[Isaac]

I failed AUD again. I got a 70 this time. Previously, I got a 73. I’m at a loss for words. I put in the time and did the work. I switched from Becker to Yaeger (which helped me pass FAR)…..but it didn’t help me for this exam. I felt really good about this one. What am I going to do? I followed the videos. I took notes and re-wrote them multiple times. I did EVERY question in the Wiley book. And I did homework sessions on the Wiley Test Bank almost every day. I need some help.

FAR...80...Yaeger...Nov/2011
AUD...Exam...Oct/2012
REG
BEC

[Anonymous]

Here are 2 things I did for AUD which I think helped me a lot…

Out of all the exams, AUD requires the most amount of logical thinking (especially since there's very minimal calculations). Some of us have flawed thinking in certain areas of accounting because of things we've learned, done at the workplace, etc. Not saying any of those things are wrong, but theory and practice are very different. So what I did was keep track of every problem I did whether it was from the Wiley book or online. First I did all the problems in the book, then I did all the problems in the test bank, then went back to the book, then back to the test bank, etc. so I wasn't doing them so close together where I could memorize answers. Then I wrote down what problems I got wrong both the 1st and 2nd time through and identified those as being where my thinking was flawed. I spent a lot of extra time unlearning those and relearning them the correct way. I think I probably put in way too much time, but I wanted to give myself as much of a chance at passing as possible.

Another thing that helped me was rewatching all the lectures over a 4 day period prior to the exam. While taking the exam, I was able to recall quite a few things I remembered just from listening to Gary.

[Anonymous]

Don't beat yourself up about a drop in your score. Every exam is different and you may have gotten something that was harder this time than the last or something that you didn't focus as much of your studies on. I had to take auditing five times before I finally passed it. Just make sure you are understanding why you get the answers wrong and why you get them right. Are you reading the answer explanations for the right and wrong answers when you work the mcq's? If not, then you should. It is a great way to drill in the theory.

Also, maybe you should consider the ninja notes and/or audio that Jeff has to help. You could pick up a few points that way also.

[Isaac]

Thanks apbandj. I will try your techniques. Your scores obviously prove that you did something right.

bnrhilton – I probably do blaze through the questions/answers sometimes. I will try to read the correct and incorrect choices from now on and see if that helps. Regarding the Ninja Notes: I'm scared to spend more money on more study materials may/may not help me. This exam process has already drained me enough financially. I just don't see how his notes can be better than the notes I'm taking. What's the difference in his notes and the book?

FAR...80...Yaeger...Nov/2011
AUD...Exam...Oct/2012
REG
BEC

[mcwingnutz]

Concerning the Ninja Notes/Audio/Flashcards, I do believe they would be worth the investment. I don't think that any of them are necessarily groundbreaking that will take you from a 50 to a 90, but they would allow you to get over that hump. You are only 2-5 points away from a passing score, and just having something different could provide that extra push to get you to a 75. I used the Ninja notes on FAR after I failed the first time, and was able to increase my score just enough to pass. The Ninja notes definitely simplify the information found in Becker, and are just generally easier to follow. If nothing else, they at least make the information look less terrifying. And with the buy one get one free deals that Jeff always has on this site, you can end up getting two types of study guides for $100.

AUD - 71,81
BEC - 78
REG - 81
FAR - 69, 76 and Done!

[Anonymous]

Regarding the ninja notes, Jeff has put together all the information that is the most heavily tested into a clear, concise, format that is easy to read and retain. I carried them everywhere I went, I also saved them onto my phone and ipad so that I could read them whenever I didn't carry the physical copy. I also invested in the audio and burned them to a cd to listen to in my car. This last time, when I finally passed, was the first time I fully re-wrote all the ninja notes and I listened to the audio on my commute every day so I was able to listen to the entire set of lectures in full each week just on my commute back and forth to work so I listened to it at least 6 or 8 times and it definitely helped.

[Isaac]

mcwingnutz – I use Yaeger as my study program. Do the notes follow Yaeger as well?

FAR...80...Yaeger...Nov/2011
AUD...Exam...Oct/2012
REG
BEC

[mcwingnutz]

@Future_CPA…I have only used Becker. And the Ninja notes don't necessarily follow becker, but simply cover the same topics, which I would assume that all the study programs do. For example, in FAR, the Ninja notes have a seperate section for Government, a section for Bonds, a section for IFRS, etc. I would therefore think that the Ninja notes were created to supplement any study program.

AUD - 71,81
BEC - 78
REG - 81
FAR - 69, 76 and Done!

[Anonymous]

I believe the ninja notes follow more closely to the Wiley book.

[mla1169]

I used the ninja notes for my 3rd go at AUD and they helped immensely!

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[rezaking]

mla1169 when you studied the third time with the notes what exactly did you do for that 84? I just got the ninja notes and after im done with REG im gona take audit again.. any help as to what you did and how you studied that third time will help me a lot.

thanks!

BEC - Passed
REG - 7/21/2012
AUD - 8/18/2012
FAR - 11/10/2012

[Anonymous]

I know that feel, bro. I've received a 73 & 74 last week.

At least you have FAR done. I've got it Thursday.

[mopena14]

Ninja notes are the way to go and the Wiley MCQs are awesome. Just make sure not to glaze over some items, I know for me this last time around a whole bunch of light bulbs started to go off on things I thought I understood and may not have paid as much attention too as I should have before.

BEC 73, 71, 79 (1/3/12)
AUD 48, 70 (1/31/12), 85 (4/9/12)
REG 70, 61, 77 (2/29/12)
FAR 42, 74 (5/29/12), 80 (7/16/12)
Ethics - 98 (4/20/12)
Officially a CPA (8/9/12)

[rezaking]

did you redo everything from the start? I have becker.. i just bought wiley.. and i just bought ninja notes. will a month of study be enough to retake it? im trying to schedule it after im done with REG.

BEC - Passed
REG - 7/21/2012
AUD - 8/18/2012
FAR - 11/10/2012

[mla1169]

I rewrote the ninja notes 9 pages per night. Took about 10 days to rewrite the entire ninja notes and I did it 3x. I also tried to get through a Wiley practice exam every 2 days. I was also working full time and in my last class for my MS in accounting. It was intense but I'm convinced I'd still be taking it now otherwise.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Isaac]

Thank you everyone for your help. I'm still debating the option of getting the Ninja Notes. But it sounds like it's something I should invest in. For now, I am focusing on REG. Any advice on that section? (I'm using Yaeger)

FAR...80...Yaeger...Nov/2011
AUD...Exam...Oct/2012
REG
BEC

[Author]

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