[Anonymous]

I’ve passed three straight sections (FAR, BEC, and REG) and not once did I do a single practice simulation in preparation. I use Becker as my primary review source and supplement it with the Gliem test bank for an additional few thousand questions but haven’t once utilized their simulations. In my opinion (and it’s just that…my opinion) you either know the material or you do not know the material, period. Granted, my scores were fairly average (81,80 & 80 respectively), but I honestly feel as though spending time working through practice sims would have been a far less efficient way to study than cranking out MC questions. Of course sims for some people may be a helpful and different way to learn/apply the information, but for me, that’s just not the case. I will say that learning to use the research tab is absolutely necessary but, other than that, cranking out thousands of MCQ is the most effecient AND effective way to solidify the information after reviewing the material. As far as the written communication exercise in BEC, if you can write at the college level and refrain from using contractions, there shouldn’t be any reason for that to trip you up in BEC, especially since it counts for only 15% of your total score. I’m sure some people will completely disagree and go on about how everyone learns differently, etc, etc, etc. However, that’s just not the case for me, and I’d venture to say…not the case for most people. But again, it’s just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I'm off the same opinion, but you'll find there's very few others that are. I probably did about 5 or at most 10 practice SIMs total for all 4 exams, and don't feel like any of them benefited me. It's better to learn the material thoroughly, however you best do that, cause you'd have to do thousands of SIMs to hope to have seen one on each possible topic, and that would take an extraordinary amount of time.

[h0wdyus]

I did very few SIMMS just to see what they feel like. Basically I treated a SIMM as a giant MCQ.

For BEC WC.. do they have a spell checker ?

FAR - 81 29th Aug 2013
AUD - 84
REG - 82
BEC - 89 29th Aug 2014
Using Yager

FROM NJ

[Anonymous]

I disagree. Sims have helped me a lot because they give you a different way of thinking about scenarios

[shankysays]

Obviously with sims you can't use process of elimination to the same effect, and it really requires that you truly know the material. I practice sims, but not to the same ratio that they actually count for on the exams. I probably spend about 90% of my practice time on MCQ and 10% on sims.

BEC - 72, 82! ✓
FAR - 80! ✓
AUD - 70, 92! ✓
REG - 74, 78! ✓

Licensed CPA 5/2015

[M.O.D.]

Not practicing sims is like not practicing MCQs. Neither method is optimal preparation for things that you and every preparation course out there knows will be on the test.

BA Mathematics, UC Berkeley
Certificates in CPA and EA preparation, College of San Mateo
CMA I 420, II 470
FAR 91, AUD Feb 2015 (Gleim self-study)

[Anonymous]

@ h0wdyus Yes, the written exercise portion of BEC has a simple word-processing feature that includes a spell check. However, when you right click under the misspelled word, it might be a good idea to insure the first recommended word spelling is also correct. I'm glad I did.

[thechapman]

I've practiced less than 5 simulations (those were just chalked up to being naive) and don't regret it at all. If anything, they are only useful for getting you used to the format. More than 10 minutes and you're wasting your time that could be spent on MCQs or crappy whiskey.

Passed - 2014

[mla1169]

Never practiced a SIM. It's nice I guess to learn the mechanics of using the AL but anybody who says it's necessary to pass is wrong. If you have the time to practice them sure but I wouldn't spend a lot of time on them.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[sep7uakron]

I haven't practiced a SIM yet. Hopefully that method doesn't fail me in a week.

AUD: April 2014 - 85
REG: May 2014 - 83
BEC: July 2014 - 82
FAR: August 2014 - 83

I'M DONE!!

[Kimboroni]

I do all the sims and only about 1000 MCQs. That might be more efficient than doing thousands of MCQs. And it fits my learning style better. Just no way am I going to go sit for an exam not having practiced something that represents 40% of the score.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Author]

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