[Anonymous]

Just wanted to make this post for anyone thinking they don’t have a shot because they didn’t go through the sims for one reason or another,

for all three parts, I didn’t practice sims and ended with passing grades. Granted they were not in the 90s, but still enough to pass.

My strategy was to review CPAExcel materials, do the MCQ after each section (did not watch lectures, just read book), and then use Jeff’s most given advice –> do MCQ religiously.

I’m not saying sims are useless, since they help you gain a better understanding. However, if you’re tight on time, forget the sims, and focus on MCQ !!

Good luck to all

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

I didn't practice any journals for FAR, or practice any SIMS, and I passed. I just read Roger book once and did NINJA MCQ for a trending score of 68% over 3 weeks.

Probably got lucky but there are no guarantees on this exam, or probably life in general.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[pia ach]

@lion of the rock..when are you giving your reg retake? I just got my score i got a 73 so thinking whether to give on Jan or Feb.

Finally done!!! Experience-pending. Ethics- Pending.
Reg 78 / 73/82.
Aud 74/89.
BEC 72 /78.
FAR 74/ 73/ 82.

[Martin]

Lion_of_the_Rock, you probably know your JEs more than you think young player.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

@pia…date with REG on Feb 14. I'm gonna go slow and steady and over study for this to “make sure” I pass. I only studied for 2 wks last time and the 74 stunk. I got over confident. That being said, I have a little background in Tax.

If prep goes well I may move it up. I have family holiday obligations, etc. and I only plan to study about 10 hours a week.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[mla1169]

And here's one note point. I didn't do a single JE to prepare for FAR-I did over 100 journal entries per month every single month for work and that was one area that a textbook JE wouldn't have added value to me. I was aiming for a 75, that was it. Granted if I had the luxury of more available hours to study I might have done things differently but the fact that I found time to study at all was nothing less than a miracle.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[juuustin]

@mla

The contention that anything above a 75 means you studied too much is silly. Sniping a 75, or even a score close to it, is more luck than actual intelligence.

MD Candidate: 10/1/14

FAR - 87 (11/23/14)
REG - 87 (1/30/15)
BEC - 89 (4/19/15)
AUD - 98 (5/30/15)

Ethics - 100

Experience - In Progress!

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

@Martin…I think my FAR background was decent but I wasn't confident going in. Honestly, I think I got “my” test and I must've guessed correctly on the 50-50s. Journals are important but I wouldn't say you have to go all out and know them all like some people suggest.

My young player days ended long ago lol. I've been out of the game for awhile. Now I'm training my boy in the ways of being a true G.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[Lion_of_the_Rock]

@juuustin…dude, passing the CPA isn't about intelligence. it's about doing practice problems and test taking ability. if we were really that smart we'd be making more money doing less work in another field.

better to be lucky than good. you hear that a lot, wonder if there's anything to it?

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 74, 79
FAR - 75

You have to buy a ticket to win the raffle.

[mla1169]

You're entitled to your opinion juustin. The truth is as long as you pass nobody in the world cares what your scores are. This exam isn't about intelligence, by a long shot. It's about grit and that's all.

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

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Anonymous]

Luck works both ways- you could be unlucky and wind up with a 74.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you can pass without studying SIMs, however, SIMs is a great study tool. Even if it wasn't 40% of your exam, better yet, even if there were no SIMs on the exam, I'd highly encourage the practice SIMs.

SIMs gives you an opportunity to apply what you learn. It tests your understanding on the topics. You can read and re-read the same concept again and again and still not understand it. SIMs force you to think it through. From all the lectures, MCQs, and SIMs in Becker's, SIMs were the most helpful for me.

Bonus point: When you're at the exam and you feel that the SIMs aren't brutal, you can rest assure that you passed. Happened to me….

[Mamabear]

You can also pass without watching lectures or reading a book. People have done it, but it won't work for everyone. Some people need lectures (I don't). Some people need to read a book (I didn't for FAR, I did for REG). Some pass just using a test bank. I would have felt extremely uncomfortable walking into an exam without at least looking at some SIMS. Study methods are just one more aspect of this exam that is NOT uniform.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Martin]

You can pass without doing MC/Simulations,watch lectures or read a book, anything is possible in life.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Anonymous]

Right, but if you're going to not do one of them, make sure it's the sims.

Good luck all

[jeff]

You can't pass unless you Like Another71 on Facebook.

It's something new they're adding in 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/another71

AUD - 79
BEC - 80
FAR - 76
REG - 92

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS)
NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE | Another71

[Author]

Replies