[Jeff01234567]

Hi all,

New to the forum here, I was studying and felt a bit down so I decided to look through the web for encouragement and found this forum!

As you can tell by my title, I am studying for AUD right now. My test is on Feb 26th.

I’ve been having a strange experience studying for AUD. This is my third exam; I passed BEC with 81 in Oct and FAR with 83 in Jan. For BEC, I did not know what to expect for my first test so I prepared very intensely. For FAR, the vast swathes of information forced me to study diligently.

However, studying for AUD has been different compared to my other tests… Because none of the questions are computational, I find myself flying through the questions (average of 20-30 seconds/question) and have found the MC questions and topics to be very easy and understandable (compared to FAR). I’m finding a lack of motivation to study now simply because the test feels too easy compared to the other two I have passed.

Has anyone else been through this experience before? Am I underestimating this test or is it really so much easier than all the other tests?

(P.S. I’m studying with Becker CPA and will be starting my first Big 4 job in the fall)

BEC - 83 Oct 23
FAR - 84 Jan 8
AUD - 81 Feb 26
REG - 84 May 23

[MaLoTu]

It is possible that you really just understand AUD. With AUD it is important to understand the reports and what belong on each type vs. what doesn't. Make sure you can completely decipher the assertions . The AUD exam catches many off guard because there are not many computations and you have to rely more on true understanding than memorization. I thought I was totally prepared for AUD the first time I took it and was crushed that I got a 55! Passed the second time, though. With your previous scores I have a feeling you are fine.

[Jeff01234567]

Your situation with your first AUD test is what I am afraid of. I “feel” like I am prepared but reality could be totally different.

I did not feel 100% prepared for FAR and even came out of the exam thinking I may have failed. Needless to say I was very surprised by my score. Then again, to prepare for FAR, I stayed home and studied through the entire 2015 holiday season. Can't say that I've put the same amount of time into AUD.

BEC - 83 Oct 23
FAR - 84 Jan 8
AUD - 81 Feb 26
REG - 84 May 23

[monikernc]

Do you understand the assertions and know what audit procedures to use for each? Have you attempted the sims included with your review and understand what they are asking? Hopefully, you have not just memorized the questions. You need to know the entire process, and the differences between reviews and compilations and attest engagements. Know what standards apply to issuers and nonissuers. Do you know the professionalism requirements? If you've got all that you are probably golden. Do the recently released questions and see how you do. Keep studying and Good luck!

FAR 7/25/15 76!
AUD 10/30/15 93
BEC 2/27/16 82
REG 5/23/16 88!
Ninja Book and MCQ and the forum - all the way!!!
and a little thing i like to call, time and effort!
if you want things to change, you have to do something different

[Jeff01234567]

Not very good at assertions and audit procedures, but I've pretty much nailed every other AUD concept. I'm a tax person so I guess it's harder to wrap my head around how to actually perform an audit, as opposed to what an audit is and why it's performed.

BEC - 83 Oct 23
FAR - 84 Jan 8
AUD - 81 Feb 26
REG - 84 May 23

[MaLoTu]

Jeff – You really need to completely understand the assertions and the different types of engagements along with what belongs on their reports. The MR DIM mnemonic is VERY helpful. Write and rewrite the standard unmodified report. Know when and why to use emphasis of matter or other matter. Definitely focus on A1-3.

[sar_rah]

I felt exactly the same as you! AUD was also my 3rd after taking FAR and BEC. Im like eh, this isn't so bad…am I just complacent? I (tried to) put just as much effort into studying it as I did for FAR and BEC, however, I just flew through the material. I definitely studied a lot, but it wasn't as long and painful as the others. You can see by my scores that with the same or less prep, I did exceptionally better on audit! Its just one of those things I think that once you get it, you get it.

And no, when I went into my exam there were quite a few topics that I knew I didnt have mastered! (assertions, transaction cycles, segregation of duties, and GAGAS)

AUD: 98
REG: 91
BEC: 86
FAR: 83

DONE DONE DONE and DONE all on the first try! It IS possible, just keep on studying!

[Jeff01234567]

cb_6185 – Whoa 98! Very impressive score! Makes me feel a lot more relieved. I even have the same topics as you that I didn't 100% master. I guess I should spend the next week to shore up those areas and I should be good to go.

BEC - 83 Oct 23
FAR - 84 Jan 8
AUD - 81 Feb 26
REG - 84 May 23

[Jdn9201]

Jeff, I feel like I could have written your post. 🙂 I'm also a tax person and took/passed AUD as my 3rd exam in January. It was very hard for me to stay alert and pick up the concepts because of the lack of computations. I'm so used to seeing numbers that my brain has a hard time considering information to be important without it. I took BEC and REG first because I wanted to quickly knock out the first 2 exams that I thought would be the easiest for me. I was kind of afraid of AUD because I only had 1 AUD course in college, and that was in grad school. Beware of AUD because it can be very sneaky. I studied over 5-6 weeks (I work full time) and felt pretty confident going in, but the questions I received were worded very tricky. I felt like the chances of me smoking it was as high as it smoking me. It's good you seem to be picking up on things quickly. Just watch out for how questions can be worded differently because that completely changes your answer.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Jeff01234567]

jdn9201 – Seems like FAR might be easier for you then if you are computationally-minded. I could not fully grasp pensions and govt accounting even the day before the test and did fine. Good luck on yours next week!

BEC - 83 Oct 23
FAR - 84 Jan 8
AUD - 81 Feb 26
REG - 84 May 23

[Jdn9201]

Thanks Jeff – good luck to you with AUD. That's good to hear that you passed FAR without fully grasping everything. I put myself on a crazy schedule – I just started studying for FAR on Feb 7th. Realistically, I'm probably preparing myself for a retake. I haven't even made it to pensions yet. I had to slow myself down to get GVT, non-profit, and leases, but have been ok with everything else. I did see though where ASC 740 is a topic. I would pay them money to just either give me the REG exam again, or make it all ASC 740, then I'd be good to go.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

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