Greg is a NINJA CPA Blogger.
HiYa, NINJAs!
Well I am happy to report that after 5 tries and over a year of studying, I have finally passed AUD!
I am proof that with hard work and determination, (and perhaps changing up the way you’ve been studying), these tests can be beaten.
My score went up 16 points from my previous sitting, 14 points from my previous best score, and 35 points from my first “attempt” at AUD. But that last stat really says more about how little I studied the 1st time around that anything else.
Well, you live and learn … and NINJA.
When I got my score on the Friday before NASBA/AICPA’s projected date, I immediately text messaged my wife, and my immediate family. My dad called me right after that to congratulate me.
He commented on the fact that I sounded out of breath on the phone. I explained to him that waiting on your score (especially after 5 tries) takes a lot out of you. I really felt like I had finished a long and grueling race.
Next up for me is REG. I am confident that if I apply the same principles and study plans that I’ve learned and tweaked throughout this process, I can also knock REG out of the park. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I took REG once before, and scored a 72.
According to Jeff, the trick to passing after getting a score that close to 75 is to basically repeat what you did before PLUS add in a little extra. I have done that with the addition of the NINJA Notes and Audio, and the Wiley Test Bank.
Also I think that the right attitude helps. When I do MCQs, I like to listen to classical or
easy-listening music w/out lyrics. This latest time with AUD, I would listen to 2 songs in particular to motivate me before I start studying.
The first was “Hard worker” by the Avett Brothers, and the 2nd was “Superman” by R.E.M.
One line in the 2nd song really kept me motivated and determined – “I am, I am, I am Superman, and I can do anything. “ I even made it into my desktop background so it is the 1st thing I see before I start studying on my laptop.
I would suggest checking both songs out if you near some extra motivation. (Also check out the Avett Brothers in general because they rule.)
Having the right attitude and a good support structure are almost as important as studying your butt off for these tests. Without all of these things together, I don’t think I would have gotten as far as I have – 1 more test to go!
See. Pee. Yay! (cheesy I know)
