Elizabeth is a weekly Club 75 Blogger as she documents her journey through the CPA Exam. She has been a member of Another71.com's Club 75 since November 2010.
After failing Auditing and Attestation in November, Ive been doing a lot of thinking about where I went wrong on the test. On the Candidate Performance Report (on the back of my score notice that explains my strong and weak areas on the exam) I had weak scores in Information and Communications. Information is the biggest section of the exam, so this is a bit alarming to me.
The funny thing, is that I took two Audit courses as part of my graduate degree in 2009 and got As both times.
I think Audit is interesting and important and I understand what Im reading – but where did I go wrong on the test??!?
My current strategy is this: Im going to read over the Professional Standards, Statements on Auditing Standards, and the Review Standards and take notes in places I think important and might not remember after a few weeks. Then Im going to review my notes and practice a ton of multiple choice and simulation problems.
The results of the practice questions will then give me a cue as to where to study next, my not-so-strong points. After that, hopefully Ill be confident and ready to take the exam!
Another part of my study strategy that I think is important is to take breaks! Too many will obviously be detrimental, but Im not going to stop my life to study and only study. There is record snowfall hitting Chicago as I write this, and Id be crazy not to try to build a snowperson, right?
Stay warm and safe!
-Elizabeth
