[CPA_VT]

I took AUD this morning and I thought I will write in some detail my experience with the preparation and exam. Now I will just wait for the results. In a few days I will start preparing for my last section REG.

Preparation Phase:
As with 2 previous sections, I stuck with GLEIM. Some study units I struggled. I was getting confused during the study phase on some topics – Internal Control -Purchases Payables, Evidence – Purchases Payables, Reports- Opinions Disclaimers.

I had to repeat MCQs and SIMs for at least 4-5 Study units before GLEIM Adaptive method will let me proceed to the next one. 2 weeks out from the exam, I took the full length model exam (GLEIM offers only 1 full length) and got a 80 and finished in about 3 hrs. That does not much but for what it is worth it gave me some confidence. On two previous occasions for BEC and FAR , I got a full +12 points on the actual Exam over my score on the GLEIM Exam Rehearsal. I do not know if others have the same experience. I sure hope that trend continues for this AUD exam also.

I did just in the last 1 week about 1000 MCQs spread evenly across all study units in the GLEIM AUD Section material. That was not significantly less than hat I did for FAR 2 months ago.

Exam Day:
The person at the reception chided me for not being there before 30 minutes. I actually was there good 30 minutes prior and was waiting in a small line with distancing at the corridor waiting for my turn. I did not know what to respond to her when I was right there in line with 5 people ahead of me. Their phone message the previous night clearly said, I need to call the test center upon arrival before going in.

Efficient check in. This test center gave a manual calculator, pen and 4 page scratch sheet. I did use it jot down some notes during 2 of the SIMs.

Exam Experience:
I was comfortable on the first MCQ Testlet. I think I was average about 1.15 per question. I may have probably had 4-5 incorrect. Same with 2nd MCQ Testlet. Still doing well on time. I struggled with the 1st SIM Testlet. I may have gotten half it right or may be not.
At the end of 2 MCQ and 1 SIM testlets , I had exactly 2 hours left.

I took the break and needed all 15 minutes of it. I resumed after the break and SIM#2 was a mixed bag. SIM4 seemed a bit easier. Even though I scored decently and passed comfortably BEC and FAR, I keep telling myself, each section has its own challenges and performance on one need not translate into success on the other. My own effort level varied vastly between BEC and FAR. I felt like I did not study as hard for AUD as I did for FAR. So I just have to see.

I was able to finish in 3:45 minutes. I felt I struggled through all 3 SIMs even though I hope I got enough questions correct to let me pass. Some questions were probing and I felt I may have tripped on some of them.

I walked out of the exam wanting to say I did okay but not sure, it might be borderline. I guess I will find out on Aug 25th.

Good luck !
cpa_vt

 

 

[monikernc]

Sounds like you did enough to power through to another great score. You will know in 20 days…after my first exam with its long wait for my score I always scheduled for close to the last day of the testing period to shorten my wait.

I don't know how anyone leaves time on the clock.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[CPA_VT]

Thanks, I was tempted to take the exam in late July to catch the Aug 7 score release date but I felt I was not ready. I would have had to probably sacrifice reviews and the 1000 MCQs I did just in the last week, had I taken the exam earlier. I just wanted to improve my chances just that wee bit more even if it means perhaps a couple of points more on the score. There were still a couple of study units, I was not scoring adequately on and I decided to stick with my original AUg 5 date.

As for finishing about 15 minutes early, I attribute that to time I picked up on the MCQ testlets. Compared to FAR, I finished the 2 MCQ Testlets on the AUD exam at least 10 minutes sooner. On the 6-8 questions on the MCQs that I was unsure of, I was afraid to go back and try to change my answer. I read somewhere chances are your first answer to be correct are higher. So I let that be.

I am always anxious about running out of time towards the end, so I try to move on quickly and manage time, I probably over-compensated. I am sure others have been able to finish early too. If we had the option to go back at the end and check answers on all 5 testlets I probably would have used that time. . Only the exam score will be the true judge. I will just relax and start preparing for REG in the next couple of days.

On the whole, I am hoping I got enough of them correct even though SIM#1 was tough and I did not know where I stood on that testlet.

[monikernc]

Audit was my worst exam experience- I held my breath for such long periods of time I thought I was having a heart attack. Once I realized what I was doing I sat back for a few minutes to get my breathing right. When it was over one of the proctors commented on how intently I was concentrating throughout the test. I hardly remember the actual exam and thought I had failed. Turned out to be my highest score.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Gina]

do you remember what topics were heavily tested in audit?

[April94]

FYI You shouldn’t be asking what topics were on the exam. It is unethical and you can actually get in trouble for this!

Just so ya know 🙂

[monikernc]

Yes Gina, you are wrong for asking that question.

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Gina]

sorry didn't realize considering that was wrong I apologize. thank you.

[monikernc]

@Gina you need to read the CPA Exam Candidate Bulletin to familiarize yourself with the rules and processes associated with the exams. You attest to having read it when you take an exam. https://nasba.org/app/uploads/2020/06/Candidate-Bulletin-2020_June2020.pdf

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Gina]

I'll read it now thank you i appreciate it! the last thing I'd want is to violate this! thanks again!

[Gina]

I just read the confidentiality agreement and I'm soooo sorry I didn't mean to violate this or put anyone else in risk of violation. thank you again for bringing this to my attention!

[monikernc]

That's great Gina. Good luck with your exam. For more information about what to expect on the exam you can read the AICPA blueprint for each section. The blueprint gives %'s for each subject category. The AICPA practice exam will give you an idea of how that plays out (for that exam, anyway.)

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[CPA_VT]

I just wanted to come back to this post and drop a quick note to share that I passed AUD with a score of 78. Aug 25 score release date.
I felt unsure when I left the AUD exam as the first SIM was brutal. I felt good about SIMs #2 and #3. I thought I did fairly well in the 2 MCQ testlets

It seems that I had more wrong answers than what I thought when I left the exam as evidenced by this borderline score. I must admit I have not worked in auditing ever so I did find the material challenging and was getting confused many times during the study phase and had to repeat some chapters in GLEIM due to low score.

I am glad I decided not to try to move up my exam date. I stuck to the original date of Aug 5 and I would like to believe that the 1000 MCQs I did in the last week of review after the GLEIM model exam helped me score those few valuable points that got me over the line. It could easily have been a 74 and I am so relieved it did not go that way.

I started studying for REG 3 weeks ago and about 25-30% through the material now and plan to sit for my last section REG in October. I just need to keep this going just a few more weeks and I have to keep up that consistency and effort level.

I just picked GLEIM and stuck with it for all 3 sections so far. It will be GLEIM all the way for me. I got used to this style even though some of the video lectures are not great and I cannot really ‘listen' to audio through an smartphone app for example.

Thanks for all the support and encouragement.

[CH89]

@CPA_VT – Thanks for the update! That's awesome, and congratulations on passing AUD! That exam was definitely the hardest one for me to pass. Just keep pushing through REG, only one more exam to get through! I'm excited to hear about your experience when you sit for REG, and the score you receive. Good luck! You got this!

[Author]

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