[barfmode]

Hello All,

OK – I have some bad news and a dilemma to share.

I passed BEC in January on the first try (78), and REG on the 2nd try after barely failing the first time (73, 83). I am taking Rogers.

I took AUD earlier this month, on 9/3 and I got a very, very low score – a 51 (!). A few things happened – first, I got food poisoning on the weekend of 8/13, and could not study the entire weekend, which is when I have the most time to study thanks to my job in public accounting. Second, I had a family emergency 10 days later, and I could not really that much weekend either. Even still, I crammed the next two weeks and felt prepared.

I was getting about 90% on the multiple choice questions. However, I did not have time to study the SIMS, I maybe did 1-2 (not counting the research questions). Also, when taking the test, I felt like Rogers’ questions did not prepare me for a bunch of the multiple choice questions.

My question is this: should I switch review courses? I’m thinking about adding Becker for AUD and FAR, the parts I have left. I found when taking REG that some of the test questions were not covered by Rogers’ materials. Or should I just spend more time to study for AUD using Rogers? Are there any other supplemental review materials that you folks would recommend? I realize that cramming for tests can get derailed if someone’s studies gets interrupted.

Any advice would be appreciated – I’m a fairly good student, and I get the material, so I’m not sure why I did so bad.

[bestcpa89]

roger's mcq is bad. i was getting 90% and got 59 on actual exam. (And I was scoring 78% on NINJA) I passed REG and BEC though with roger's

FAR -
BEC - 48,
AUD -
REG - 74, 70, 79

Roger CPA Review / NINJA MCQ

[Madam Secretary]

@barfmode AUD is very tricky sneaky bitch. I just got 78 on my first try. try to spot the difference between compilation, review, audit engagement. They normally tripped me off during my MCQ review. True enough, ninja mcq is most likely similar to the actual exam. I got 76 ninja score, final score is 78. You can do it.

[Valar Dohaeris]

I used Becker, and it worked for me. The study material became a bit muddled when jumping through the various types of engagements as @Warrior mentioned (I'm serious that is the most challenging material of AUD – identifying those stupid subtle differences). I got a 71 the first time, but I didn't get through about half of the homework. For my second attempt 9 months later, all I did was hammer out homework (MCQs) for about 10 days. I passed with an 81.

AUD just sucks in general, because there isn't like an algorithmic or deductive reasoning approach to many of the MCQs. I never used a calculator the two times I took AUD. You either know it or you don't. Plus, in Becker, some answers were better than others; this was frustrating at times.

I'll never forget this evil Sim on derivatives on my first attempt at AUD. To complete the Sim, you had to know the FAR treatment of derivatives to know the respective AUD treatment.

BEC - 85
AUD - 81
REG - 84
FAR - 7/24/16

[Joe C.]

I was averaging 80's on ninja mcq and got a 62. Too many Govt questions and pension stuff I never came across doing the mcq.

BEC 75
AUD 9/6
REG TBD
FAR TBD

WI Candidate

[bestcpa89]

@barfmode

I think we should watch roger's video from the beginning again and do ninja all day. Reading roger's book entirely is also good.

FAR -
BEC - 48,
AUD -
REG - 74, 70, 79

Roger CPA Review / NINJA MCQ

[nolan7120]

I got a 71 and my experience is almost exactly what Joe C.'s was. I think I saw 2 questions on pensions in the whole Wiley book but had perhaps 5 of them on my test. Definitely a WTF experience. Studying for the retake now. Audit is a very tricky exam.

FAR (6/9/16) - 81

[Pete E. Rino]

I only studied with Becker for Audit, and mostly the MCQ and SIMS, not too much the book. Becker's MCQ were spot on with getting you the 75%+. If it wasn't for me practising the MCQ, I would not have passed. That was my experience. I expected to fail since I didn't study too much as I was focusing on BEC, and I passed Audit with a 78. Becker did a great job with Audit. I went from knowing nothing about Audit (it isn't my strong area) to actually knowing for most part what was needed to be done.

[LoTove]

AUD was probably the trickiest exam out of the four as others have stated. The AICPA says they don't unload “Gotcha!” questions but they sure try hard with that section.

I would strongly recommend switching review courses for AUD for that reason. I was listening to Jeff's podcasts (They're still interesting months after the fact) and he made a good point of sunk costs. Don't worry about the money for the review course if it ever crosses your mind.

[SaveBandit]

You gotta work the SIMS. I don't get why people don't work the SIMS. Use every resource available to you to pass this stupid thing. How do you know if your program sucks if you didn't even utilize all of it? Keep Roger, supplement with NINJA and DO ALL THE SIMS.

4 for 4

FAR 85
AUD 94
BEC 86
REG 90

[barfmode]

Thanks All for the responses. I would have definitely done more SIMS if I had the time.

[barfmode]

Thanks All for the responses. I would have definitely done more SIMS if I had the time. I am debating whether to pay $2,200 more and take Becker for AUD and FAR, in addition to the NINJA MCQs that I have already purchased. Rogers is good, but from what others have said, Becker almost seems like its guaranteed that it will help you pass.

[Nancy]

Were you able to finish the exam?

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

[barfmode]

@ NancyD8

Yes, I was able to finish the exam. Some of the SIMS and MCQs felt almost unrecognizable though.

I'll probably stick with Rogers and Ninja MCQ at this point – not sure if I want to spend $2,200 on Becker for AUD and FAR if what I have can get me through

[cpa007]

@barfmode
English is my second language. When i first started AUD i really could not understand any thing . I was using Yeager and got a base after watching and doing MC for few weeks. Then i switch to roger watch his lectures and went back to Yeager again . Gary is great with AUD ,he helps teaches you solve MC by narrowing down the choices . If you are struggling with concept i would say go back and watch roger lectures again. Then do mc slow and in study mode. It will take time to click the aud concepts. But repetition is the key. You can try Yeager audio lectures it really helped me to learn the concepts. I am not sure it will help you or not but it is cheaper to get a audio lecture then to spend on a full new course. Besides Roger lectures are great its just you have to give more time to learn. Good luck. Do lot and lot of MC.

[Author]

Replies