[jetablack4]

New to the forums and the test – my friend who recently passed told me about this site. Over the past two months I took REG and FAR (definitely will not take both these tests so close together again), and on both of them I ran out of time. I use Becker study materials and place some of the blame on them as the simulations given are much easier and much less time consuming then the actual CPA exam. On both tests I left myself about an hour for the simulations and both tests I was unable to finish them. I feel that I did really well on the MC but very poorly on the Sims.

Would you guys think I even have a chance of passing either of these exams?

REG – 1 sim completely blank, completely guessed on the research as I ran out of time

FAR – 2 sims completely blank, research was a general guess, did not feel so great about the other sims.

On a side note does anyone else find it extremely hard to complete the sims when they have two tabs (which you have to scroll up and down) and also have to use the calculator on such a small screen. I feel like it takes forever to organize all the info given and it is very time consuming to wright everything down compared to having information given to you on a sheet of paper. This very frustrating especially when I know the material so well and feel as though I did great on the MC and just got straight up hosed on the Sims.

REG 81
FAR 70,85
BEC 81
AUD 91

[NoScores2Display4thisSection]

possible. 40% of the score is TBS. chances are if you got a SIM tab that was really hard and missed most of it, others might have too. If you get out of this window with either Far or Reg passed, it was a big success. both very hard exams.

done

[pshustler]

My boss passed FAR in 2009 when there was only 2 SIMS and left one blank

BEC - 86
AUD - 94
REG - 88
FAR - 89

[SoonToBeCPAChick]

I took FAR in 2010 under the old format (2 large similuations) and I left most of one blank and did not feel all that confident on the MCs. So yes I believe there is much hope for you yet!

FAR 10/1/2010 =====> 90
BEC 10/28/2010 ====> 81
REG 2/2/2011 ======> 82
AUD 5/28/2011 =====> 92 ===========>DONE!!!!

[Minimorty]

Wait – you are blaming Becker because you only left one hour for the SIMS? I am sorry, but you only have yourself to blame. I studied exclusively with Becker for FAR and felt that I was very well prepared for everything I saw on the exam. On REG, I was able to walk out of the room with about 50 minutes remaining feeling fairly confident.

In general, I dont understand why people are spending so much time on multiple choice. Take FAR for example. The test is 4 hours long. MCQ represent 60% of your score. Why wouldn't you spend closer to 60% of your allotted time? So, you spend a little less than two and half hours on MCQ (4 hours x 60%) and you spend a little over an hour and a half on SIMS (4 hours x 40%).

Last thought (maybe), this exam is a different exam than the one two years ago. You can't compare how X person did two years ago leaving half the sims blank to how a person would do on this test. The comparison is useless.

[Anonymous]

@Minimorty- I'm pretty sure that I did awful on my AUD Sims. I know I did great on the MCQs, but I know I did horrible on the Sims. The questions were completely out of left field and you need to have good work experience in Auditing to be able to answer them. I was lost and pretty much guessed everything. Yet, I got an 87. With that said, I'm fairly certain that the Sims are not worth 40% like the AICPA claims. I would say they're worth a lot less. So, spending the bulk of the 4 hours on MCQs is a smart move, IMHO.

[Minimorty]

I wholeheartedly disagree. First, I think the SIMS are worth exactly 40% of your score. I am not saying the SIMS are not curved (or however the AICPA describes its grading system), but I do believe that the SIMS are given a weight of 40%. The AICPA is specific about very few things, yet they come out and say the SIMS are worth 40%. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt on that one. I also think that everyone underestimates the amount of partial credit they receive on the SIMS. I am sure you picked up extra points here and there on the SIMS. Did you receive a score report? Did you actually test “weaker” in the SIMS area and still get an 87? My guess would be that you scored at least comparable on the SIMS. If everyone wants to spend all their time on the MCQ, I am completely fine with that. I think the SIMS make or break you and I'll continue to give myself enough time on the SIMS to grind out the few extra points that are going to give me a passing score.

[mla1169]

jet, it sounds like you were very ambitious to jump in so quickly to two very difficult exams in the same window. I sure do hope you pass but either way take it as a learning experience, to really research, talk to people before hand, and to expect the unexpected. Becker can't guarantee that you are going to see sims even similar to what they give for study.

I approach each exam by initially giving myself 25-35 minutes for each MCQ test to try to leave at least 2 hours for the sims. When I just took AUD I had about 2.5 hours for the SIMS, and I used every single minute of it. Hang in there.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

@Minimorty- No, unfortunately I did not receive a Score Report for FAR and AUD. I don't think NYers get one when they pass.

[jetablack4]

@Minimorty – First of all calm down, I don't need you jumping down my throat. If you actually read my post and did not interpret it the way you wanted to see it – it reads “I use Becker study materials and place some of the blame on them.” In no way am I saying that if I fail this test it is all of Beckers fault but the fact of the matter is I spent a lot of money on their review materials to get me prepared for the test. They recommend in the review book that you leave 60-75 minutes for the simulation for FAR, which I did. Also, all of the simulations I practiced from the software including the practice final exams I nailed the simulations, all 7 of them in under 30 minutes. The difference between what I saw on the test and from Becker was night and day in both complexity and length of the sims. So if this is how I prepared, thinking that Becker will have me fully ready for the test, how could I not place some of the blame on them? I am not one to make excuses, if I did not pass the exam blaming Becker will get me nowhere, but now that I recognize that they do a piss poor job on preparing me for the simulations I will obviously have to look else where to prepare myself for that section of the exam.

Sorry for the long winded response. Everyone else thank you for the responses, I have been hearing encouraging things from friends who have passed the FAR and REG parts when there was only 2 sims and they all said they did miserable on them as well. But I do know that the exam is structured different now – I guess I will have to hold my breath and pray to the Gods of accountancy that I pass.

REG 81
FAR 70,85
BEC 81
AUD 91

[Anonymous]

If you're confident that you did well on the MC questions, it's very possible for you to pass without completing some of the Sims. When I took Reg under the old format last year, I didn't touch nor look at the second Sim and I passed.

[Minimorty]

Umm, not sure why you think I am jumping down your throat. I am merely stating my opinion that you left too little time for the SIMS and you seem to want to assign blame to Becker (even partial blame). I also do not understand why you are giving any weight to what your buddies had to say about a test completely different in nature than the one you just took. Anyway, I wish you luck. I am sorry if you were just looking for, “Oh its okay. I am sure you passed.”

[Peanut]

I'm starting to get a little frustrated with people comparing the old format to the new format. The old format only had 2 SIMS, one was pretest, and it was only work 30% of your grade. If you did terrible on the old format 1. It could have been the pretest SIM, 2. It was only 30%! If you did well on the MCQ there was a good chance you passed. The new format is totally different. I'm sorry but 40% of your grade, that makes each SIM roughly around 6 points each (excluding the pretest) if you miss two that's 12 points you didn't get. Sorry I just had to get that off my chest, I'm not trying to discourage the OP, I just get frustrated when people are comparing the old format to the new format!

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Laura]

@peanut-agree…that's like people comparing the paper based to the computer based to be honest. Drives me nuts I've taken this exam enough to know that there is no predictability!!!

REG-80, 77, 77
BEC-67, 68, 71, 67, 71, 74, 71, 74, 72, 77
FAR- 72, 65,67, 53, 75 (truth be known the 53 was with 4 hours of studying)
AUD-58, 62, 72, 74, 74, 75
took 5 years but I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Herbieherb]

I agree with peanut… 2011 +is harder. Leaving one blank sim tab won't sink you, but leaving 3+ will. The pre 2011 miracle stories about running out of time and doing 1/2 the sims don't exist anymore?

NEW YORK- DONE

[kandisjoy]

There's a chance that you passed, and there's also a pretty good chance that you failed. I've given up on speculation because you really can't know until you get your score. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Author]

Replies