[DeniseFutureCPA]

Hi MintsRGood!

If I recall, you had the last laugh on AUD as well….! Would you mind sharing your successful plan of attack?? Would love to hear it!!! Thanks!!!

"Do not give up when you still have something to give... Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

Why I am studying for the CPA exam: First it was business...now it's personal!!!!! 🙂

[MintsRGood]

Hi DeniseFutureCPA! Auditing is the devil but with enough hard work, you can kill this beast! Sorry in advance for the LONG post!!!!

My first two attempts I have no issues admitting that I didn't put enough time into preparing and I 1000% percent deserved the failing scores I got! A big part of this whole process is being honest with yourself…you can't say “but I studied 4 hours a day, everyday” and 3 of those hours you spent checking your email or goofing off! I had to admit to myself that I had not made the commitment and wouldn't have success until applying a laser focus to this test!

My third attempt in February, I went nuts on prep. I put in 20 hours per week, did 2000+ MCQs from the Wiley Test Bank, prepared detailed notes from a review text, listened to daily audio, and had an 89% running average in the test bank…and I ended up with a 68. I was completely devastated. I put in that type of work on REG and passed on the first shot, so I was completely blind sighted when I didn't pass! Again after I took a step back reevaluated, I realized that I had abused the Wiley Test Bank and had inadvertently memorized the Q&A rather than genuinely understanding the topics. I was so caught up in quantity of MCQS and memory aids that I lost sight of the big picture and failed! I gave myself approx. 4 weeks to retest on 4/16.

For my fourth and final attempt, I went old school! No online test bank, only 4 mnemonics memorized (Components of IC, Tests of Control, Substantive Tests, 10 GAAS), and I took detailed outlines and followed the Wiley text to the letter. I stopped and did the MCQs when instructed, read an auditing standard when directed to, and when I got a question wrong I wrote a 1-2 sentence explanation of the correct concept. The Wiley text is dry and boring but it is comprehensive! I listened to Ninja Audio daily and I wrote up the Ninja notes @ 10 pages per day EVERYDAY. I recopied it twice before my 4th attempt. I didn't touch the test bank until about 2 weeks before my test day and was actually happy to see incorrect responses here and there…I was no longer memorizing but LEARNING. People may advise you to skip the SIMS…I don't recommend that either! The SIMS present an opportunity for this exam to expose you and tear you apart. On my 3rd attempt score report, I was comparable on MCQS but weaker on SIMS. On topics overall I was stronger on 3 and weaker on other…I can correlate bad SIMS to each one of those weaker topics…because I memorized and didn't learn!

Also, be sure to read the question on exam day 2-3 times before looking at any answer choices!!! You must be sure of what the question is asking for and then apply what YOU know before you pollute your thought process with the answer choices. The questions and 3 incorrect responses are very tricky. They can shake your understanding on exam day and confuse you…don't let them! For example, If the question is asking about what risk the auditor can control and you've read the question 2-3 times, jot down detection risk on your note board and what you know about it…it's the only risk the auditor can control by increasing or decreasing the nature, timing and extend of substantive testing! Then pick the answer choice that best matches up with your scribbles. YOU know what the right answer is, so you just have to tread carefully and don't fall through the holes covered up with twigs and leaves!!!!

Leave yourself 2 hours approx. for SIMS! Use the authoritative literature to the fullest!!!!!!! It's not only for the research SIMS, its for ALL of them! 2 hours will leave you enough time to complete the SIMS, utilize the AL, and to check your work. Before you start them, check all of the SIMS out and do the easiest ones to you first! If you see one that makes you want to scream WTF, don't panic and use the AL. If you look hard enough, you can find something to put your mind on the right track. Familiarize yourself with the auditing standards, review standards, ethics standards and know how to search those databases efficiently and effectively.

I hope this was helpful and feel free to ask any questions!!!!

You CAN do this and best of luck to you and to everyone else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[DeniseFutureCPA]

I love it!!!!! Thank you so much for replying!!!!!!

I am so similar to your 3rd attempt. I even told a friend, “I've done 4k practice mcq's for this! I've got this!!!!!!”

Two weeks later, my “72” is staring at me in the face….. I blinked in disbelief a couple of times and slapped my laptop shut. Perhaps I memorized, perhaps I read too fast and assumed the “call of the question.”

My diagnostic report had me with 3 comparables, 3 stronger, stronger @ mcq's, but weaker at SIMS. I so did not think I needed SIM practice. Now I know that I do.

On exam day, I only left myself about 45 minutes for the SIMS. I found the first one word for word with the AL, but I seriously ran out of time because hello?! There are 7 flippin tabs!!!

I am at that impasse where I am wondering if I should rewatch lectures, or simply take notes from the book. I think a lot of people in my “retake boat” are considering watching lectures because of the Clarified Standards…. I am still on the fence about it.

I am giving myself 5 weeks tops. I am similar to you in that I really like tax and seriously think that audit is the devil. Give me “black and white,” what is this GRAY business?!?!?! 😉

Again, thank you SOOOOO much for your input. I know that myself as well as a lot of other NINJA's out there will greatly appreciate it!!!!!!!

You're awesome! 🙂

"Do not give up when you still have something to give... Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

Why I am studying for the CPA exam: First it was business...now it's personal!!!!! 🙂

[Zaq]

On my second run-through and I must say I am having such a stronger understanding of the topic.

The thing is the more you understand like… the process of auditing, then certain procedures or points just start making sense. It makes sense that in the planning portion of your audit, that you first primary goal is get an understanding of the entity and its environmental factors. It makes sense that if the client has really bad internal controls in place that you shouldn't use test of controls. Etc. For me, it feels like it was a puzzle and I can see where the missing pieces go.

The biggest pro to actually “getting” this information is that I can easily distinguish wrong answers. Instead of just knowing the right answer via memory, I can piece together that 2-3 of these questions are completely off track or traps. Now I'm almost always able to narrow down a MCQ before two choices at worse!

Here's hoping we really get it in this time. I've deactivated my Facebook and banned myself from Reddit (OH GOD HELP ME) but I find myself having amples amount of time. And the time I use to use to look at those websites go into looking at Becker Flashcards and reading Ninja Notes.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

[DeniseFutureCPA]

Thank you for your post Inferno!!!! I am right there with you! I have even gotten that EXACT 74 on Reg. AHHH!!!!

Talk about hating life after that 74, I even completely reconsidered Accounting as my career and found myself sitting in an orientation for nursing school, what tha?!?!?!

My brother finally set me straight. He said, “if you really SUCKED at accounting, you wouldn't have gotten a 74, you would have gotten a 30 or something like that after really trying…..”

But seriously, that is reassuring to know that it is “all coming together” for you! I hope to be there soon. Although I am at work right now (heh! don't tell anyone) I am getting my ducks in a row, study-wise, by creating an all new plan of attack! I signed up for NINJA BLITZ this morning! I created a study scheduled and just handed over my credit card to good ol' NASBA again.

Here's to fighting the good fight! NINJA on!!!!!! 🙂

"Do not give up when you still have something to give... Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

Why I am studying for the CPA exam: First it was business...now it's personal!!!!! 🙂

[MintsRGood]

@Denise & @Inferno It sounds like you both are on the right track!!!!

I'm sorry that I'm of no help on the clarity standards, but for the other topics I would go old school and write up your review text…and then rewrite your outlines…and rewrite that AGAIN!!! Personally I don't get as much from watching lectures as I do from copious note taking, but everyone is different! Definitely practice your sims. If you find yourself at home staring at it with no clue where to start, pull up the solution and work it backwards to see how the answer was arrived at. Take lots of notes and then rework that sim again to make it stick. Auditing sims are terrible, but working them in practice mode from front to back, back to front, and front to back again will cement the process into your brain! 🙂

Good luck to you both and RTMFQ and leave yourselves 2 hours for SIMS on exam day!!!!!

You CAN do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[DeniseFutureCPA]

I also have a hard time staying focused during lectures. To my detriment, I am WAY too good at multi-tasking, also known as texting while studying, staring off into space, becoming fascinated with the walls, listening with one ear, wondering where my dog went with the other ear. 😉

I plan on writing up the text this time around….. And REWRITING notes this time as well!

I have also planned to dedicate part of each Sunday of my Power Weekends for SIMS. I'm calling it SIM Sundays 🙂

I definitely like your plan of attack for SIMS Mints, thank you!!!!

Thank you so much for all of the encouragement!!!!!!

"Do not give up when you still have something to give... Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

Why I am studying for the CPA exam: First it was business...now it's personal!!!!! 🙂

[DeniseFutureCPA]

Mints, quick question……!

What are your thoughts on typing versus writing note by hand……? My first time around, I wrote (by hand) EVERYTHING under the sun during the lecture videos.

It made me want to punch small animals.

I have tried typing out notes as well and it seems to go much faster. Audit is so darn WORDY…..

Any thoughts?

"Do not give up when you still have something to give... Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

Why I am studying for the CPA exam: First it was business...now it's personal!!!!! 🙂

[MintsRGood]

@Denise Personally I get more out of writing them by hand then by typing them out, but you know what works best for you! Just write until your hand cramps up too much to hold a pen, then do MCQs on the test bank until you can move your fingers again, and then get back to it!!! 🙂

Love SIM Sundays BTW, I may have to implement that for my FAR prep!!!! 🙂

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[DeniseFutureCPA]

Thanks Mints, you're the best!!!

And best of luck to you as well for FAR!!! I know you will wreck it!!! 🙂

"Do not give up when you still have something to give... Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

Why I am studying for the CPA exam: First it was business...now it's personal!!!!! 🙂

[VanessCA]

@ MintsRGood and @ DeniseFutureCPA I am so glad I read your posts. I have taken audit 3 times and failed!! My scores were the following 53, 71, 61 (May 31, 2013) I can't believe I failed and I can't believe I got a lower score than my previous exam. It is so frustrating. I haven't passed any of the other parts so I feel extremely discouraged specially because of the new changes to audit. How did @ MintsRGood and @ DeniseFutureCPA overcome any of these feelings.

@ DeniseFutureCPA how are you dealing with the audit updates?

[DeniseFutureCPA]

@VanessCA, hi there!!! Yes, I am all too familiar with “the backslide……” You don't see it in my signature, but I experienced it with Regulation. I got a 74 on my first attempt, then I MISTAKENLY thought I could cover simply my weak areas and earned me a nice 70! Then…I still did NOT learn my lesson, decided to still focus solely on my weak areas again and slid back even further.

I went with Aud because of the Clarity update. That was when I found another71.com. Even though I was met with a 72 on my first Audit attempt, I have learned so much.

To me, the biggest hurdle to overcome is figuring out what works for YOU. This site is so awesome because of all of the recommendations, tips, and encouragement. But the bottom line is that you almost have to go through a trial and error period before you figure out what study methods and work/study/life balance works best for your learning style, life circumstances, and how much time you can dedicate for studying.

To me, nothing will ever sting more than that 74. But you know what? After that, my thought about this exam is, “you can't hurt me anymore!” I've faced a “devastating heartbreak” and I seriously have no fear.

If I don't pass, that does not mean I did not learn something. I compare this exam to a marathon. You learn so much about yourself and what is really in your heart as far as passion for this “beast” 😉

You can do it!!! You really can!!! If you care enough to WANT to do better, then you know you have what it takes to get through it.

(sorry for the long rambling!) 🙂 But to answer you question re: the updates, I have the NINJA notes. Jeff really does a great job of summarizing the “need to know” info in a great way. I highly recommend it! It is so worth the investment!

Cheers to you and fighting the good fight!!!

"Do not give up when you still have something to give... Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying."

Why I am studying for the CPA exam: First it was business...now it's personal!!!!! 🙂

[GMBxNY]

@MintsRGood…thank you so much for your post! I failed Audit miserably last fall and I'm retaking it in less than 2 weeks. I have to say I like your approach better than my own. It feels as if I'm all over the place with my studies and I wasn't sure which I should study 1st, 2nd, etc. I have CPAExcel, NINJA Notes and Audio, Wiley Testbank and the Wiley Text. I also have flashcards on my iPhone. I'd much rather read through the Wiley Text and rewrite notes (including NINJA Notes) but at this stage it seems too late to redirect and follow your study strategy. Assuming I will have a retake (not liking my scores on the MCQ retakes – in the upper 60s), what would you suggest in the interim? Should I attempt to rewrite any notes at this point? Thank you. 🙂

[MintsRGood]

@GMB Don't let evil audit get you down!!!! It is no secret here that I HATE this section and I feel it's the trickiest of all sections. The smallest fact can change the entire call of the question and the subjectivity drives me up the wall!!!!

First off…what makes you think that you will have to go for a 3rd round with audit? If you go hard core (4 hours per day Monday-Friday, 8-10 hours per day Saturday & Sunday) you can cram in 70-80 hours of study time to get exam ready. I realize that this sounds awful and slightly insane, but you will be surprised at how much you can pull your scores up with that type of crazy frenzied momentum. Wake up @ 5am to study, study on your lunch break, listen only to Ninja in your car, do flash cards in the check out line at the grocery store, etc. Don't write yourself off for this upcoming exam, there is still time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In 2 weeks, there isn't enough time to get through the entire Wiley textbook (I'm assuming you work full time) but here is my suggestion for your battle plan. Do MCQS until you want to die. Then look at your weak topics (if you haven't already identified them) and spend time with the Wiley text on just that specific weak topic. Then move back into MCQs and you will see an upswing! I am a firm believer in note recopying but you are so close to your test day…I wouldn't burn an entire day or evening only recopying notes. Instead you may be better served by recopying @ 10-12 pages per day every day until your test day. Don't neglect the SIMS in your prep either, you won't survive without successfully completing some of them! Use the AL and leave yourself 2 hours for SIMS on exam day. As always, remember to RTMFQ 2-3 times before you look at the answer choices and remind yourself of your knowledge of the call of the question…then chose the answer that matches YOUR knowledge.

Keep us posted on how you are doing and if you have any other questions! Best of luck to you in the next 2 weeks, you can do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[GMBxNY]

@MintsRGood…thank you for your feedback! It's greatly appreciated! I will definitely continue with the MCQs and writing notes. I won't neglect the SIMs. Those SIMs burned me on the last exam!

[Anonymous]

What is RTMFQ?

[Author]

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