[Anonymous]

Hello all,

Can any of you pass along some AUD exam tips. I have a few friends who walked out quite confidently and did not pass the exam, which is making me very nervous.

I am using Becker and take the exam on Oct 10th. Any specific matter that I should focus on in these last two weeks.

Thanks a lot!!

[Hayley]

Becker is really good for Aud. Best advice: study, study, and study (until you feel like you have to puke your guts out).

[Anonymous]

I also thought Becker was more than sufficient to pass AUD. I got a 92 and I only studied for about 3 weeks. I can't tell you what part helped me pass, because honestly I can't even remember the test at all, but whatever they say is important, likely is. And I think they give you more than enough time to finish the test without rushing (not like REG!). I think I walked out of there with an hour left on the clock.

[OnePointAway]

I studied for almost 2 months using Becker and I still got a 74 on AUD. I actually

did well on the MCQ but the SIMS were really hard. I think that is what killed me.

I don't think anything can prepare you for the SIMS since you have no idea what will

be on them.

[Anonymous]

does it make a difference whether you use becker 2008 or 2009? What is the best way to prep for the simulations? i have this test on Sat

[Anonymous]

OnePointAway – I know how you feel. I studied for two months and got a 73. The sims were my downfall. I felt that if I nailed the MC's and the communications part of the sims, I'd do ok, but I was wrong. The 73 really shook my confidence, but I'm going to try again in November.

[OnePointAway]

Daisy,

Thanks for the message.

What frustrates me is that I passed the other 3 exams on my first try and then I missed AUD by one point. I am retaking AUD during the last week of Oct. I am not working so I can study full-time. My confidence has been shaken too. It has been a mountain of work not only to prepare for all these exams but I just got my degree in Acctng. I am older as I returned to school for a second Bachelor degree. I cannot imagine failing by only 1 point. Fortunately I have 3 more chances to pass AUD before I lose credit for other exams I already passed. Clearly I hope to pass this next time. I am using the Gleim book and going through all the MC and the sims too. Maybe it will make a difference.

[Anonymous]

OnePointAway,

We are in a similar situation. I also passed the other three parts on the first try. I'm older, too. I don't even want to tell you how long ago I got my accounting degree! I've had a very diverse accounting career, but I've never worked in audit.

I just keep telling myself that I must have made a careless mistake to score so close to passing and that I'm going to be a lot more careful this time.

Let's study like crazy and stay positive that we'll pass this time. We can do it.

[OnePointAway]

Daisy,

Thanks for the encouragement. I am now at the point where I have gone

through the same MC questions 4 or 5 times. I think I know 90% of them by memory now. I am seeing the same questions on all the different platforms such as Becker, Gleim and Wiley. So even the studying is a little frustrating. I think these questions are all the questions released by the AICPA. I even see the same questions going back several years in the study books. I wish I could find new questions. Are you having this problem too?

[Anonymous]

OnePointAway,

I pretty much have the questions memorized, too. I did all the MC's five times before I took the test the last time. I'll probably do them another three times on this go-round. One of the things they said in the Becker review class is that repetition is key. I hope so!

I know I am weak in several areas – sampling being one. I'm trying to work on that. I'm also going to work the sims on my software much more than I did the last time. I think that's all I can do. I'm just very grateful that I didn't forget a lot after not studying for the whole month of September.

[OnePointAway]

HI Daisy,

I am also weak in sampling but it is not heavily covered on the exam. However, it is important to know the basics. I will practice the sims in the Gleim book and maybe from Becker. By the way are you in California?

[Anonymous]

OnePointAway,

I'm in New York.

[OnePointAway]

Daisy,

Which study materials are you using? For example, are you using Becker?

[Anonymous]

OnePointAway,

I'm using Becker. I mostly use the software. I only refer to the textbook if I really don't understand something.

[Anonymous]

I took AUD today. Chances are, you'll end up with a lot of time left over if you are a pretty quick exam taker. I ended up finishing all of 90 of the MCQs with 3 hours and 25 minutes left in the exam. Probably spent about 1 hour and 15 minutes on each of the simulations, primarily on the written communications (double checking grammar, sentence cohesion and structure, etc.).

Nothing was a surprise, except for maybe one or two MCQs and a small portion of one of the simulations (which, in my opinion, were probably pretest questions due to their inherent ambiguity). I use Bisk's online course because my firm (KPMG) pays for it directly. I probably saw anywhere between five to seven MCQs that were exactly the same as those included in Bisk's material.

Overall I would saw the more salient things I encountered were SSARS and SSAE questions on the MCQs, and a deep understanding of internal control and substantive testing on the simulations.

Finally I'll add one last comment: because of the careful wording of AUD questions and subjective judgment between two answers, I'd take the day off before the exam. This means no work and no studying, if possible. Cramming that last day probably isn't going to help, but being fresh and relaxed for the exam is.

[OnePointAway]

Hi CapitalGains,

How much time or number of hours did you spend preparing for AUD?

I am taking AUD in 3 weeks.

[Author]

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