TwinOtterIFR,
I can't agree with Negan more. I teach the APS MCC, both ground school and SIM and the people who struggle on the course are the people that haven't done the required preparation. Of course by the time these individuals pitch up and realise there is so much to learn, there simply is not the time to catch up and they struggle with the simulator phase.
The course is continuously assessed using the competency based training method, where SIM 10 is an assessment to which you are required to perform to a specified standard to be awarded an APS MCC.
If you do the work as per Negans advice, you will be fine and you will enjoy and get a lot of out the course.
All the best.