Fraud Examiners Manual

Original Message:
From: Carolyn Halim
Subject: Fraud Examiners Manual

Thanks! I have the online version that I'm using with the Prep Course- I wish there was a way you can just click on the reference link at the bottom of the question and it takes you to the specific section of the manual. Every time I want to look a section up I go to menu-click on the corresponding section-then search for the appropriate page number. I figured there would be an easier way to navigate the manual but haven't been able to figure it out.

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Carolyn

Reply to discussion:
From: Rebecca Ciscel, CFE, CPA
Subject: Fraud Examiners Manual

I used the online prep course last year. There are a few shortcuts to maneuvering around in the prep course; I can't remember all of them. I can't access it anymore, since I'm done with my Exam. However, I do agree the online Manual is slightly difficult to switch back & forth to, and from Review Question references. In the Manual screen, I do remember you can right-click to flip back 1 page, left-click for next page.

My best study strategy was:

take the Pre-Assessment & start on the Section that was the easiest / highest Pre-Assessment score.

read 1 entire Section of Manual,

then take Review Questions,

re-study Manual on Questions I missed,

then take Practice Exam.

Then onto the next Section of the Manual, repeat above steps.

GOOD LUCK :)

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Rebecca Ciscel, CFE, CPA
Forensic Accountant
Phoenix AZ

Best way to study

Post: Hey guys, new to the forum and just want to confirm something. Would everyone agree that the best way to study is just doing several multiple choice questions and taking notes vs reading the manual? Trying to find the most efficient & effective way to get prepared. Thanks!

Response #1: Every person has their own study practices. Personally, I like to review the questions and then go back and learn what I didn't already know. I have the manual and prep course and I use them together. I could not even imagine trying to pretend that I am going to read every page of that manual. It's a great reference, but I'm not going to lie. I study mostly from the notes that are provided at the bottom of a question when you get it wrong.

Best of Luck!
Victoria
 

Response #2: Jon, I have to agree with Victoria.  This question has been posed frequently over the six years since I earned my CFE.  The answer almost always is use the prep course (with its questions and practice exams) as your main tool.  Use the manual as a reference for areas that you need to study more - you will be guided to the right part of the manual by the system when you're going through the questions.  As Victoria points out, the manual is huge - and reading it page by page would take a lot of time and would likely cause fatigue rather than help.

 Work with the prep course, get comfortable with the types of questions and the material presented, get the high percentages right on the practice exams, then schedule the actual exam and go for it. 

Good luck.
Mike

Money-Back Pass Guarantee

Post: Hello, I have been studying from the manuals for several months but now I would like to start a new strategy. I would like to focus in completing the review questions and practice exams for one section and taking the exam that particular section. Then move to another section and follow the same strategy, and so on and so forth. My question regarding the MBPG is the following: Am I supposed to have all the review questions and prep exams done before turning the key for the exam? or rather I can have them completed before taking the exam for this particular section? for example, I am ready to take the exam of Law and I have passed all the prep questions at least once and go 90% on the practice exam. Could I start the 30 days exam period by taking the Law section exam and the keep preparing the rest of sections?

Hope my question is understandable.

Thank you

Response: Hello Begona_Toca Puerta, my recommendation would be to begin studying with the your strongest section first. This way, you are studying your weaker areas closest to the exam. As you complete the study questions, review the explanations for each question. If you’re struggling with a particular topic, you can refer to the recommended study reference for more information. You should also mark study questions that need additional review.

After completing all the review questions, complete the practice exam. A minimum score of 85% is required to qualify for the Money-Back Pass Guarantee. To aid in your CFE Exam preparation, review the questions you missed on the practice exam. In order to qualify for the Money-Back Pass Guarantee, you must meet the all following conditions before you can “Request Exam Key”. 

You have 30 days to complete all four sections of the CFE Exam and submit it to the ACFE for grading. You must complete each section in one sitting, but you do not have to complete all four sections at once. You may start any section you choose, and you will still have access to the CFE Exam Prep Course.

Best Regards,

Franco Coniglione

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Can you review the Prep Course in between exams?

Post: Are you allowed to take one of the exams then go back to review the next in the review questions before taking it just to brush up?

For instance, after taking the Investigation exam, could I go back and study the review questions before taking the Law exam? I know you are given 30 days to complete all four exams. Just didn't know if you were able to go back to the review questions for extra assistance in between.

Thanks, Meghan

Response: Yes, can review your Prep Course in between taking sections of the exam, but not while you actually taking an exam.

Good luck, Durgesh_Pandey

What is your study strategy?

Post: This is my first time studying for the CFE exam. I didn’t read the manual since it has approximately 2,000 pages and I know that would be very ineffective for me to read all these pages.  As such, I started directly to work with the multiple choice questions and taking notes related to the answers. I am wondered if reading and understand the MCQ answers are enough to pass the exam. Also, I want to know if exist review notes or audios related to this exam.

Thanks!

Response: Hello, I just recently took and passed the exam on my first try using only the CFE Exam Prep Course.   My method of attacking the exam was as follows:

1. Take assessment that is provided in the CFE exam Prep Course

2. Decide which area to study first based on assessment score (I chose the section I did worst on)

3. Build a study plan

      a. My study plan was as follows:

              i. Monday- Thursday (Review Questions)

              ii. Friday- Do 2-4 practice exams (make sure you are consistently scoring above 75)

              iii. Sunday- take exam

4. Request exam key

      a. Please note your 30 day clock starts after you register the exam key!  (Do this when you are ready to sit for first exam)

      b.      I requested my exam key about 5 days before I started studying

5. Execute study plan

6. Submit scores and affidavit

7. Wait on emails saying you passed!!!

Hope this helps!! Good luck!!

Access to Online Course after Exam Key Request

Post: Do you still have access to the online course and the practice questions after you request your exam key and start the exam?

 Response: Good afternoon Joel_Kellner,

Thank you for your question. You'll have access to the Prep Course as long as you haven't passed the exam or your Prep Course version hasn't passed it's expiration date.

 If you have any additional questions for ACFE Staff, please contact us at MemberServices@ACFE.com.

Best regards,

Robert Barnes
Lead Member Services Representative
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

International Fraud Examiner's Manual - 2015

Post: What I see is 2014 Fraud Examiner's manual, is there going to be a new one coming up for 2015? If yes, what's the timeline? If I take the exam based on the 2014 Fraud Manual, will it help or do I wait for the 2015 manual to come through?

Response: Good afternoon Sarangarajan,

Thank you for your question. The 2015 Fraud Examiners Manual, International Edition is scheduled to be released sometime mid-April. The 2014 version is still  a valid version and completely capable of preparing your for the CFE Exam. If you want the most up-to-date information, I suggest waiting a couple of weeks for the 2015 to be released. 

If you have any additional questions for ACFE Staff, please contact us at MemberServices@ACFE.com.

Best regards,

Robert Barnes
Lead Member Services Representative
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

New Computer and Software Installation

Post: I recently purchased a new computer and would like to install the software on it, however, I have already installed the software onto two other computers. One computer is not operating well and the other computer is semi-functional. Please advise what options I have with regards to installing the software onto the new computer. Thank you.

Response:

Dear Steve_Castellanos_2

Thank you for your question. You're are limited to two activations at any given time. We'll be happy to deactivate any of your previous activations, just contact Member Services by calling in or use the email below.

If you have any additional questions for ACFE Staff, please contact us at MemberServices@ACFE.com.

 
Best regards,
Robert Barnes
Lead Member Services Representative
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
 

Prep Help After Long Layoff

Post: I started studying for the CFE exams in June and then life (i.e. work, new house, etc.) got in the way; as a result, I've studied very little in the last 2-3 months. I'm through 3 of the 4 sections and had been good about answering all the Prep Course questions in past months (80% correct).

After I finish the 4th section, what are the BEST ways to prepare to take the CFE exams? Are there tools that helped in your preparation? Since I work at a financial firm and don't have a legal/investigation background, I have a lot of doubts about what I know and how I'll fare on the exam days.

Thanks so much for your help!

Response: Dear Paul Dircks,

Thank you for your question. If you haven't answered all of the questions in each of the review questions correctly at least once, I would suggest going back and doing that. If you have and you are scoring less than 85% on the Practice Exams, you may want to go back through the review questions quickly and mark any questions that you answer wrong for further review.

Typically, if you are scoring 85% or higher on the Practice Exams, you should consider yourself prepared to take the CFE Exam.

If you have any additional questions regarding exam preparation tips, please contact your CFE Exam Coach at CFECoach@ACFE.com.

Best regards,

Justin Dillon, CFE
Member Services Assistant Manager
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

CFE Exam preparation using Manual Only

Post: Hi, I am preparing for the CFE exam and my only source of reference is the Fraud Manual. I need to know how much in detail is the same required to be studied to clear the exam.

Response: Dear Mr. Moorjani,

Thank you for your post. If you study with the Fraud Examiners Manual, an extensive, 2,000-page guide, divided into four main sections, please study one section at a time. Start with the section that you are most familiar with so you may have a comfort level with the material. It is a large amount of material to study, so skim through a section first to ascertain the overall content, before completely reviewing it. Set aside an hour and half to study 5 days out of the week. It takes approximately 100 hours to read the Fraud Examiners Manual. You may learn about other preparation options here.

If you have any questions, please contact me directly.

Best regards,

Laura Lang
Lead Member Services Representative
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
Global Headquarters • The Gregor Building
716 West Avenue • Austin, TX  78701
Tel: (800) 245-3321 / +1 (512) 478-9000 Ext.185
Fax: +1 (512) 478-9184
Email: LLang@ACFE.com

Once the Exam Starts

Post: I have a question in regards to what happens once you start the actual exam.  If you finish the first section of the test, are you able to study for the next section with prep course before taking it?  Or is the prep course deactivated once you start the first section of the actual exam?

Response: Dear Matthew Chisholm,

Thank you for your question. Yes, after completing a section of the exam, you will have access to the full Prep Course to study for the remaining parts. The Prep Course will only be unavailable while you are actually taking a part of the exam and it will be deactivated once you have passed all 4 parts of the CFE Exam.

If you have any additional questions for ACFE staff, please send an email to memberservices@ACFE.com.

Best regards,

Justin Dillon, CFE
ACFE Member Services Assistant Manager

Downloaded Exam, but need to change computers

Post: I recently took the CFE exam and I have a couple parts to retake.  I initially downloaded it on my computer at work but now I think I should take it on my home computer so I can focus better.  Can I use the same link to download on my computer at home or do I need a new link?

Response: Dear Anndrea,

Thank you for your question. You can use the same link to download the CFE Exam software to your home computer and use the same key to activate it. Please note that once you enter the retake key code into the software, all parts must be completed on the computer that that you entered the retake code on.

If you have any additional questions for ACFE staff, please send an email to memberservices@ACFE.com.

Best regards,

Justin Dillon, CFE
Member Services Assistant Manager
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Review Session(3)

Post:
Hi, I would like to know that if after I start the Practice Exam sessions and if I am not scoring enough for my knowledge, can I go back to the review session and do my revision again.

And once I am ready to take the exam by each section, do I still have the option to go back to review session or it will be locked.

Regards
Taki

Response:
Dear Taki Rizvi, 

 Thank you for contacting the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Yes, you can go back to the review sessions at anytime and set up the session so that you can review questions you have already seen.

You can go back into review session once you have been given the CFE Exam Activation Key, you cannot however access the review sessions during the CFE Exam itself.

If you need additional assistance, please contact Member Services at 1 800-245-3321 or +1 512-478-9000 or by email at memberservices@ACFE.com.

 Best regards,

Justin Dillon, CFE
Member Services Assistant Manager
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
 

Topic: Can I still use the 2013 International Edition?

Post: Hello. I purchased the Prep Toolkit - 2013 International Edition in Sept 2013. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, I have not been able to take the exam yet. I am finally at a point where I can devote the time necessary to prepare and take the exam. Can I still use the 2013 edition of the toolkit?  I see that the 2014 edition is now available and I wasn't sure if that meant that the 2013 kit was no longer valid/applicable.

Response: Dear Priti,

Thank you for your question. Yes, the 2013 CFE Exam, International Edition that corresponds to your 2013 CFE Exam Prep Course, International Edition can be taken through  February 28, 2015.

If you need additional assistance, please contact Member Services at 1 800-245-3321 or +1 512-478-9000 or by email at memberservices@ACFE.com.

Best regards,

Justin Dillon, CFE

Member Services Assistant Manager

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners