[mdrobbin]

So I just received a 92 on AUD today which I am beyond excited about. I always want to pass along my study habits just in case it can help anyone else.

First thing I did was watch the videos. I personally used Yaeger which has been working well for me so far. I took significantly fewer notes on AUD than I did for FAR. I probably had 20 pages of notes total after completing the AUD videos compared to what felt like a full textbook of notes for FAR.

Next, I purchased the NINJA Notes and read them very carefully about 2 times, writing down certain parts that seemed particularly important such as management assertions and audit report sections. Then I moved onto MC and I hammered MC like it was my JOB for about 3 weeks. I did the Wiley book MCQ’s suggested by Yaeger once then just went all out on the Wiley test bank. I completed between 1,500 and 2,000 MCQ’s in total.

As I went through the Wiley test bank, I always had a Word document open. For each question that challenged me, I would read the explanation and write it down in my Word document.

Throughout the MCQ’s I would occasionally stop and read the NINJA Notes. I probably read the NINJA Notes about 7 times straight through (not including the countless times I would pause and re-read individual sections to refresh my memory). NINJA Notes were an ENORMOUS help. I also would review the notes I took from the Wiley test bank questions about once a day to hammer home the concepts I was struggling with.

That sums up my study habits. On the exam I used the Literature tab like crazy for SIMS. Hope this helps.

FAR - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER)
AUD - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
BEC - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
REG - 2013 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES + NINJA AUDIO)

ETHICS - 2013 - PASSED

DONE!!! Thank you A71 for all the support! Hiya!!!

[Anonymous]

mdrobbin, this might sound like a vague and stupid question.

How did you learn how to use the research tab. Or did you just keep practicing and practicing? Someone suggested to look at the Wiley Research terms.

[mdrobbin]

Not a stupid question at all as I have asked multiple people for their advice on using the Auth. Literature tab. Someone on A71 once told me to make good use of the Search Within function. I wish I remember who told me that so I could thank them because that was a huge help.

I personally don't like how the literature tab in the Wiley bank (and from what I've heard, other practice materials as well) is set up. It's not the same as the real test. I used the Wiley test bank just to get a general feel for looking up research questions but I didn't spend much time on it.

During the actual exam, I would first type a search on what I considered to be keywords. I would then review the results of my search to try to find the section that was most applicable. If my search results came back with too many sections, I would reevaluate my keywords to try and get more specific.

Once I determined what was the correct section of literature, I would click on the section in the left panel (for instance, AU 300) and then type in a very specific keyword and click “Search Within”.

Hope that helps. Any other questions, I'd be happy to offer up my advice.

FAR - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER)
AUD - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
BEC - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
REG - 2013 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES + NINJA AUDIO)

ETHICS - 2013 - PASSED

DONE!!! Thank you A71 for all the support! Hiya!!!

[momto5]

Thanks for asking that question, Home Stretch! I have been struggling with the same thing. Sometimes I get lucky and find what I need; other times, it just doesn't happen. People keep saying to practice a lot, but it sure would be good to have some instruction before you are supposed to start practicing!

Why is it that sometimes (at least in Becker) I come up with “wrong path” or a blank page when I choose an item from the contents at the left? Today I searched for something that gave me a suggestion to look at Appendix B, .126 for more information and if I clicked on Appendices, I got “wrong path” and there was nothing there!

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[Anonymous]

I think Wiley does not do a very good job with authoritative literature. They do not provide as many sources to practice with than Becker. There are many different sources that the AUD draws from for the authoritative literature. Be familiar with AR (Review Services), AU (U.S. Auditing Standards), and AT (forget what it's called). That's where you'll get most of the information. Wiley only provides AU.

I like to use the topical index first the pinpoint the section where the information will most likely be, and then type in a keyword using the “search within” function. Once you read the question, try to figure out the general topic first. For example, you should be able to know if problem involves a review/compilation engagement or an audit. You would use the AR source if it's review/compilation, but use the AU source if it's an audit. From there, you have to pinpoint what they are really asking and select the subtopic accordingly. Are they asking about report presentation? Are they asking about a certain rule? Once you select the subtopic, then you would use the “search within” function using a keyword.

I was able to answer a SIM word for word because of the authoritative literature and it helped me with my other 5 Sims. Make sure you leave about 2 hours for the Sims. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My problem when I took the test was the first part. My results just came back with too many irrelevant results. That and I didn't bother to use the search within. I guess that was the result of not narrowing down the information. All right, thank you!

Is it just me, or is the search within button sometimes hard to use?

ie, when you use search within, you accidentally navigate away or accidentally hit search.

[momto5]

I understand the concept, but I feel like if I actually find the correct answer, it was just luck rather than skill. Just don't have a solid handle on the system. What is the best box to type the search words in on the “Advanced Search” screen? I usually use the one that asks for words near each other. Maybe I should be using a different section?

I recently had the question below in a practice SIM in Becker:

“Which section of the auditing standards addresses the inquiries that the independent auditor should make of the internal audit personnel regarding the risks of fraud?”

I searched for “internal auditor inquiries” to get to the section, then I wasn't sure what to do. Using those words got me words for internal control, which I didn't need. Turns out I was in section 314 instead of section 316 relating to fraud (correct answer), which means I probably should have started with “fraud risk” first. When I do that, and get to everything showing “fraud” and “risk”, do I then change the words to “internal auditor” and search within that? Just a general search, or the advanced search?

I eventually found the right place, but only through paging through the paragraphs and reading lots of unnecessary stuff first. I feel like I am spending too much time looking. And what is all this “wrong path” stuff I keep running into?

@dualmatrix – thanks for the info about the different sections – AU, AT, & AR. I had no idea. Always wondered why I had so many choices to choose from for the section in the answer.

@Home Stretch – so sorry you didn't pass AUD. Why do you say you deserved it?

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[mdrobbin]

I've honestly never had any luck using the advanced search. I just use the standard search box. Once I find the section I click on the section and then narrow my keyword and select search within (again in the standard search box).

It's definitely critical to know which standard you are looking for as far as AU, AT, AR, etc.

I'm probably not the most efficient when I do my searches. I page through a lot of literature before I find what I'm looking for but I left a lot of time for SIMs on the AUD exam. I finished the MCQs in about an hour and 20 minutes. I used the full 4 hours because I was reading through a ton of literature to try and find the correct answers.

FAR - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER)
AUD - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
BEC - 2012 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES)
REG - 2013 - PASSED (YAEGER + NINJA NOTES + NINJA AUDIO)

ETHICS - 2013 - PASSED

DONE!!! Thank you A71 for all the support! Hiya!!!

[momto5]

Just signed up for a free 6-month subscription of the literature through aicpa.org.

“CPA exam candidates can get a free six-month subscription to professional literature used in the computerized CPA Examination.”

Maybe this will help me practice? I see they also have a tutorial place on the aicpa site. Will check that out also. I appreciate all the input!

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[kyu6]

Hi mdrobbin, thank you for sharing your studying tips. I took AUD last month and got a 71. Even though I thought I was really prepared. I used Becker and was getting 80-90% at my final reviews. However, it was the SIMs that challenged me I believe. I had about 3 that I had no idea on how to do/never seen that type of question before. My question is, how would you recommend in studying for the SIMs? It is definitely my weakness right now. How does the Wiley TB match up against the real test in regards to the SIMs?

Thanks in advance!

[Author]

Replies