[Journey to Fate]

To just feel like you never will get past this exam? I will be honest. Some days I feel so motivated, so confident I can get past it, then there are others days where I just feel disheartened, not knowing if I ever can overcome the exam.

After failing AUD twice with Yaeger, and a probable fail with Yaeger on BEC in July, i have finally decided to go onto the Becker program and give it a legitimate chance. How does everyone use Becker? I have to be honest, i really really am enjoying the becker program and think it really works. Does everyone just go through it exactly how it is ? Watch the lecture do the homework/sims then move to next lecture then repeat questions and supplement wiley test bank? That’s my plan.

I am optimistic that Becker will guide me to the promised land but some days are just better than others. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is time management. I know that needs to be my main focus. I just wish I could succeed like others instead of being the one who is embarassed to say they are not a CPA.

My current program includes studying for an hour before work, studying an hour at lunch then anytime i can after work and on the weekends.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the change of program will help me get to that 75. Any advice always welcomed.

BEC- 67, 69

[mgoloubenko]

I think Becker has been a really good resource for me. You seem committed to the process so I think switching to Becker may finally be the tool that will get you to where you need to be. I follow Becker pretty much as they recommend. I watch the lecture and read the parts of the chapter I'm fuzzy on. I take handwritten notes on sections I'm having trouble understanding. Then I do the MCQs and take notes on anything I missed so I can learn from my mistakes. If you put in the hours with Becker I am confidant you will pass.

FAR 4/9/12- PASSED
BEC 7/13/12- PASSED
AUD 8/16/12- Ughhh 71, Rematch: 90!!!
REG-12/6/12 PASSED

USC MAcc- Fight on!

They say good things come to those who wait, but only those things that are left by those who hustle.

[thistooshallpass]

I think Becker is great, I really like the way they layout a study plan for me. Becker is all that I use and I have so far passed on all first attempts (fingers crossed on REG, I'm hating it big time-less about REG itself, more about being sick of this crap!). I basically followed what Becker said to do…watched lectures, did MCQ & all SIMS. Depending which section I was studying, I may have finished all lectures, than completed all MC, or sometimes it was better one area at a time to do the lecture, then MC, then next lecture & MC and so on. So you will want to tweak it a little to what works for you. Also I tried to do 2 sections/week, this did not always work for me, seems better to try 1/week for me.

I highly recommend the Final Review software, it really helped me know what to do in those crucial days leading up to the exam. I also tried to redo all missed MC during review, while I never did any progress reports and also never reworked SIMS, but there were new ones in the Final Review. I think its a great program and hope that it helps you too!

AUD 85 (2/12) Using Becker
FAR 81 (5/12)
BEC 79 (7/13)
REG 85 (10/1)

"It's not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."

[Anonymous]

My study system with Becker:

1. Watch the lecture and read the chapter simultaneously (pausing the lecture as needed to stay caught up).

2. Review the chapter.

3. Go through the flashcards.

4. Do all the MCQs and TBSs, marking the ones that teach me a concept not present in the book, the ones I got wrong, and any others I think would be good to come back to.

5. Study any area in which I have remaining questions/confusion.

6. REPEAT until chapters are complete.

7. Go back and review each chapter, and work all the marked questions.

8. Go through all the flashcards.

9. Do both Final Exams.

10. Morning of the exam: page through the whole book one last time.

I never do progress tests, but some people find them helpful as well.

[Anonymous]

I use Becker too and I think it's really good. I don't know from personal experience how well it works yet. I'm expecting my first score back next week. I also supplement with cpareviewforfree when the questions become too familiar.

[jokami]

It is COMPLETELY normal to feel this is a never ending journey… You feel alone, depressed, anxious, tense, emotional, desperate, you name it…

I am half way there and I feel even farther than when I started, if that makes any sense…

But as Dory from “Finding Nemo” would say: “Just keep swimming”… Words of wisdom.

You will be fine, just don't give up! Stay at it and obligate yourself to study and you will then enjoy the fruit of your labor.

Good luck.

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[Anonymous]

Absolutely… I can relate. The amount of material that you must know can be overwhelming by itself. Just keep sticking with your study plan and try to absorb as much material as you can. Over time, it will all keep sinking in.

I think the move to Becker is great as they offer very thorough coverage of the material. Just stick with it and review that material over and over again till its second nature…

A CPA friend of mine told me, hours = points. Just spend as much time as you can and you will accumulate points as you cover and understand more material.

Just like the previous posters said… Don't give up! Stick with it, have confidence in your materials and your preparation and you can do this!

[momto5]

I have followed Becker doing all parts one week per chapter. I am taking a class for which I have to finish everything for one chapter each week plus take a quiz. I have also tried to write notes for each chapter and make flashcards. The class provides the Becker Final Review, which I also went through for FAR and AUD. In addition, I try to read through the NINJA notes a few times. I've been losing a little steam with BEC and not keeping up as well with the extras (notes, flashcards, etc) but need to spend the next couple weeks catching up with those. I actually think writing notes and flashcards during the last few weeks is a good review, even though it takes time. Don't give up! Hopefully Becker will give you the edge you need! Good luck!

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[Mrs 300]

@Jokami‘s response is perfect. It's completely normal to feel like you will never complete this journey. The first time I failed AUD, my husband said, “We both know you're going to become a CPA. It's just a matter of when.” For some reason, that just clicked with me.

But when I failed FAR the second time, and my REG credit expiration was on the horizon, I felt like I might never pass this exam.

You are in good hands with Becker. As long as I knew what was in Becker, I felt extremely prepared. Have faith. You will get through this.

Best of luck to you, Journey to Fate!

REG - 80 (Becker only)
BEC - 76 (Becker only)
AUD - 71, 76 (Becker only)
FAR - 65, 74, 81! (Becker, Wiley Test Bank, Ninja notes & Audio)

CPA Class of 2012 🙂

[Keely]

I absolutely, whole-heartedly recommend Becker. You get what you pay for…so you should definitely be getting a lot with Becker! I have passed my first two on the first try, and nothing, I mean nothing, in the MCQs on the real exams caught me off-guard. They were almost identical to Becker MCQs. So here is my study strategy:

Watch the lecture, immediately do the MCQs. I usually score in the 70s first attempt. Then I go back the next day and read the chapter and take my own notes. I think my key to success is the note-taking. You must take notes! I notice if I'm just reading, it doesn't really sink in, but if I take notes, it forces me to pay attention and kind of recite it in my head as I'm writing. After I've thoroughly read the chapter and done my first set of notes, I work all the questions again. Then I work on my weak areas. I review the past chapters as I go, and progress tests are okay, but I like to spend my time going back and reading the chapters and taking short notes again on the areas I feel like I'm liable to forget or am weak on.

This has been a great strategy for me so far, and I like Becker because they keep it as interesting as possible, and they have it down to a science as to what is going to be covered on the exam, so you use your study time wisely. Go Becker!

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[jokami]

@Journey to Fate

Do you speak spanish?

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[holmea52]

I'm going to jump on the bandwagon here and say that Becker is definitely worth it. I took the classes, but for the last section stopped going because I felt like I was more productive doing self review, but I feel like either way you will be successful if the necessary time is put in. Peter and Tim have done their research; I have felt prepared walking into each exam. I've passed the first three on my first attempt (I'm sure that God was heavily involved in this) and am hoping for the same luck on REG at the end of the month.

My study approach: I would go through the lecture in class then I'd go through it one more time with Peter and/or Tim before going through the MC and Sims. I've always done progress tests after each section, which can be time-consuming, but is always helpful. I have never had time to take my own notes while studying, but I feel like if you've got the time to do that on each chapter it will make all the difference in the world. I've also done the final review for each section; I feel like it does a great job of reiterating the most important points especially with BEC, which is a monster. I think you'll find that the way they lay out the information is about as good as can be done.

Hopefully you're happy with your choice; good luck!!!

F - PASSED (11/26/11)
A - PASSED (1/14/12)
B - PASSED (7/14/12)
R - PASSED (8/31/12)
Ethics Exam - 95 %

Just waiting to be able to put those three little letters behind my name...

[jokami]

@holmea52

Yes!!!! BEC is the work of evil!

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[holmea52]

Hahaha. I know. I def got to a point where I just got so mad that I stopped studying. Praying that I will never have to study that guy again!

F - PASSED (11/26/11)
A - PASSED (1/14/12)
B - PASSED (7/14/12)
R - PASSED (8/31/12)
Ethics Exam - 95 %

Just waiting to be able to put those three little letters behind my name...

[Journey to Fate]

wow….thanks everyone for all the support and suggestions!! i will definitely keep them all in mind.

Even though my BEC score release (yaeger) is fast approaching, i am looking forward to AUD at the end of october. I am giving it my full concentration and efforts by using becker. I have enjoyed the material (as much as i can ) so far and really like the way everything is presented etc.

so when does everyone go back and do the questions they got wrong on becker? do a few lectures then go back or right after?

@jokami – no i dont….why?

BEC- 67, 69

[jokami]

I have some recordings in Spanish that are AWESOME… They could help you. But they are in Spanish

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[Author]

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