[ms11]

I’ve taken Audit three times and I’m not sure what I should change in my study method. First time, I did it with Becker alone. Second time I did it with Becker and NINJA MCQ and I was much closer. Third time I used Becker and NINJA Notes. I’m not sure what I should do differently. I’ve passed the other 3 exams on the first try. I’m really struggling with Audit. All suggestions are appreciated!

[Anonymous]

Hi ms11! I can relate, took me 4 tries to pass Audit, then last October I ended up loosing my score :(. I just took Audit end of Feb and literally had 17 days to study, and passed! Here's my advice (but remember everyone's different, so this is me trying to help you).

When I passed Audit about 2 years ago, I improved my score by 14pts (literally by adding Ninja notes)! I went from a 68 to an 82, but then took too long to sit for the others.

My advice would be to go SUPER hard on the MCQ (this past time I did 2,000 MCQ from Ninja MCQ). I grouped my study sessions up simply by doing sections at a time, and about 100 MCQ at a time (I would select by category and select “New Questions”). I also went through about 5 sims a day. After about 2 weeks of doing that, the final 3-4 days I made sure to only do questions I missed and reviewed over sims I didn't do so well on. Also, EVERY TIME I missed a question I took notes either of the explanation for the answer, or the underlying concept of the question. I reviewed over my notes taken, as well as went over Ninja Notes WITH the Ninja Notes Audio. So my overall advice to you would be PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE the MCQ's, take notes of your own & review them, & also make good use of the Ninja Notes!! You are probably so close so leave the lectures and reading over the book behind. Really try to get the concepts down, such as Audit procedures (what they do in the Audit & WHY they do it), the different sampling methods (non-statistical vs. statistical, variable vs. attribute & of course what is included in all those areas) and make sure you know about compilations, reviews and the responsibilities of the auditor vs. management vs. BOD vs. Audit committee.

I hope this advice helps and Good luck with your last exam!! I have one left myself (REG, failed the first try last month) but I hope to finish in April!! Stay strong & CPA on! If you have any tips for REG I'm all ears as well!

FAR – 82
BEC – 76
AUD – 77
REG – April 2016

[TheHoundThatRides]

I was hoping I wouldn't be one of the people for whom AUD is the “hard one” but I guess it is. It's interesting how the difficulty of each exam is so different for people.

For now, I'm just gonna drill MCQ with Ninja and review my weak spots. I'll go through the lecture again for the most heavily tested topics.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[If I can, u can too!]

dig deeper in your weak areas.

do whatever it takes, read every single explanation at the bottom of the Ninja MCQ whether you get it right or wrong (read AU-C, AR, PCAOB). read the relevant chapters of your material/course text on weak areas, do all questions related to those areas in your material/course text. take notes (i had 70 pages of notes in word in addition to 4 pages of formulas), read them when you have a downtime waiting for your ride/metro, record your notes and listen in your car if you drive, etc… this is all i did and i finally passed it. i'm quite thankful and am relieved b/c i would've had FAR expire had i not pass audit on my 5th attempt.

Licensed CPA since Apr 16
Order in sequence of passing
FAR-71,71,79
BEC-80
REG-72,77
AUD-56,72,72,72,80! Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord!
FAR/BEC/AUD: Becker & Yaeger lectures (Wiley & Ninja MCQs). REG: Becker lectures (Ninja MCQs).

[ms11]

I think I should have re-purchased the NINJA MCQ again. To go from almost passing to my current grade, I know the MCQ made a significant difference.

[EuroAddict]

I used Becker and Ninja MCQ. B/w the two I probably did 4,000 + Questions. Overkill maybe but it worked.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[Skynet]

When it comes to AUD. The biggest weaknesses and why CPA Candidates often fail is due to not understanding the Accounting Cycles & Internal Controls and their related Assertions. Those two areas often overlaps and confuses candidates. If you can understand those two areas fully, you'll pass AUD.

[Anonymous]

I did over 3,000 MCQ (ninja) and took a ton of notes. No videos, no textbook.

[EuroAddict]

A book or video might have saved you an exam.

-----------------------------
BEC - 77, 03/2015 (first try)
FAR - 79, 05/2015 (second try)
REG - 83, 12/2015 (first try)
AUD - 84, 03/2015 (first try)

I got 99 problems but the CPA ain't one.

[ms11]

@EuroAddict : What do you mean exactly?

[ms11]

@agokarn For REG, I did a lot of MCQ. I think that helped me a lot.

[Anonymous]

Hand write the audit reports (the important terms) over and over again. Hand write note cards, review them over and over again. My experience was that practice questions did not help me, writing repetition was a lot more helpful for AUD.

[TheHoundThatRides]

@buckgrad

I will follow your advice as I am seeing slow improvement with MCQ.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[Author]

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