[Anonymous]

So for those of you that don’t know we have had crazy amount of snow here the last few days – thankfully it’s starting to warm up and melt now, however that wasn’t the case yesterday…

After two days of snow and me being in a hotel both of those days trying to study… I got up yesterday and got ready to go… my test wasn’t until 2:30 so I thought I’d get in some NINJA notes study time before hand. Well the power went out at the hotel right after I was done getting ready (WHEW). Went out to my car to assess the damage that the snow had done (remember it had been sitting there for two days getting pounded on with snow and then freezing into ice at night…) took me an hour to get all the snow and ice off of my car… then had to bring all of my stuff down 4 flights of stairs as the elevators weren’t working. Took 20 minutes to get out of the parking lot as there was tons of snow and ice around my car…. Tried to call the prometric site to see if they were even open… went straight to voicemail saying “sorry we’re unavailable right now please leave a message and we’ll get back to you…” uh? Ok does that mean they’re open? closed? Better drive there to make sure…

Get to the testing site (FINALLY – it’s about 1:30 pm now) – they’re open. Ok look over my NINJA notes and walk in around 2:20.

1st testlet – Pretty decent only needed to double check a couple of questions as I always seem to second guess myself…

2nd testlet – harder but still doable, I do mark about 5 questions to double check before I go to the next screen….

3rd testlet – harder … UM? A couple of questions where I was like WHAT?! But think I did OK

have a little over 2:30 hours for SIMS decide to go out and take a break eat a few grapes get a drink of water… thinking ok time to go back in and see what they throw at me!….

SIMS – OMG!!! Seriously brutal. I’m sorry but if that is what AUD sims are wow… there were a couple where I felt OK with not 100% but OK. The research question I think I got but not completely sure…. as for the other 4… I didn’t not understand them it was more of what are they really asking? And why do I have to completely try to remember FAR stuff right now?!

Overall I think I did OK, but to be honest really think this one I may have to retake. Left the testing site wanting to just burst into tears… was an awful day trying to get there and I am definitely glad it is over! Now if only 2/3 would hurry up!

My review course for BEC starts Monday so I’m taking a few days to clear my head and get back on track. What’s done is done now it’s time to change gears and study for BEC and hope for the best for AUD….

[jokami]

Hi Ashley Cap…

First of all… Bad idea on taking a break… You NEVER EVER EVER take a break on a CPA exam… Those four hours are precious and you need to use them to the fullest on your test. About remembering things from FARE, remember that audits verify that financial accounting is correct… so you can say it is sort of redundant. AUD checks that FARE is as GAAP solicits it to be. I took FARE passed on my first attempt quickly after repeated AUD and the second time around many questions made A LOT more sense because I had FARE fresh in my mind.

You'll be fine… Don't worry

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[SHORTDESRTGUY]

Wow, what a day! I left the exam feeling very much the same way. At the last minute I changed some SIM answers. As soon as I got out to my car I looked the areas up and saw I had them correct originally. I was pretty upset because I had to wonder what else I did. I didn't really even focus on all that I had probably gotten correct. I just knew I had failed. And I passed! Try and think about all that you did well on. You probably did better than you think. Good luck.

AUD - 91 - Jul 2011
BEC - 84 - Aug 2011
REG - 82 - Nov 2011
FAR - 86 - Feb 14, 2012

[Tebowwwww]

@Jokami Maybe never taking a break is good for you, but I finished FAR, BEC and AUD (twice) with more than 15 minutes to spare each after reviewing each section. I also took a break during FAR and both AUD exams. If you need the time then you need the time, but it definitely isn't the case for everyone.

REG (7/7/11) 75
FAR (7/28/11) 76
BEC (8/27/11) 81
AUD (10/15/11, 1/20/12) 63, 91

DONE!!!

[jokami]

@tebowwwww

You are right… It is my opinion to use those test hours to the fullest and it is my advice that, if a break is needed, take it right there in your seat (unless you have to go to the bathroom urgently). Close your eyes, relax them and continue with the test.

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[Peanut]

Taking a break for the AUD exam is perfectly okay. Most people have time to spare during their AUD exam. I think it helps you even more taking a break, because you sit back down feeling fresh and not so strained. Taking a break during BEC & REG is risky I will say.

@Ashley it sounds like you did great! Hey the worse you feel the better you did, right? 😛

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[jenuno01]

@Ashley I have a feeling you passed! Predicting an 85 😉

As far as taking breaks, I took a break after every single Testlet on Wednesday LOL the Prometric ladies were getting really annoyed, but hey, I needed to use the restroom, I had plenty of time to finish AUD…not saying I passed though :/

Class of 2012

[Givemesleep]

I have taken REG BEC so far. On both parts I took a quick 5-7 min bathroom break before sims or WC's. For BEC I finished with about 10 mins to spare and started getting nervous. Unless you need the restroom, don't take a break.

Side observation for AUD. I have been studying for 4 days only, it's seems way more manageable than REG or BEC to me. BEC seemed like a killer, waiting for my score 2/3/12. Are there many calculations for AUD or just theory?

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[jenuno01]

Mostly theory. If you get really lucky, you might get calculations involving sampling and journal entries 🙂

Class of 2012

[Anonymous]

@jokami – wow talk about kicking me while I'm down. I don't think me taking a break will have any bearing on if I passed the test or not. I took a break during FAR right before the SIMS to get my head straight and calm myself down – did great for me as I passed…. I honestly could not have done more on that exam even if I had another 2 hours… plus my break was only literally 5 minutes…

@shortdesertguy – thanks for giving me hope! We will see on the 3rd… if only it wasn't so far away (HA j/k – even though it feels like it's forever away).

@tebowwwww – thanks for coming to my rescue HA 😉 I definitely needed a break on both FAR and AUD and I'm glad I took it…

@peanut – I sure hope it's the worse you feel the better you did! HA

@jenuno01 – glad i'm not the only one who took a break(s) 😉 I'm telling you those SIMS were brutal! I'll take a 75 but an 85 would be just as nice…. hopefully your prediction will be right

@givemesleep – pretty much just theory – but here's the thing i'm much better at calculations than theory because there is generally always at least two answers that COULD be the answer you just have to pick the “BEST” one…. Good luck on your AUD studying – I'm onto BEC Monday…

[Givemesleep]

@jenuno1 – thanks for responding – Keep having BEC flashbacks, like nightmares, BEC is the secrest killler from a brain perspective. Good luck to you and all. Dont under estimate BEC !!!

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[Givemesleep]

I predict Ashleycap – passes with a 92, I get the post. Thanks for the AUD feedback, knowing it's theory, I can keep going.

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[RedRage00]

I took AUD a few weeks ago and I had 2 JE SIMS. I probably wouldn't have gotten them if I had not taken FAR first. I am so glad I took FAR before AUD. It really helped me see the big picture for AUD. I am pretty sure I got both JE SIMS correct.

Now I just have to wait and see if I passed. 🙂

Texas CPA
Licensed, March 2012

[yankeeaccountant]

@Ashleycap,

Holy Cow…what a crazy day getting to the testing center! Sounds like you had a good experience, I am betting you get good news in February. Glad you got to the center safely!!! Best of luck with your next exam.

[Morganf]

I have a feeling we're all getting very similar sims this quarter because I've seen multiple posts all alluding to the same things I saw on 1/19. Hopefully the grading scale reflects their difficulty. I would have felt more comfortable if they were even in the SAS to verify.

Regarding the breaks, go with tootsie pops not tootsie rolls or whatever other second rate candy is in their waiting room dish. If the prometric girls give you a hard time about taking them into the test, unwrap them and ask for a kleenex to put them on instead of their dirty tables.

BEC - 88
AUD - 69, 74, 93
FAR - 78
REG - 79

[M2B2twilight]

echo your thoughts on the AUD. This was my first time to take AUD and found it to be a bit of a blind side. I felt prepared with my studies but man questions were was confusing! Waiting on score hope to have passed. I don't think taking the test in the afternoon was a good idea. I took it at 1pm and it was agony waiting to get in. Took FAR in November and received a 74. Brutal. Would love any suggestions for studying…..Am doing Becker review.

FAR 74 (11/11)
AUD (waiting on response_ took 1/18/12
BEC 4/2/12
REG 5/30/12

[Author]

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