[passthisthing]

I posted my results in the Ninja vs Actual Thread, but starting this thread to seek major help. I scored a 70 even with a Ninja Trending 87 and Average 70 not including lectures, note taking, and flashcards.

The stumper: I had scored 80%+ in both trending and average in certain sections but I actually got Weaker those section on the exam! I felt reasonably confident going into the exam and felt I did better on the audit SIMS that any of the other section.

I’m studying BEC right now, and despite folks saying its the “easiest”, I’m getting absolutely crushed in the NINJA MCQs, never seen so many ‘incorrect red bars’ in a row.

I thought studying for AUD was straightforward and still failed, and I don’t even think I have a chance with BEC.

At this point, I’m not sure what or even how to review and pick myself back up. Feeling defeated.

[Pete E. Rino]

BEC is knowing the concepts more than anything. The MCQ are good to know, but don't burn yourself out with them. It is more important to understand the concepts, and what is happening. The exam questions are way more simple than the review questions so if you understand what is happening, you have a good shot at passing.

[mylifeisover]

I am getting killed on BEC MCQ as well and I am very nervous

[passthisthing]

Good to know Pete. I'm going to try my best to power through, but I'd be lying if I said I that I won't/can't relate my AUD experience over to BEC, particularly how BEC NINJA MCQs sessions are going.

I've been reading up on encouraging post on how to beat Audit, and most have recommended switches to NINJA MCQ. I've used MCQs for all the other exams, and I was trending in the mid 80s. Any word of advice for those with similar experience? Do I add another test bank or go back to the drawing boards with re-reading the book/lecture? I am also using NINJA Audio for my commute.

Any additional advice for how to tackle AUD retake given my experience? Sounds like for BEC I need to keep plugging away, but wondering if I need to switch gears.

[Ginja_CPA]

People underestimate BEC because it is the “easiest”. That isn't true in my opinion. It isn't an easy test, it is the dumpster test I feel, everything that shouldn't be in another test will show up in BEC. I did close to 3500 MCQ from Ninja for it, along with reading books, listening to audio.

AUD is more of which answer is better. You could have two “right” answers, but it wants the best one. For any retake, my advice is to just start over. People get caught up in their score report and focus on their weak areas, making a stronger area before a now weaker area.

Good luck!

REG: 80 (02/19/16)
AUD: 83 (04/11/16)
BEC: 78 (05/28/16)
FAR: ?

[Anonymous]

I think going back to the book (in addition to doing more MCQ's) would be helpful for your AUD retake. Focusing most of my study time on reading the book is the reason I think I did well on AUD and BEC. I read each chapter very carefully before attempting the homework questions, and made sure I understood all of the examples in the book. It was time consuming but worth it.

For BEC, make sure you memorize the formulas. Everyone says it's a mostly conceptual test which is true, but I got a lot more calculations than I was expecting on my exam. Also, don't worry if you aren't understanding things the first time through while you're studying, or if you're doing badly on the homework questions. BEC took a lot of repetition before it finally clicked for me. I definitely didn't think it was an easy section!

[mtaylo24]

@passthisthing…You need to pump them numbers up! Your trending and average were good, but you didn't finish all of the questions. Aim for at least 4k and try to double the 84 hours you put in and you should be str8!

Hang in there w/ BEC, that is the worst section w/ Ninja! Its just brutal!

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[passthisthing]

Thank you for the feedback everyone.

@Ginja_CPA – Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, how do you go about selecting the “best one”? In my practice questions, I ran into several situation questions where it was down to two, but it could have gone either way depending on the circumstance (which doesn't seem clear in the question) or real-life experience. Maybe the trick is that I need to get better at differentiating the two?

@allison213 – Good tip. Yes, I'm memorizing the formula and trying to make sense how the formula themselves (hoping it helps with the concept questions).

@mtaylo24 – I think you may be onto something and perhaps I've been going at this the wrong way the entire time!
Again, sorry for the dumb question, but I think this might help me switch gears.
1. Re: pumping up numbers does doing 3.5K – 5K MCQs mean going through the NINJA MCQ test bank 2-3 times in its entirety (since for example, there are only 16XX in MCQs for Ninja AUD). Or is the suggestion to add more test banks?

I left some questions out due to time and for example, my average and trending for Accounting and Review Services Engagements was 82%+ so I thought I was good to go for that section (turns out, I score weaker). I guess my lesson here is still do all of them regardless of scores.

2. For AUD, I used Roger lectures + their MCQs before tackling NINJA MCQs which is why it only shows 84 hours. Are you saying I need to spending more time with NINJA MCQs?

[mtaylo24]

Got it! Im not familiar with Roger, but its at least worth it to master at least 1. Wasnt sure if you did ninja only, but if that was the case I know 84 hrs and unfinished questions wouldnt cut it at least for me.

For Ninja I try to hit review phase, which means answer everything right at least once. Im pretty dumb by todays standards, so that usually requires over 4000 questions and over 100 hrs until I reach that goal. I use Gleim too and try to make it through that once or twice as time permits.

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Pete E. Rino]

@passthisthing

For Audit, I actually found the opposite to be true as compared to BEC. Audit is just working those MCQ questions and learning the common themes. I found that it was good enough to get you a 75. I got a 78 so it worked for me. The notes with Audit are not as important. You learn more when you practice the MCQ, and also making sure you are familiar with the research question. It is annoying since there are multiple sources (as compared with FAR with just the codification, and REG with most likely just the IRC). The other SIMS is just being ready. It is hard to prepare for the SIMS. I would know flow charts though.

Just a note: I used Becker. 75% of the MCQ on Audit Becker prepared me well. Now I find that Becker does a great job with the medium testlets, but when it comes to hard testlets, you are on your own. I noticed that with my other exams, especially FAR. First testlet was fine, after that, it was a crapshoot. For Audit, the first two testlets for me were easy (yes, easy somehow), but the last testlet was hard. The last testlet was most foreign to me, so it does support that belief. Keep in mind, if you get hard testlets, you are in good shape. If you get Med-Hard-Hard you are in GREAT shape.

[Author]

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