This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 4 months ago by Newbe654.

Creator

Topic
August 4, 2013 at 5:25 pm #179094

Zaq
Participant

If I pass AUD (find out tomorrow), this could be the final 3 weeks of my CPA study life. 3 more weeks until I get back my life back.

Currently studying with Becker. I bought the Wiley Supplemental questions. And I just completed B6’s homework, lecture, etc. and ready to do the final review.

Can anyone recommend the best course of action for tackling BEC for the next upcoming 3 weeks? This is how I felt about the Chapters:

– B1: Corporate Governance and Operations Management. Fairly easy. Some medium difficulty calculations with Cost Accounting.

– B2: Strategic Planning. Huge pain in the ass. Lots of formulas.

– B3: Financial Management. Also huge pain in the ass with lots of formulas.

– B4: Information Technology. Easy. Just a huge vocabulary section that I’m mostly already familiar with.

– B5: Economics Concepts. Simple. Comprehensive. A few minor areas that I need to review, but the material is easy to grasp.

– B6: Random Stuff. Slightly harder with a few formulas. Nothing crazy, but something that needs to be reviewed.

My goal is to put a lot of time and effort into the hardest Chapters, which for me was B1, B2, and B3. I think I’ll probably create some flashcards specifically designed towards formulas for ALL the sections. So much memorization needed for the formulas. Otherwise, I guess I just plan on banging as many MCQ’s as I can within these 3 weeks and hoping for the best on test day.

If anyone has any advice or tips, it would be greatly appreciated. I really, really want my life back.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

Author

Replies
August 4, 2013 at 5:39 pm #428644

Kenada
Member

Hiya Inferno,

With BEC its just do keep practicing MCQ's like no ones business. I would do mock exam sessions where you have random questions and after you are done, see your progress report to where you are weak. The areas you are weak – go back to your notes and understand the concepts of the topic.

I would also practice doing the written sim's those can be easy 15 points for you so do practice them as well. Get comfortable writing them. I can tell you this in the exam with all the nerves setting in, you want to be able to roll out those SIM's naturally and still have time to re-read what you have written. Making sure your presentation is correct, your Grammar is correct and your spellings are correct and you are on topic.

I hope this helps 🙂

FAR 05/27/14; 786/110 - Done !

August 4, 2013 at 5:48 pm #428645

Anonymous
Inactive

If I had to restudy BEC, I would focus on the “flow” of cost accounting. Know the cycle of cost accounting from start to finish (ie: Purchase –> Sale with Markup). NPV / IRR / PV / FV are definitely something you should know inside and out as well. Know how they relate/differ/advantages and disadvantages.

You don't have to know the IT section in and out. I think Jeff's notes are great way to prep for the IT section without overdoing it. He does a great job of trimming the fat. I think Becker went overboard on the IT section to be honest. I would know the basics of IT/Econ. For me, econ came easy, some may have trouble with it, but judging from your analysis above I wouldn't focus too much energy on it. Just do 30 MCQs to keep it fresh every other day.

For the corp governance stuff, I would read, re-read, and take notes. Just know the CRIME / PHRASED C mnemonic and I think you'll be well prepared for that. Know your variances, ratios, etc. I think Olinto did a great job in the lectures teaching the material with respect to financial evaluation. I would make a giant note card with only formulas and just know them. Nothing is worse than staring at a CPA question with all the details and not know the formula, lol.

Overall, just do tons of MCQs. Definitely don't sweat the WC as it is really just a victory lap at the end of BEC. Just make sure your thoughts are related to the topic and broken out into a 3/5 (Beg, Mid, Conclusion) paragraph format. with no spelling/grammar errors. I gave myself 1 hour and 6 minutes for the WC. I felt a tad rushed, but they came out fine.

August 4, 2013 at 6:22 pm #428646

jkpoker1
Member

I would focus on knowing COSO internal framework, difficult cost accounting concepts, try to understand formulas, corporate governance, and strategic planning. Honestly, a lot of the stuff I tried to hammer down wasn't on my exam. I think COSO is huge and can make/break you.

I didn't focus much on the writing. I just looked at writing simulations from the wiley book the day before my exam and wrote out answers to try to memorize them. I honestly believe the writing is really easy as long as you spell correctly, follow the correct form (intro, body, conclusion), and try to include technical jargon. Also try to recite the question and key terms.

If you have passed the other three sections, you should honestly be extremely confident because I though BEC was not that difficult. Good luck.

Quest to be a CPA

BEC-74 (7/13),
REG- ?? (8/13)
AUD-TBA
FAR-TBA

August 5, 2013 at 12:53 pm #428647

Zaq
Participant

Thanks for the advice guys! I actually just finished making flashcards for all of the formulas in the book. I think it may be a little over 100 *gulp*.

1.) Do a ton of MCQ's.

2.) Review over COSO.

3.) Read the book periodically to understand the “big picture”.

4.) Memorize the formulas.

5.) Do even more MCQ's.

Alright! That's my gameplan!

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

August 5, 2013 at 6:10 pm #428648

Zaq
Participant

Just bumping to say I passed AUD! Time to destroy this BEC review.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

August 5, 2013 at 6:45 pm #428649

Anonymous
Inactive

You seem like you have a pretty good study plan. I took 2.5 weeks for BEC and walked out of the test feeling pretty good. My advice would be to READ the Content Specification Outline, certain topics which may take awhile to explain in your review material may only count for a small percentage of the overall test (Think bankruptcy for REG – I had about 40 pages of review material for this topic, which only showed up on 1 maybe 2 MCQs).

Also maybe you're more familiar with COSO and IT than me, but I thought the ambiguity and level of detail in these topics actually made them by far the hardest part of my BEC studying. Just make sure you don't fall into the trap of breezing through topics you think will be easy on the test!!

August 6, 2013 at 1:01 pm #428650

Zaq
Participant

Well COSO has a lot of familiar items that are related to AUD (which I just took) so most of the information tied together very well.

I am, however, getting ready to go into panic mode because I've lost my previous “mastery” of B2/B3. Falling for the same traps and tricks I fell for when I first went through the questions.

I'm just going to keep my head up and keep plowing through as many MCQ's as possible. Both Becker and Wiley. Non-stop.

FAR: 50, 76!
REG: 74... (ouch baby, very ouch), 76!
AUD: 65, 91!?
BEC: 80! Aaaand doneskies!

May 2012 to August 2013. Can't believe it's over.

August 6, 2013 at 3:18 pm #428651

Newbe654
Member

Hi Inferno,

I'm in the same boat as you just took AUD on the 29th and am taking BEC on the 31st. I've gotten through chapter one and half of chapter two, working on the second part now. Cant wait to finish 2-3 because the rest should be easier. Using Becker supplement with Wiley MC as well. I'm not really planning on working on the writing sections too much.. So its full time BEC review for me till the 31st. Hope I come out of that test in a good mood because I've been waiting all summer to have a (hopefully) well deserved drink. 🙂

As for studying tips… don't really have any except keep trudging, least you're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel 😉
Author

Replies

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

The topic ‘3 Weeks to Review BEC’ is closed to new replies.