[Jamessemma]

I feel like whenever I take these exams, I master the multiple choice but when the simulations come around, I feel like the wording the information they give you, makes it hard to get a clear understanding of what they want you to exactly do. For example. They gave me a bunch of transactions and said they weren’t recorded on a specific date, then asked me at year end, what would my transactions be. Another thing I don’t completely understand is that I was achieving 90% of my practice exam (both in Becker) and 2 on ninja and still bombed the simulations. I feel like they word things on the exam to try to trick you.

BEC: 82
FAR: 80
REG: 81
AUD: Last exam, end of may 2016.

Key to passing the exam is understanding the topic chapter and sections, not just memorizing what you read. The more you practice multiple choice, the greater chance you have to passing the exam.

[12tang]

They drown you in distractor information and couple that with convoluted paragraphs, then expect you to find the right answer either in the AL or from your ability to recall the material. It's insane and my REG sims today made me want to drive my car off a bridge.

I'd rather sit for these exams when all four were tested at once because now that they let you break them up, they have gone off the wall with how difficult your exam can be. Your ability to pass is also closely related to how good your review program can “teach you” (if that's what you want to call it; you really don't learn this stuff). I guess the good news is that some people have left multiple SIMS blank and were still able to pass.

BEC - PASS

FAR - PASS

AUD - PASS

REG - PASS

BOOM!  JUST LIKE THAT, I GOT MY LIFE BACK!  =D

Using Becker self-study
FAR: (82) 175 hours - 1st attempt
BEC: (XX)
AUD: (69) 45hrs of study - 1st attempt
REG: (XX)

[Sufy1]

Yeah..I felt like the FAR sims were terrible..Do you guys know of people that passed by skipping couple of the sims?

[Sufy1]

Yeah..I felt like the FAR sims were terrible..Do you guys know of people that passed by skipping couple of the sims?

[12tang]

It's been talked about on this forum. I just read a post saying that someone left 3 SIMS blank and passed FAR.

BEC - PASS

FAR - PASS

AUD - PASS

REG - PASS

BOOM!  JUST LIKE THAT, I GOT MY LIFE BACK!  =D

Using Becker self-study
FAR: (82) 175 hours - 1st attempt
BEC: (XX)
AUD: (69) 45hrs of study - 1st attempt
REG: (XX)

[ohiostategirlcpa]

SIMS need to be practiced as much as MCQs. No other way to master them.

F91 A95 R90 B94
CMA since 2015
(Gleim books/PDFs, MCQs, SIMS)

[Missy]

Of course they're unfair. If anything about this process was fair everyone who takes the required education would run out and get a CPA and it's value would be about the same as having a bachelor's in accounting.

Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

Finance manager/HR manager

 

 

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Track55]

That is so true mla! My cat could have gotten a degree at my school. It was so easy. The CPA exam – now that is hard!

AUD - 99
BEC - 83
FAR - 86
REG - 92

California - Internal Audit

CPA since December 2016.

(took seven tries, 1 year 10 months).

AUD - 74, 99 !!
REG - 74, 92
BEC - 83
FAR - 73, 86

Studying for Ethics exam

California candidate
Business and Industry

[MissMorrisa]

Had a lot of nonrelevant information in my FAR sims today. Ran out of time… Spend too much time trying to decipher what they wanted me to answer. Highly annoyed but hopefully I did enough to pass.

~Work in Progress -JJ

AUD - 80 (May 2015)
REG - 79 (August 2015)
FAR - 85 (November 2015)
BEC - 84 (February 2016)

[Last Chance CPA]

Wait until you get to REG SIMs! And they count for a lot more I truly think. I guessed on FAR SIMs and passed, but REG SIMs were unforgiving. Look into buying Gleim SIMs….

AUD - 75
BEC - 75
FAR - 76
REG - 76

I want those initials next to my name!!!!

FAR - 76
AUD - 75
BEC - 75
REG - 76

Now I need some experience!!! And some networking...

[Omar]

I had the same experience in my FAR exam last week. The SIMs was terrible and not clear. They even gave me some transaction's and want me to make some JRs and get the numbers from my mind then reevaluate them to Fair Value.
There was no standers to know if I'm doing right or wrong.

FAR: 73, 85
BEC: 79
REG: TBA
AUD: TBA

[536FrenchmenStreet]

The AICPA hates me, I'm convinced of it. One stinking word or phrase can change the entire meaning of a question. I understand why they do it, but I have this mental picture of a bunch of CPAs and psychometricians sitting around cackling madly as they figure out ways to make the syntax of the sentences as convoluted as possible.

“Get a load of this one! ‘True or False: A U.S. entity not required to follow US GAAP must use full IFRS.' “

“HA! HA! HA!”

BEC: Fall 2016
AUD: Spring 2016
REG: Summer 2016
FAR: RETAKE

[win2bet]

the simulations are more of a test of applying this info you learned in real life & not just eliminating the wrong answers. I'm my experience REG sims were the worst (esp when they ask to complete a tax return & give a million facts) , with FAR being a close 2nd.

The 2nd time i took REG, the sims were so much easier; luck plays a big role in these tests

,

REG 68,87
BEC 85
FAR 75
AUD 64,64, 86!

[12tang]

I wouldn't be surprised if they intentionally give out insane exams as a revenue tactic. They know damn well, people won't stop at a few fails and will keep paying up the big $$$$. Also, I partially place blame on these review programs. They train you to pass these tests, without really teaching you like a university does. In turn, higher pass rates = harder future exams.

The better the review materials get, the harder and harder these exams will get. Take away these awesome review programs, a majority wouldn't be a CPA and they'd have to make the exams easier. Just a theory but it seems very plausible to me.

BEC - PASS

FAR - PASS

AUD - PASS

REG - PASS

BOOM!  JUST LIKE THAT, I GOT MY LIFE BACK!  =D

Using Becker self-study
FAR: (82) 175 hours - 1st attempt
BEC: (XX)
AUD: (69) 45hrs of study - 1st attempt
REG: (XX)

[win2bet]

@12tang I'll raise your conspiracy theory up another notch. I think actively monitor these forums & primarily peoples' signatures that list the scores they received. they can easily find the person with this info, & theyll use what we say against us.
& i also believe they make sure people fail, more revenue for them & test prep services

,

REG 68,87
BEC 85
FAR 75
AUD 64,64, 86!

[Anonymous]

The sims are to examine your understanding of the conceptual aspects of the section and it measures your ability on problem solving or real life situations unlike MCQs. I heard the examining authorities are leaning toward increasing sims importance in the near future.

[Author]

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