The AUD test on 5/28 had to be the strangest CPA exam section that I have ever taken. (I have been actively taking the exam and trying to pass AUD & FAR for about the last 3 years. I have passed REG & BEC two times each but can't quite get over the hump on AUD & FAR. I came close on FAR last time with a 74, and have scored in the high 60's on AUD in the past. If I didn't get AUD & FAR in this window I have to start over because I will lose credit for REG & BEC.)
I always go into the test with a time budget so that I have enough time left to complete the simulations. For the AUD section that I took on 5/28 I budgeted 50 minutes for each multiple choice section, leaving me with 1 hour for each simulation. (A piece of advice for anyone reading this, have a time budget and stick to it.) I completed the first testlet in about 20 minutes, the second was harder and one took me around 30 minutes. So at that point I was 50 minutes ahead of schedule and was actually freaking out a little bit as to why I was so far ahead. In all my CPA exam test taking I have never been this far ahead of my budget.
The third testlet seemed even harder than the second, but I completed it in about 40 minutes. So I had 3 hours heading into the simulations. It was actually kind of nice because I took my time and was able to complete all of the tabs as well as the communication and research for each simulation. I finished up with about 20 minutes on the clock.
I guess my question is has anyone else had an experience like this where they were so far ahead the could actually slow down towards the end and spend a significant amount of time on the simulations? When signing in one time I noticed that someone else who had taken the exam that day had only taken about 2 and a half hours on either the FAR or AUD exam. Other than that I don't know of anyone who has finished FAR or AUD early. Most of the time I am usually behind and trying to play "catch-up" at the end of the exam.
BEC-80, FAR-79
REG-73 - 2/19/2011
AUD-74 - April 2011
