[G3]

As anyone struggling with SIMs will know, they can be a pain in the rear!

Thanks to @MintsRGoood, I learned about the AICPA database access that you can get with a valid NTS.

I am studying for AUD retake and am REALLY struggling with SIMs (which seems to be the key to passing that section)

How have you incorporated the database into your studies?

Come up with Qs to search or use already established SIMs from you study material?

Thanks 🙂

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[G3]

Any suggestions and study techniques are greatly appreciated 🙂

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[G3]

Any suggestions and study techniques are greatly appreciated 🙂

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[Anonymous]

When you do your Sims when practicing use the database for searching? Then plug in your answer or write down your answer and compare it to the solution. This will help sifting through irrelevant data. Once you get the hang the exam might be a piece of cake.

[Anonymous]

When you do your Sims when practicing use the database for searching? Then plug in your answer or write down your answer and compare it to the solution. This will help sifting through irrelevant data. Once you get the hang the exam might be a piece of cake.

[G3]

I have tried using the AL on previous exams (besides the research question of course) but never found anything useful.

Some posters said they found the answers “verbatim” in the AL.

Am I missing something?

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[G3]

I have tried using the AL on previous exams (besides the research question of course) but never found anything useful.

Some posters said they found the answers “verbatim” in the AL.

Am I missing something?

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[art vandalay]

How do you use the AICPA database with a valid NTS?

[art vandalay]

How do you use the AICPA database with a valid NTS?

[Anonymous]

I think it just depends on the exam you get. I've taken audit twice, and on my first exam I found answers to two sims word for word in the AL. On my retake, the AL wasn't helpful at all.

[Anonymous]

I think it just depends on the exam you get. I've taken audit twice, and on my first exam I found answers to two sims word for word in the AL. On my retake, the AL wasn't helpful at all.

[Anonymous]

I have found about 3 of the 7 questions asked. When you are looking at formats or reports. But first you must know where to look. Most people don't bother reading and being familiar with the setting up of the standards. First know the structure (how it they are written) and whether they are professional or practicing standards. Then for me I want to know that 300 covers risk so when I dont have time I go straight to that topic and drill down to subtopics and drill further to definitions or whatever you. Just know the headings then drill down. But for things that require logic like risk i.e. high or low risk you need to understand no example are provided in the standards.

They would change a couple of things in the question or omit a word just know when you research pull the section and compare your answer to the standard. But first you need to search in the right place. You can research attestation in auditing standards but your answer will be wrong because the report might read Independent Accountant versus Independent Accounting firm.

I used the Wiley book for quick summary and AICPA site for detail, structure and drill down. Your exam might contain FAR concepts or governmental or International standards in that case the standards might be useless, but to know that you need to know the standards. I also used them to study certain topics. Also SEC/PCAOB is helpful when looking at formats. Because this time around allot of pips might fail because AICPA will provide only new stds but PCAOB had not adopted all of the new stds.

There is no short cut just be familiar 50-60% in Sims is pass or fail. Read the help topic about researching the standards in AICPA website.

[Anonymous]

I have found about 3 of the 7 questions asked. When you are looking at formats or reports. But first you must know where to look. Most people don't bother reading and being familiar with the setting up of the standards. First know the structure (how it they are written) and whether they are professional or practicing standards. Then for me I want to know that 300 covers risk so when I dont have time I go straight to that topic and drill down to subtopics and drill further to definitions or whatever you. Just know the headings then drill down. But for things that require logic like risk i.e. high or low risk you need to understand no example are provided in the standards.

They would change a couple of things in the question or omit a word just know when you research pull the section and compare your answer to the standard. But first you need to search in the right place. You can research attestation in auditing standards but your answer will be wrong because the report might read Independent Accountant versus Independent Accounting firm.

I used the Wiley book for quick summary and AICPA site for detail, structure and drill down. Your exam might contain FAR concepts or governmental or International standards in that case the standards might be useless, but to know that you need to know the standards. I also used them to study certain topics. Also SEC/PCAOB is helpful when looking at formats. Because this time around allot of pips might fail because AICPA will provide only new stds but PCAOB had not adopted all of the new stds.

There is no short cut just be familiar 50-60% in Sims is pass or fail. Read the help topic about researching the standards in AICPA website.

[MintsRGood]

@G3 I'm so glad you checked into it!!!

Here is how I use the database…let's say I'm practicing SIMS in Wiley and one pops up about the statement of cash flows and they ask about the financing section. After I read through the SIM carefully to make sure I understand what they are looking for, I'll open up the database and rather than executing a keyword search I force myself to navigate to “General Presentation -200's”>230 Cash Flows>10 Overall>45 Other Presentation Matters and scroll until I find sections 14 & 15 which define the inflows and outflows of the financing section. Then I complete the SIM and check my work against the database just as I would on test day before letting Wiley grade it.

Is that a little time consuming? Of course! Do I know without looking what the financing section inflows/outflows are comprised of sitting stress free in my home office with my feet propped up eating popcorn? Of course I do. But what happens on test day when your stress level is off the charts…you get tight on time…you feel the panic starting…and you completely blank out on what the inflows and outflows of the financing section of the SCF are? Wouldn't it give you peace of mind to know that you have the familiarity and ability to confidently flip to the AL tab, quickly find Section 230 SCF, execute a “search within” for financing section, and land on your answer in 2 minutes rather than fumble around for 20 minutes and not even find 230.10.45.15?

This is just a FAR example…but you get my drift! Forcing myself to do this for Audit is one of the techniques that helped my score jump from audit retake 3 to 4. I also do agree that certain type of SIMS do not lend themselves to the AL, but sometimes they can give you some traction if you get stuck in the mud…any little fact nugget you can scrounge up to get your brain out of panic mode if you blank out can do the trick.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

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

[MintsRGood]

@G3 I'm so glad you checked into it!!!

Here is how I use the database…let's say I'm practicing SIMS in Wiley and one pops up about the statement of cash flows and they ask about the financing section. After I read through the SIM carefully to make sure I understand what they are looking for, I'll open up the database and rather than executing a keyword search I force myself to navigate to “General Presentation -200's”>230 Cash Flows>10 Overall>45 Other Presentation Matters and scroll until I find sections 14 & 15 which define the inflows and outflows of the financing section. Then I complete the SIM and check my work against the database just as I would on test day before letting Wiley grade it.

Is that a little time consuming? Of course! Do I know without looking what the financing section inflows/outflows are comprised of sitting stress free in my home office with my feet propped up eating popcorn? Of course I do. But what happens on test day when your stress level is off the charts…you get tight on time…you feel the panic starting…and you completely blank out on what the inflows and outflows of the financing section of the SCF are? Wouldn't it give you peace of mind to know that you have the familiarity and ability to confidently flip to the AL tab, quickly find Section 230 SCF, execute a “search within” for financing section, and land on your answer in 2 minutes rather than fumble around for 20 minutes and not even find 230.10.45.15?

This is just a FAR example…but you get my drift! Forcing myself to do this for Audit is one of the techniques that helped my score jump from audit retake 3 to 4. I also do agree that certain type of SIMS do not lend themselves to the AL, but sometimes they can give you some traction if you get stuck in the mud…any little fact nugget you can scrounge up to get your brain out of panic mode if you blank out can do the trick.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

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

[G3]

Thanks @MintsRGood

The example really helped 🙂 I will try that on the Wiley Sims

Good luck to everyone testing in the January/February window!!!!

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[Author]

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