[Jasper]

I am a full time student and spend my time studying for the CPA exam on a full time basis. I actually sometimes think I over study spending too many months just trying to learn and review the material. But my study plan has worked for me, getting me a 82 on FAR and an 82 on BEC. I will be taking the AUD exam in early October.

A lot of CPA candidates say the AUD test is easy; one even saying he or she completed it 1.5 hours. But AUD has the worst pass rate out of the four exams. I am just wondering who is saying it is easy. Do you think it is easy because it does not have as many formulas? Do you think it is easy because you are an actual auditor? Do you think it is easy because you really spent a long time studying? Why do you think it was easy?

FAR 82
BEC 82
AUD 93
REG 87

[jeff]

It's not easy. It just “clicks” with some people better than others.

If you listen to today's podcast, Marie has taken it 5x with scores from 67-72 and doesn't know what to do.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[jeff]

It's not easy. It just “clicks” with some people better than others.

If you listen to today's podcast, Marie has taken it 5x with scores from 67-72 and doesn't know what to do.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[G3]

I can relate to Marie: 5 times with scores ranging from 65 – 74 🙁

Going to battle this enemy, as if it was the first, on 11/26!!!

Good luck @ Jasper

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[G3]

I can relate to Marie: 5 times with scores ranging from 65 – 74 🙁

Going to battle this enemy, as if it was the first, on 11/26!!!

Good luck @ Jasper

3XBEC:75 * 4XREG:82 * 4XFAR:76 * 7XAUD:77

“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Theodore Roosevelt

[barelystayingsane]

I think someone best said it as “Either you get it or you don't.” I think that's why the pass rate is so low, but you also seem to see the most people getting scores above 90 relative to the other exams. I am definitely in the “I don't get it” category. I've found even FAR to be a walk in a park compared to my preparation for AUD.

[barelystayingsane]

I think someone best said it as “Either you get it or you don't.” I think that's why the pass rate is so low, but you also seem to see the most people getting scores above 90 relative to the other exams. I am definitely in the “I don't get it” category. I've found even FAR to be a walk in a park compared to my preparation for AUD.

[kudawudashuda]

My first time taking audit it was a nightmare.

Second time taking it I finished MC in 1.5 hours with 2.5 hours left for Sims. Sims were a nightmare (left with 30 mins to spare), I thought I failed, but I passed.

Clarity updates definitely made learning Audit a bit easier for me. But then again, I'm the type of person who enjoyed audit in College and enjoyed studying for it for the CPA (minus Audit Transaction Cycles on Becker B4).

Content-wise I say AUD is easier to pass than all of the exams.

BEC is easy to pass if you do well on MC since the Written Communications is somewhat “gimme points”

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[kudawudashuda]

My first time taking audit it was a nightmare.

Second time taking it I finished MC in 1.5 hours with 2.5 hours left for Sims. Sims were a nightmare (left with 30 mins to spare), I thought I failed, but I passed.

Clarity updates definitely made learning Audit a bit easier for me. But then again, I'm the type of person who enjoyed audit in College and enjoyed studying for it for the CPA (minus Audit Transaction Cycles on Becker B4).

Content-wise I say AUD is easier to pass than all of the exams.

BEC is easy to pass if you do well on MC since the Written Communications is somewhat “gimme points”

REG = 58 (02-20-13), 75 (05-01-13)
AUD = 67 (05-29-13), 79 (08-29-13)
BEC = 83 (07-31-13)
FAR = 72 (10-29-13), 69 (02-27-14), 73 (04-16-14), 81(08-13-14)

Study Materials = Becker 2013 + Wiley Online Test Bank
(75%) On my Way to a CPA (minus the experience requirement)!

[barelystayingsane]

@kudawudashuda I think I have a decent understanding of everything in Becker, except for A4, especially the transaction cycles. They're the worst! I'm concerned, because I feel like that's really the meat of auditing anyway. Do you have any advice on how to tackle that?

[barelystayingsane]

@kudawudashuda I think I have a decent understanding of everything in Becker, except for A4, especially the transaction cycles. They're the worst! I'm concerned, because I feel like that's really the meat of auditing anyway. Do you have any advice on how to tackle that?

[Anonymous]

I got a 97 on AUD. I'm not bragging with that, just making a point. It was my first exam and I walked out thinking I failed. (What did I know, LOL.) I may be the person barelystayingsane is referring to because I remember saying in another thread you either get it or you don't. Conversely, I have studied for 30 days or less for AUD, BEC (85) and REG (80), but I'm 2-1/2 months into FAR and I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall at times.

My opinion (for what it's worth) is that AUD is almost “intuitive,” for lack of a better word. I would rather take AUD 10 times over then sit for FAR. I'm not an auditor by trade BTW.

How are you doing on the practice exams? That *should* be a good indication of how you may do on the actual exam. Of course I caveat that when I say it because who really knows, and I certainly don't want to give you a false sense of security that will lead to you slacking of and then failing… But if you're cranking out 99s on the practice tests then you're probably in pretty good shape. If you're getting 7% on the practice tests… well…

[Anonymous]

I got a 97 on AUD. I'm not bragging with that, just making a point. It was my first exam and I walked out thinking I failed. (What did I know, LOL.) I may be the person barelystayingsane is referring to because I remember saying in another thread you either get it or you don't. Conversely, I have studied for 30 days or less for AUD, BEC (85) and REG (80), but I'm 2-1/2 months into FAR and I feel like I'm banging my head against the wall at times.

My opinion (for what it's worth) is that AUD is almost “intuitive,” for lack of a better word. I would rather take AUD 10 times over then sit for FAR. I'm not an auditor by trade BTW.

How are you doing on the practice exams? That *should* be a good indication of how you may do on the actual exam. Of course I caveat that when I say it because who really knows, and I certainly don't want to give you a false sense of security that will lead to you slacking of and then failing… But if you're cranking out 99s on the practice tests then you're probably in pretty good shape. If you're getting 7% on the practice tests… well…

[Anonymous]

I thought it was easy – it scared me how easy it was. And it was my first (and I anticipate will be my only) 90+ score.

Why? Because it “clicked”.

Like others have said, audit is intuitive for some people…and is totally out of left-field for others. It's like, have you ever been to a culture with totally different body language and customs? You walk into the room with your friend who is a native to this culture, and the friend kisses the hostess on the cheek, intuitively knowing that's the right form of greeting…you awkwardly wonder if you should, or if it's too personal, or if maybe this is your friend's secret girlfriend and you'll be knocked out for trying…because to you, walking up and kissing a stranger on the cheek is not intuitive! It's kinda like that. For some people, it “clicks” easily – for others, they have to fight for a basic understanding. But…as many on this board can testify, it *can* be learned. Some people might take 5+ tries, but evenly, it can “click”. Just like you can learn the social norms of a culture that's completely foreign to you.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was easy – it scared me how easy it was. And it was my first (and I anticipate will be my only) 90+ score.

Why? Because it “clicked”.

Like others have said, audit is intuitive for some people…and is totally out of left-field for others. It's like, have you ever been to a culture with totally different body language and customs? You walk into the room with your friend who is a native to this culture, and the friend kisses the hostess on the cheek, intuitively knowing that's the right form of greeting…you awkwardly wonder if you should, or if it's too personal, or if maybe this is your friend's secret girlfriend and you'll be knocked out for trying…because to you, walking up and kissing a stranger on the cheek is not intuitive! It's kinda like that. For some people, it “clicks” easily – for others, they have to fight for a basic understanding. But…as many on this board can testify, it *can* be learned. Some people might take 5+ tries, but evenly, it can “click”. Just like you can learn the social norms of a culture that's completely foreign to you.

[taxgeek83]

For what it's worth, I took AUD in mid-August and during the last few days of my review week I was at a point where either I knew it or I didn't. There was literally nothing more I could have done to prepare for that thing – thought it would be a piece of cake. I passed with an 80. I knew the overall concepts, but the little details really stumped me going in. I think if you know the overall concepts you'll be able to think through the questions logically and do okay. When a rule is put into place, there's generally a specific reason why (though going through the IRC really challenges that statement!). If you can figure out the reasoning behind why a rule was implemented, I think you can reason through the tough questions. Kind of all about the big picture. But maybe that's just how my brain works! 🙂

[Author]

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