[Anonymous]

I just finished watching all the Yaeger lectures for AUD yesterday. During the lectures I paid close attention to everything Gary (the instructor) said and I took extensive notes. I believe I grasped the concept of the material he taught. He even went over a lot of MCQs from the Wiley book and he explained the answers for all of them and I was able to understand his explanations. Well, after I finished the lectures, I started doing a lot of the review MCQs at the end of the module that Gary didn’t cover and I also did many of the AICPA released questions in the back of the book. Well, I was getting a lot of them wrong. Here are the reasons why I’m getting answers wrong….

1) The wording of the question can be hard to understand sometimes. So sometimes, I’m like, what the heck are they asking?

2) Most of the time, I can narrow down my choices to 2 and give myself a 50/50 shot, but I always end up picking the wrong one. For some reason, the wrong answer always seems attractive.

3) The questions are very tricky. A whole sentence in a choice can be correct, but one word makes it wrong. I always fail to detect that wrong word and thus, I screw up on the question.

Because of this, I’m going to end up with a 40 on this exam even though I paid very close attention to the Yaeger lectures and understood the material. I’m answering these MCQs like a complete dummy that has never opened a book during the past 2 weeks. I don’t understand what is wrong with me. Many people I knew in college liked Auditing and were good at it because there’s no math involved, but I don’t know, I guess I’m one of the few people that’s struggling to do well on these questions. And that’s scary because that means other test takers will do way better than me and thus, I’ll fail miserably when I take the exam on May 28th.

Anyways, I have 6 more weeks to prepare for this exam. The way I’m going, that seems like a very short amount of time. Can somebody here help give me some advice and tips that will help me tackle these questions so I can do well?? I’d appreciate all the help that anyone can give. It’s a matter of life and death, lol.

Thank you all!!

[Last_First_MI]

Welcome to the CPA exam they are out to trick you and they love to trick you. You have to be ready for this. Don't memorize answers truly understand the right answer and why the others are wrong. Some questions even have 2 right answers but one is always better than the other in some way. Don't let this hang you up. Answer it and move on its only one question.

[Anonymous]

When I studied AUD I used Becker and found using a supplemental testbank very helpful. I listened to the lecture, read the chapter, did the homework for each section, and then went over MCQ from Gleim in the study mode. I read the question and selected my response. Reading each MCQ solution and explaination is very helpful. When I was correct it explained why that answer was correct, why an answer was incorrect, and often provided additional information that was useful in other MCQ. Exposing yourself to the details of how the MCQ are worded and focusing on the wording like a laser helps you answer the real exam questions. Repetition is very helpful in preparing for AUD. With Gleim you can run progress tests to help hone in on weak areas,

I practiced the MCQ, reading over the text in my weak areas, using flashcards, etc. Reviewing MCQ and reading all of the responses is a great learning tool.

It always seems that pulling the information together after the first run through of the lecture takes a lot of time. The time is well worth it. It helps to cement the information in your brain, increases confidence and makes the actual exam seem less intimidating.

Good luck you are doing well. Just spend the next weeks going over MCQ and reviewing the text in your weaker areas.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys. I will keep doing lots of practice questions and I'll go over topics that I'm weak in. And also read the solutions for explanations on why one choice is wrong while the others are right. I'm going to try to aim for 100 practice MCQ per day, if possible. If by the end of this month, I'm not seeing progress, I will post again and see if I can seek further help from you guys.

Thanks again. I really appreciate the help. You people are life-savers. My life depends on passing this exam. If I don't make it, then I'm going to be in trouble….career-wise, that is.

[kandisjoy]

Good luck CPAMan. I'm in the same boat when it comes to 6 weeks to study for AUD (taking it May 27th). Of course, that's my total study time and it sounds like you've already started. 🙂 And also with being in trouble career wise if I don't get this done… The CFO and a few of the SVPs around here keep asking me about my progress on this exam… I feel like something going to happen if I don't pass. And maybe something good if I do pass!

Right now I'm reading through the Wiley book and doing the questions at the end of each module, then going to CPAexcel and doing their questions too. I'm using the Ninja notes to help guide my notes and focus on important topics.

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Anonymous]

Yes, I started studying 2 weeks ago. I reviewed all 8 modules using the Yaeger DVDs. Now, I'm trying to apply concept to MCQs which is extremely difficult.

And no, my job right now doesn't require me to be a CPA. It's a lower level job at a private organization. But that's the thing, it's a low level job and since the economy is so bad, I'll stay at this low level job for the rest of my life if I don't pass these exams. Unfortunately, a bachelor's and master's degree in Accounting don't mean a thing without that CPA license.

[jelly]

I remember that practicing AUD questions was very much like a reading comprehension exam, i.e. one word can really change what the question and/or what the answer might be. Like you, I usually narrowed it down to two; sometimes I picked the correct one, sometimes not.

YMMV with the study provider you're using. (I used Becker). I felt like with AUD, compared to REG or FAR, there's a small handful of concepts that are being tested over and over, so there's really only a few ways to ask the testtaker about them.

It sounds like you know why you are getting them wrong, so you know what to watch out for. I don't think I ever felt really comfortable or confident doing the practice questions (so I just did a lot of them, and did them over and over). Every one of them always felt like someone was bashing my brain with a metal bat!

Couldn't pass again!

[Stewie]

I will tell you that I only started studying for AUD just over 6 weeks ago and there are a couple of things that I was told. Before I begin, I will tell you that I took the example exam (Pretest of all sections) in the beginning of my exam review and I scored a 40!

1) The AUD portion is a book test about procedures. I am a Flight Officer in the US Navy and one thing that they tell us, PROCEDURES, PROCEDURES, PROCEDURES! Basically, it is concept memorization and development of experience. On the AUD exam, you can only do this through answering questions. 100 a day is alot and I would be afraid that it is an unrealistic goal for a full time worker like me, but you may be different.

2) All (and I mean ALL) of the review material is in the dark about the Task Based Simulations; they ONLY have an idea of what will be tested. This is a risk area and at this point, it seems that we can only learn the material and do the best that we can.

3) Here was my study plan. Every day, I took a 30 question quiz; because, that is how large your test will be on the AUD exam. Once a week, watch a video (for you now it would be a review). If you are using a computer based testing program (Gleim, Wylie and Kaplan have them, I use Kaplan and I love them the best), they will break down your results into the categories, watch the videos in the categories that you are weakest in. If you don't have the computer based testing available, watch each video in sections to cover the material in your 6 weeks.

4) Do you have Audio CDs? These have been a blessing for a guy living in DC with an over 1.5 hour commute each way.

My primary concern about your method is that you are not allowing your mind to absorb the material. Just to let you know, I work in the Navy's workforce development team. Basically, we focus on locating skills and development through training, so basically I am like an HR and Corporate Trainer rolled into one. I am also getting my Doctoral degree in learning and corporate training.

By the way, 6.5 weeks later and one day before my test, I have now been scoring over 85 consistently on my exams for the past week! There have been rough spots, but I am now eager to kick this test down the block!

Good Luck

Stewie

REG - 91
AUD - 92
FAR - 88
BEC - OCT 2011

[Anonymous]

stewiecpa2011,

So you're saying I should do a set of 30 questions, watch a video, do a set of 30, watch a video, and so on for the next 6 weeks??

[kandisjoy]

It depends on how you learn. It sounds like stewie is a visual/hearing earner. I've found that videos help me very little and I'm better off re-writing my notes and reviewing text when I am struggling on a topic. I made a flash card for every topic I was having a hard time remembering and it REALLY helped. Only you can know what your best learning method will be. I know that's a crap answer, but what works for one of us may not work for you, and vice versa.

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Stewie]

kandisjoy

Fantastic point! There are four types of learning Visual, Hearing, Kinetic and Tactile. Only the first three really apply to us, as tactile is more for learning physical, hands on stuff. I am actually a hearing kinetic learner. Meaning I learn best by hearing and doing. That is why answering the practice questions and listening to tapes and videos is best. Video, backed up with audio is the best for me, but I HATE (and I rarely use the word hate), just reading. Don't ask how I can be an accountant with that problem, but I get over it. Kandisjoy is right; “know thy self” is very important.

CPAMan, what I was saying is every day, do 30 problems at one sitting, covering the material that you have studied (DO NOT INCLUDE MATERIAL THAT YOU HAVE NOT STUDIED, in the 30 every day problems. I will make you frustrated.) If you can try for two sets, but make one set mandatory. If you do that, plus all of the problems that you have to do for your readings, you will hit over two thousand problems. Kaplan has over 1500 in their series, and I bought a Wylie book to get me over 2000. With the videos, try to view them on a regular basis with breaks in between, so that your brain can absorb the material. This is dense stuff! Don't read something and just say ELMO (Enough, Let's Move On) and blow past this stuff. I am one of those people who must think about it and “pretend” that I am an auditor, auditing someone and just came over this problem, How would I handle it? Or Test of Controls: (I love RIO; Inquire, Recalculate, Inspect and Observe); If I were going to analyze Risk Analysis, what would I do (Continue to love Rio, but Change R to A). Most of this stuff is what I have to come up with to make up for the fact that my brain is not as useful as it once was.

Most important thing thought is as Kandisjoy said, take the kind of reader that you are and get materials that will allow you to learn best. Good Luck and if you need anything, please feel free ask.

Regards,

Stewie

REG - 91
AUD - 92
FAR - 88
BEC - OCT 2011

[Anonymous]

My best advice is practice the MCQs over and over and over again. I didn't do this the first time around and failed. I felt like I knew the material quite well, but I was not prepared for the trickiness of the MCQs. On my actual exam (the first time around), I could only narrow the answer down to 2 choices, so I took a 50/50 chance each time I answered a question. The second time around, I practiced MCQs like it was my job. The MCQ in AUD are sooooo booooorrrring so you almost get in a rush and don't carefully read each question and/or answer choice. Pay attention to when they say ‘In a review' or ‘When financial statements are compiled'…so review and compiled are your buzz words in this example. Use the buzz words strategy to help you hone in on what is being asked in the question. You will feel like crap after you do the questions the first time for each module so don't let that discourage you, but the second and third run through the questions, you will start to catch on to the buzz words and tricks they are throwing at you. @Jelly said it best, the AUD exam is like a reading comprehension exam more than anything so when you are getting questions wrong it's not that you don't know the material necessarily, it's more like you didn't read the question/answer choices carefully. Gary goes over the MCQs too and sometimes (not always) will point out the ‘tricks' and how to answer the question so make sure you don't fast forward through those parts of the lectures. Good luck! 🙂

[Anonymous]

I did a bunch a practice questions yesterday and I’m happy to say that I’ve significantly improved. Though, in order to get a question right, I have to analyze all the choices. When I finally narrow it down to 2 choices, I have to re-read both choices, rank them, and try figure out why one answer is better than the other. It takes a lot to get an AUD question correct, I tell ya. It really wracks my brain. As I keep practicing, I’m hoping that I will eventually reach a point where I can read a question and it will be second nature to me. That way, I can answer it correctly in a shorter amount of time with less effort. Because wracking my brain on 90 questions on exam date can be a bit much.

[Anonymous]

@CPAMan, glad to see you are improving! Those AUD questions will have your head spinning! I made a blank answer sheet in Excel for 2011 Wiley AUD book if you want me to email it to you. It was nice to be able to print it out and then write my answers on there rather than the book and I would put a * next to ones that were difficult, but that I was able to answer and then a ? for questions that were difficult and I had to guess between 2 answer choices. Anyway, when you are doing your final review, it's helpful to go through all the MCQ but pay special attention to the * and ? marked ones on your answer sheet. Also, you can write in the date you did that block/module of questions, how much time it took you and the number you got correct which is very helpful in monitoring your progress and trouble areas.

[kandisjoy]

@CPAMan – good for you! It sounds like you have your method down, and like you said, all you need to do is practice until it becomes second nature. You can definitely pass this exam!

@bammers2 – can you send the answer sheet to me too?

Much appreciated! 🙂

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[jelly]

Sounds good CPAMan! Sounds like you got the hang of it. That methodology sounds similar to what I did.

Something that was pointed out to us in Becker, and maybe it was also stressed in Yaeger, is that the part of the question or answer that is very extreme, is something to watch out for, i.e. “xyz is ALWAYS” or “xyz is NEVER…”

Couldn't pass again!

[Author]

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