[CageTheCPA]

Hi Guys, I’ve been lurking here for a while and finally felt worthy to join have now sat for two section (AUD – 68, BEC – 5/24 score release) and received my first (failing) score.

I’m not deflated from my score as I was sure I’d failed leaving the exam. Not because my brain melted or felt like the material on the exam was new, but because there were a handful of questions that dealt with independence, which I admittedly didn’t study in-depth, and tried the whole educated guessing thing. The SIMS were alright, but I had about 2 hours to complete them and left with 30 minutes remaining.

I’m now studying for REG with a 6/10 test date and then plan to pivot to FAR on 6/13 for a 7/30 test date. I used Gleim Materials/Audio and NINJA MCQ/SIMS, got through about 1,100 MCQ’s and 20 SIM and was trending in the 80’s before taking AUD. I guess I’m just not sure how to re-study for Audit and for how long.

My initial game plan was to reactivate my NINJA MCQ and look at the areas I was weaker in and spend most of the time reviewing that. Is there a benefit to re-doing all the MCQ’s though? Or maybe the problem/trouble questions? I do intend to spend more time on SIMS. And I’m not sure how long to study either? I know a 68 isn’t the best, but it’s somewhere in the ballpark (maybe the 300+ level?), so is a full 6 week study plan the best use of time?

I’m willing to put the work in, I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m not, I’m just trying to assess the cost/benefit. And would like feedback on your best practices. Thanks!

[Missy]

I'm sorry about your score, I've been there and it stinks.

First, taking three exams in the same testing window is exceptionally ambitious, and while I hope you pass BEC and REG you may want to space them out more.

Second, when you retake AUD, study more hours than you did the first time. If 120 hours got you a 68 give yourself another 140 hours of study time. I took AUD three times, and each time I treated it as if I had never seen it before.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Sang]

Since you have studied for and taken the tests for AUD, BEC, and REG, why not focus the 3rd window on passing these tests first?

I don't think you should jump to FAR yet.

Some people recommend studying for 200 hours and doing 3,000 MCQs for each section.
If you want to be more safe on passing the exams, you can adopt this goal.

FAR: (05/24/16) | (07/15/16) | (10/22/16)
AUD: (09/07/16) | (11/29/16) |
BEC: TBD
REG: TBD
Using Roger CPA Review + Ninja (MCQs, Notes, Audio)

[CageTheCPA]

Thanks MLA and Sang for the advice!

I just realized that I can’t test for AUD again this window anyway, so it’ll be sometime in Q3/Q4.

I typically put in 20 hours per week (3hrs weeknights, 2.5 Sat and Sun) of studying and usually listen to Gleim Audio during the day at work (until I get to the point where I just can’t for the day). I start each section watching the videos and taking light notes, I can usually wrap this up during the first week. I then move on to reading (Gleim Book, NINJA Notes) and MCQs and try to do about 100 MCQs (3 sets at 20 Q’s each from random sections, 2 sets of trouble or missed Q’s) and 1-3 SIMS per night.

For BEC I did re-write my notes as suggested, which is something I didn’t do for AUD, but will do going forward. For BEC I also copied the Q’s and explanations from wrong answers into a word doc and read them before bed and the week of my exam I started back at lesson one on the audio and also replayed/read/etc. topics I wasn’t clear on. I’ve adopted this strategy since studying for and taking AUD… hopefully it pays off!

[Author]

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