[PrinceofDubtown]

So I’m in the process of studying for AUD (shooting to take it the first week of October). Things were going fine until I hate A3. I understand all the concepts just fine, but my problem is this: I feel like (based on the homework questions) that one needs to memorize ALL the stuff Gearty says to highlight. If I don’t do that (or, equally annoying, don’t focus on the stuff he skims over), I end up missing problems on the homework.

Normally my study process is:

a) Do lecture

b) Read through book 3-4 times, memorizing what Gearty says to memorizing, reading what he highlights/emphasizes

c) Do problems/sims

Right now I’m averaging about 80% or so (maybe add a couple of points) on my first pass through the homeworks, sometimes a little lower. This feels to low for the effort I’m putting in.

Do you guys think I’m going about it wrong? Or am I being too hard on myself?

FAR - 92 (7/13)
AUD - 98 (10/13)
REG - 92 (7/14)
BEC - 95 (8/14)

[kudawudashuda]

What's working for you may not work for someone else.

What I do is: watch what Gearty tells me to highlight, read the book, answer the questions. Once I finish the book, I repeat the cycle over again with reading a chapter and then doing the questions. Eventually I throw in some Wiley TB questions in my third cycle with no reading whatsoever, and I finish it off with one last reading of the book and answering questions again.

That's my battleplan so far, I can't say it has absolutely helped me, but that's how I learn.

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[Anonymous]

I think that one of the common pitfalls on the CPA exam is the fact that it's easy to get lost in the details. First, just take a couple of deep breaths. It's just one book for one part of the test.

Now, with your zen-mode activated, ensure that you understand the big picture of the chapter or section you may be having difficulty with. Once you hone in on that particular section that is giving you difficulty, really ask yourself “why” it's just not sticking in your brain. Perhaps more repetition is needed? Or maybe you could utilize another resource to get a different perspective on the area that is somewhat unclear?

And Audit isn't quite a procedural as FAR, so your study method may vary somewhat.

My last bit of advice is to make sure you give yourself adequate breaks. No sense in working yourself to death. 🙂

[PrinceofDubtown]

Thanks for the advice :). In your opinion, is working a whole bunch of MCQs as helpful to AUD as it was to FAR? Thinking about the Wiley Test Bank because I can forsee myself memorizing the answers to questions and not getting the benefit of fresh questions.

FAR - 92 (7/13)
AUD - 98 (10/13)
REG - 92 (7/14)
BEC - 95 (8/14)

[peetree]

What captain pounder is saying is very good advice. Sometimes on this forum you'll fine people tearing apart the materials for every little detail trying to recite it by memory.

I've found its much easier to understand in a broad sense because sometimes, once you understand it at that level, some of the little details just make logical sense and are easy to remember.

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[Zaq]

AUD definitely requires you to “back up and see the bigger picture”.

Knowing the details is crucial and key! It's okay that it seems like you're memorizing a bunch of details. But be sure to understand the overall big picture process of AUD from start to finish. Once you grasp the bigger picture, the little details that you've been memorizing simply fall into the selected areas of the engagement because you know them already.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[nataliamw]

I took AUD with a few years of audit experience, so I totally based myself on understanding the concepts and not going into details at all. I thought I have a better chance at passing just knowing what the question is really asking as opposed to knowing the right answer before I see the choices available. Many terms in audit are self-explanatory, but audit concepts are unique. I felt that with Audit, comprehension is what got you to the right answer, while being able to memorize “seven types of A” or “five methods of B” (or mnemonics from Becker) was not as important.

[peetree]

Ugh sometimes Becker drives me crazy with their mnemonics. Sorry Gearty, just teach me the material, don't teach me some silly weird memory tool when it will be more beneficial to just understand the logic behind it.

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[Zaq]

AM I SAD MR FIRSALA

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[peetree]

Yup! lol and then on exam day, all you can remember are reasons you thought Mr. Firsala was sad.

Mr. Firsala lost his dog.

Mr. Firsala lost his job.

Mr. Firsala is the father to miley cyrus.

FAR 02/21/13 - 95
REG 07/02/13 - 87
AUD 08/02/13 - 94
BEC 08/30/13 - 85
Ethics Exam - 90

Illinois candidate awaiting his license

Used Becker Self Study | Ninja Audio | Becker Flash Cards | Ninja Notes | Wiley Test Bank

[Anonymous]

@PrinceofDubtown – As FAR has more questions which are computational (I'm looking at you, pensions), I think that MCQs may be more beneficial for that exam. However, I would never downplay the positives of doing MCQs.

One of the hurdles I had to overcome with this exam is that it's perfectly fine to get practice questions wrong. You don't have to get them correct for them to have a positive benefit. If you read the explanations for those questions you worked incorrectly, you'll have a positive gain overall. So, for Audit, I'd definitely still work them, but make sure you're giving the ones you got wrong some attention.

Simulations are a different animal, however. One of the best tools you will have is the Authoritative Literature section. In your practice exams, make sure you utilize those sections to the fullest. Practice absolutely helps with this. If you aren't familiar with the standards, I feel like that is a good area to become comfortable with. You'll be able to find the answers on the simulations more quickly, so if you have a few tricky items you can dedicate more time to them.

I think the area where I started to get bogged down was in the different types of opinions. It's really easy to get caught up in trying to memorize the format, wording of an esoteric explanatory paragraph, etc. Once you have the “key” language down (e.g., “Except for” in a qualified opinion), focus on the big picture. Understanding what types of opinions will be issued and the circumstances surrounding those opinions will be more beneficial.

Hopefully that helps. I tend to be pretty long-winded if you couldn't tell. Best of luck studying!

[Anonymous]

AM I SAD MR FIRSALA was the worst mnemonic ever. I was fine with CAR IN BIG and TIP PIE ACDO, but AM I SAD MR FIRSALA? Becker went over the deep end with that one.

PrinceofDubtown- Ninja 10 point combo is awesome for audit. It really helped me pull the big ideas together when I got lost in the details. I would recommend it if you still feel shaky after finishing your Becker review. Your current study plan sounds good, but beware of inadvertently memorizing the Becker MCQs. This seems to happen often in audit.

[Author]

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