Becker Simulated Exam Timing Guide
The Becker simulated exams, often called the Becker Test Bank or Becker Simulations, are the closest you'll get to the real CPA exam before sitting for it. They're built into the Becker platform and come in two main flavors: section-specific question banks with timed modes, and full-length simulated exams that mirror the actual test structure. The timing depends entirely on which version you're running and whether you've turned on the timed mode. Here's the straightforward breakdown across the four CPA sections. These are full-length Becker simulated exams, not single-question-bank drills. AUD runs about 4 hours. That's 72 multiple-choice questions plus 8 task-based simulations, structured similarly to the real exam. FAR is the longest at roughly 5 hours and 30 minutes — 86 MCQs and 8 TBS. REG comes in at about 4 hours with 72 MCQs and 8 simulations. BEC is the shortest at around 3 hours, with 72 MCQs and 3 TBS.
If you're just doing the question bank in untimed mode, there's no hard limit. You can crawl through 100 questions over two days if you want. That's actually how most people start. But the value shows up when you switch to timed mode, because then you're forcing yourself to pace under pressure. I spent way too long on one simulation in FAR where they made me build a DCF model inside a spreadsheet tool built into the exam. I had two minutes left and hadn't even opened the tab. The workaround I ended up using was practicing those spreadsheets outside the exam window first — Becker lets you pull up standalone simulation files in their test bank. Get comfortable navigating that interface before you ever try it under a clock. There's also a difference between the Becker MCQ question bank and the simulated exams. The question bank has thousands of individual MCQs and TBS items you can filter by topic, difficulty, and whether you've seen them before. The simulated exams are pre-packaged sets designed to match AICPA blueprints. People mix those up constantly. Use both. The question bank is for building volume. The simulations are for building stamina.
One thing nobody talks about enough: Becker's simulated exams are generally considered harder than the actual CPA exam. Not dramatically, but noticeably. The TBS can feel more convoluted and the MCQs occasionally throw in edge-case scenarios that the real exam doesn't stress as much. So if your Becker simulation scores are five to ten points below the AICPA benchmark, don't panic. It's normal. It means the timing and difficulty calibration is doing its job. Another common mistake is doing simulations back-to-back without breaks. The real exam has built-in breaks, but Becker's full simulated exams typically run straight through unless you structure them yourself. I used to blast through a full FAR sim in one sitting and then crash for the next two days. Now I split it — MCQs in the morning, simulations in the afternoon, exactly like the real test day. That adjustment alone cut my actual exam fatigue in half. If you want access to these, they're included with any Becker CPA review subscription. There's no separate download or external link. You log into the Becker portal, go to the exam prep section, and select either the question bank or the simulated exams. Some promos or older editions might bundle them differently, but the standard current offering has everything integrated. Check with Becker directly if you purchased a third-party bundle and can't find the test bank inside your account.
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The real bottleneck isn't timing. It's knowing which sims to run and when. Early in your prep, do untimed question bank work to identify weak spots. Midway through, start mixing timed sets of 20 to 40 MCQs. In the last three weeks, run full-length simulations on a schedule that matches your actual exam appointment. If you're taking FAR on a Thursday morning, do your last full sim on a Wednesday morning under identical conditions. I've seen people skip the full sims entirely and just grind question banks until exam day. That works for some, but it leaves a gap in stamina and pacing that only shows up when you're actually sitting there. A couple extra hours simulating is cheaper than a couple extra months retaking. Don't skip them.
