[Anonymous]

I am scheduled to take Auditing on 7/1, but I am unsure whether I am ready. I understand the material 100%, but the questions are very tricky for me. I am scoring consistently 66% on MCQ and 75% on simulations. Since the test is weighted, I am unsure what this really means.

I took REG last quarter and that will help me gauge how prepared I need to feel. But if NASBA doesn’t release my score until 6/30 (which I think is their deadline?), I won’t have much of a chance to gauge how comfortable I need to be.

FYI, I am using Yaeger homestudy and I find the instructor to be next to useless. I also bought the Yaeger CRAM, but it feels like I am wasting time with it. I just bought the Ninja guide (which is great), but it really just confirms that I understand the material 100%. Unfortunately, it seems that understanding of the material doesn’t help me answer the questions.

So, what do you think? I plan on doing a ton of practice questions in the next week and a half, but if I am scoring way under where I need to be, I will probably postpone the test.

Thanks!

[Zizoty]

Do as many MCQs as possible because it will help you get familiar with the type of questions in the exam. I cant see how you score 66% when you understand the material 100%? Maybe you should slow down when you read the questions and be sure you understand what they ask you before looking at the choices. When you pick your answer, read from choice D to A so it forces you to read all the choices. GL!

AUD - 83 Feb11
REG - 75 May11
BEC - 73 July11 84 Oct11
FAR - 63 Aug11 76 Feb12 I'M DONE!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I knew that question would get asked. I understand the material – its the application that I find difficult. I am concerned that I over think the questions – I am an attorney and I have found that this process is complicated by over analyzing.

[Minimorty]

First of all, you clearly don't know the material 100%. If you understood the material, you would be able to apply your knowledge to the multiple choice questions. You need to admit to yourself that there are areas that you are struggling in and focus on those areas. When you are doing the multiple choice questions, make sure your read the answers after you select your answer. Understand why you got the question wrong or make sure you got the question correct for the right reason. A lot of it is about repetition. If money isnt a huge deal, I would just take the test and see how you do instead of pushing it back. It will give you a better sense of the material and you might even pass.

[Anonymous]

Ok, but what percentage would you say is safe?

[Minimorty]

I dont really think you can correlate a percentage of practice problems answered correctly to your score on the test. I personally just gauge it based upon how well I think I know the material. If you read a question, and the answer isnt clicking (almost like a light bulb goes off in your head) then you should probably study that topic a little bit more. Remember, you dont need to get a 75% on the test. You just need to score a 75, which basically means just beating 55% of the other candidates taking the test. Try to not to focus so much on your percent score on the multiple choice and instead just evaluate whether or not you truly understand the material.

[Anonymous]

I understand test theory and how I just have to do better than half of the population – I did pass the bar exam.

All I am looking for is: you are doing decently enough to pass OR you are doing so poorly that you would just waste your time. A week and a half in my eyes is plenty of time to get myself from “adequate” to “good enough”. I just want to know if I am at the adequate place or am I in the “terrible” place.

For those who got a 75, what were you getting before the test?

Thanks!

[Minimorty]

You passed the bar exam, but then say stuff like “I understand the material 100%, but the questions are very tricky for me. I am scoring consistently 66% on MCQ and 75% on simulations.” Kinda makes you wonder….

I'd put you in the “adequate” category. If you are scoring between 65% and 75% you are definitely not “terrible”. Just keep grinding for a week and a half and you'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Your rudeness is not appreciated – your assistance is.

Please remember that not everyone is a super star accounting major. I was a history major in college, never took an accounting class until law school, I studied the auditing material for 2 weeks, and never even so much as looked at an auditing book until 2 weeks ago. I understand what Gary Bulmash taught on the Yaeger tapes 100%. As I said, the Yaeger auditing sucked, so I think that accounts for what you perceive as a disconnect. If the questions were as simple as the yaeger material, I wouldn't have a problem – but they are not. They are much harder. I don't claim to be a superstar – I will never even think about auditing again – I just need a 75. Thanks.

[Mmilito]

The problem is the same here, I understand the material totally, its applying it in certain ways that's my problem and choosing the “best” answer instead of “one of the correct” answer. Examples are like the assertion testing and etc. In alot of the questions, I find that its subjective judgement, theres a good answer and a better answer…Ultimately work on that judgement and you'll be fine I think. It's different from FAR because in FAR its black and white (most times), but in audit there could be some discussion and outside factors (I know that's why auditing will be my weakest subject

Why don't you give us an example of one you got wrong, your answer (why) and the correct answer

FAR 92
AUD 91
BEC 11/06/2011
REG 02/01/2012

[kevin_bacon]

@dcschwartz

i too thought i understood the material the first 2 times i took auditing; failed it both times. Then i really put the time in to really understand it and was scoring 90%+ on the multiple choice, made sure i understood all the simulations that yaeger suggested that i do, and finally passed this exam. funny you said that gary was useless for auditing, i thought the same thing the first 2 times i took the test then, once i finally really learned the material, for the 3rd try i found gary to be extremely helpful. personally if i was you i would postpone…. just my 2 cents

[kb24]

@dcschwartz

There really isn't a way to correlate practice scores with the test. Wiley (and I believe Becker) say that your test scores will probably be higher, but I don't know how they can substantiate that because everything depends on the weights assigned and which questions don't count. As minimorty said, your best gauge is how well you feel that you know the material after going thru the problems. There's not as much material with AUD as with the other exams so you need to know it in excruciating detail. As Mmilito said, you need to carefully read each question/answer because one word can change what the “best” answer is. I did find the Wiley test bank useful. It got me used to the wording I was likely to see and I became more aware of the subtleties involved.

You indicated that you don't have a strong accounting background. For the AUD sims you will probably need to really understand journal entries, especially for the commonly tested accounts such as inventory and COGS.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[kevin_bacon]

“There's not as much material with AUD as with the other exams so you need to know it in excruciating detail.”

well put…

@dcschwartz… you probably think you know it well enough but you probably don't. like kb said you have to know it in excruciating detail.

[Zizoty]

Hey kb24, two down two to go. Nice scores and good luck on the last two. I'll be surprise if you get less than 80 on the other two.

AUD - 83 Feb11
REG - 75 May11
BEC - 73 July11 84 Oct11
FAR - 63 Aug11 76 Feb12 I'M DONE!!!!!

[mnCPAwannabe]

There is no clear cut answer to your question — unfortunately. I have many times wished Becker had some kind of “weighted” final to give you a general idea where you are falling. If you truly have 100% of the material down, then do MC questions until the questions are no longer tricky. I have done so many MC questions that “how” they are worded no longer “tricks” me (and that is definitely half the battle). Now its about knowing/memorizing the material for me.

You might also want to look at some other book or something too in order to make sure your review materials covered the topic areas sufficiently. You may know 100% of what you were presented with, but not all the requisite materials to be prepared?

I'm not sure but there is a definite disconnect going on, and I'd recommend continuing to study until there isn't one. You definitely should not feel that you know 100% of the material and be scoring 66%. In my opinion that wouldn't be a good sign. However, you still have a week to do it and depending on your schedule that could be plenty of time.

FAR: 84
AUD: 95
REG: 78
BEC: 88
ETHICS: 100

[kb24]

Thanks zizoty. Feel ok about AUD but crossing my fingers about REG. Ironic,since I like tax and hate auditing. Now, if tx could just get its act together and post scores. I'm better off than some, though. Keeptrying hasn't gotten anything yet.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[Author]

Replies