Mneumonics

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  • #157190
    south0085
    Participant

    Is it necessary to memorize all of the mnemonics? I am studying for Audit right now and their are soooo many of them. I don’t see how it’s possible to memorize them all. Thank you.

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  • #217036
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I never memorized all the mnemonics. I assume you are using Becker? They throw so many at you, and some are not needed. If there was something I felt was especially important and I thought I might have trouble remembering every detail I tried to memorize the mnemonic. Otherwise I made sure I understood the topic well enough to be able to figure it out on a question and I would move on. Hope that helps!

    #217037
    south0085
    Participant

    Thank you. Yes, I am using Becker. I haven't memorized all of them either. I am like you. I am memorizing only the ones that seem really important. On a side note. I noticed that you have already passed Audit. This is the section I am currently studying for. I take my exam Feb 24. It will be my first CPA Exam. What has been the key for your success thus far?

    #217038
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I too did not memorize all of them. It seems like if someone sneezed they made a mnemonic for it. You start to forget which mnemonic goes with what topic. Look at the ones that cover topics you feel weak in or strike you as important. I went with internal controls, evidence testing (forget now, but it was a long one on the different types of tests such as vouch, trace, etc).

    AUD was my first section as well and I also used Becker. The key to my success was really doing the MC questions over and over and over again. If your eyes start to bleed from doing the MC questions so much you are getting close. When doing the questions don't just look for the correct answer. Before looking at the answer identify which concept they are testing, what the correct answer is, why the wrong answers are wrong, and then think of how they could ask a question a different way. If you do that and can score in the 85-90% range on all the various question sets you should be in great shape. The above is how I used the Becker materials and I scored 94 on the actual test.

    In addition, I would spend some time and make sure you know/understand/memorize that funky chart they draw in one of the latter classes dealing with audit tests. I'm thinking of the chart that includes the client's inventory, records, the auditors sample count. The chart has the arrows coming and going to the different areas and discusses vouching and tracing. That was a goofy chart and was a bit confusing. Spend some time on it and listen to the lecture again until you understand it. There are many questions that can be derived from those concepts and can net you several points on the exam.

    The practice final exams in Becker were good. They were harder than my actual exam but felt to be a good match. Don't skimp on the supplemental questions. There are a ton of them but spend the time and do them. They ask questions in different ways than the regular questions and seeing the questions asked in different ways will help you think through the actual exam questions.

    #217039
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    I have always been a pretty good test taker, so I think that has helped me. However I really have to focus when I am studying to retain anything, if I am distracted at all I am wasting my time.

    Specifically for AUDIT, do as many multiple choice practice problems as you can. MC is 70% of the exam so I always remember that I can “bomb” the simulations and still pass, but the MC are the make-or-break section. If you bomb them you will almost certainly not pass. In addition I found that several practice questions in Becker were very similar to questions I got on my exam, so that was a nice bonus. The other thing I would make sure you know forwards and backwards is the structure of the various audit reports, and how they change depending on the auditor's opinion and the circumstances. Other than that relax when you are at the testing center. By that point you either know it or you don't, so don't stress yourself out. Stay calm and keep a good pace through the questions, its not worth it to obsess over one question and find yourself running short of time at the end (although with Audit its not as big of an issue).

    #217040
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Dale makes a good point about how to do the MC questions too. You cannot go through them like a robot or you will find yourself memorizing the Becker questions/answers but not the concepts. Then when the exam throws you a curve you might be stumped. Work the MC questions actively. I also like to note things in the book during the lectures that sound like they could easily be tested, and I make sure I understand the material and think of how it might be tested/asked on the exam.

    #217041
    south0085
    Participant

    Thank you all for your replies. They are a great deal of help. One thing each of you said really stuck out to me. I do believe I am going the through the multiple choice as a robot. I am not learning the concept, but I am merely memorizing the questions. This is something that I definitely need to pay attention to. If I do this, I think my chances of passing will be greatly increased. Thank you again.

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