[kyu6]

Hello Fellow CPA Candidates/CPAs,

I joined this forum this morning and am stuck in a dilemma. I have taken FAR in April and Audit in May.

I got a 71 on both tests. Now this is the interesting part. For FAR, I felt really unprepared, and finished the test in 2 hours and 40 minutes. For Audit, I basically knew the whole book; but felt the SIMs might’ve been the reason why I failed.

For people who have been in my shoes, can you please advise me on what to do? I’ve been using Becker and have done all homework 2-3 times. I really thought I would’ve passed Audit and this is just so discouraging. I really do not know how they score this (well, I kind of do since I read AICPA’s PDF on that), but wow, this test is really harder than I already thought it was.

Should I get more review material? NINJA notes? Wiley? I don’t know anyone who uses those personally, so maybe for those who have used these, would you recommend me purchasing Flashcards or some sort from them?

Also, for people who have had to take a section more than once, how do you study the second time? Do the homework questions again? I feel that I should be doing more and not using the same approach…

Thanks in advance!

[nolifecpa]

i would def at least get another test bank. if you did all the mcq 2-3 times you may have memorized a good portion of becker already. i used becker twice (1st homestudy, 2nd live class) and just could not pass so i switched to yaeger.

for a retake you have to start from page 1. it is never the same test so you have to study for it like you have never seen the material before. good news is that the material will be familiar and will start to click more

REG-65,71,74,73,70,74,79
BEC-60's,60's,69,71,76*,78
FAR-67,66,65,79
AUD-54,60's,65,83*,69,80
*expired

DONE

[Herbieherb]

Yeager?

NEW YORK- DONE

[kyu6]

Thanks for your input!! I'm thinking of getting the NINJA notes to help with summarizing important points for the exam – just to review and memorize more material. Anyone recommend using the NINJA notes?

I'm now studying for BEC and will take it beginning of July. And then retake Audit and FAR after that… How do everyone study for the SIMs (in general)? It's so unpredictable to study for…

[jeff]

Rookie! 🙂

-71 on first 3 BEC exams (hence the site name)

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[JakeO]

SIMS are very unpredictable. You might get one which you know completely and others leave you asking “What the **** is this?” Practicing SIMS, more than anything, will make you better at learning what type of questions they give you, rather than learning material directly. Of course, going through one and the answers is a different way of seeing material, and seeing material in as many contexts as possible is the key to retention of those ideas.

I think a good first step to restudying might be taking a practice exam. This way you can pinpoint areas you are very weak on and you should restudy those completely: watch the lectures, take notes, read the book, then start working MCQ's. Once you've worked over all your weak areas, start going through your previous notes (you were taking notes right?) and add in all the MCQ's and do sims.

AUD-Failed (Waiting for Score)
BEC-PASSED (First try)
REG-Failed (Retake February 2013)
FAR-Failed (Retake January 2013)

[kyu6]

Thank you!

I am pretty sure that the SIMs are my weakness in these exams.

Are the Wiley Test Bank for SIMs applicable to the real exam? Since some of Becker's SIMs are not comparable to the real thing at all.. I need to find a test bank with SIMs that I can depend on more!

[mla1169]

Maybe taking the exams so close together was the issue? You sound very capable but maybe trying to squeeze too many things in a short time span. You might just need to allow yourself more time, you have 18 months from the day you pass your first exam to pass the other 3.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[kyu6]

Aw thanks! But I actually had enough time to study I believe. 1.5 months for FAR and 1 month for Audit. I'm studying for BEC now and giving myself a month to do that as well. I feel better now, I know many people are in my shoes and I know we can't give up!

Any input for Wiley and NINJA is appreciated!

[mla1169]

Well, possibly. However now you have to additionally to the time you've put in anyway AND incur the cost of taking both again. My personal experience has been that when I try to take 2 in the same window it ended up in frustration, starting over from scratch (which you must) and paying a lot more money.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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