[Liiyum]

I’m more or less a new poster here and was hoping some of you can give me some tips on how to pass Audit.

So a little backstory, I have been studying the CPA for about a year now and I have currently 3 out of the 4 of them besides AUD. Basically how I studied for each of these exams is by using Becker, going through the lecture and then doing the MCQ (I only glanced the HW SIMS just to know how to work them). Then when it comes review time, I redid all of the homework questions and the ones I got wrong, I marked them and did those ones again until I got all right. So this helped me get stronger in every MCQ category (except for audit), meanwhile SIMS were always on the “weaker” side for SIMS, other than for REG (I work in tax, so I understood more on the SIMS). I think part of the reasons why I find audit to be so difficult is because I am much better with numbers and calculations, while audit requires judgment and a lot more reading.

Today, I received a score of 68 on audit (on my second time taking it, first one was 69). On this exam I scored weaker in every MC category along with the SIMS (while I was comparable last time for MCQ and weaker for SIMS). I found this surprising as I felt well prepared for both attempts. I spent about 8 weeks to prepare the first attempt and about 5 weeks to prepare for the second attempt. My question are:
– How long do you think is enough time to spend before I re-take the exam? I took audit about a week ago, so I still remember everything.
– How should I study differently? Order new MCQ, final review, a different study material?
– For those that have failed and then passed (preferably audit, but any exam works), what did you do differently?
– What should I focus on in audit?

I have until May before FAR expires, so I have two more chances, but I would like to pass the next time in Q1, as busy season does start in February and I would be fairy nervous for Q2 if I know FAR is on the line. Thanks for reading!

[lincoln6echo]

I have been there. For me, I had to buy a totally new review course. I chose Yaeger and it really explained the audit concepts very well, so I had a good grounding. this for me, was important because I took internal not external auditing at college, and the test is very heavy on external audit concepts. I also consider myself to be more of a tax person. I passed audit on the 4th attempt (my other exams I passed first or second time). Keep going, dont give up and maybe take a look at Yaeger as a review course.

[Jax]

I went back and went through every chapter and made notes on the chapter outlines that they provide. Then, Becker has these new pre-assessments. If I passed the pre-assessment, I would then go on to the skills practice. If I failed the pre-assessment, I would go back and review the chapter outlines and make sure I knew the basic concepts. Then I would redo EVERY multiple choice. After I finished each and every Becker section, I'd do 30 general McQ from Ninja. This took awhile, but I was able to reinforce what I had just studied and practice the chapters I'd completed. At the end of each Becker chapter, I would go and do all the SIMS, then do a progress test. At the end, I did the practice exams, and just drilled the Ninja McQ. I also did every single SIM in both Becker and Ninja just to practice. It's a slog, but I got an 84 on my retest using this method.

[Liiyum]

@jax


@lincoln6echo

Thank you both of you for your replies and the words of encouragement! Failing this time around definitely stung because I did worse than last time and felt more confident than the last time I took it. How long did you guys study for the retake that you guys passed? I budgeted about 3 weeks to a month (since all of this is still fresh in my head). I will order the Ninja MCQ, since it seemed to be very beneficial to you guys!

[Anonymous]

I'm using Wiley books only (and it shows), and Wiley AUD was the one book where the notes actually helped me nail down the basics (the audit process, differences between reports and reviews, etc). I also think I'd have done better if I had bothered to take even one auditing class. 😛

But my approach to the exams is always the same: to know a little more than what I knew the last time.

[TryingtoCPA16]

@Liiyum congratulations on passing the other exams!

1. I think that you should take as long as you would if you hadn't taken audit before. You aren't trying to get the extra 7 points, you're trying to get 75. So I would suggest not putting a time on it. You should take as long as you need to until you feel like you're ready. When I took the exams, I paid for my NTS and registered for the exam in the same week that I felt ready. (Except the first time, I didn't know the NTS came back so fast)
2. Audit is a tough one, but maybe trying new material may be a good thing. Jeff has the Assault package available 50% off and it is a great deal! Maybe you should try the NINJA approach?
4. Know everything for audit. I think the more MCQs you do, the better off you will end up. There may be two answers that look correct but one is better than the other. Do MCQs until you're tired of seeing them…. and then do more 🙂

The next time you take this exam you're going to pass it! Good luck!

[Liiyum]

@tryingtocpa16

Thanks! I was on a nice roll but Audit seems to be my Kryptonite. Yeah you’re right, I will sign up for the exam whenever I feel ready, not sure if my ego can handle another fail (especially not 2). Thanks for the tips and congrats on your cpa as well!

@calvinus

Thanks! Okay I’ll look into Wiley! At this point I’m willing to pay anything to try and get this pass! I think I got lucky with FAR, so I really do not want to retake that again.

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