My Audit Experience. I need comments.

  • Creator
    Topic
  • #201321
    royalhat402
    Participant

    So I just took the Audit exam today (4/11/2016). I studied about 30 hours for the exam. I know I am very lazy. I did not study at all until last Saturday. I ended up just finishing reading the Becker book and completing a set of MCQ (60 questions) and 4 set of simulations. I know!!!! I was super frustrated and anxious because I thought I could have gone through at least half of all the Becker practice questions.

    I just hate my laziness and over-confidence. I always overestimate my capability. (Someone should audit me!!!!! Please issue an audit report of me!!!!)

    So my exam experience:

    I could not tell the difficulty level of each set of questions. I felt like that they were very similar in terms of the difficulty level and contents tested. I felt like I was 70% sure on all the questions overall. For the questions I have doubts on, I could always eliminate 2 answers. But it’s still very tough choice. I am a little worried about my multiple questions because I did not do practice questions at all.

    However, I felt the same thing about the BEC exam. I couldn’t tell the difficulty difference at all. They were all similar to me. And I passed the BEC with a score of 93 under a day’s preparation.

    I feel good about my simulation questions. I had two research questions. I could easily identify the answer. Other questions I am 90% sure.

    So do you guys think I can pass? I am torn. I felt like I did well on the exam but was not so confident about my performance at the same time. I just wish I had studied for one more day so I could be 100% sure at this time.

    Keep my fingers crossed. Hope to pass FAR within a week!!!!!! and another week for Reg!!!!! I know I am overestimating my capability and underestimating my laziness. I just want to get them off my plate.

    Also please excuse my English. Also I love Brandon Flowers. Please share your thoughts.

    BEC 93 2/28/2016
    AUD 80 4/11/2016
    FAR 78 5/16/2016

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total)
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  • #771967
    Spartans92
    Participant

    Are you taking FAR and REG all in same window (April/May)? I just don't know what to say when I read you only prepared BEC for one day and about 30 hours for AUD.. Then a week for FAR and REG only. You will be the first person that I have heard of to pass all these exams within 2-3 months period. It is possible but very RARE. Perhaps, you may be the exception and possibly an EWS recipient. Good Luck!

    My undergrad Tutor was an EWS winner and he took 4 months for all. Either Accounting clicks very easily for you or you are just very SMART. Either way I envy you. 🙂

    BEC - 76
    REG- 67, 85
    AUD-63, 74, 80!!
    FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

    3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

    BEC- PASS

    #771968
    royalhat402
    Participant

    @Spartans92

    I am not very SMART!

    I guess I have a strong background. I have a finance and mba degree and almost aced all courses. Just started my role with a Big 4. (not audit though, I am doing GITC).

    I wish they could just give us the exam results right after the exam. What's the point in waiting. I am really anxious now.

    BEC 93 2/28/2016
    AUD 80 4/11/2016
    FAR 78 5/16/2016

    #771969
    Spartans92
    Participant

    We never really know what to think after these exams. I took mine and knew I didnt pass but I felt like I was within at least a 70 but got 65 instead. Yes, I agree it will be better if they give us the result immediately rather than waiting for weeks.

    BEC - 76
    REG- 67, 85
    AUD-63, 74, 80!!
    FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

    3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

    BEC- PASS

    #771970
    royalhat402
    Participant

    Also question for all: does the difficulty level of the simulation questions depend on your performance on the MCQs. I felt like they were very easily. However, I've read on other posts that they were extremely difficult. If that's the case, did I just flunk MCQs. I am worried. I hope not.

    BEC 93 2/28/2016
    AUD 80 4/11/2016
    FAR 78 5/16/2016

    #771971
    royalhat402
    Participant

    also question: how do they grade simulations. Do they check box by box or question by question. Because it would be difficult to fill all the boxes right in q question?

    Pleas excuse my questions.

    BEC 93 2/28/2016
    AUD 80 4/11/2016
    FAR 78 5/16/2016

    #771972
    Spartans92
    Participant

    Your SIMS should be random not based on your performance. Not sure on the grading though. nothing you can do now so I would relax and focus on next section until score release.

    BEC - 76
    REG- 67, 85
    AUD-63, 74, 80!!
    FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

    3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

    BEC- PASS

    #771973
    CPA2BEE
    Participant

    I was going to say it doesn't sound like you put the time in to pass, but seeing you got a 93 on BEC after one day of studying then you probably have a shot! I haven't had good results when I haven't been able to tell if the testlets are getting harder, but everyone has different experiences with different results. That would be insane if you pass REG and FAR in a week. You think you're nervous for score release, think about the rest of us who actually study 2-3 months 100+ hours for these things!

    CA CPA - est. Dec 2016

    FAR - 80
    AUD - 82
    BEC - 80
    REG - 85

    ETHICS - 90
    EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
    Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

    #771974
    Spartans92
    Participant

    Haha right on CPA2BEE. Had I put in the time the OP did I would be ecstatic to pass on first go! Let alone in the 90's.

    BEC - 76
    REG- 67, 85
    AUD-63, 74, 80!!
    FAR-65, 62, 57, 79

    3 down 1 more to go. BEC is on the Line 🙁

    BEC- PASS

    #771975
    Martin
    Participant

    royalhat402, you are about to break a record on this forum if you pass the other 3 parts. I have never met a person who studied Bec in one day and passed with a 93. Assuming you passed Audit, it only took you 30 hours (1week) of preparation then one week for FAR and another week for Reg. So if everything goes well, you would have completed the CPA exam in 3 weeks and one day. The equivalent of what people here will take to finish 3 to 4 chapters in any of the parts. Either you have close to photographic memory, or you BSng people here. Can you please share your strategy?

    Through God all things can happen!

    “You never fail until you stop trying.”
    ― Albert Einstein
    When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
    “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

    FAR= 72-84
    Audit= 73-82
    BEC= 74-75
    Reg=77

    #771976
    Nessie
    Participant

    Martin, Aren’t you supposed to be studying????

    (Just kidding)

    AUD - 80
    BEC - 84
    FAR - 80
    REG - 88
    Using Becker Self-Study, Final Review and NINJA MCQs
    Sat for BEC Dec 6th, 2016 !!!! 84!!!!!

    REG Aug 20/15: 88
    AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
    FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
    BEC?

    Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

    #771977
    Pony Boy
    Participant

    1 day of studying for a CPA exam is crazy enough… getting above a 90 on it after 1 day is another story.

    REG (02/2016)- PASS
    BEC (04/2016)- PASS
    FAR (06/2016)- PASS
    AUD (08/2016)-

    "Stay Gold, PonyBoy, Stay Gold"

    #771978
    MaLoTu
    Participant

    With BEC didn't you just finish financial accounting and/or your MBA right before taking it?

    You could have passed (and that will be awesome if it is the case), but AUD is an easy test to think you pass when you end up failing. It is because the question answers are close, can be right be right depending on the phrasing of one word in another scenario, and it requires a good understanding of each engagement type. They aren't your standard deduction type questions.

    However, I hope you did pass! I wish that more people could kick this thing's butt without giving away their entire life … I am sure that you are more smart than you are giving yourself credit for, at least in accounting! lol.

    Almost always from my phone... please excuse my typos!

    All 4 passed - 2016

    CA CPA

    #771979
    Jdn9201
    Participant

    Wow..and here I thought knocking out FAR in 3 weeks was crazy.. I hope you passed AUD. As others have said, AUD is very tricky because you have to read every question so carefully. I don't think I could have studied for any of the exams over a week or day and still pass, but I do think there's a point where people can spend too much time to where they overthink questions. Another benefit about studying over a short period of time is that one does not have time to get bogged down in the details on something because every minute is precious. Good luck on the rest of your exams too.

    BEC - 88 8/29/15
    REG - 82 11/14/15
    AUD - 83 1/8/16
    FAR - 80 2/29/16

    #771980
    royalhat402
    Participant

    @all, thanks for you thoughts and feedback.

    I thought I would like to share a little more about me. Accounting/Finance/Business/Auditing concepts all just come natural to me. I don't have to spend a lot of time understanding them. I've already passed CIA/CISA easily with very limited preparation. And I always score very top in the class without studying like some do. I think I scored at least 90 for all finance/accounting courses and many 100! I don't make notes, I don't do practice questions, I don't hang on one concept that doesn't make sense to me. I guess I am somewhat efficient in a way.

    Also, my short-term memory is very good. I don't need to memorize the concepts over and over again. But I have to understand them when I go through the materials. One thing I definitely need is to go over all the materials in a day or two right before the exam.

    I guess that's why I thought CPA was not so hard. With BEC, i didn't feel like I had to really study for them because all the materials were covered over and over again in my college courses with the exception of the IT component.

    I guess I'll see what comes out of my Auditing exam. I really feel I can pass i even with some doubts on the MCQs. I do agree they are very tricky sometime. That's why I spent 3-4 minutes for every questions I am not sure to calculate my best guess/answer. I'll update you all once I get my score. Hope to pass it.

    I'll probably take the FAR exam next Monday depending on how much time I can spend on studying this week. FAR should not be hard for me. My biggest challenge is Regulations. I mean I am not American and did not do my undergrad in US. So all the tax return/business law stuff could be a serious challenge for me. I have no clue what the tax return will cover and I have only take one US business law course. OMG. I will take regulation very seriously.

    Thanks all, I'll keep you updated. I hope we all can pass. BTW, I have a philosophy that if you think the problem is way smaller than it actually is, and you can conquer it way more easily. So I am never afraid to take on things I don't really know or take a path that's strange to me. Just do your best. Confidence is the first 50% of success. 25% of hard work. 25% of luck.

    BEC 93 2/28/2016
    AUD 80 4/11/2016
    FAR 78 5/16/2016

    #771981
    Missy
    Participant

    Yes, I think its possible but your situation is very atypical to the experience of most here so I'm not sure how relevant any comments will be to you specifically. Please do keep us posted though I am very curious to know how it works out for you.

    Old timer,  A71'er since 2010.

    Finance manager/HR manager

     

     

    Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
    Finance/Admin/HR Manager

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 27 total)
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