SIMS – Practice useful or waste of time?

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  • #195495
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I’m studying for my REG re-take on Thursday. My first try I scored high on the MCQ and weak on the SIMS.

    Currently I am spending a ridiculous amount of time on practicing simulations with Becker and NINJA, but am unsure of whether I am wasting my time since simulations on exams are so unpredictable.

    Do you feel that studying simulations helps / drives the concepts home, or is it better to concentrate on MCQs?

Viewing 9 replies - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
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  • #682359
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Waste of time – this is my opinion after taking the exam. While they would help (any practice helps), the return on exam day is minimal. Invest more in reading the chapters + MCQ.

    #682360
    Skynet
    Participant

    It helped me a lot with Property Transactions as I got one Sim related to it. It was a good thing too because i was able to solve the SIM, otherwise I would be lost.

    I did it for AUD too. I spent the last 3 weeks for AUD and it helped me a lot. Taking FAR in 2 weeks and mostly focusing on the SIMs.

    AUD - 90
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 84
    REG - 87
    World Domination Plan

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    BEC : 78
    REG : 87
    FAR : 84
    AUD : 90

    World Domination Plan

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    #682361
    Last Chance CPA
    Participant

    Extremely important for someone who struggles with SIMs. Last week of my exam, I only did SIMs and listened to Roger Cram. REG SIMs are the hardest by far…

    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...

    #682362
    mommyof3texans
    Participant

    While it's almost a guarantee the SIMS you get on the exam will be nothing like the ones you practice, I find them to be useful in understanding the concepts behind them. Plus in general, I think it's helpful to see what different SIMS might look like and get comfortable with answering them as much as possible.

    BEC - 02/21/15 - 82
    FAR - 05/29/15 - 82
    AUD - 07/09/15 - 93
    REG - 11/14/15 - 80

    All done!!!

    #682363
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I feel they definitely help gauge your understanding of topics, of course some SIMs are much better than others but the feedback can also be a very helpful study tool – I like to pick out the thorough SIMs in Becker and print them out for part of my final review, especially if it's a weak area of mine.

    #682364
    Last Chance CPA
    Participant

    GLEIM SIMS! NO OTHER WAY TO STATE IT…STUDY SIMS ONLY WEEK OF EXAM…

    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...

    #682365
    Last Chance CPA
    Participant

    I meant study only the SIMs week of the exam, and certainly study them throughout as well. They are a nice break from MCQs…

    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...

    #682366
    Skynet
    Participant

    Believe it or not, but working the SIMs will give you a feel of how it will be like especially on the actual exam. Often times, candidates lose points due to not following the instructions on the SIMs whether it tells you to enter 0, leave the cell blank, or put positive or negative signs. That's why practicing them is important. I found out during the review that I was losing tons of points for silly mistakes. With the real exam, you only get one shot and making those silly mistakes could mean the difference between a Pass or Fail.

    I focused on the SIMs for REG and AUD 2-3 weeks before the exam and it paid off big time.

    AUD - 90
    BEC - 78
    FAR - 84
    REG - 87
    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - In Progress
    Phase III : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase IV : Form the new Charlie's Angels with Megan Fox, Scarlett Johansson, & Gal Gadot
    Phase V : TBD

    BEC : 78
    REG : 87
    FAR : 84
    AUD : 90

    World Domination Plan

    Phase I : Pass CPA Exams - Complete
    Phase II : Megan Fox - Initiated
    Phase III : Bring back 8-Tracks
    Phase IV : Megan Fox & Scarlett Johansson Lingerie Pillow Fight
    Phase V : TBA

    #682367
    highlightnumb
    Participant

    Just to echo everyone elses comments, SIMS are an important part of your studying but mcq's should be the majority of your hands on practice. Doing sims makes you think differently about certain topics and sims sometimes clear up questions you may have. Always treat your mcqs like sims by asking yourself how this mcq would look if it were a simulation and that gets you thinking outside the box. Good luck

    Mario Marcel, CPA

    FAR. Feb 2014 76
    REG. Jan 2015 79 half way there!!
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    Ok where was I? Oh thats right now I'm Done!!!!!!!!!
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