[Wannafree]

I am just asking this question because these two have lot of calculations based questions and tons of SIMs ?
I am trying to figure out how to ace time . Feel free to share your experience without violation of exam disclosure .

[SheilaTX]

I did find that the extra simulations took more time to answer. When I go through the MCQ testlets, I find that if I don't know the answer , it's not going to come to me later so I go through the MCQ testlets a lot quicker than the SIMS. I took REG 2 days ago. I still had ample time to finish the exam even though it took me longer than it did before.

[Holly]

I have the opposite experience. I guess I'm much better at working out a problem then thinking about what if's. I always use all my time I allow on MCQ's and not the sims. I have followed the time suggestion in the Becker book but I'm thinking about changing that up for REG.

BEC - 79
REG - 85
AUD - 5/27/16

[mtaylo24]

@HRSexton, How was BEC? Had to be crazy having sims, WC, and MCQ. FAR was a time management nightmare!

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

I would tend to agree that time management is key for these exams. I got away with not sticking with my time budget for FAR (It took 2 hours to get through the SIMS), but I got burned on BEC yesterday due to VERY poor time management.

Too many times I would sit and dwell over one question instead of moving on from it. I felt as if I gave it my best choice but it took me too long to calculate what the answer was. By the time I got to the SIMS I had to rush through them all. I felt as if I put forth my best effort on 3.5 of the 4 SIMS (i put zeros in a couple of prompts of a lengthy, “multi-task sim”) and 1.75 out of the 3 WCs (I answered the first one to the best of my ability, the second one was rushed, but mostly cohesive, while the third one was a feeble, three-sentence effort).

If I test for this again, I'll know that one, four weeks of study is not enough time for me, and two that if I don't know an answer, take 30 seconds to make a best guess and move on.

[Holly]

@mtaylo24 I didn't find the variety all that bad. Maybe because of that break my brain had moved on from MCQ by the time I got to the WC. I wish I would've taken more time with the MCQ than I did because in the end I had the time. I didn't think the test was all that bad but I was surprised by the content; it's not what I expected. That does not mean I think I blew it out of the park. Just with the “higher order of skills” and break given (when have they ever been nice) I thought holy crap!! We shall see!

I saw you didn't walk out confident. That really doesn't mean you failed, though. Ugh this wait!! I think everyone is complaining about FAR. I hope you passed and you're done!! What are you plans until August?

@Turbo There were a couple of MCQ on BEC that I KNEW I knew how to calculate it but I just couldn't remember. I saw at stared as long as I could. It's so disappointing to know you could get some points but need just a little longer. Hopefully you managed to get the real sims right and rushed the practice ones. I know I've already asked but I can't remember – what are you moving to next?

BEC - 79
REG - 85
AUD - 5/27/16

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

@Holly, I'm hoping for the same. The only shot I have at passing is if the three-sentence WC was a pre-test. Otherwise, I'd need a Miracle on 34th Street.

I'll be moving on to AUD. I'll give myself 7 weeks for the exam. 3 weeks of prep/notes and 4 weeks of review. I may trim that down by a week to give myself more time for REG.

[Holly]

@turbo seems like I remember seeing a podcast or something of Jeff's that said 5 weeks for auditing and BEC, 7 weeks for FAR and REG.

BEC - 79
REG - 85
AUD - 5/27/16

[SWANG]

The new time management portion is very difficult. Especially if testlets change in difficulty. Moving quickly through one then getting bogged down in the second then I felt panic start to creep in as I was going through the simulations where I was not very confident about the fourth testlet after the break but I was eating into the final testlet.

[HoldMyBeerCPA]

@Holly, I recall that podcast as well, however, I don't think another week of prep for BEC would've helped for that exam I had yesterday. There were some questions in my first testlet that just made me feel hopeless about the rest of the exam. In any case, I've learned my lesson, take no exams for granted, and hail mary attempts are not worth the stress of being unprepared on exam day.

Due to my struggles with tax in college, I want to give myself some extra time with it, especially since there are some rumblings about further changes to the Q3 exam.

[Author]

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