[mason316]

Finally got my grade for Auditing. The wait all but sent me to the insane asylum. Luckily, I squeaked by with a 78. I already squeaked by BEC with a 76. Two more to go.

For the life of me, I cannot figure the exam out. I always walk out feeling confident, and then I always just miss it by a few points, and the grading summary is ALWAYS the same..strong in the MC, and weak in the simulation and communication.

As someone who had English for a minor, I would think I could at LEAST write an essay. It's not as if I making stuff up either. I know the material that the question is asking. I always write a nice three paragraph essay with an intro, a middle and a conclusion that answers the question…the I get my failing grade, and the communication piece is always marked weaker.

Oh well. Next stop, Regulation.

[Anonymous]

congrats, a pass is a pass!

[TampaAccountant]

Congrats on passing Audit!

I took Audit on August 25, and saw my score on-line a few days ago and was shocked to see that I failed with a 70.

I don't have a clue where I went wrong, I'm still waiting for my offiicial score analysis.

I thought I did excellent on the MCQs and thought the simulations were easy since I had just studied (LUCKILY) the scenarios in the siumulations the day before.

I passed BEC with a 77 but faied REG with a 74. Now, I'm getting ready for FAR in 3 weeks and my confidence is shakened.

Which review course did you take for AUD? I'm using Yaeger….

[jeff]

Tampa – my friend used Yaeger for AUD this past testing window and scored an 86. I can put you in touch with him if you would like to hear how he studied with it.

-Jeff

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

[TampaAccountant]

Jeff, I'm interested in knowing how your friend studied for AUD.

Thanks,

John

[jeff]

John,

Shoot me an e-mail @ jeff@another71.com and I'll put you in touch with him.

Thank you,

Jeff

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

[tpc711]

Tampa:

I don't have a lot to offer on how to study. I always think practice questions are the key. I used Yeager HomeStudy and Cram. I make an 87 this last period, and I've never had an audit class. (yet). I did have 2 weeks of audit as part of another class.

I watched the video for a module. Read the module. (you can't do this for every section, ie FAR or REG, but AUD is short enough I think you should just read it). Then I did all the MC. After that I did all the questions in the Wiley software. I watched the Cram the weekend before. I did memorize the basic reports, some people think that's unnecessary, but it doesn't take as long as you would think and it gives you confidence when you answer questions on the reports.

If you did all that and didn't pass, I think it has to be more freaking out during the exam than what you actually know. I think a lot of people under perform on these things…miss a lot they know how to do.

[mason316]

Tampa:

For me, passing Audit was more a test of reading comprehension. I just kept asking myself, "what stage of the Audit am I in?". I always felt that the MC questions were unnecessarily wordy, making it easy to get confused. Luckily, time wasn't really an issue.

I had been using Gleim, but my boss recommended Becker, so I switched. But for Audit, I don't think it really matters, just do practice MCs over and over. I also found reading the explanations why an answer is WRONG in practicing MCs also helped.

For what it's worth.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the previous poster–asking yourself what stage of the audit (planning, risk assessment, internal control assessment, substantive testing, report) helps a lot, as does reading slowly and making sure you understand what they're asking. Plus lots of MCQs and a few practice simulations. Make sure you remember how to do adjusting journal entries, and memorize the reports (audit, review, compilation) with their variations. Explanations in reports generally go before the opinion if the report is bad, but after the opinion if the report is unqualifed.

[Anonymous]

Just took audit today…..oh man am I drained. Anyone else take it this window yet?

[RyanK]

I took audit Friday the 2nd, left with an hour and 47 minutes left. Two of the sims and one of the communication questions sucked… But I felt better leaving AUD than I did REG & BEC (86 & 85 respectively). Though from what I have read here feeling good about Audit means nothing.

I hate audit, I do tax, comp, & review and hope to never see audit material again.

We'll see how it goes, taking FAR prior to score release so I don't lose my motivation.

BEC - 85 1st attempt
REG - 86 1st attempt
AUD - 80 1st attempt

[TNcandidate]

RyanK. Leaving AUD early can be a good thing or a kiss of death. I took AUD three times (66,74, and finally 80). Remember AUD can be tricky. Unlike the other sections; there can be two answers that are very close. I believe the reason they give you more time is to debate in your mind those two close answers. But I agree, you must know what stage of the audit that you are in to attack this section.

[genau]

With regards to your written communication, you should remember that business writing is not always the same as writing an essay for an english class. Business should be more concise and to the point, and not necessarily in a three paragraph form. My policy with writing on the CPA exam is to make it as short as possible and use the most vocabulary. It has worked well so far with AUD & REGS.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I agree enough to get your point across using correct grammer and things, and ALOT of key vocabulary. I am done with AUD, REG, and FAR. So, just saying what I did.

One Sim I had I looked after the exam…DANG I got it half right (REG)…passed with an 87.(thought I would be lucky to get 40 points when I walked out of there! I knew I had the 10 points for grammer and all that jazz otherwise I would have thought 30 to 35 points.)

[rafiki]

retook the AUD exam in Jan of 2011, got the score 3 months later, in March and realized got a 65 as opposed to the original 68 and now I am very upset because I am deep in work, working big 4 hours and not sure when I will get time or peace of mind to regain the confidence I was able to gather up by passing REG, FAR, and BEC at first shot within 2 months.

Did Becker MCQs, both final exams, all simulations at least twice if not more.

Any advise on what to do?

REG: 79 Exam Date:8/9/2010
BEC: 76 Exam Date:8/30/2010
FAR: 76 Exam Date:10/09/2010
AUD: 68 Exam Date: 10/28/10, 65 Exam Date: 1/10/11(?!!), Retake whenever time permits =(

[Author]

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