[Ogo316]

I was referred by a colleague to this website. I just got my results in Audit and I didn’t perform to well. I have taken the exam twice. I used Yaegar and Wiley Study material and Test Bank 2013. My questions are:

1. What other study material can anyone recommend which would complement my Wiley test bank.

2. The simulations have been getting the best of me. Any tips or study material which can help me with audit.

Audit- 61, and 60

Determined to be a Cpa.

Audit 61, 59, 65

[Anonymous]

Becker,

I highly recommend Becker.

[Anonymous]

Becker,

I highly recommend Becker.

[Slweal]

I just wanted to share my coworkers study schedule and plan with you.

He spent about 8 weeks.

He studied 240 hours.

He took MCQs until he was getting over 80% on each topic in the Wiley Test Bank.

He got a 91

I think he may have overdone the study hours… but he used no video. Just Wiley books and test bank.

I don't think Becker is required to pass or even that useful. My other 2 coworkers have Becker. One just passed AUD as well and the other hasn't passed any sections. It's all about study hours and getting in massive amounts of practice test questions.

Try the NINJA notes. I hear they are helpful. Study the sections you did poorly on more.

You can do this!

[Slweal]

I just wanted to share my coworkers study schedule and plan with you.

He spent about 8 weeks.

He studied 240 hours.

He took MCQs until he was getting over 80% on each topic in the Wiley Test Bank.

He got a 91

I think he may have overdone the study hours… but he used no video. Just Wiley books and test bank.

I don't think Becker is required to pass or even that useful. My other 2 coworkers have Becker. One just passed AUD as well and the other hasn't passed any sections. It's all about study hours and getting in massive amounts of practice test questions.

Try the NINJA notes. I hear they are helpful. Study the sections you did poorly on more.

You can do this!

[Nevergiveup2012]

What makes Audit challenging is not the memorization but understanding the conceptual stuff. If you don't have an audit background, studying Audit could even be more challenging. My suggestion for you is to re-review every MCQ and SIMS, not only to answer it correctly but to understand the reason why it's correct or why the other choices are wrong. Focus first on your weaker areas then move on to your stronger areas. Join the AUD study thread here to get additional support. The people there are your best resources who can help you with any AUD questions.

I used Becker and found that it's more than sufficient to pass AUD with a decent score. Out of all the sections I took, I felt the questions in the real AUD exam were very similar to Becker. There weren't too many out of the field questions that i didn't encounter in Becker. However, I didn't feel the same about REG and BEC. Also make sure that you take advantage of the Authoritative Literature when working with SIMS during the exam.

I can't speak about other review courses since I solely used Becker. I have heard that Wiley and Becker compliment each other. I think everyone has a different learning style. Just find one that fits your learning style the best. Some people love Becker while others feel they need supplementary program in addition to Becker such as Ninja notes, audio, etc.

Don't be disheartened, keep working on the problems until you fully grasp the concept. You too will beat this CPA monster.

BEC - 86 (8/31/12)
AUD - 97 (11/18/12)
REG - 83 (5/12/13)
FAR - 91 (12/2/13)
Done!!!

[Nevergiveup2012]

What makes Audit challenging is not the memorization but understanding the conceptual stuff. If you don't have an audit background, studying Audit could even be more challenging. My suggestion for you is to re-review every MCQ and SIMS, not only to answer it correctly but to understand the reason why it's correct or why the other choices are wrong. Focus first on your weaker areas then move on to your stronger areas. Join the AUD study thread here to get additional support. The people there are your best resources who can help you with any AUD questions.

I used Becker and found that it's more than sufficient to pass AUD with a decent score. Out of all the sections I took, I felt the questions in the real AUD exam were very similar to Becker. There weren't too many out of the field questions that i didn't encounter in Becker. However, I didn't feel the same about REG and BEC. Also make sure that you take advantage of the Authoritative Literature when working with SIMS during the exam.

I can't speak about other review courses since I solely used Becker. I have heard that Wiley and Becker compliment each other. I think everyone has a different learning style. Just find one that fits your learning style the best. Some people love Becker while others feel they need supplementary program in addition to Becker such as Ninja notes, audio, etc.

Don't be disheartened, keep working on the problems until you fully grasp the concept. You too will beat this CPA monster.

BEC - 86 (8/31/12)
AUD - 97 (11/18/12)
REG - 83 (5/12/13)
FAR - 91 (12/2/13)
Done!!!

[Anonymous]

Get the NINJA notes and flashcards for your phone. I had the NINJA notes spiral bound at Kinkos with 1-2 extra pages per section for additional notes. Use the NINJA notes to write “fact nuggets” from your MCQs and videos in the margins. Write them as many times as you can, read them every night before you turn out the light. Do the Brainscape flashcards anytime you have 5 minutes…standing in line…flashcards…at the laundromat…flashcards…walking the dog… well maybe the NINJA audio would work better for that…but you get my drift. Carry the notes with you…write them, read them…LIVE THEM.

DO MCQs until you are sure you want to have a career as anything else instead of being a CPA. When you get to that point…do some more MCQs and SIMs.Focus on why the answer you chose is wrong, why the other two are wrong and why the correct answer is correct. (hint: this is where the fact nuggets come into play) I used WILEY test bank but I also used Gleim test bank because of its drill down feature. Wiley gives you answers sim by sim…Gleim you have to do all 7 and then review. I prefer the WILEY method for sims.

Additional tips: Eat right, sleep well, exercise regularly. Study intently and purposefully.

You can do this. Put those two failing grades out of your mind and start over. As I've said on this forum several times before…Take it back to basics and build from that foundation! Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Get the NINJA notes and flashcards for your phone. I had the NINJA notes spiral bound at Kinkos with 1-2 extra pages per section for additional notes. Use the NINJA notes to write “fact nuggets” from your MCQs and videos in the margins. Write them as many times as you can, read them every night before you turn out the light. Do the Brainscape flashcards anytime you have 5 minutes…standing in line…flashcards…at the laundromat…flashcards…walking the dog… well maybe the NINJA audio would work better for that…but you get my drift. Carry the notes with you…write them, read them…LIVE THEM.

DO MCQs until you are sure you want to have a career as anything else instead of being a CPA. When you get to that point…do some more MCQs and SIMs.Focus on why the answer you chose is wrong, why the other two are wrong and why the correct answer is correct. (hint: this is where the fact nuggets come into play) I used WILEY test bank but I also used Gleim test bank because of its drill down feature. Wiley gives you answers sim by sim…Gleim you have to do all 7 and then review. I prefer the WILEY method for sims.

Additional tips: Eat right, sleep well, exercise regularly. Study intently and purposefully.

You can do this. Put those two failing grades out of your mind and start over. As I've said on this forum several times before…Take it back to basics and build from that foundation! Good luck.

[louiseb]

I got my highest score on Audit and I know it was because I switched to Roger CPA Review for that test. The instructor used to be an auditor and he makes it fun (can you imagine such a thing??). Here is a link to some of his teaching videos on youtube. I guarantee you won't have another teacher with the same energy level. He is pumped up on Mountain Dew and Espresso all the time and it shows :). I loved learning from him. You can purchase one section at a time. It might be worth the investment if you are struggling with AUDIT (or any of the other sections). I ended up using his course for all but FAR and guess which test score was my lowest!

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=roger+cpa+review&sm=1

FAR 77
AUD 91
REG 82
BEC 12/6/13 82 Done!

[louiseb]

I got my highest score on Audit and I know it was because I switched to Roger CPA Review for that test. The instructor used to be an auditor and he makes it fun (can you imagine such a thing??). Here is a link to some of his teaching videos on youtube. I guarantee you won't have another teacher with the same energy level. He is pumped up on Mountain Dew and Espresso all the time and it shows :). I loved learning from him. You can purchase one section at a time. It might be worth the investment if you are struggling with AUDIT (or any of the other sections). I ended up using his course for all but FAR and guess which test score was my lowest!

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=roger+cpa+review&sm=1

FAR 77
AUD 91
REG 82
BEC 12/6/13 82 Done!

[MintsRGood]

I. Hate. Auditing. The concept of materiality irritates my tax minded brain to no end…it's not ok to misstated in tax land!!! If a balance isn't right then it's WRONG. Period. Why is it OK for auditors to accept information that they know is kind of sort of close enough to being on target? Pull those shenanigans in tax land and you'll get hit with a preparer penalty faster than you can blink. OK, Rant over. See why it took me 4 tries to pass??? 😉

I tried many approaches to passing audit but what made me successful was going through the Wiley textbook taking detailed notes and completing all the MCQs and Sims+notes on incorrect responses. I made diagrams and charts of the audit process and transaction cycles. I recopied my Ninja notes over and over, listened to Ninja audio everyday, and continued to build up my knowledge of those god awful topics until I knew it in my sleep!

Keep practicing your SIMS and be sure that you are using the AICPA database for every SIM! The AL is your friend on SIMS and by practicing with the full data base you are saving yourself tons on time on test day because YOU already know where to look! If you have a valid NTS, I'm fairly certain you get 6 months of access for free and it is what you will see on exam day (not that small, condensed, crappy version that the Wiley test bank gives you).

Keep your head up and use this board to the fullest! There are so many people here going through the same struggle and are here to support. Check in on the Audit study group if you get stuck on a topic or if you just need to rant. We all do at time! 🙂

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[MintsRGood]

I. Hate. Auditing. The concept of materiality irritates my tax minded brain to no end…it's not ok to misstated in tax land!!! If a balance isn't right then it's WRONG. Period. Why is it OK for auditors to accept information that they know is kind of sort of close enough to being on target? Pull those shenanigans in tax land and you'll get hit with a preparer penalty faster than you can blink. OK, Rant over. See why it took me 4 tries to pass??? 😉

I tried many approaches to passing audit but what made me successful was going through the Wiley textbook taking detailed notes and completing all the MCQs and Sims+notes on incorrect responses. I made diagrams and charts of the audit process and transaction cycles. I recopied my Ninja notes over and over, listened to Ninja audio everyday, and continued to build up my knowledge of those god awful topics until I knew it in my sleep!

Keep practicing your SIMS and be sure that you are using the AICPA database for every SIM! The AL is your friend on SIMS and by practicing with the full data base you are saving yourself tons on time on test day because YOU already know where to look! If you have a valid NTS, I'm fairly certain you get 6 months of access for free and it is what you will see on exam day (not that small, condensed, crappy version that the Wiley test bank gives you).

Keep your head up and use this board to the fullest! There are so many people here going through the same struggle and are here to support. Check in on the Audit study group if you get stuck on a topic or if you just need to rant. We all do at time! 🙂

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

@mints: I. Also. Hate. Auditing. I'm a tax guy, through and through.

I'm studying for AUD right now using Becker and it's been hell. Tim Gearty makes you highlight everything. I use the Ninja method so I'm taking notes on all the “highlighted” areas. I'm on the final chapter and it's taking me forever. Becker sucks for Audit and I do not recommend it for that section but do recommend it for the other sections. For some reason, Becker just misses the mark on this one.

I recommend the Wiley book for AUD. I goes through the Audit in the order of events in conducting an audit. Becker seems to go through things a little backwards. In any case, reading the audit book is doing a lot more for me than the Becker lectures. I'm trying to crank through this section and get it over with on the first go round. I hate auditing and never want to see any of this crap again. I just keep thinking: one more month of audit then never again!

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[I'm, Ron Burgundy?]

@mints: I. Also. Hate. Auditing. I'm a tax guy, through and through.

I'm studying for AUD right now using Becker and it's been hell. Tim Gearty makes you highlight everything. I use the Ninja method so I'm taking notes on all the “highlighted” areas. I'm on the final chapter and it's taking me forever. Becker sucks for Audit and I do not recommend it for that section but do recommend it for the other sections. For some reason, Becker just misses the mark on this one.

I recommend the Wiley book for AUD. I goes through the Audit in the order of events in conducting an audit. Becker seems to go through things a little backwards. In any case, reading the audit book is doing a lot more for me than the Becker lectures. I'm trying to crank through this section and get it over with on the first go round. I hate auditing and never want to see any of this crap again. I just keep thinking: one more month of audit then never again!

"If you're going through hell, keep going"
- Winston Churchill

"I've missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost over 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game winning shot, and missed. I've failed, over and over and over again in my life. And that is why, I succeed."
- Michael Jordan

BEC: (54), (72), 80 (losing credit on 02/02/15 - nervous)
AUD: 78
REG: (74), 91
FAR: (71)

[Wahoo12]

Do tons of multiple choice questions…on my exam i got at least 15 out of 90 MCQs that I'd seen before.

BEC - 97
AUD - 98
FAR - 90
REG - 94

[Author]

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