welcome to my situation my friend

welcome to my situation my friend
Does anyone think it's possible to fail after feeling great about the test? I took my AUD retake on 7/16 and felt great about the mc and pretty good about the sims (had 3 or 4 problem tabs, but I figured it wouldn't hurt me too badly). I was certain about passing after the test as I was nearly jumping up and down upon leaving the test center, but now my anxiety is rising a little and some minor doubts are arising as score release nears. I felt better about this test than any I've taken so far. It's just hard to act like it's in the books until I actually see that passing score. Has anyone had a similar experience to this, and what were your results? Thanks.
I would be surprised if you failed and had a 74 last time. What was your feeling when you got the 74? Also how did you feel after FAR. I just took that and I felt good about the test, but now am starting to have doubts.
To quote Vin Diesel..."It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile...winning is winning"
Related to the CPA exam, "It doesn't matter if you pass with a 75 or a 95...passing is passing."
Studying for that 75 next Saturday.....
Gabe, to be honest I felt quite shaky about my first AUD exam. I knew it would probably be close, but not that close. I felt like I had done decent on the mc and horrible on the sims. It turns out I had done below average on the mc and sims and stronger on wc. My most recent AUD exam felt like the mc were a lot easier altogether than my first attempt. This could be because I knew the material better as well.
As far as my FAR exam, I felt terrible after taking it. Felt like I bombed the mc and did well on the sims and wc. Thought I made in the 60's. Don't know exactly how I did since I passed, but glad not to know. My REG exam I felt like I did really well and thought I would make in the 80's or better, but only got a 79. I must say, though, that I feel better about the most recent AUD exam than anything I've taken so far. I'm sure I will pass, but I just won't feel better about it until I see my score. I hate the long wait for scores, it really is ridiculous.
On April 14, 2010 I took FAR and failed the exam with a 74! I was hoping it would be my last time to take the CPA exam since I had already passed Audit, REG and BEC. Due to the fact that I failed FAR and 18 months had passed since I received credit for AUD, my AUD expired! Now I am currently working on AUD and waiting on the results of FAR that was taken on July 1, 2010. If I do not pass FAR and AUD during this testing window, my REG will also expire.
My question is....how much preparation time do you think it will take for AUD considering it has been almost 2 years since I initially passed AUD?
One point away from becoming a CPA and now I may only have BEC under my belt after this testing window. Panic is beginning to set in :(
It is a long process, but always better to get it at the end of this month than have to wait until next month.
I took AUD on 7/11, taking REG this week, 8/12 and BEC 8/25, 3 exams in a month and half, what are my chances, has anyone ever crammed them in this tight before? how did you do?
mago20
I would be brain dead - are you a recent college grad? If so - you have a chance. Back in the pencil and paper days people sat for all parts in a few days time. They passed and lived to tell the tale.
You could push BEC to the end of the window if there is a spot to give yourself a tad more than just less than 2 weeks.
I'm packing AUD & BEC in 2 weeks intervals too and I feel braindead already. But if I pass it'll be worth it, I hope. I find audit extremely irritating, I'd rather study for another financial, audit is terribly boring to me!
I graduated last year, took fare right away and passed, worked tax season and now i want to cram it in the summer, so i can move on with my life
Alright guys, I did a final exam and I scored a 76, 70, 76. Are those good enought to pass the AUDIT exam?
Christian - the only practice exams I took through Becker were on BEC - I studied like crazy for the exam and then about 4 days before I took it I took a practice exam on the CD and scored about a 75 (can't remember exactly). I freaked out because I thought that meant I was right on the cusp, then I took the exam 4 days later and got an 84. I think (from personal experience and from what I have read on here) that the practice exams are tougher.
Also - good luck to everyone! I took the exam last wednesday and am now going to be on Another71 everyday awaiting news of the release dates! What's the expected date... sometime late next week?
I think the actual exam questions read easier than the practice in Gliem and Becker. Alot of times when I study I am scratching my head trying to figure out what they are asking. I have not had the same issue with the Real Exam.
I was just wondering if Section 101 of the Sarbanes Oxley act (Independence requirements) is covered in this section of the CPA exam. I was always under the assumption that this was tested on the Regulation portion of the exam. I noticed that in A1 of the Becker review materials there are several questions that pertain to specific Independence requirements from section 101 (questions on covered members, direct financial interests, etc.) in the supplementary questions. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
There is an update to 2009 A1 on the Becker website that covers Auditor's Independence. They recommend reviewing this material.
I'm using the 2010 materials but had noticed information pertaining to Section 101 in the second appendix. It also included a note that stated it was derived from the Regulation text. I'd rather be more rather than less prepared but I was just curious if this was strictly for informative purposes. Thank you for the insight CPAWannaBe. You appear to be a very informative and helpful person on this board and I really hope you aced your FAR exam. All I can say about my FAR exam is that there were many questions that weren't covered in the Becker material.
*smile*
I have been reading this forum a long time and learned a great deal from here. We all have one thing in common and it's nice to have a place to share our feelings and experiences.
On all three attempts at FAR I had a few things not covered by Becker. Hopefully they were pretest, or we guessed correctly!
Becker misses *a lot* of things, or, even worse, buries important stuff in an Appendix, which, IMO, is sort of an afterthought to be reviewed only if you have the time (and who does???). I'm studying now for BEC and finding a lot of really good information in the Appendices...why not just make them part of the regular text?
I will say, though, specifically regarding independence and 101--independence is a BFD. The only public accounting experience I have is Big 4 and my firm had individuals on staff whose sole job was to track independence. Furthermore, every client serving professional has to update his/her independence at least annually (more frequently if manager or above). My point is that, considering how important it is to the profession (and the fines the PCAOB will slap on your a$$ if it's violated), independence is certainly not something to gloss over and Becker doesn't give it the consideration it deserves.
AU1222
I think you get hung up on details, I am not going for start A's on the exam, I am just looking at getting a 75 on the exam. So far I left the exam felt like there was no way I passed. I have been using Becker as my choice of study material, I have passed the first two exams that I took, and waiting on Audit. Honestly there is no way that a review course hit every topic...
A detail-oriented accountant? I perish the thought;). Trust me, while working 50+ hours/week with a 5-year old and a 2-year old at home, I don't have to time to get caught up in minutae, either.
I understand what you're saying, but I am talking about more than just minutae not covered by Becker. Both of my written tabs covered a subject that Becker flat-out ignored.
1 - the exam is sort of curved. I've taken multiple exams (far n bec) where I left the testing site feeling like I got hit by a bus and dragged on for a few blocks. I was ready to quite. I received an 86 and an 89. On far I left. Multiple sim tabs blank (in both sims ..so at least a few of my pathetic attempts or lack there of counted). The end result was I passed with a SAT or GMAT in which ur going to get a lot wrong but will still pass or get a decent score.
2- Aud is an easier subject for most ppl to do well on, as opposed to financial or reg. In turn, the curve I mentioned ealiar is not a steep. But I'm sure its still there.
3- this forum should not be used as a benchmark. Most ppl posting are gogetters or at least those ppl that don't care as much are not here sharing how much effort they don't put in.
4- the person that has two kids at home and got a 97 on an exam needs to get his priorities straight. 97 ..stop wasting ur life. I will say this is comiing from an unhappy big 4 slave.
5- I think the rewards that come with passing this exam are almost not worth it. I'm talking about money, accounts for the most part ..Vast majority .. not rich or even not "that" well off. Construction worker make more than me (a lot more in many cases) and I'm a sr ass at a big 4. I'm also a top rated employee ... which got me the slimist of performance based raises and also got me a lott more work.then again it could be worse. Mcdonalds
6- wen u check ur score and see a passing grade...wat a feeling! Good luck everyone
NJ, I think you have the wrong attitude as far as compensation is concerned. I'm also an employee at a Big 4 accounting firm but let's be honest... Senior is still a peon in the grand scheme of the accounting/auditing hierarchy even though they brunt some of the most responsibility for engagements. As you progress through the ranks to higher levels you will surely be compensated for it. Also, I don't have to tell you that the most advantageous opportunities for accountants don't lie in the public sector. Once your skills are transferred into private industry your compensation will double/tripple and your workload will be severely reduced. With that in mind, I'm sure you will be quite successful if you perceive your situation in that manner and take this opportunity to learn all you can. Obviously if they promoted you to the rank of senior and you're receiving the best performance reviews, you're a qualified and capable individual. I wish you the best of luck. By the way, my regards on Kovalchuk.
NJ Devitz, I would appreciate it greatly if you would restrict your advice to the exam and leave my priorities out of it. First of all, I have never brought up my score on FAR, nor have I discussed the amount effort I put in. I have my score in my tagline, just as dozens of other posters here (yourself included) do. Not that it's any of your business, but since you felt the need to dispense advice, I am a 33-year old *mother* of two children. I was trying to lightheartedly mention to the other poster that I do not, in fact, perseverate on details while studying, I don't have the time. Because you seem so concerned, I studied about 120 hours total for FAR--mostly on my lunch breaks, after my kids went to bed and on weekends when they had daddy time. I believe that is right at the recommeded number of hours. I probably overstudied, but given that it was my first section, I had no idea what to expect. I studied approximately 80 hours for AUD--again level with the recommendation and am on tract for about the same for BEC. I suppose my score had a lot to do with the fact that, yes, I am an intelligent, but also experienced person, as well as the fact that the scores are curved. Furthermore (and since you were concerned about my priorities) I have left Big 4 because of the effect the long hours and travel had on my boys. I lost my job in banking (my bank failed) and thought it would be a good career move to enter public accounting...of course, it wasn't, but I am certainly qualified enough to gauge what is best for my family without some indvidual hiding behind the veil of anonimity of a message board to tell me how to live my life.
Come on Devils...97 or 77 the amount of "time" spent studying is probably the same.
People who study while trying to balance a young family/work/etc are superheroes.
AU1222,
Your point understood! Good luck!
NJ Devilz - just to put it in perspective I have worked for 11 years in accounting and made it to a 6 figure salary, so yes you can get very far without those three letters. Here is where the problem comes in, the company I worked for for the past 5 years just went through bankruptcy and I find myself not being able to find a comparable job without the CPA certification. I would not even mind taking a step back, but then all you hear is you are overqualified. In this job market it is crucial for you to compete with the number of people applying for each job. After the market gets better, earnings potential should be alot better as well assuming you take your job seriously. I also have a family and make sure that I have a decent work/life balance. This may not be possible for some who want to start off in public accounting.
Ok.. AU1222.. ill give u a well deserved apology. Its easy to throw comments around wen know one knows who u really are. I was trying to spicy the convo up by commenting on u to convey the point that the avg account works harder than they should for wat they are compensated. Stock brokers, construction workers, everyone.. is making more deniro per hour than us. Yes, I agree ten yrs into ur career u can make good money but ten yrs in another prof may make u just as much or more with the added value of ull prob have more of a life. I'm in a pesimistic mood, which I wouldn't recommend anyone following by lead on that. Its prob the fact that I have a gf pressuring me to get married n I have no time to think about it. Or no money to make it happen.
AU1222, raising two kids alone is impressive. I prob could not accomplish wat u have.
Hey NJ Devilz, I am 23 years old and I'm the one who pressured my girlfriend to marry me because she is the one that pushes me to continue studying. I passed FAR. I took AUD and felt like I bombed the test. I can't keep my mind off thinking about that test. I have a friend that is a father of 3 kids and he did it. I think that people that do sacrifices deserves to accomplish what they think they can do.
Jeff, have you heard of a score release this week?
Devilz, thank you very much for your apology. I totally understand having bad days and, after you clarified, what you were trying to say...I'm sorry that I got so fired up, too. Unfortunately, challenging my parenting skills and choices is a hot button that I need to work on. I wish I could take more credit but, I don't raise my boys alone. Although my husband travels 60-80% of the time, he is wonderful and helpful as far as helping me find time to study. Also, my in laws live down the street from us and are truly a blessing. Despite all of the hecticness in our lives, the boys are both well-adjusted and tell me that they are happy :).
Good luck with your other exams and the job distress...If I had gone into Big 4 right out of school, I think it would have been a different experience for me. I know how tough it is, but, to echo everyone else's sentiments, if you can stick it out, it will bring good things your way...
I took my Auditing exam yesterday and I found the test harder as compared to the other 2 exams that I took. First testlet I spent 20 minutes, 2nd testlet is more wordier and I spent 25 minutes and the 3rd is combination of short and long sentences that I have spent 35 mins. The WC for 2 sims are pretty ok and I use the research tabs to get some idea. However, the rest of the tabs for each simulations are really hard. It is barely covered by both Becker and Wiley. The tabs in my 1st sim is similar to the tabs in my 2nd sim. (very weird). My time expired as soon as I finished my last rearch tab . Four hours and a half of hard work and I am praying to get a 75!. Good luck to all those who took their exam and waiting for their score this window!
Wow! So I should save at least 3 hours for the sims? There's that much to do??
Just when I thought I could finally take an exam and not feel pressured for time, ugh!
suzzette1 - is it possible that the sims require knowlede of FAR which I notice you have not taken yet? I specifically recall Phil Yeager mentioning that you should take FAR before AUD to have a decent understanding since you are auditing if the company is in compliance with GAAP. My guess is simulations would also test your understanding of GAAP as opposed to MC questions which probably test theory more. I could be wrong. Hope you did well either way.
CPAWannaBe
My sims were not bad. The communications were over topics I was comfortable with. I spent way too much time on the first communication - but that was my fault. For me the hardest part of the sim was making sure I understood how the information was laid out and what I was suppose to do with it. Was the problem layering additional information or was I suppose to treat the new information independently - the answer was evident in the 3rd or 4th set of data. Most people wave plenty of time on the clock. Perhaps suzzette1 just got a tough sim.
I finished Audit with an hour left on the clock! I was rushed in FAR, but it seems like each exam is taking less time for me.
Of course I have not got my grade yet, I do not know how I did, so I might be speaking to soon!!
Shane
gabe1475 I think you are right . I should have taken FAR before Auditing. My sims are more of sims for FAR. I usually would only spend 30-45 minutes in simulation when I take my review but the actual sims that I got yesterday was really weird I think it is more on FAR sims than audit. The title of my tabs in sim 1 is more appropriate title for a requirement of tab in sims 2. Does anybody have almost the same 2 simulations such as the requirement for each tabs is really similar?
Does everybody think that the AUD simulations were very difficult???
I thought some of the tabs- about half in the AUD sims were difficult. And they were definitely harder than the mcq's; I definitely struggled with the sims in AUD, though had enough time.
christian2823-
Did you have a good/okay feeling about the FAR mcq's/sims when you took it?
I echo cpa journeys point in regards to the sims. I find that my command of the material isn't always the problem but instead i have trouble understanding the way the question is layed out, wat its asking, or. How the exam wants it answered.
With that said let me reiterate wat I've said before... the exam is "curved". If u get 50 % of the sim correct(raw score) that translates into a much higher grade that you see. Example .. raw score of 55 on exam will earn u the passing grade of an 80.
My theory isn't official but its wat I know from taking 4 exams. And it is wat always keeps my spirit up wen I'm feelin concerned about my grade.
I just came back home from the AUD test.
I wasn't very prepared since I studied for only one week before I had to fly to Italy for a family emergency and come back to LA only a few hours before the exam.
I felt pretty relaxed during the test, I noticed the second and third testlets being much more difficult than the first one.
I had 2h55m left for the sims. Took my time, a break before each sim, was able to use the research tab for some answers, including one WC.
I have no idea about how I did. I went in pretty relaxed knowing that I wasn't very prepared, maybe that helped (being relaxed, not being unprepared).
Anyways, I'm exhausted, jetlagged, and hungry right now (an 11:30am appointment is really not ideal unless you want to have a 10:30 lunch).
I am scheduled to take REG on 8/31, tried to see if I could take BEC instead and reschedule REG in October but no seat is available on 8/31....
Nevermind. Found a seat in San Diego on 8/31 for BEC. Postponed REG to 10/15
Anagha, no i didn't. I felt like I bombed the test. I guessed a lot on the mcqs. But I thought that I did well on the FAR SIMS.
I just want to ask something. I heard that the examiners grade us on how everyone else does. This means that if people score in the 80's or 90's, that would affect the ones that score on the 70's close to 75?
?
@christian2823
You are going to drive yourself insane if you keep thinking about your exam score. You cannot help your score at this point and different people have different experiences, all depends on their exam and knowledge. I believe there are several versions of each exam and they make them "comparable" by comparing how people did on each version and curving up or possibly down to make the average score the same... just a guess. Please stop torturing yourself and concentrate on BEC. Again, you cannot change your AUD score, but your future BEC score might be affected if you spend too much time thinking about audit. I hope you passed but let it go now :-)
suzzette1, I had the sims that you are talking about. It feels weird, but they had like the same topics. The were indeed hard
christian2823 I am going to forget about my Auditing exam for now and concentrate on my next exam which is FAR. We will see the "fruit of our labor" next week when AICPA will release the result (hopefully I will be included in wave 1). Move on to BEC. I know the feeling but we have to do it or we might be stuck to our past exam which we could not undo. Prayers help a lot . It makes me see things clearly when I am down.
I'm finding it extremely difficult to study for Audit... i took Reg on Friday and it's not the fact that i want to see my score (because i pretty much already accepted the fact that i failed) but i can't seem to get in the groove of studying. My mind is everywhere but the books. Facebook, Another71 forum, weather.... ANYTHING but auditing. Hopefully i get some motivation soon because Aug 31 seems to be coming too quickly!!
Also, does anyone notice with the Becker review, Tim G hesitates and pauses so much when he is reading/lecturing in chapter 2? It's as if he doesn't actually know what he is talking about or something. Either way, it's bothering me!
@koliver
i thought that since i have 3 weeks after my far exam i will have plenty of time for audit. however, i was not able to do anything for 2 weeks, i was just going in circles through chapter 1 and tv. anyway, my exam is in a few days and i've only been studying for about 4 days. i'm on chapter 3 now so it's going to be a miracle if i'll be able to review the material before monday. i agree that gearty is very annoying in audit, i really liked him for financial tho. good luck and try to buckle up or you'll be stressed like me :-/
big shot cpa... good luck on your exam on monday! yeah, i liked him for financial as well... at least he'd make some jokes once in awhile (even if they were laim sometimes!). I find myself not even paying attention during the lectures and just highlighting and writing down what he tells us to write. I'm definitely going to have to go through the material on my own a million times to have it sink in i think. again, good luck and i'll do my best to buckle down! :)
lol this is the second time i said buckle up instead of down today... i really need to get some sleep (-:
For those who have already taken AUD, how much of a factor did time play?
For FAR, I just barely finished everything and then upon review of my last simulation, I noticed an error which I could not correct because I had only 20 seconds to re do the correct calculation and enter it into the cell. For REG, I had about 2 minutes to spare at the end.
Will I finally be able to take a restroom break for AUD?!
Unreal
Yes, bathroom breaks can be had! For most people finish with 30 - an hour left on the clock. I had over two hours to do the sims. The written communications were both familiar topics to me. The number of tabs was not bad either. Maybe even a snack break too :)
Good luck.
It depends on how you manage your time. I finished with 6 minutes left on the clock.
By the way, I talked with a friend and he scored 85 on the AUD final exam and ended up with a 98. I think that if you add 10-13 points to your final exam score, you may know your final score.
I am having a hard time with PPS Sampling. The wiley book does not have a great example and shows different ways of caclulating answers for the questions. Anyone know of a good place for a comprehensive example or how to go about studying?
skim it
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