[SchruteBeet]

For those planning to retake an exam in Q2, are you using your old textbook or new textbook to study? I want to retake AUD in Q2 and have ordered an updated textbook but I don’t know what, if any, differences are going to be between the new and old textbook. I use Becker and checked their website but didn’t find anything on differences.

I know it’s recommended to study as if you’re starting from scratch but I know the reason I failed is because of not doing enough MCQs. I plan to read the book again but if the new material is nothing like the old one, I guess I am going to have to rewatch all lectures and highlight everything all over again and won’t be able to use the old material wherein I already have good notes. What are your thoughts?

I plan to retake the exam in the next 3-4 weeks since I took it the first time less than 2 weeks ago and the material is still fresh. I work full-time and travel for work.

[Anonymous]

I am having the same concerns with my Audit retake using Becker. I really do not want to highlight everything and watch the lectures again. I will probably read my old book and work all of the MCQ, Sims, and make notes for the numonics, etc. I wonder what differences there are between the 2 books? I'm hoping the software will cover the differences and I can use my old book to guide me through the material again.
I scored a 73 last time and did not pass because I ran out of time on my Sims. That will not happen again.

What do you guys think about my plan?

[SchruteBeet]

Any thoughts?

[AndrewE]

Same concerns as well but with REG. Scored a 73, did not do enough sim work.

[SchruteBeet]

Seems like a lot of people have questions on this topic. Anyone care to share their thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I'm assuming it will be challenging to answer this questions until candidates start chatting about the new exam. However, it is very frustrating bc I do not know how different the 2 books are. Like I said, I'm banking on my software to have the changes, but I will definitely compare my new and old book. But, I refuse to highlight etc again.

[Allsheneededwassome]

What is the cost to get the new book? Just saw an email come through from Becker on how to order the new book so I'm debating now. The online pages and the content in the 2016 book are fairly same. So far I've noticed that same topics are differently grouped between the two versions. Not sure if that will be a pain during review btnit doesn't seem to bother me right now.

Also as a side I'm loving the ability to play the lectures at greater that normal speed! How awesome is that.

[Wannafree]

As per one of the cpa review concepts to know or learn are same just how they test are going to be different. MCQ numbers and SIMs would be changed.

[Jax]

I have been looking at the new Becker site, and you can do a pre-assessment for each topic. If you score an 80 or above, they recommend you skip the lectures and go straight to the skills portion, which is basically like a SIM that you can get walked through. Then you can do the McQ associated with each topic.

I am unsure how exactly I'm going to tackle this though – previously I used the chapter outlines to make notes and tips on, but they don't have the chapter outlines anymore. Perhaps I'll make my own outline? I'm not entirely sure.

[SchruteBeet]

@cpa4928 I think I am gonna do the same – compare the two versions


@workingmomof1 – I am so glad to know we can finally play the lectures at a greater speed. I desperately wanted that feature in Becker!
@Nath – That makes me feel better. I guess I am just gonna compare the two versions, and use my old textbook to review all the concepts that I have taken notes on/highlighted, and then take a pre-assessment test like @Jax mentioned.
@Jax – The 2016 course software is still up so you can go there and download all the chapter outlines.

[AndrewE]

I'm looking at Ch 1 of REG for both books and the first few pages are essentially the same. Then I took it one step further to go to the first questions of Ch 1 and it seems like its the same, plus the questions that are related to the topic in the “optional questions” at the end of the hw sections are added in. I only noticed one question that was not in the 2016 version but was in the 2017 version.

That being said, I still have no clue which book/software I'm gonna use.

[SchruteBeet]

I was just looking through the Audit material in the new textbook and tbh, I am kind of overwhelmed. While I can clearly see that they have moved the modules around within each chapter compared to the previous version, I can't tell if they've added something or not. I'm afraid if I study out of the old textbook I'll perhaps miss something that's important on the new exam. Or if I skip watching videos, I'll maybe miss an important tip or trick from the instructor on tackling the “higher order skill” questions. Even the questions at the end of each chapter are different. I was initially actually planning on using the old material to review for the retake. What should I do now?

[Starved_Wolf]

You can buy the updated textbook for $15, I'd probably chuck the old version of the text and continue with the new one.

I took AUD for the first time in Q1 and studied using Becker. What really helped me was reading the book. I skipped the lectures. I worked on the homework questions for A1 through A4 once but didn't have enough time to practice mcqs/sims for A5-A6. I worked maybe like 10 mcqs on sampling bc that was a topic that i initially had a hard time grasping. I know a lot of people say working the mcqs is key and i really think so too but since i didn't really have much time and was super behind, i decided to read and reread the book, i think i ended up reading some of the chapters 2-3 times. My last week was spent just rereading the book and taking the practice exams.( a chapter a day) That's what worked for me. I ended up with an 80. Although if i had to go back, i wouldn't have procrastinated so much, i would watch all the lectures and do all the mcqs and sims.

Auditing is a super tricky exam. Super super tricky. I think you'll be fine skipping the lectures if you're pressed for time, everything is in the text anyway.

[Author]

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