[Vern]

I am taking my first CPA exam (Auditing) on May 19. I feel kind of confident with regards to MC and the simulations. I am stressed out about the essays. I am a decent writer, but I’m afraid I am going to lock up when I see the essay questions. From what I understand, there are two essays and only one of them is graded. Could anybody give me some tips on how to prepare? Is it worth 10% of your grade and can you use the research tab to help on a subject matter? What kind of subject matter do they ask? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Audit Passed
FAR Passed
REG Passed
BEC ??

[lauren_d]

Hello there,

I just took AUD a few days ago. I can't tell you what the writing topics were, of course, but you are able to use the research tab to look up whatever you want. It's tricky, because you don't want to spend so much time on the research that you don't leave yourself enough time to write. I found the research tab helpful, though.

I'm kind of a slow writer, so I just got through the MCQs fast and left myself plenty of time for the simulations. Although, I could have gone slower because I ended up with about 45 minutes to spare. (When I took REG, I didn't even do the writing part in the second simulation, so that's why I was so worried about running out of time.)

Good luck!

Lauren

BEC - 89, REG - 82, AUD - 92, FAR - 86
Woo hoo, I'm done!

[whitesoxfancpa]

Don't sweat it. It could cover basically any topic, so you really can't study specifically for it. It's like saying “I'm going to study for question #27 in the first testlet.” You can't do it! Just study adequately for all areas so that you feel comfortable with the multiple choice questions. If you know the multiple choice material well enough to answer those, chances are you have the knowledge to put together a good written communication.

AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88

[Vern]

Thanks for the advice

Does anybody have an idea of when I will see my score? This is my first exam and I'm taking Auditing on May 19th. From what I understand I will be in Wave 2. Does this mean middle July?

Also, I have read some post that Becker has a lot of identical MC problems. Does anybody feel the same way about Gleim.

Audit Passed
FAR Passed
REG Passed
BEC ??

[jeff]

Wave 2 will be mid-June…from the 15th to the 23rd or so for Wave 2.

-Jeff

[Megan]

My advice is worth as much as you paid for it (considering I haven't gotten my score back yet!), but just practicing how to write a coherent essay is what I would do. Honestly, no amount of studying could have prepared me for the written portion of one of the simulations. It was almost a deliberate ‘show-me-you-know-how-to-write-well' question.

If you're using Becker, you can take their writing tutorial. That was a good refresher for me. I was terrified of having to write an auditor's report from memory, until I realized I could use the Research tab, so I fretted less about the material and focused more on writing skills.

Hope that helps!

BEC 52, 61, 74, 77
AUD 80
REG 75
FAR 50, 60, 70, 74, 83...DONE!!
..Texas.. Baby #2 born 4/11/11

[Vern]

Could you use the research tabs to reference a MC question if you get locked up?

Audit Passed
FAR Passed
REG Passed
BEC ??

[Anonymous]

Vern, you can't use the research tabs to look up MC questions because the research capability is part of a different testlet. The format of the exams are 3 MC testlets followed by 2 SIM testlets. Remember, once you have completed one testlet and moved on to the next, you cannot go back. Thus, once you reach the SIM testlets (which are the only ones that actually have the research function), you won't be able to go back to any of your MC testlets to change any of your answers. Obviously, you can look up a question if you remember it, but why would you want to waste any time checking up answers that you know you can't change? It would be nice if we could use the research tab for everything!

[Vern]

I figured it wouldn't be that way, but I really have no idea how the exam format work. This will be my first exam, and I'm just trying to get a feel for how it is. Once again, thanks for all the advice!!

Audit Passed
FAR Passed
REG Passed
BEC ??

[Author]

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