This topic has 31 replies, 17 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by krokofilen.

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November 5, 2014 at 9:28 am #189789

krokofilen
Member

OK, so I have decided to give it a try for BEC since I will be in the US for REG mid-November anyways. I will have 2.5 days following my REG exam to prepare for BEC, or abour 30 hours (I will be able to study 12 hours a day).

Since I am so focused on REG now, I have no time to look into the structure of the exam i.e. what it topics are the most crucial/difficult and hence worth spending my very limited time on – I need your advice on this. Based on your experience of BEC, what would you focus on if you had only 30 hours?

This is my starting point:

– Becker book is read about 3 weeks ago

– Got about 60 pages of printed-out notes, covering all topics in Becker

– Pretty confident with the content in general

– Haven’t done any NINJA or Becker MCQs yet – could probably do 20-30 of them an hour

My plan is to combine review of notes & NINJA MCQs (or Becker?) these 30 hours. I know it will be tough, and not the best strategy, but given my situation it is worth it. I know a colleague of mine who did this a couple of months back (she put in about 30 hours), and she passed!

Thanks

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

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November 6, 2014 at 5:02 pm #634190

y_u_no_pass
Participant

Yeah there are 3 writing tasks for BEC. I didn't study them at all. In only 2.5 days I would not spend any time on them. Focus on memorizing formulas, and concepts, COSO framework, variances, basic cost formulas.

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

November 6, 2014 at 5:05 pm #634191

Anonymous
Inactive

If you've already read stuff before, I suggest on day 1 to print out all the Becker outlines and read through those with a highlighter.

If a topic totally doesn't come up in your memory, either read that part or re-watch the lecture to refresh yourself.

That should hopefully take you either half a day or a whole day. Then, you would want to do at least one comprehensive progress test. Identify what sections you're the weakest at.

Then on day 2, focus on those sections you're the weakest at. Do as many comprehensive progress tests or a practice test.

Day 3, take it.

November 6, 2014 at 5:19 pm #634192

Kimboroni
Member

I did not practice the WC either. Here is the link I was given before my test, and I printed out a couple of the key posts in it (Nick and RZR), and that was the limit of my prep. I reviewed the printout right before I walked in to test. https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/practicing-the-written-commuication-in-bec

This was my test day strategy for WC, from the exam experience thread:

I put in all of the gimme points on all three of them first (repeat the question, summary, and closing), so I would at least get credit for those. Then I started filling in the actual content, working back and forth to build each one up a little more with ideas and key words. I felt mostly so-so on the subject matter and BSed quite a bit, hopefully picking up points for key words.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

November 6, 2014 at 5:24 pm #634193

Anonymous
Inactive

Kimboroni is it worth reviewing FAR, REG, and AUD for the WC or just BS through anything you don't know? How left field were the topics?

November 6, 2014 at 5:49 pm #634194

Texan_Stuck_In_OK
Member

@Akvod

My topics were related to the BEC material, nothing crazy. Somewhere I read that they first check to see if you properly addressed the question with your BEC knowledge. It doesn't have to be terribly thorough. If they deem you to address the issue, then they grade you on spelling, grammar, and proper sentence and paragraph structure.

Hope that helps!

A 88, B 76, F 84, R 76 Passed 2014

Licensed in OK

November 6, 2014 at 5:55 pm #634195

Kimboroni
Member

I didn't think anything was from left field. I've heard some people do.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

November 10, 2014 at 9:44 pm #634196

krokofilen
Member

How much time should I reserve for the writing tasks on the actual exam?

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

November 10, 2014 at 9:46 pm #634197

Mamabear
Member

I was concerned about the writing so I split it 1.5 hours for the MCQ and 1.5 hours for the writing.

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

November 10, 2014 at 10:01 pm #634198

Kimboroni
Member

I had a little over 45 minutes left when I started the WC. It was *just* enough time for my above strategy.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

November 10, 2014 at 10:29 pm #634199

Danime
Member

I just took the exam today I got to the writing section with 54 minutes lefts…I finished it all with 2 minutes left.

FAR 5/31/14 - 86
AUD 7/28/14 - 94
REG 10/1/14 - 89
BEC 11/10/14 - 88

November 10, 2014 at 10:32 pm #634200

Anonymous
Inactive

I would just hammer out NINJA MCQ. That's what I did over a few weeks and it worked. If you have a background with the material, you should be fine. Best of luck.

December 9, 2014 at 8:53 am #634201

krokofilen
Member

Just for the record – this strategy worked out fine and I passed with 87.

Big 4 Audit Manager from Europe here to pass the CPA in the U.S. of A in 2014! Niiice!

AUD - 95 / Jul 15 / 130h over 4 weeks
FAR - 86 / Aug 14 / 240h over 4 weeks
(11 week break)

REG - 81 / Nov 14 / 200h over 4 weeks
BEC - 87 / Nov 17 / 30 h over 2.5 days

December 9, 2014 at 8:58 am #634202

Anonymous
Inactive

Congrats Kroko!! That is fabulous news!!

December 9, 2014 at 2:34 pm #634203

tami3492
Participant

Congrats Kroko, though I must admit that I am a little jealous 🙂

FAR 7/8/14 - 88 - Becker live course
REG 10/14/14 - 82 - Becker live course, Ninja notes and audio
BEC 11/25/14 - 88 - Becker live course, Ninja audio, Wiley book for extra questions
AUD 2/3/15 - 94 - Becker self study, Ninja audio, Wiley book for extra questions

December 9, 2014 at 2:38 pm #634204

CPA50
Participant

Yeah KROKO – you nailed it! Congrats – you earned it!

How are you celebrating? 😉

AUD 88 (expired), 80 retake
FAR 64,69,67,73,67,73,73,73, August 3
REG 75 (expired) September 7
BEC 72, 77

The adventure continues...
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