[Trav]

Becker CPA Review simulations – Just wanted to help warn others (and I also sent an email to Becker directly) that while Becker’s MC questions are comparable for the FAR exam, their simulations don’t even come close to preparing you for the actual exam. The actual exam SIMs are way more involved and include more exhibits. Luckily I was still able to squeak by with a 77, but I devoted a little more time to the MCs assuming the SIMs would be comparable to Becker. DON’T!

Definitely try to spend 1:45 to 2 min max per MC question or you will run out of time on the SIMs.

Example: I could do a Becker SIM in about 4-12 minutes. I didn’t do a single test SIM in under 10 minutes.

 

 

AUD - NINJA in Training
BEC - NINJA in Training
FAR - 77
REG - NINJA in Training

Be better than the GAP....Be better than the GAP. Say it!

[turo9992000]

I don't know, I had the opposite experience. I felt the sims in Becker were too complicated and had me fill out way more stuff than the actual exams. I was able to pass all four by using becker and ninja. In my CPA exam score reports I got stronger on all my sims, even the ones I failed.

AUD - 64, 80 Passed on 10/09/17

BEC - 75 Passed on 12/09/17

FAR - 69, 71, 73, 83 Passed on 06/10/18

REG - 81 Passed on 09/10/17

[HDCPA]

I had a pretty solid experience with the Becker sims too. I did all the simulations for each chapter, and then all the mock exams for each test. I felt they were pretty representative. I think I got some that were very similar too.

AUD - 88
BEC - 87
FAR - 80
REG - 91

Love Harleys, TX CPA

[Anonymous]

@Trav – Becker SIMs might not be comparable to the actual exam SIMs, but they are still a good practice. If you think about it, it's just not Becker. The only review course that might have comparable SIMs might be Gleim, but then again, SIMs on the actual exam are crapshoot.

[angelang27]

@b4BeanCounter I have considered to buy Gliem testbank, in order to practice SIM for my upcoming AUD retake. I scored only 60 in my AUD by using Becker. I am now using Becker and supplement Ninja. In your opinion, should I buy Gliem to practice SIM? Because right now, I have two programs which are Becker and Ninja.

[Anonymous]

@Angelang27 – I can't really speak for Gleim AUD because my primary review course was Becker, but I did purchase Gleim BEC when I was in my masters because that's what the program used for one of its CPA prep courses. I thought Gleim did overprepare you in every aspect because the materials covered in their course were very detailed and comprehensive. Although I never took BEC after going through Gleim BEC due to schedule conflict, but I can still tell you that Gleim gets the job done in preparing you for the CPA exam regardless of which section.

[angelang27]

@B4beancounter right now, my approach is nonstop MCQ by using Ninja mcq also Becker MCQ. I will use blueprint for AUD to address the “analysis” and “evaluation” topics and practice the SIM from Becker and Ninja. In the end of Oct, I will have AUD exam. Is it enough to pass AUD? Because I really did terribly in my first attempt of AUD, I do all Becker MCQ and SIM, but screwed up badly! Thanks very much for sharing your experiences! I am considering to buy Gliem and practice SIMs, but just one month to go. Or should I concentrate Becker n ninja ?

[Anonymous]

I didn't do many SIMs when I was studying for FAR using Becker (I'm really not sure that I did any). I do think that FAR had the hardest SIMs of any of the exams, no question though. I really only studied many SIMs on REG, which was my first exam. Personally, I think if you know the material well enough on MCQ you should have no problem applying it on the SIMs. That being said, I think you'll find MC are more comparable than SIMs in every single review course. I wouldn't toss the Becker LOL.

[Superdude3000]

I felt like the Beckers's SIMS were helpful and were relatable to the exam – they're never going to be word-for-word the same of course. However, I will add that Rogers had way more DRS SIMS than Becker. And Roger's DRS SIMS were way more difficult than the actual exam.

REG - 92 (1/17)

BEC - 82 (2/17)

AUD - 89 (5/17)

FAR - 94 (9/17)

Rogers Elite + Becker mcqs/sims for all 4 exams

WA State Ethics Exam - 83, 83, 90 (9/17)

AICPA Ethics Exam - 95 (9/17)

1-year of work - complete (11/18)

Licensed WA State CPA

[angelang27]

@chandler- FAR is my second retake. In this attempt, I non-stop doing the MCQ for Ninja and Becker. I saw I improved a lot from the MCQ. In the actual exam, I can do the MCQ in a better way than my first attempt. I felt so defeated in my SIM part, and I have studied hard for the statement of CF. during the exam, I looked at it for 10-15 mins, and I really have no idea how to do it. I felt so sorrowful, and told myself that I still have hope. I try to do my rest of my testlet in a careful way.

After the exam, I think I will probably need to retake FAR again. Should I really practice more hard SIM?

[angelang27]

@Superdude3000, I think Becker helps me a lot in MCQ, but their SIM are not comparable to the actual exam. I think I should use the supplement course to do more SIM.

[HDCPA]

The biggest takeaway I received from practicing the sims was really practicing following directions. I cant tell you how many time during practice that I got sims wrong simply because I wasnt careful with the instructions. I am thankful that I practiced them if not to only screw up the instructions during practice.

AUD - 88
BEC - 87
FAR - 80
REG - 91

Love Harleys, TX CPA

[Anonymous]

I found all Becker SIMS really good practice for the concepts….For the real thing do an AICPA practice test to get a feel for what you will get.

[angelang27]

@HDCPA- so may I ask which materials do u use? I took FAR in Q1 18, and I failed it with 67. The upcoming score will be announced, but not so optimistic with it. I wish to pass FAR in this year.

[angelang27]

@Anyater- I am struggling whether to buy Gliem SIM or not. Coz I really have Becker and ninja. It is quite enough.

[jel727]

@Trav
I had a similar experience- My actual SIMS were much more complex with 2-3x the supporting documents to review than pretty much anything I saw in Becker review, and all the way through their Final Review. I think we were the lucky ones! I did all the Becker SIMS, the Final Review Sims, and the AICPA practice test and there was nothing comparable. I score standardized tests professionally (in addition to my public accounting job) and was very disappointed in this entire process, start to finish
. I can only hope that the difficulty level works in my favor, but I am already re-doing the Becker Final Review for a retake.
And we wait…

Be Happy and the Reason Will Appear

[Author]

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