[jeff]

NINJA Study Notes, Flashcards, and Audio: https://www.another71.com/products-page/

Wiley Software: https://www.another71.com/wiley-cpa-software/

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[sarahphx]

@apbandj

Thanks!!

REG - 84
BEC - 79
FAR - 79
AUD - 71,71,95
Ethics 100
I am Done!!!!

[Irum0505]

Can anyone tell me what is another good source of practice for the SIM's other than Becker? I've studied with Becker and took the exam twice and screwed up on the SIM's both times. I'm thinking of using a different cource this time around…any suggestions as to which other source would be a good studying/practice tool?

BEC: 54,76 (Credit expires 6/30/2012)
FAR: 80
REG: 5/12/2012
AUD: 71,70, (5/31/2012)

[olazabal]

how bad of an idea would it be to just study with a legit auditing textbook. Has anyone ever done that?

AUD-87 (12/5/13)

[greenli2]

I considered it because I was so stressed out at first over the material. As I went through and continued to work MCQ's I'm not sure how much it would have helped.

BEC - 2/13 - 87
Audit - 4-16 - 99
Reg - 5-29 - 94
Far- 8-13 - 97

I use becker self-study, final review, flash cards, wiley test bank, and I make my own flash cards using studyblue.com

[Anonymous]

@olazabal

What review program are you using? It should be enough to pass. I feel like you'd be going over a lot of untested material if you did.

TBS's all day today

[olazabal]

I actually have one more semester before I graduate haha. Just trying to get prepared. Are there certain aud topics that show up on the exam more than others? audit risk model, types of reports, etc?

Also, is it against aicpa rules to post questions that you saw on the exam?

AUD-87 (12/5/13)

[Anonymous]

Yeah, that's a disclosure problem. So nope! You'll have to experience it yourself.

Enjoy the rest of senior year. It's going to fly by

[LittleMoe]

Hi guys!! Fairly new here and stopping by to commisserate. I have 13 days left until I take AUD. It's my first test and I am getting more than a little antsy as it gets closer. I feel like I can't do enough to get prepared. I am using ExamMatix mainly and have done almost 2,000 MCQs so far and put in more than 80 hours studying. I also just got the Ninja Notes and really like them. Planning to read them several times over the next few days and re-write them a couple of times as well.

There are 71 (ha!) sims in ExamMatrix and I don't know how they compare to the exam. I guess that is what I am really worried about at this point. I haven't taken FAR yet and it has been 10 years since my Intermediate Accounting days. Any additional advice anyone might have on things FAR related to catch up on that might help? Not asking anyone to violate disclosure rules, I would just like to hear some opinions on things you found helpful about taking FAR first.

Good luck to everyone and I hope to check back in here often!!

Thanks!!

AUD 4/12/12 79
FAR 5/29/12 76
REG 8/2/12 82
BEC 8/30/12 72 Retake 10/18/12 76!!! DONE!!!!
ExamMatrix, Wiley Books, NINJA notes and audio
LICENSED ALABAMA CPA 11/30/12

[Lizzerz79]

Well I've been a lurker off and on around here for a few months now. I made a conscious decision to stop coming here a couple weeks ago because I didn't want to psych myself out reading everyone's posts about how bad the exam is. I took audit today. It was my first section and first time ever to take the CPA exam. The simulations were awful. Honestly I didn't do many sims while studying because I read other people saying that it didn't help them because their sims were so different from any in the review materials. I did the ones in the first module & the two final exams & that's it.

I thought I was doing pretty good on M/C but then my last testlet was super easy (other two were medium/hard) so now I'm wondering if it was because I did bad on the middle one or did I just get lucky and the last testlet happened to contain all questions similar to Becker.

On the sims I feel pretty good about 4 out of 7 but the other 3 were pretty bad. Hopefully one of those is the one that isn't graded.

I'm in Texas so now I just have to wait over a month for my score. Completely ridiculous for a computerized exam to take so long to release scores.

AUD 4/1/12 98
FAR 5/30/12 96
BEC 7/1/12 92
REG 8/18/12 94

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone, this is my first post! I sat for my first part of the CPA today- Audit…I am upset with myself because although I put in many hours of studying beforehand I really only rigorously studied this past week and I studied so much these past few days that I just burnt myself out on multiple choice questions…to the point where my eyes are literally sore from staring at the computer screen!! I was not ready to take this exam but took it anyway since this was the last day I could take it within my testing period and thought I might as well just do it for practice!

Anyway…I went into the exam this morning and was utterly exhausted, the second I sat down I could not focus on the multiple choice questions- all I could think about was how badly I wanted the test to be over with…I flagged a gazillion questions and then I went back to the ones that I flagged before switching to the next testlet. Although clicking on the option to leave the exam was tempting I kept going, by the time I got to the third testlet I noticed that when after I finished answering each question the little page icon would turn green…FABULOUS…I JUST noticed that by the time I reached the third testlet and I could have sworn looking down at the prior testlets and many of the page icons were still white…does this mean what I think it means?!! That all of those non-green icons were questions that I left unanswered?! I feel like I am going to throw up…

As always with the multiple choice I was pretty much stuck between 2 answers, both which are right, one which is better…I did not notice the test getting any more difficult as I went along either- not to say I thought it was EASY (as mentioned I kept flagging a crap ton of the questions)…but not much different from the Becker review either..

Lastly, I thought the sims were surprisingly easy and was pretty confident on atleast 5 of them…this boosted my confidence a bit more…ugh I am just so upset about the thought of myself leaving so many questions unanswered- I don't even know how this is possible since I swore I went through each one!! Can someone please confirm if this is true?!

[LKerch84]

So, I just took AUD for the second time. And it was MUCH harder than my first experience. I noticed that the MCQs got noticeably more difficult (maybe only 5 ‘no brainers' in each testlet), which was the opposite of my experience last time. And then my SIMs were awful! Only 1 research one (disappointing), and I spent the gross majority of my time doing 4 of the SIMs and then checking, rechecking, and then triple checking my answers. I just felt like they didn't give me enough information for me to make the best possible choice…I probably was over-thinking a bit…

On that note- my suggestion to folks out there who haven't taken AUD yet is **use the advanced search function**! Despite my struggles, that function did save the day for me a little.

My question for you guys is: If I would like to take another section at the end of May, which one do you think is my best option? BEC? Or do I nix May, add another month of study time, and attempt to tackle FAR? (Note- I work full-time and commute, so I don't have more than 2-3 hours a day to study)

I'd appreciate any insight you all can offer.

Thanks!

BEC- 77 (lost credit...must retake)
AUD- 64, 4/2/12
FAR- ?
REG- ?

[Lizzerz79]

Well I'm definitely not an expert but this is what I'm doing. I work full time also & can only study 2-3 hours a day. If that during busy season which luckily is almost over. I just scheduled FAR for May 30. I plan on taking BEC on July 1 and REG near the end of August.

I'm saving REG for last since I work in tax. Hoping these months of experience might help. Who knows. Financial accounting is something I enjoyed in school and was good at. I also worked as an accountant for a few years while I was in school so I'm hoping I'll be able to pick it back up fairly easily.

We will see. Start studying again next week.

AUD 4/1/12 98
FAR 5/30/12 96
BEC 7/1/12 92
REG 8/18/12 94

[LittleMoe]

I work full time as well. Taking AUD next Thursday and I plan to take FAR at the end of May. I have to take a tax class in the summer to be eligible (again!!) for my license once I pass. Going to study for REG while taking it so I want to squeeze FAR in before this window closes. Hopefully it will work out!! I have been able to squueze 94 hours of study time in for AUD in the last 5ish weeks. As long as I can keep up that pace for FAR I am hoping it will be enough!!

AUD 4/12/12 79
FAR 5/29/12 76
REG 8/2/12 82
BEC 8/30/12 72 Retake 10/18/12 76!!! DONE!!!!
ExamMatrix, Wiley Books, NINJA notes and audio
LICENSED ALABAMA CPA 11/30/12

[Second CPA License]

Is compilation an attest engagement? Becker say yes and also no. Becker is contradictory itself…

In the chapter of compilation and review of financial statement, Becker say compilation is an attest engagement.

In the chapter of Professional responsibilities, Becker say independece only applies to attest services and not required for compilations because compilation is not attest service.

Now I am confused….

Who can give me an answer?

[jeff]

This is what the NINJAS say:

COMPILATION SERVICES

-SSARS – Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services to be followed

-Non-Public entities only

-Independence NOT required for Compilations

-No Internal Control work allowed

-No Assurance given

-A CPA should comply with provisions of SSARS that apply to Compilation Engagements when preparing

unaudited Financial Statements to a non-public company to a client or third party

-Must understand client industry

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Author]

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