[jeff]

We have a lot of “I took __ today threads” so to consolidate, here is the official thread.

Please – Not even a hint of exam disclosure per AICPA rules.

Links to other Exam Experience Threads:

BEC

REG

FAR

[michaelyau]

oh my… I want to cry
the first 2 MCQ testlets are ok, was stuck on a few questions but doable.
TSB… omg
4th testlet and 5th are ok, although I felt that I made mistake as the IC took time to think and it's not obvious.
Last testlet, wtf.. a TSB on Analytical Procedures (keeping this general cause we are not allowed to dig in detail), it was something that I am not prepared.
I find that most of the TSb, you don't really need the read the docs, especially for IC, just gotta guess which should go with (tried to use common sense but I felt that I blew it)!!

[Allsheneededwassome]

Same experience as others On SIMS. Too much going on and very little time. Bombed the sims pretty sure.

[isoceles]

Took it the last day of the period. Background, I studied for a month for this after taking FAR. Passed BEC/REG already. No previous audit experience. For preparation I did about 400 MCQs from Ninja and used the notes.

The test: My MCQs definitely went medium/hard. I gave myself 75 seconds per MCQ going in, and was completing them very quickly the first MCQ but noticeably slowed down on the second one as they got harder. I finished the MCQs in about 75 minutes, leaving 2:45 left for the SIMS. Overall I thought the MCQs were fair and I did well on them. Out of the SIMs, 4 of them I was confident in, 2 of them I was iffy on, and 2 of them were very difficult…much more than what I was expecting. Some of the questions about designing responses to audit information using real data from analytical procedures was definitely new to me.

Overall I felt the best of any test when walking out and thought this was the easiest. However, it might just be I'm more used to taking CPA exams rather than the content actually being the easiest.

[Operation_CPA]

Just to update this thread since I posted my experience on 12/7 feeling pretty decent – I ended up with a 73. My score report indicated: MCQ = Stronger, SIMS = Weaker.

To push myself over the hump I decided to purchase the Gleim test bank. My initiative is to go through as many MCQ / SIMS as possible for the next month. I think Beckers Q's are becoming too familiar.

[SONA]

Had my exam on 19th, feeling relaxed that I am 50% done for AUD section.

1st testlest was definitely easy, and I felt like, is this really AUD CPA exam, or am I missing anything(any trap). I was done with 40 min, the 2nd testlet was definitely hard and wordy it took 50 min. Then 3rd was moderate and I left for the break exactly at 2 hours left for my 4th, 5th testlet. Then came the horrible part. So long and so wordy TBS, so many tabs to read. Last TBS I has no idea what to do, question was out of the blue. But I did educated guess at the last one.

My suggestion to you all: do as many Sims questions as available with the timer on, also MCQs as many as possible. Of course, no matter how many sims practice you do, there is, IMO, no review which would prepare you well for the difficulty level you face in the exam TBS. But, this doesn't mean you completely ignore SIMS practice.

I studied with Becker (1st try), Roger and NINJA MCQs (Retake). I could not do becker SIMS because it expired. I did Roger almost all sims & MCQs and at least 50 SIMS & 700 MCQs of NINJA.

Fingers crossed for Feb 6th.

GOOD LUCK, rest of you.

AUD :19/Jan/2018 waiting with fingers crossed for 2/Feb/2018
FAR : 9/Mar/2018
BEC : 75!
REG : 81!

[Broken Toy]

I had a similar test experience; I was surprised at how ambiguous some of the SIM questions were. I had to read a bunch of documents and determine if inherent risk was high, low, or medium. That is such a subjective thing to determine. I also got a SIM on sampling which did not help my cause, and one of the SIMs had you review documents and tell if they were sufficient which again can be a little subjective.

[itooshallpass]

I took AUD this morning. Pretty sure I failed, which is not a surprise… I let other stuff get in the way and really didn't study enough.
I probably did pretty well on the mcqs. 2nd testlet was noticeably harder and I finished them in about 50 minutes, same as I did in FAR.
The Sims were no bueno. Apart for the research there wasn't a single one where I felt like I got even 50% right. I did a lot of guessing and finished with 2 hours left. The worst part is, the questions seemed very straightforward and doable, I could have aced them if I had just studied harder. I'm pretty sure I blew it.
Oh well… At least now I get to take a break from studying and focus on work till April 15.

[Author]

Replies