[Anonymous]

My performance report shows that I was weak on MCQs and comparable on Sims. During the last 4 weeks of my final review, I have worked on about 3,000 MCQs from WTB & Becker’s Progress Tests, while re-reading my own notes & flashcards, listening to Ninja Audio in between those days. I was then averaging 1 minute for each MCQ.

During the actual test, it was NOT doable to spend a minute for each MCQ because the questions just seemed so tricky & obscure to me. There were mostly 2 best answers left to my assessment. So I ended up picking one answer using my best guess so I could proceed to the next question.

What do you guys suggest to me to improve on my next attempt for AUD next month?

[DUMBCPA]

I personally found doing Becker MCQ to be enough… The key is to settle down and read all four answers and the corresponding explanations for each when doing Becker progress questions.

B - 85 (4/2013)
A - 97 (5/2013)
F - 83 (7/2013)
R - 8/2013

Becker Self-Study

[mbbransc]

I feel the same way as OP; there always seem to be two right answers. I'm sure one is <i>more</i> right, but it trips me up. I've started trying to dissect the question and see if I can pick up on any clues. Through (3) AUD exams, I've done over 5000 MCQ so far.

------------
FAR - PASSED
BEC - PASSED
AUD - PASSED
REG - 74
<sigh>

[smp73]

What seemed to work the best for me was to read the MC answers from D to A instead of A to D. For whatever reason it forced me to read each answer and helped me pick the correct answer and not the almost correct answer.

If it was a long wordy question I would ready the question part of it first and then go back and read the “background”. This helped me eliminate unnecessary information for what the question was answering!

NYS CPA License # 113563
CIA: Done as of 2/15/14

Training for a half marathon post studying!

[Anonymous]

When you get a question wrong in your practice sessions, are you understanding WHY you are getting it wrong, or memorizing the answers?

I know for me, when I get a question wrong or even have to guess and get it correct, I read the description of the correct answer and then write down a fact nugget in my notes so I can review it later and truly understand why I got it wrong. I'm really trying not to memorize the answers to these questions, I'm trying to fully understand the question completely and that will help with retaining the information and answering questions correct on the actual exam.

[Zaq]

My best advice for the MCQs (learning this through my 2nd run through):

1.) Notes. Always take notes. If you're looking at a MCQ and you eliminate 3 of the choices, write down why those answer choices do not fit REGARDLESS of if you got the answer right or wrong. It's not just good to get an answer right; to really start getting this information down you have to know why the other 3 answers are wrong. This increases the effectiveness of each MCQ you go through.

2.) After reading the question, stop and think about the answer. Try to avoid looking at the questions. Hopefully, you should be able to come to a close or accurate representation of what the answer should be without assistance. THEN look at the answer choices. I find it's very easy to look at the answers (in an attempt to eliminate wrong answers) and the exam will feed you this nice, tempting, yummy answer that just “feels right” i.e. traps. So get in the habit of being able to come to some kind of solution in your mind first so if you see the same answer in the MCQ answers you'll know what to lean on.

3.) RTFQ. Least likely. More likely. Not required. Must. Should. I can't mention how many wrong answers I got because I was trying to get in as many MCQ's as possible and I stupidly forgot to focus on the keywords. No matter how tedious it is make a HUGE mental note of what the question is asking. Every single time.

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.

[Anonymous]

Thank you Guys for all your input.

If I say I work on each MCQs, I would review each item by knowing how I get each answer correct and why the rest of 3 choices are wrong.

Complementing my Becker materials with WTB enables me to see different faces of MCQs in many angles. WTB MCQs are really challenging and their Sims prepared me well. Only, their practice final tests don't show you the final answers and explanations. That gave me more confusions & doubts before the actual test. I was dying to know the details & explanations of that final practice test I tackled for 4 hours, but to no avail.

I am considering buying the separate final review materials of Becker before I sit. Meantime, I am joggling with my Becker's & 10-Point Combo materials.

[Author]

Replies