it enough conceptually or it was worded poorly. I assume thats what makes the REG SIMs difficult as well.

I guess I'm just nervous that the SIMs will kill me, but I'm starting to see that the SIMs are something you really can't prepare for any differently than the MCQs. And it seems like everyone (or mostly everyone) struggles with them, so its just a matter of being on par with everyone else.

[MintsRGood]

@future I'm glad to know that your expectations are in line and so sorry to sound like such an old scold!!! I really should stop posting in the morning before I've had enough coffee to be pleasant! 😉 Honestly, I just didn't want you to be like that guy who's on his cellphone at the crosswalk and doesn't look both ways…then gets creamed by bus! A REG sim bus, in fact! It breaks for no one!!!! 🙂

Don't waste your time with “easy SIMS” from your review materials. Look through all of them and decide which ones look the worst and practice with those. Softballs won't do you any favors for exam day. RTMFQ carefully. Much like FAR, a classic REG trick is to throw 10,000 pieces of useless information at you…hoping you will get sucked in to making bad decisions. Use the AL to bail yourself out if you get stuck!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[Author]

Replies