ktsullivan
offlineMember
I am studying for REG right now, and I am wondering if anyone here has used becker, are the simulation examples similar in subject & difficulty to the exam in your experience? I have been doing really well on the simulation examples, but I don't want to get too comfortable.
Thanks, I appreciate any input.
DMB
offlineMember
I would check out the following for your simulations:
Interpretation 501-6 of the Professional Code of Conduct
http://www.aicpa.org/about/code/et_500.html#et_501.07
"A member who solicits or knowingly discloses the May 1996 or later Uniform CPA Examination question(s) and/or answer(s) without the written authorization of the AICPA shall be considered to have committed an act discreditable to the profession in violation of rule 501 [ET section 501.01]."
ktsullivan
offlineMember
Thanks! That makes me feel much better. I feel really comfortable with the simulation examples so far because I put together all kinds of returns. Also in school, my tax classes had lots of tax problems with every form you could think of.. and we had to do it on paper! I hated it then, but I'm so thankful for that now.
So, I am trying to get the most points I can with the simulations, because I am just always worried about the MC questions. I tend to second guess myself.
ktsullivan
offlineMember
Oh, DMB: I am not asking about nor do I want anyone to tell me what their simulation questions were- my question is about the helpfulness of the becker simulation examples.
lisa2bcpa
offlineMember
The simulations that I had on my last REG exam really threw me for a loop. I have taken and passed REG before and I always felt the review courses were tougher but this time the exam was much tougher. Many different topics in the same simulation. I was unprepared for the materials on SCorps and property transactions. Good luck! I think there is some element of luck involved that you get something you are comfortable with on the exam.
ktsullivan
offlineMember
Thanks! Yeah, I'm sure you are right about luck! Some people probably get excited with their simulations, while others aren't as happy.
I am getting so anxious for this exam! Its getting harder to study right now, because the wait for my BEC score seems to be getting longer and longer every day! haha
CPAWannaBe
offlineMember
I used Becker and Wiley and felt comfortable with the simulations, they are a great reinforcement of your overall knowledge.
The actual simulations I got were nothing like my study materials. One topic was mentioned breifly in a few sentences and the other was just ambiguous. I still don't know what they were asking exactly.
I don't know my grade yet, but hoping I did well on the MCQ because they must carry a lot of weight from what I've read. If you understand the MCQ, you can wing it through the simulations from my experience. Good luck!
ktsullivan
offlineMember
Good luck to you too!! Waiting for these scores is so stressful, I've been dreaming about clicking submit and finally seeing a score every night this week haha, I can't even escape it while sleeping.
Yeah i believe the weight for MC's is 70%.. but I'm hoping to try and get the most out of that other 30% as possible to make up for my weakness in MC's. (which is why I am SO nervous about BEC)
kristyhana
offlineMember
I used Becker and my simulations on the exam were a lot more difficult than in the Becker practice ones. I was thrown for a loop because for FAR and AUD I felt the exam simulations were so much easier than I was expecting. I think I pretty much bombed both simulations but my MC must have been good because I still got an 85.
Josh Stein
offlineMember
So long as topics and specifics aren't given out, you're okay with the rule.
As for Becker, I felt their *tax* part was very lacking, including the simulations. I didn't feel all that well prepared based on what becker showed me.
Luckily, I'm in tax, so I was able to pull through without.
ktsullivan
offlineMember
I don't think that anyone disclosed anything that would be a violation. The code specifically says not to "disclose... Uniform CPA Examination question(s) and/or answer(s)" which I didn't ask for, and nobody discussed it.
Even before I edited my question so that it wasn't read incorrectly, I asked for study tips, and by that I was looking for people to say maybe like something they wish they had done to better prepare, and just things along those lines. I really don't think anyone has anything to worry about here.
Anyways, if anyone else wants to have input- please do not say any specifics!
calisteph6
offlineMember
I agree with other posters, my sims were out of left field and each sim tested various topics. One was very hard to do because the instructions were vague and the "excel" type sheet they gave me was very confusing to fill out.
The other had me fill out a tax form which I had not seen in my review program, but it was fairly easy. But then the other tabs were really in depth...I probably could have spend an hour on this sim if I had that kind of time.
Try and leave *at least* 30 min for each sim, 45 min each would be better. The more time the better because reading and re-reading the sim was crucial for mine.
ktsullivan
offlineMember
Yeah, that seems to be what everyone is saying. Some easy, some hard.. best way to prepare seems to just focus on my weak areas, and do as many practices as possible to get familiar with different types of questions and maybe see something new.
I was wondering how much time to spend on them. To save at least an hour for the simulations, that leaves 2 hours for the MCQs, so 40 minutes each on those.. That seems possible. Thanks! I feel really excited about this exam.. lol its a weird feeling but I can't wait to take it
jbmagri
offlineMember
ktsullivan, if you have the sims I had you should try to leave more time for them. There seems to be a lot of calculations in the simulations. At least on the New York tests. I have a couple of friends who have taken since the start of October and it seems to be true for all of them
ktsullivan
offlineMember
Thanks, I will try and leave as much time as possible for them. I'm in MA.. but I'm sure the all states get the same test versions. That scares me a little, because I have been flying through the Becker sims as well. Well good luck!!
I actually had a dream about the test last night, and I am surprised I didn't have a heart attack in my sleep.. I only had 6 minutes left and SO much more to do.. & I remember my heart actually beating soo fast haha.. oh man I can't wait to finally take this exam.
TampaAccountant
offlineMember
I took REG in June '09, failed with a 74. I messed up with my time allocation in the MCQs, I got 2 MCQs that I spent too much time on.
I should have just picked B after 2 minutes and moved on.
When I was done with the MCQs, I only had 1 hour and 5 minutes. The first SIM was a killer, I spent 55 minutes on it trying to figure things out.
The second SIM was cake-walk but I only had 10 minutes to do it.
I'm taking REG in Nov '09. My strategy will be 30 minutes per MCQ testlet! And if the first SIM is tough, I will guess more and move-on to the second with more time!
Speed is the name of the game with REG!
PieceofCake
offlineMember
I agree with you Tampa... thats the same strategy i used... spent 30 mins on each of the MCQ testlets... and had about 45 mins for each sim...passed with a 79...if you get stuck on one of the MCQ move on... if you have time come back and answer the question...but dont exceed the 30 mins for the testlet...thats what i kept in mind thru the exam and it worked... just my 2 cents...
TampaAccountant
offlineMember
Piece, I wish of would've "studied" strategy before the exam in addition to the REG material!
I'm getting ready for FAR and trying to create a strategy? Is the key Gov. and Not for profit for the 20% or some other combination.
There is so much material in FAR that I believe the examiners will probably never test some of it, or little of it.....
ktsullivan
offlineMember
Thats what everyone has been saying in other topics too! UGH so scary! But a lot of people that have taken it in the past have said that they bombed the simulations but did well on the MCQs & passed by a lot..
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