A GEANT4-based simulation is developed for the endcap time of flight (ETOF) upgrade based on multi-gap resistive plate chambers (MRPC) for the BESIII experiment. The MRPC prototype and the simulation method are described. Using a full Monte-Carlo simulation, the influence of high voltage and threshold on time resolution and detection efficiency are investigated. The preliminary results from simulation are presented and are compared with the experimental data taken with the prototype MRPC modules.