[Lentilcounter]

During one of the most recent AICPA/NASBA webinars, the AICPA presenter bought up the CPA exam blueprints available on the AICPA website. He said that we should reference these blueprints in preparing for the exams and then there should be no surprises. He also said that any content group/topic that is tested at the analysis level is fair game for a simulation. I have created a short summary below. While the language in the blueprints can be somewhat vague, I think if you at least have a mastery of the topics below, simulations shouldn’t scare you.

Balance sheet/statement of financial position
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the balance sheet amounts to supporting documentation
B) calculate fluctuations and ratios and interpret the results while reviewing comparative balance sheets

Income statement/statement of profit or loss
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the income statement amounts to supporting documentation
B) calculate fluctuations and ratios and interpret the results while reviewing comparative income statements

Statement of comprehensive income
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the statement of comprehensive amounts to supporting documentation

Statement of changes in equity
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the statement of changes in equity to supporting documentation

Statement of cash flows
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the statement of cash flows to supporting documentation
B) derive the impact of transactions on the statement of cash flows

Notes to the financial statements
A) compare the notes to the financial statements to the financial statements and supporting documentation to identify inconsistencies and investigate those inconsistencies

Consolidated financial statements (including wholly owned subsidiaries and noncontrolling interests)
A) detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the consolidated financial statement amounts to supporting documentation

Cash and cash equivalents
A) reconcile the cash balance per the bank statement to the general ledger
B) investigate unreconciled cash balances to determine whether an adjustment to the general ledger is necessary

Trade receivables
A) prepare a rollforward of the trade receives account balance using various sources of information
B) reconcile and investigate differences between the subledger and general ledger for trade receives to determine whether an adjustment is necessary

Inventory
A) reconcile and investigate differences between the subledger and general ledger for inventory to determine whether an adjustment is necessary
B) prepare a rollforward of the inventory account balance using various sources of information

Property, Plant, and Equipment
A) prepare a rollforward of the property, plan, and equipment account balance using various sources of information
B) reconcile and investigate differences between the subledger and general ledger for property, plant, and equipment to determine whether an adjustment is necessary

Payables and accrued liabilities
A) reconcile and investigate differences between the subledger and general ledger for accounts payable and accrued liabilities to determine whether an adjustment is necessary

Revenue Recognition
A) interpret agreements, contracts and/or other supporting documentation to determine the amount and timing of revenue to be recognized in the financial statements
B) reconcile and investigate the differences between the sales subledger and the general subledger to determine whether an adjustment is necessary

Account changes and error corrections
A) derive the impact to the financial statements and related note disclosure of an accounting change or an error correction

Contingencies and commitments
A) review supporting documentation to determine whether a commitment or contingency requires recognition or disclosure in the financial statements

Leases
A) interpret agreements, contracts and/or other supporting documentation to determine the appropriate accounting treatment of a leasing arrangement and prepare the journal entries that a lessee should record.

Subsequent events
A) derive the impact to the financial statements and required note disclosues due to identified subsequent events

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Lentilcounter]

@brickellcpa

Do you have Becker? Ana has lined up each one of these objectives with a Becker aim.

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Wannafree]

@Lentilcounter any reference for prepare a rollforward of the inventory account balance SIM ? Same rollforward for AR.
Appreciated your efforts.

WannaB

[Lentilcounter]

@Mustafa

I'm so glad you also agree that this potential sim list is a good representation of the exam.

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[Katie]

Thank you, Ana! The list you provided is going to help me greatly as I begin my two-week review period next week!

AUD - 91

BEC - 4/21/18

FAR - 90

REG - 80

[Ana]

@Katie glad to help. Lentil provided the list from their webinar and I added Becker sims.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 64, 77
FAR - 73, 73, 73, 82
Ethics: 74, 84, 98
Finally done after 23 months.

[Wannafree]

Initially I was very happy to see the list but euphoria was short lived once I realized it's too vague. Do you folks feel this is too vague ?see the sample .
detect, investigate and correct discrepancies while agreeing the balance sheet amounts to supporting documentation.

WannaB

[Ana]

@wannafree I do not think it's too vague since like Mustafa I can tell which sims I had (I've taken the exam 3 times, remember almost all of my sims). I also have seen how they test the material in sims so I can formulate what they mean. Obviously, it'd be nicer if it was a more detailed list with examples but they thrive off making this test mysterious and ambiguous. If a candidate studies and masters all the sims on this list, they deserve to pass bc it covers 90% of the book.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 64, 77
FAR - 73, 73, 73, 82
Ethics: 74, 84, 98
Finally done after 23 months.

[Lentilcounter]

I agree with Ana and Mustafa. I initially thought it was vague, but that is because I couldn't remember all the SIMs from my previous experiences. Once you align those objectives with Becker SIMs, it's like a “wow” moment. You actually feel like you stand a chance against the simulations of the test.

BEC = 79

AUD = 79

FAR = 84

REG = 86

Prayer + AICPA blueprints = my success

BEC = 72 (6/08/16)
FAR = ?
REG = ?
AUD = ?

[maffs]

Was using Becker but had it expire. Still have some SIMs to reference/look back to but don't have any of the skills practice (?). Were the skills practice SIMs separate from the those?
*Am assuming F2.5 is example 5 for the F2 SIMs and that F3_SIM 3_7 means example 7 in the third set of SIMs for F3.*
Just wanted to clarify!

[Ana]

Skills practice is new, since about April of this year.
Yes to your assumption.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 64, 77
FAR - 73, 73, 73, 82
Ethics: 74, 84, 98
Finally done after 23 months.

[Anonymous]

I had planned on redoing all the DRS and JE SIMS in my final review for FAR, but I think I will also give this list a shot! Thank you guys for putting this together!

[maffs]

I see. I have access to Gleim though so I'll try to look find SIMs in those areas.
Thank you!

[Wannafree]

@Lentilcounter and @Ana I am working on the list as you both have compiled.Great job.I just shared how I felt but still this is my direction now.

WannaB

[Ana]

Hoping we all pass, remember to blame lentil if we don't :). Studying in this 102 weather literally feels like hell. Hoping it'll be over soon.

BEC - 78
AUD - 75
REG - 64, 77
FAR - 73, 73, 73, 82
Ethics: 74, 84, 98
Finally done after 23 months.

[kdcpa]

Please suggest How to use the list for preparation, for example, I have Gleim testbank as my Becker access has expired.

Can Pass Attitude

[Author]

Replies