[ThunderFan0]

Well I just got back from the AUD exam….

I went into this exam feeling the most confident I ever have. I got in the mid-80’s on my two Wiley exams I took yesterday.

Coming out of the exam was a different story….this is the WORST i have ever felt about an exam. Which makes no sense to me that the one I am most prepared for left me feeling the worst. Unlike other people on here….when I have come out of a test feeling bad I fail, and I have come out feeling decent twice…and those were my 2 passes.

On to what happened in the exam:

Testlet 1 = The questions were pretty tough….I had to go back to several of them…didn’t feel too great going into the 2nd testlet.

Testlet 2 = I couldn’t really tell if the questions were different or not(I am not really sure how anyone can in the AUD exam)

I felt decent about this one

Testlet 3 = See testlet 2

Simulations: WOW. I have never seen such obscure questions in my testing thus far. For the icing on the cake…I spent my last 20 minutes trying to find the answer to the research questions to no avail. I should note that I am usually solid on the research tabs…so this was super frustrating. I will be lucky if I got 10% of my simulations correct. I have pretty much no confidence in them. Nowhere in my study material was I told how to determine certain audit elements as high/medium/low.

I am devestated right now…I am going to have to retake this. I will probably fail REG for the 500th time in February and end up losing my BEC credit in May. I am losing the will to put up with this crap.

I could tell you all about auditing…and I have performed top notch work on several audits at my firm….but just because I can’t answer obscure test questions I cant be classified as a CPA.

I absolutely love that the passing rates keep dipping lower and lower every year. This testing process is a huge money making scheme and I wish someone would regulate it, because with the economy the way it is there is no way that competent people should be denied licensing and keep having to pay money to continually retest because of sketchy testing questions/grading procedures

Venting done(for now)

FAR - 74, 76
BEC - 77(expires 5/24/12)
REG 71, 72, 78
AUD - 69, 72, Retake 5/23/12...78!! FINISHED!!

[xwingdingx]

Why do ppl create a new account just to post negative comments? Isn't this blog “community” supposed to be a support group?

AUD 6/24/11- 76
BEC 11/23/11 - 79
FAR 11/26/12 - 76
REG 1/14/12 - 82

[Xenia]

ThunderFan0, So agree with you. I took Aud on the 20th and don't know what to think. The two previous times I was sure I passed… The score reports say my MCQs were stronger and Sims weaker. Strange, because if you know and understand the concepts, what else to study. I went through thousands of MCQs, using Wiley test bank, Roger CRAM, CPAexcel, Wiley textbook. The sims last time were a little easier than before. Still, I spent about 30 minutes on the research, I couldn't even comprehend what the examiners asking in one TBS and another one was the simple bank rec JEs, but, as you say with very obscure wording. I reconciled so many books in my life that this TBS should've been the easiest for me. Unfortunately, I decided to check one more time the entries, freaked out that I misunderstood the question and redid all the JEs. Feel bad. I will loose the BEC credit in April, if didn't pass Aud again and I don't think I can go any further anymore. I'm trying to work part time, take countless day offs before the exams. This license (which I didn't even get yet) costs me already thousands and thousands of $$$$. I do think this is a huge money making scheme. With the knew rules, AICPA has a great source of cash flows. Ones you commit yourself to this insane game, there is no way out. I put myself and my family into so much pressure, trying to get this license. I have Masters in accounting, many years of experience and can't believe still struggling so much with this. Something is wrong with this system. Sad.

[ThunderFan0]

Thanks for all the people who have been giving positive support/feedback thus far.

As for Pittyankee…I was initially going to lash out in response to their comment.

Instead I logged off and came back later after I had gathered my thoughts.

All I have to say in response to you Pittyankee is that I feel sorry for you. It's unfortunate that you find the need to hide behind a computer kicking people when they are down. Either you are feeling bad about yourself and need to attack others to make yourself feel better OR you are just a person with no morals and/or have no ability to feel empathy.

Either way I am not wasting anymore energy or thought on you. I wish you the best.

In general, I have never understood why people get satisfaction in using the internet in anonymity to say things that no normal human would say in a real social interaction. It's not just on here I am talking about…but different internet forums in general…I really find it sad and I always wonder what goes through the persons head before they think that it is “cool” or a good idea to type it.

FAR - 74, 76
BEC - 77(expires 5/24/12)
REG 71, 72, 78
AUD - 69, 72, Retake 5/23/12...78!! FINISHED!!

[yankeeaccountant]

totally agree with KatieKanton ……very well said!

@Pittyankee— Dude/Girl, you are giving Yankees everywhere a bad name. Cool it. I feel compelled to defend the “yankee” name!

@Thunderfan,

Audit is an enigma. I know it's overall passing rate says otherwise, but for me, it is the toughest exam to pass. I have now taken it 4 times, and can say that it is the exam that I mostly think WTF. I am, however, trying my best to stay positive in spite of how this long process has affected my confidence and objectivity on top of what stress it is putting on my family. Keep the faith. You have a load of people backing you here. Best of luck.

[hopeful_cpa]

@thunder: well said

@pitty: you are a severely sucky person… grow up a little before you decide to post on anybody's thread. this is a support site, not a site to bust people on a little spelling error.. get over it and move on.

@katie: agreed.

BEC: Done
REG: Done
AUD: Done
FAR: Done

I'M DONE!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yankeeaccountant]

@hopeful_cpa

Well said!!!

How is FAR coming along?

[Anonymous]

@pittspankee: Why make such a rude comment to someone you don't even know? I'm not sure if you're just trying to be funny or a wiseass but it seriously just makes you look like a douchebag saying something like that. I really feel sorry for you….

[ThunderFan0]

Well my initial feelings of disgust were confirmed today.

I called my state board and found out I got a 72.

I am interested to see my comparison breakdown…based off of my experience I am assuming I must have been stronger in MC and severely weaker in Sims.

I am starting to panic now as I have to pass AUD and REG before May 24th(i lose BEC).

Factor that in with busy season and no option to test in march…i could be in trouble 🙁

FAR - 74, 76
BEC - 77(expires 5/24/12)
REG 71, 72, 78
AUD - 69, 72, Retake 5/23/12...78!! FINISHED!!

[Givemesleep]

Never quiting ever, I will die trying, Never ever going to quit. I will be the first 99 year old man to pass.

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[Whyme]

I don't understand how the MC's can feel so easy, yet that does not translate to the SIMS? I took AUD in Jan, I finished the MC's in about 1.5 hrs, spent the rest of the time on the SIMS, and still bombed them. The research question, which usually takes me 2 mins in the review material took me at least 25 mins. I don't get why the SIMS have to be so disgustingly hard and now worth more.

AUD- 71, 73, 87 Done!!!!!
BEC- 75
FAR- 72, 77
REG- 77

[Anonymous]

I will not give it up till I drop!

[Anonymous]

@ThunderFan0: I understand your frustration, but please move on and don't stress about it. Not good for your health. I sound like MD….:) My my very first exam on 29th and its REG. I am going to give my very best shot….and rest up to AICPA………………

My Goal: Get 75 on all the sections. OH BY THE WAY, CPA STANDS FOR: CAN'T PASS AGAIN.

Trust me majority of the CPA's who are practicing will fail, if they were to retake the CPA exam. Even the ones who will be grading my exam……………………

Overall its a money making scheme.

[goodluck2everyone]

the reason you guys are bombing the SIMs is because you arent using the research tab enough.

Also, by now it is very well established that a few of the SIMs in audit can be FAR-related so its best to study up on the financial statements and where each account goes

I went from a 61 to an 84 and a weaker on sims to a stronger by using the research tab. That alone gave me the answer I needed on a few sims.

Audit has the second lowest curve on the exam so you pretty much have to nail a good portion of the sims to pass.

BEC- 80
REG- 68, 71, July
AUD- 61 , 84
FAR- -- 75 🙂

[ThunderFan0]

@goodluck2everyone – I was wondering if that was you standing behind me during my SIMS tracking how much I used the research tab.

I appreciate you trying to put a reason behind the SIM disaster…but I personally utilize the research tab a ton during the SIMs…i can't speak for everyone though

FAR - 74, 76
BEC - 77(expires 5/24/12)
REG 71, 72, 78
AUD - 69, 72, Retake 5/23/12...78!! FINISHED!!

[goodluck2everyone]

My comment wasn't towards anyone in particular, I was just writing that for people who struggle with the SIMs in general

you have to be very very careful. You can use the research tab and still put in the wrong answers. For one sim in particular, I was reluctant to mark in what I felt had to be the wrong answer. But after much deliberation and going through the research I decided that it was worth the risk.

You have to go into the mind of whoever wrote the questions and drop any preconceived notions as to what you think the answer might be. Sometimes the answer is not so obvious. One of my favorite quotes is: “true insanity is doing the same thing twice and expecting different results”. Obviously the choices I put in my first time around were way off because my score reflected it. The second time around I looked really hard at all the options instead of going for the 1 or 2 which were emphasized in my review program.

BEC- 80
REG- 68, 71, July
AUD- 61 , 84
FAR- -- 75 🙂

[Author]

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