[TexasJill]

Long time reader, first time poster and need some advice. I have passed all but AUD and received my failing score of 71 on Monday after waiting the long weekend (thank you Texas). I have used Becker 2012 self study only for each section with success. I study one section a week and give myself about a week for review, so for AUD I studied for 7 weeks. I also did some online research for the updated clarity standards since I have Becker 2012. I felt prepared going in and felt okay coming out of the exam, with Med, Hard, Hard MCQ testlets but the SIMS were brutal and AL wasn’t much help at all. My feedback report shows that I tested stronger in MCQs but weaker in SIMS, which is exactly how I felt coming out.

So my back is against the wall, as I’m pregnant with my 4th child due October 16th and I work full time as a tax manager at a public firm. I just knew I would be done with all of this in August but it looks like I’ll be cramming and trying to take AUD again the first week in October (and crossing my fingers that baby doesn’t make an early appearance). The thought of continuing this journey after the baby comes is enough to make me ill. Those of you that have ever had a newborn to care for will know what I’m talking about. I just really need to do whatever it takes to pass this exam before the baby is born.

My question is this: With not much time to study should I stick with Becker and review what I know…should I dive into unchartered territory and go with Wiley books and test bank…or just supplement Becker with the WTB?

Any advice would be so appreciated as I’m at a loss on how to pass/prepare for this exam!

REG 84
FAR 82
BEC 76
AUD 71, 75!!!! Done in TX!

[evesocal]

Jill, IMO you should get another review course to supplement Becker. Particularly since you have 2012. I never used Wiley but many speak highly of it.

For FAR I supplemented Becker with CPAExcel and it really did help me. I found it easier to read than Becker and it was good to have different questions, because you tend to memorized Becker questions. I got the cheapest version of CPA Excel, with no mentoring, no lectures, just access to their MCQs, SIMs and of course the study material.

By all means get something else. Good luck!! I totally agree with getting it done before the baby! 🙂 And congratulations on doing this much with a job and 3 kids!

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[littlenumberrobot]

@TexasJill – Welcome! I was in your shoes early this summer(minus the tax manager and baby part… ) For me to pass audit I bought the Yaeger cram course along with Wiley Textbook. I already had Wiley TestBank. Yaeger did a good job pointing out important things in the text and I read it through 2x. The questions are more difficult in Wiley Book than Test Bank and the exam, so they really prepare you. I don't have experience with Becker, I was with Roger before Yaeger. Maybe adding NINJA notes and audio will help you? They helped with other exams, but for audit I needed videos(Yaeger cram) to really understand the concepts. We are all different and either approach is fairly reasonable price wise.

Good luck!! And also congratulations on baby #4. That is awesome!

CA CPA - All because of the journey listed below
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FAR - 53('10), 8/25/12 79 PASSED!
REG - 66('11), 69('12), 12/06/12 77 PASSED!!
BEC - 58('10), 74('12), 01/05/13 77 PASSED!!!
AUD - 43('11), 66('12), 69('13), 74('13) 7/29/13 85 PASSED!!!!!

(Combinations of Roger, Yaeger, Wiley Book, Wiley TB, & NINJA Notes)

Ethics 90%

[Anonymous]

Try supplementing becker with Yaegar cram review M/C suggestions with Ninja notes. You will have to buy a Wiley book to do this but I think it would be worth it. I just retook Audit after losing the section because of the 18 months.

[Anonymous]

TexasJill – I feel your pain about audit. I was in a similar situation. I bought the ninja 10 point combo and it really helped me tie the whole audit picture together (not to mention, I really did not want to re-read all of the Becker material). I then redid all of the Becker questions and SIMS. I took audit for a second time this past weekend so I have no idea if I passed, but I felt a lot better walking out the second time. Good luck to you! I hope you knock out audit before your little one comes along.

[Zach Zach]

Hey Jill,

Congrats on passing everything but AUD! I actually just took my first CPA section exam ever, on AUD, four days ago so I won't be much help in terms of advice. But, like littlenumberrobot said, look into Yaeger CRAM. I used Yaeger vids, Ninja Notes, and Wiley book/Testbank to study most recently. The Test Bank helped immensely… you can create your own practice sessions, quiz sessions and tests and if you continue to get questions wrong or be shaky on certain AUD concepts, you can create sessions to cater to your weaknesses. I found that doing a TON of multiple choice in test bank helped me, though I guess we'll see for sure when I get my score!

Anyway, I got Yaeger CRAM with all the other stuff that came with Yaeger's AUD materials package and did not use it, so I have the CRAM flash drive if you'd like to take it off my hands (not sure if advertising is allowed here but if not, please disregard). Let me know

DELAWARE

AUD: 74 (7/2014) 76 (11/2014) PASSED! USED YAEGER AND NINJA
BEC: 73 (9/2014) 76 (2/2014) SO FAR SO GOOD! USED NINJA AND WILEY
FAR: Will take after tax season (can't wait)
REG: Cue overly dramatic impending-doom music (will take in 2014)

[Author]

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