[shawn in VA]

Hi Everyone,

This topic was started a while back ago by another poster but kinda “died”

I had my exam today (2/01) for audit and just wanted to see what others experience was during Q1 2017 ?

I took it for for the second time today after a 64 FAIL back in DEC 2016. I used Roger only back in DEC, but this time just did NINJA notes and Wiley Test Bank.

My experience today was mixed. The 1st testlet was super EASY. 2nd testlet was moderate with a few difficult questions. Flagged like 4. 3rd testlet was similar to 2nd testlet. Not sure if i got a Medium Hard Hard , or Medium Hard Medium.

The SIMS on the other hand was a mixed experience. The research was easy but took like 12 mins to answer. I got 2 DRS…1 was insanely hard, and 1 was manageable/moderate. The other ones were moderate but still had some guesses.

In a nutshell feel good about the MCQs but the SIMS not so sure. I felt similar on my 1st AUD exam where I got a 64 but this time I feel better about MCQ but not sure about SIMS. It it me or do are the SIMS just always difficult overall. I never get an easy SIM except research.

Can one pass if you get comparable in MCQ and Weaker in SIMS ?

just wanted to see what other people thought. I guess we all find out FEB 24?

[AndrewE]

I also took AUD in Dec 2016 and I literally sped through the MCQs cause I was so worried about the SIMS. I ended up scoring better in the sims better than I did on the MCQ, I ended up with a 70. I retook AUD on 1/22 and felt good with the MCQ cause I took my time with them, but the SIMS were two times harder than the first time around so I really doubt I passed. I feel your pain the SIMS are just so hit or miss, if I had the MCQ's from the second take and SIMS from the first take I'd feel more confident that I passed. Until 2/22 I will be hoping I don't have to take AUD but I won't be surprised if I have to. Onward to REG 3/9 🙂

[Vee]

I also took Audit in Dec 2016 and then had my retake last Friday the 27th. I thought the first testlet was probably Medium difficulty, most questions were easy but there were a couple I flagged to go back to.

The next one kicked my butt. I flagged 3 or 4, felt completely dejected the entire time. So many questions from out of nowhere! Really specific questions on what constitutes an emphasis-of-matter paragraph…I never really studied the differences between that and the Other Matters paragraph.

The third testlet was as difficult as the second one but I “felt” more prepared for the absurdity of the questions. There were a couple of moments where I rested my head on the desk and thought “You have no business being here.”

My SIMS were kinda out there as well. A lot of ratio analysis, which kind of surprised me but really it shouldn't have. My exam in December was heavy on the Inherent/Control risk so it's not surprising I would get 5 out 7 testlets that were all focused on ratio's. Some were calculations, some were “If X happens, what does it do to Y.” The AL questions was a piece of cake and the DRS was easy to find in the AL.

All-in-all, I felt terrible after taking the exam. The entire time I sat there staring at some of the questions not having a clue what was going on. I was so dejected afterward.

Now I'm studying for REG which is almost like a breath of fresh air after all that Auditing nonsense.

[AndrewE]

@Vee Yup I had the same experience as you when it comes to the SIMS from first take to second take. My emphasis for restudying was pounding MCQS I didn't really focus on SIMS too much cause I did very well on them first take

[Wannafree]

@vee I feel you would pass because your difficulties levels were seems MHH which is really good sign.As you just finished BEC I am guessing ratios formulas must have been fresh in your mind and that would have helped.As you mentioned more questions were having ratios or related interpretation better you might have done.I am surprised how they given 7 questions on Ratios.
You may check even the guys who got 99 in AUD has confirmed that he had some wrong questions too. 100% correct is not need to get 75.Cheers.

[Wannafree]

@AndrewE how did you do in SIMs ? Did Ratios tripped you too or DRS was too much ?

[eaglescpa]

I took Audit for the second time on 1/14. First time, I was stronger in the MCQ and weaker in SIMS. I think the first go around, I was going a little too quickly through the testlets. I finished almost an hour early and honestly, I felt pretty good about the test that time. I was devastated when I received a score of 67. In between my first and second attempt at AUD, I studied for and passed FAR. I think studying FAR helped me with studying for my AUD retake.

So back to 1/14 and my retake… because I went quickly the first time, I really tried to slow it down and take my time on each testlet… read questions fully and all answer choices. I felt the MCQ testlets were more difficult than the first time, but overall think that I did well. I think that taking my time helped the most going through the SIMS. I gave myself around 2 hours to complete the SIMS and I used just about every min…. searching the AL for anything I was even slightly unsure on. The AL is sometimes tough to navigate but I felt that it was very useful and I didn’t use it very much the first time. I hope that using the AL and taking my time is the difference for me this time!

[AndrewE]

@Nath DRS was too much, the ratios I did what I could with them I understand how they work and everything. Like Vee I had taken BEC prior to AUD and passed with a 77.

[shawn in VA]

Vee- I think we had the same exam in Q1 and possibly q4. I think on every exam I take there is a moment “should I really be doing this” b/c some of the questions can be tricky

Andrew- I think we had a similar experience.

I did have a LOT of Ratio Analysis on my SIMS. 2 sims at least had it.

Does anyone know if 1) if you can get a 75+ with a weaker in SIMS and comparable in MCQ ? and 2) if you get 2 DRS does it mean possibly 1 is thrown out (not graded) ? 3) Is the reasearch ever thrown out ? I would hate if that is the case

thanks

[shawn in VA]

I am not sure if this works in our favor or against us but AUDIT had the second worst passing rate in 2016 (cumulative) –just released last week. FAR had the worst passing rate. I wonder if AICPA going to try to make it more “passable” for a lack of better word for 2017.

I hope we all pass. taking it in may and waiting til mid august is next to a nightmare

[Vee]

@Nath I had 7 SIMS and 5 of them were all somehow related to ration analysis. Some were actual calculations and analysis while others were just “If (fill in the blank account) is overstated by (random dollar amount), how does it affect the following ratio?” Then it gave me three different ratios like the quick ratio. It either increased it, decreased it, or didn't affect it at all. It was almost identical to a SIM I had in December except the it was the affect on Inherent or Control Risk. I had a DRS SIM that was super easy because I was able to find an example of what it should be in the AL. And then the research question, I found the exact wording so that one should be okay.

@shawn in VA it's my understanding that the Research Question is never the “practice” SIM, so that one shouldn't be thrown out. However, if you get two DRS I believe both could be fair game. Becker has stated that if you get two Research Questions then one of them is Practice and will be thrown out but you don't know which one.

All I know is that February 23 can't get here fast enough.

[AndrewE]

I really hope we all passed because I am not sure how we will study for a 3rd take >:(. 2/23 where are you now?

[shawn in VA]

Andrew- 3rd retake would be horrific . The studying would be bad, but the worst of all would be waiting until mid august for score release. I really have not came across ANYONE saying AUD was easy this window. maybe that will help us.

I just can't believe how easy my 1st testlet was and then 2nd and 3rd were H-M, or H-H, respectively. The SIMS in my expereince are always difficult. This time I can say I got research right b/c my 1st one I dont think I did

[Wannafree]

@Vee thank you so much.

[Cruzer]

Took AUD on 1/13 and felt testlets went Med – Hard – Hard based on how many I had to flag each testlet. SIMS were manageable and felt more confident this time around than previous test probably because I had more time to use AL and check my work. There were a few questions I went and looked up after exam and got wrong so I am praying these are pretest but who knows. Today is going to be tough not to think about it all day. I can't imagine having to retake in Q2 and waiting till Aug

[Goingallin]

I took AUD on 1/18. The multiple choice questions were what I expected. Almost feel like some of the questions were identical to the homework questions or some were just simply rephrased. The SIM however was a different story. I have no idea how I did on the SIM. I had 2 hours left for SIM so thought I would have more than enough time but research question took me 30mins. I have always struggled with this part. I would have to say no amount of study would have prepared me for some of the SIM questions. I hope I pass bc I cant imagine having to study for AUID again. It was excruciating boring.

[Author]

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