[DTXCPA]

Hey guys,

I went in to take AUD this afternoon feeling pretty well prepared. That perception changed drastically after the second testlet. The sims were UNDOABLE. Idk how can someone do well on these unless you work as an auditor maybe. 5 out of the 8 sims had 4+ documents and one had TEN, like are you kidding me? Also got 2 research questions, not sure if that means one was pretest. The MCQs weren’t easy either but they were not as bad as the sims. Not sure where to improve if I don’t pass this. Really feel my understanding of the concepts is solid, and I practiced 2000 mcqs and quite a few sims.

[studysled]

I had almost the exact same experience. Felt good about MCQs, but Sims were ridiculous.

Got 2 research sims, which sucks bc I think that means he other 6 weren't pretest at all.

Just so many docs to go through, so many sub questions and so many judgement calls to make. You also have to make a lot of assumptions bc of their crappy directions. They really drilled down into the detail on some concepts too. One sim in particular, I think you'd need 5 years experience in audit to answer all sub questions correctly….very detailed and subjective. I had to speed through the last couple just to finish on time.

I felt this way after taking Reg in July, and passed with a 76, fwiw.

Brutal! Hoping for a Christmas curve.

[DTXCPA]

Yeah, really counting on the curve. Hope we pass.

[D.O.]

You all should be grateful and take the time to appreciate that you are even that close to passing the exam. I thought I was grasping the concepts well and struggled to even come close to passing FAR when I attempted the exam. I started studying for AUD recently after being out of school for over 10 years and have been struggling to even make it through a practice quiz. I am so confused I fear that I'll never be able to pass the exam and would love to trade shoes with you.

Anyway, I don't mean to give you a hard time. I am just trying to give you some perspective. Appreciate where you are at, help someone out along the way and keep on keeping on. You will get there in due time if you have the want. Rest assured, there is always someone out there in a more difficult situation than yours. Good luck!

[Kimberly]

@D.O. – Thank you for sharing the important perspective. It is all too easy to lose perspective during this process. Not everyone has the same journey. That's very clear. I think back to this time last year, and I was certain given that I was always a straight A student I'd be done with these exams in no time. So conceited and so naive of me, I cringe to think of my attitude. This process has not been easy, at all, and this experience has humbled me incredibly.

My best to you going forward.

[lurking_CPA]

I sat for AUD on the afternoon of 11/20 too.

The first testlet was very familiar and i felt I smashed it. I was flagging a lot more in the second testlet but I felt pretty confident until the sims too.

The third teslet was tricky but I think it was okay… fourth was IMPOSSIBLE for me too. I was also very intimidated by the sheer level of documents and underlying information. I believe I did “ok” on it because I have job experience, but I'm telling you – for even somebody who has been in audit for 3-4 years; its still not easy.

The fifth and final testlet I also got 2 research questions which screwed up my timing completely. I finished the whole exam with about a hour left on the clock wondering if I should have allocated less time to testlet 5. I'm a little upset at the AICPA for doing that because test groups who have a different question mix on the last teslet are definitely getting a “time” advantage on their tests. How much time do you really need to look up 2 research questions, cmon!

I also drilled 2,000+ MCQs and was consistently scoring above 70% on 3 practice exam runs I did. I got a 73 on AUD last time which completely pissed me off, so I went “hardcore mode” now.

If I don't pass this test now, I'm also going to throw up my hands and say “what else can I do”?

[slowreader]

“One sim in particular, I think you'd need 5 years experience in audit to answer all sub questions correctly….very detailed and subjective.” – Man I had 3 of of these at least and 2 research meaning neither of 3 are pretested. How much more ridiculous questions can they possibly give!? I went through every Becker sim end-to-end in detail twice. I didn't get one even close to review material.

[Anonymous]

Yikes, you guys are scaring me. I'm taking this on 12/4…

[livealittle]

and me on 12/9

I passed it under the old format with an 81 on the first try. It's expired so have to retest now under this new format. It's the same material, but I retook it once already under the new format and didn't pass. I reworked all the MCQ and sims in my study material so I don't think I let up on studying.

BEC - 8/8/16
REG - 66, 77
AUD - 81
FAR - 9/8/16

[shawn in VA]

I took on 11/14 and posted a separate thread. Got a 74 1st time. This time who knows. MCQ more difficult than Q3 for sure.

SIMS as someone else said UNDOABLE…. IMO unless you have 3 years plus of audit experience. SO much documents and flipping around. I did get 2 research questions

[Operation_CPA]

Got a 71 last time I took AUD and reading this is a bit discouraging. Hoping for a pass right before Christmas so I can somewhat enjoy my holiday.

[Earla Riopel (NYCARE)]

Sounds like my 2017 Q3 exam, I was a little luckier that time. I basically write down my analysis SIMs judgement type of questions on my noteboard, before plugging the answers onto the testlets.

Also, I used the AL quite a bit for SIMs, questions that you only see on FAR & BEC. It was so unreal. I wasted a little time with Research, just couldn't find it for some reason. I ended up picking the closest topic, before moving onto the next testlet.

I had 2.5 hours for all SIMS, so I had enough time to finish the exam.

So, my conclusion for that 2017 Q3 exam, use the noteboard for the ‘analysis' part, instead of flipping multiple source documents, that you don't know (at first), why are these exhibits/attachments are part of the SIMs.

It only made sense once I did the analysis on the noteboard. It actually saved me that valuable time, instead of wasting flipping tabs back and forth for those source documents.

Last but not the least, though AUD exams are not alike at all times, but I made sure that I was comfortable with these topics, posted on another thread: https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/aud-exam-experience-official-thread/

Hope all of you pass your AUD. This is my second time around, I intend to hang on to it.

[Author]

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