[Anonymous]

Hey everybody, I am taking my first ever CPA exam – FAR this coming Saturday. I just took my first Mock Exam on Becker and it didn’t go as expected. I finished the exam with 1 hour and 30 minutes remaining because from reading the posts here I thought that I should try to rush through MCQ so I can have more time on SIMs. I finished the MCQ portion with 2.5 hours remaining, and I knew that I did horrible on the MCQ even though the topics were mostly easy, I couldn’t remember everything and made stupid mistakes. I thought the SIMs were much easier and scored better on it than MCQ and finished everything with 1.5 hours remaining.

In summary, I received a 76 I do know that Becker is supposed to be harder than the exam but I honestly do not know what to expect, I wish I would’ve gotten a higher score but I really rushed through the MCQ and I don’t know if I’m ready.

My questions are, 1. How is the grade on Becker Mock Exam reflected on the actual exam? (usually)

2. How should I allocate my time? I feel rushed when I do the MCQs.

Thanks,

[JMG]

The one thing that helped me for my exam was that at any point if I felt I was spinning my wheels too long for an MCQ, I would select the best guess, flag it and move on. Then I would circle back to those at the end of the testlet, take one last look and answer accordingly.

Mock exams can be helpful but they can also crush your confidence, which is a big factor going into these exams. Don't focus on the score you got, focus on the trouble areas that need more attention. Good luck!

Your fail scores are like battle scars, so wear them proudly!

REG - 76 (expired 7/31/18)

BEC - 69, 72, 80

AUD - 62, 70, 74

FAR - 50, 60

[Anonymous]

I think you should still aim for 1-1.5 hours dedicated to MCQ, so that would leave about 2.5 hours for SIMs. I think I usually finish my Becker exams with plenty of time to spare but use up almost the full 4 hours on the real exam. The SIMs are just harder on the actual test, so you want to make sure you have enough time for each.

I think a 76 on Becker is a good place to be, typically you score a bit higher on the real exam than your Becker average. So you're in a good spot. Just review your weak areas.

[itooshallpass]

I had a very similar experience with FAR last week. My mock exam scores in Roger ranged from 66-77, and I always finished with at least an hour left. I too made a lot of stupid mistakes in all my quizzes towards the end of my studying, because I was so exhausted and sick of the material at that point. Of course I don't have my exam score yet, but compared to many of the practice questions in Roger and Ninja, I thought the actual exam was significantly easier.
I'd say aim for 1-1.5 min for each question, for about an hour and a half total for all the MCQs. On the actual exam, I only took 55 min for both MCQ testlets, and I'm not sure how I feel about it… I definitely could have dedicated more time to it, but I just did't feel like I needed to.

FAR - 85 (12/17)
AUD - 80 (1/18)
REG - 83 (6/18)
BEC - 85 (7/18)

Ethics - 95

DONE DONE DONE DONE

[Accounting Adam]

Your score indicates that you are ready! So that's good news!

However, I would be careful about projecting a time from mock tests. For me, by the end of my study plan – I would know most of the answers before I finished reading the questions. This leads to a much quicker pace. On the actual exam, it may not be more difficult but it will be worded in a way you haven't seen before.

I have always been surprised by how the testers find new ways to word things in order to make you think a bit.

I was comfortable with an hour for the first 2 testlets each. Then another couple hrs for the sims. You will need more time will the sims than your mock exam due to their increased emphasis on source documents.

You got this!

AUD - 87
BEC - 79
FAR - 76
REG - 75

Good Luck!

[Wannafree]

@ItooshallPass , man you finished the MCQ in 55 minutes so I assume you got less calculations in MCQ. Regardless do you even look at the question after selecting your answer.Since your speed is good how do you make sure that it's right ? For me even if they ask the easiest question like Cash flow takes time just to verify,any tips how to validate the answer ?

WannaB

[Recked]

I finished my Roger mock exam with 1.5 hours left. Ran out of time on the actual exam. (45min #1, 60min #2, 45min #3, left me with 1.5 hours for 6 SIMs, 60min #4, 30min left for #5 so I just tried to answer as much as I could before the clock ran out. Testlet #2 killed me with more calcs and I spent too much time on one of the SIMs in #3) My exam was also DRS heavy so I am hoping that factors.
The actual SIMs are just on another level.
Move through the MCQ's as quickly as possible. If you don't know the answer just realize it and pick one. If you know the material then spend the time to get find the best answer.
Nothing like having a calculations question and doing the calc's and your number is not one of the options.

SIM tip. Jot down what each SIM area is looking for. There are so many documents to search through, the back and forth will eat up valuable time.
Looking forward to 2018 changes when the split screen might actually be useful. Bullshit one screen exam in a time when an additional screen and USB card for dual display will run you under $150 bucks.

Memento Mori - Kingston NY CPA & EA (SUNY Albany 2002)

FAR-93 11/9/17 (10wks, 250 hrs, Roger 1800+ MCQs, Gleim TB 600+MCQs, SIMs)
AUD-88 12/7/17 (3 wks, 85 hrs, Roger 1000 MCQs no SIMs hail mary)
REG-96 1/18/18 (6 wks, 110 hrs, 1400 MCQs, no SIMs)
BEC-91 2/16/18 (4wks, 90 hrs, 1240 MCQs)

[itooshallpass]

@wannafree, yeah I had very few calculations and most of them were quick ones. I flagged maybe 8 questions to come back to, but I have always been fast and decisive with multiple choice questions. I find that if I try to double check or over think it, I just end up doubting myself when I was confident in my answer in the first place. In my opinion, that's an unfruitful waste of time. Usually I stick with my first instinct, and in college that worked out well for me, so we'll see how that theory carries over. lol

I second everything @Reckedracing said! If you know that you don't know it, just move on. And it is very helpful to take note of what the sims are asking for.
As an aside, I requested paper and pencil for my exam and they provided a booklet of like 8 full size sheets. I don't know what the yellow boards are like, but I hate markers and was really glad to have the paper. I used all of it and had enough space to keep it through the whole exam which was helpful to have my notes throughout.

FAR - 85 (12/17)
AUD - 80 (1/18)
REG - 83 (6/18)
BEC - 85 (7/18)

Ethics - 95

DONE DONE DONE DONE

[Recked]

LOL they only gave me one of the prometric blue books which amounts to 2 sheets of paper, front and back.
I had the same blue book and 2 pencils for the EA exams.
I did not use it all.

I sent in my AUD paper and pencil request on Nov 21st, and a follow up on Monday of this week. Still have not received a reply from NASBA. We shall see.
Highly recommend paper and pencil but NASBA wants you to request 2 weeks ahead of time.

Memento Mori - Kingston NY CPA & EA (SUNY Albany 2002)

FAR-93 11/9/17 (10wks, 250 hrs, Roger 1800+ MCQs, Gleim TB 600+MCQs, SIMs)
AUD-88 12/7/17 (3 wks, 85 hrs, Roger 1000 MCQs no SIMs hail mary)
REG-96 1/18/18 (6 wks, 110 hrs, 1400 MCQs, no SIMs)
BEC-91 2/16/18 (4wks, 90 hrs, 1240 MCQs)

[itooshallpass]

@reckedracing I never got a reply or confirmation from NASBA, but when I showed up the prometric people knew about the request.

FAR - 85 (12/17)
AUD - 80 (1/18)
REG - 83 (6/18)
BEC - 85 (7/18)

Ethics - 95

DONE DONE DONE DONE

[nikkie320]

I’m in the same boat. Any idea what to prepare for the exam?

AUD - 77
BEC - 83
FAR - 87
REG - 89

I studied hard for the bonus! You can do it too!

[Author]

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