BEC Study Group – Q1 2018 - Page 4

Omg BEC is killing me! It’s such a hard materials to focus on. So much information to remember! Ugh!

I read the book, but I’m not retaining much of the topic I’m reading (it’s called old age disease). I accept the fact that my memory is no longer capable of remembering all of the materials I’m studying, but how will I pass this subject?

I did well in AUD because most of the questions are applications of the subject matter. But the questions that’s keep coming up with my BEC MCQ tends to ask for what you remembered. Memorization seem to be the key.

What are you guys study strategy?

Ahh! IT!!! When I went to school our typing class were using typewriters with the loud carriage return. To me studying the IT topics are like studying Latin.

Went back through Wiley and finished Econ yesterday. I feel like I have a decent grasp on that stuff, at least for the time being. Now onto financial management. There's so much information on this one. I'm not really looking forward to working through it again. 3 more weeks.

I set up a plan in Wiley, so it tells me which lessons to work through everyday. I'm just going with the order on there. I just took this section last month, but didn't have a clear enough understanding on many topics, so I'm just kind of reading/skimming the book and focusing on the questions at the end of each lesson right now. After I'm done with a section (like the whole Econ section), then I take a day off from the lessons and hit some questions in Ninja to help beef up/retain the info. It seems to me working pretty well as my scores are coming out better this time around. So far, at least. But it's still early.

Thanks! It helps to know that however this turns out, I'll be done with the exams for awhile in a few weeks. I purposely scheduled the exam to get in before the January deadline for the Feb score release, plus this way I'll get it out of the way before tax season really starts to ramp up at my firm. The only thing I'll really have to contend with the next few weeks are wrapping up some bookkeeping and getting quarter returns and W2s out the door. I'm ready to get this done and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!!

@Rosystillettos where are you in the exam process? Have you taken this section before?

I did not pass BEC-first one taken-73. I am signing up to retake it early March. I have ordered the Ninja Platinum and will be using it with my WileyCPAExcel.

I have zero experience with Becker, so I'm not sure how the software works. Do you know the areas that you are weak? If you have Wiley, have you looked up in the software to see about getting a second explanation on the topics?

I will say, I wouldn't base too much weight on the mock exams. I may be in the minority, but I really don't see how they are useful. The closest I come to a mock exam is taking the practice exam questions on the AICPA site. I think there's something like 5 MCQs and 3 SIMs. It helps get a feel for the types of things you'll see and always makes me more comfortable. I highly recommend checking them out before the exam.

Otherwise, just breathe. Keep pushing. 2 weeks is PLENTY of time to beef up on weak areas and get more comfortable with the information. This stuff isn't easy at all. I got a 4.0 on my masters and never studied a day in my life before starting these exams. I always felt like I was pretty smart and most stuff came easily to me. This exam is a whole different beast, so don't beat yourself up with struggling. It happens, sometimes to the best.

I've been in that cycle. It's not fun. But it was my own fault. I got serious last year about studying and taking exams, and clearly it's paid off pretty well for me. I went 3/4 last year, which is much better than any previous attempt.

For the computational stuff, I've seen people on here with many different ways for remembering the formulas. For me, I just work MCQs until I'm ready to throw my computer and that helps solidify the information in my head. I'll answer tons of MCQs, which will help me see where my weak areas are based on the topics I'm scoring well/badly in. Then I'll go back and work on beefing those areas up. I didn't have time last window, but I knew going in that I was super weak on Econ. So this time, I'm working on building up my comfort level there.