[Evan]

The AUD test on 5/28 had to be the strangest CPA exam section that I have ever taken. (I have been actively taking the exam and trying to pass AUD & FAR for about the last 3 years. I have passed REG & BEC two times each but can’t quite get over the hump on AUD & FAR. I came close on FAR last time with a 74, and have scored in the high 60’s on AUD in the past. If I didn’t get AUD & FAR in this window I have to start over because I will lose credit for REG & BEC.)

I always go into the test with a time budget so that I have enough time left to complete the simulations. For the AUD section that I took on 5/28 I budgeted 50 minutes for each multiple choice section, leaving me with 1 hour for each simulation. (A piece of advice for anyone reading this, have a time budget and stick to it.) I completed the first testlet in about 20 minutes, the second was harder and one took me around 30 minutes. So at that point I was 50 minutes ahead of schedule and was actually freaking out a little bit as to why I was so far ahead. In all my CPA exam test taking I have never been this far ahead of my budget.

The third testlet seemed even harder than the second, but I completed it in about 40 minutes. So I had 3 hours heading into the simulations. It was actually kind of nice because I took my time and was able to complete all of the tabs as well as the communication and research for each simulation. I finished up with about 20 minutes on the clock.

I guess my question is has anyone else had an experience like this where they were so far ahead the could actually slow down towards the end and spend a significant amount of time on the simulations? When signing in one time I noticed that someone else who had taken the exam that day had only taken about 2 and a half hours on either the FAR or AUD exam. Other than that I don’t know of anyone who has finished FAR or AUD early. Most of the time I am usually behind and trying to play “catch-up” at the end of the exam.

Most recent scores
BEC-80, FAR-79
REG-73 - 2/19/2011
AUD-74 - April 2011

[financeguy]

oh yeah. I had plenty of time for AUD. I took my time on both the MC's and sims and I finished w/ over 1.5 hours left.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[jeff]

It's normal. It's such a common question that I included it in my “50 things” e-book.

https://www.another71.com/50-things/

[Shawna]

I had alot of time left on AUD too. I had about 2.5 hours going into the sims and about an hour left on the clock when I finished.

FAR- 70, 76 REG - 91 BEC - 80 AUD - 74, 85

GA - NASBA state

[Halfwaythere]

I think it's normal, especially for the multiple choice. There aren't a lot of calculations involved so it's feasible that you can carefully read a question, mark your first gut answer, and move on. I finished the exam with almost 2 hours left. I think the real trap with AUD is overthinking and overanalyzing. If you have a good background going into the test trust your instinct and just try to stay calm.

REG-95 BEC-93 FAR-90 AUD-99

[FARbehind]

I don't get this one, totally… I don't get how you can have so much time left and drag the exams for 3 years (actively taking exams). It just never made sense to me. But maybe it's just me. With this history I would make sure i use all my time. I know people who finish exams always ahead of time but they are perfect and they know it. I hope you pass all of them but when people say they had a lot of time left I don't know what to think. To me the “normal” is to run out of time (if something can be ever normal with these exams)…

aud,bec,reg-passed
far-->75 Done!!!!!
ethics-100

[financeguy]

FARbehind

When I take my exams, I NEVER second guess myself. If I don't know the answer immediately w/in seconds of reading the question then I mark it for review and come back later to re-read it and analyze it in more depth. However once I choose my answer, I never come back to it. I think it is important not to doubt yourself. I read some people go back and re-check all their questions. I never re-checked a quesion after I answered it.

I haven't taken FAR or REG yet, but in terms of both AUD and BEC, time should be no issue at all.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[Rski]

I'd love to have extra time. With BEC, I had about 5 min left, FAR (passed) and REG (waiting) I ran out of time and wasn't able to finish my simulations….

[Author]

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