Metronome visual vs auditory?

I failed the Level 2 Achievement exercises because I was out of time.  I listened to my recording a half dozen times before I submitted it and thought everything was good.  After I read your review, I was puzzled and could not hear the errors.  I ended up loading the mp3 into Audacity ware I could see that I was playing at least a half beat behind the metronome ticks. 

To do the re-recordings I switched from using the metronome in Audacity to using a phone app. I learned I was playing about a half beat or more behind the tick when I would just listen to the metronome, but when I looked at the phone’s display and could see the metronome I was playing on time and sometimes ahead of the ticks. 

I assume that visually I am anticipating the next tick, and when I just listen, I am processing the last tick.  Is it typical for a beginner to have an easier time with the metronome when used as a visual reference rather than an auditory reference?  

Thank you,

Brian in Tennessee