[jeff]

Welcome to the Q1 2017 CPA Exam Study Group for AUD. 🙂

[Forem004]

I know. I do too now! I loved studying for this section when I started. Then I realized how similar everything could be on multiple choice questions. I test Monday and I feel so burnt out now. I really need to pass so I can stop!

[mperez102204]

Guys, i need some support. I have an overwhelming feeling about this test. I have taken 3 tests ( 2 far and 1 aud). Almost in tears because I feel like I am never going to get a passing score. Gosh, how do i make this feeling go away. I need to study!

[ortegar5]

Taking Audit tomorrow!! This will be my 2nd attempt. Right now my average score is an 85% with an 84% trending score on NINJA. My average on Becker in my last 13 sessions of 90 MCQ's each is also an 84%. I need to tighten up a few things, then plan on just reviewing my NINJA notes, and Becker outlines. Good luck to all! I'll keep you all posted tomorrow how the exam went!

[ortegar5]

mperez- keep your head up. These exams aren't easy. If it was, everyone would be a CPA. I failed AUD in Q4 2016, and I hated the feeling. So I used that as motivation to push me to work harder and study more. I take my exam tomorrow so we'll see if it all paid off. But my thought is.. as long I really tried and put my best effort then I am fine with the result. I saw your post about having 100% trending but an avg score of 77%. I would recommend resetting your stats, and go through a few sets of MCQ and see if you really know the material. It seems if you are at 100% trending, then you may have memorized the questions. At least, that's what Jeff said in a video. Anyways, keep your head up, brush off the feelings, and get back on track. You can do this!

[mperez102204]

@ortegar – should i reset and do more Ninja, or should I start fresh with wiley..

[Forem004]

mperez, just calm down. A guy at CPE told me once last year, that it's okay if you don't pass because there are so many topics to cover. Just keep your head up and eventually, they will give you a test that has all of the material you know!

I reset my stats after I failed in Q4, but I'm trending 100% now also. I don't think I've memorized the questions. I have go back and forth between questions I've missed and new questions. Last study time, I did the questions over 3000 times. Because of time, I've only completed them over 2,000 this time, but I'm just hoping for “my test!.”

Also, I only passed one on the first try. FAR & REG were my second attempts. I just couldn't get my first scores to show up which were a 71 and 74 (yeah, thats more heartbreaking than your 67!)

[mperez102204]

Okay,thank you so much guys!!

[Josh]

This probably goes against what's recommended, but I'm taking AUD January 22nd. I took it in December and got a 73. I just took FAR probably without sufficient time to do so well in the simulations? Those seemed pretty tough in comparison to my MCQ testlets for some reason.

I've been studying for AUD almost everyday since I was studying for FAR 5 questions a day in my other MCQ's. REG is after this “retake” for me, but I'm studying that the same and doing some related Individual Tax stuff since that's my small business. 3 exams in Q1 may be a “kamikaze mission,” but I believe it's worth my best either way.

My scores in Gleim Test Prep are around 73 at the moment, so I believe I have a ways to go to be “exam ready,” but I'm going to do as many MCQ's as I can in between now and exam time drilling down into weak areas. I also have Ninja's 10 point combo for this. I've noticed the new combo gives access to Ninja Plus, which I highly recommend.

I'm planning on re-memorizing the Unmodified Report since I found that pretty useful with understanding reports and even other engagements. I often recited it walking my dog in the evening. Good luck, everyone!

P.S. Does anyone have any suggestions on understanding management assertions? I don't work in accounting other than my part-time, seasonal self-employment and even though I used to, I've never done a real audit. My ability to evaluate an audit and management's assertions need improvement.

[Josh]

@mperez102204 how many hours did it take you to get into the review phase? Good job, btw! You must be trending well? How do you think Ninja compares to other testbanks? Just curious. I studied for FAR with Ninja as my primary review over 100 hours and didn't make it that far. When's your exam scheduled? Keep studying! I believe you're doing very well from what I've seen and that you can pass.

[mperez102204]

Well, collectively I would say about 80 hours. Most of the material was really fresh since I never really stopped studying since the first take in December. When I went through all the questions once, I had about 200 questions that I was having trouble with. The hours calculated does not give the time spent justice. Over a week time, I went through the 200 questions and really trying to understand what i was doing wrong. So, there was a lot of note taking. Currently, i am about 200-300 into the review stage and trending about 97. I think I may be memorizing some questions, so I am switching to Wiley, which i used on my first retake.

I have the AUD exam on 1/27/17. I did well on the MCQ the last time, but bombed the SIMS. They are my primary focus right now.

Hoping that this is enough to get me a pass in a little under two weeks.

[Josh]

@mperez102204 I still believe you must have some decent analytics that far into Ninja. I hope Wiley has good analytics, too!

You're position reminds me of my BEC pass. It was my 4th try. 50's 60's then finally a 77 in studying for it in under a month. I used my Gleim Exam Rehearsal and got a 95, and then asked Gleim for what I could do differently. They told me I could take future Exam Rehearsals without seeing those questions previously.

If you're scoring well in Wiley (85+ 3 or 5 in a row), I believe you're ready. Otherwise, touch up on what your analytics are telling you. I believe you're close to passing, and you're doing awesome! Be confident! Especially if you're doing that good in Wiley. I'm sure this is possible because the review phase is not easy to achieve.

Like Jeff says on CPA Reviewed, in that position, it's about how well you know the concepts. He may be a good person to ask directly.

[mperez102204]

@jalls – thank you for the vote of confidence. I really needed it because today was a day (which we all have) that I completely freaked out. I think I have once every few months or so. I decided to clean the whole house and binge watch that 70's show. Then was ready for it again. I knocked out most of the SIMS in Ninja (only about 30 left). I was going to start with Wiley, but I want to do it with a fresh head. I think there is just too much floating around at this point.

Do you think I should do a few additional things, like flash cards based on my 20 pages of notes created myself through the 200 trouble questions? rewrite the ninja notes? I feel that I have to memorize something, but I really have not been doing that. Just rinse and repeat this whole time.

How are you doing so far?? Your test is coming up soon too.

[Josh]

I'm studying my free flashcards right now. 104 for AUD. Ninja's are useful, too, and perhaps more in-depth for my weaker areas? I like Ninja products. That reminds me. I should get out my legal pad for my flashcard review and my Test Bank studying tonight. That would be a good habit to start and keep again. I need to do that more and keep asking myself “why” questions are right versus my worse habits that have not enabled me to understand concepts better.

[PEDRO COSTA]

Hello!!

I am taking AUD in January 23rd!

My objective is to be more secure going to the exam!

I hope the best for everyone!

Regards,

Pedro

[Forem004]

I have about three legal pads where I write down every question I get wrong especially if I get it wrong more than once!

@mperez & jalls, I have a separate page designated for each assertion in my legal pads. But I am also going back and making flash cards as I go through my notes. My test is tomorrow, so I probably should have completed this sooner, but I wanted to finish all of the questions and simulations. I've had nearly five years audit experience and this section is still difficult, because there is a lot of judgement in practice. We also do not document each procedure as it pertains to each assertion.

[Author]

Replies