[Anonymous]

I’m taking BEC a week from today. I’ve been through all the Becker materials once (videos, book, MCQs) and now I’m in review mode. Conceptually I’m pretty solid, but some of these Becker math type questions baffle me, even on the second and third time through. I also have the Wiley test bank, which I haven’t started yet, so I don’t know what those math type questions will be like.

Any advice on whether I really need to hammer out every single Becker math type answer or if my time is better spent with the concepts and knowing how to do the *basic* math problems?

[wizards8507]

You got a 97 on AUD so you're obviously good at this stuff. I'd continue to work the math problems now, but be prepared to take the opposite approach on exam day. You want to “know what you know” when you get in the exam room. Guessing on a problem or three won't be the end of the world, but taking 20 minutes on a MCQ might be. If you come accross a question in the exam and you know “the only way I'm going to get this right is to spend 10+ minutes,” skip it immediately. By drilling the math before then, you can minimize the number of those you encounter on exam day and keep yourself out of a time crunch situation.

NY CPA

[Anonymous]

I took BEC May 24 of this year. I used Becker just like you.

I killed myself making sure I remembered stuff related to variance analysis and other math related questions. (still don't know how I passed wit the score I received)

The acronyms for internal control and such were helpful but more important than the acronym were the details. Hammer down those conceptual details and don't overlook that last internal audit section.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest compiling a list of formulas for all of the math type stuff.

That really helped me out on BEC – I made that list and just kept rewriting it over and over again.

[wizards8507]

I have to disagree with acg5000. I don't think memorizing formulas is an effective use of study time. It's more important that you understand the “whys”. If you have a true grasp of what you're calculating and why, you can come up with the forumlas on the spot.

NY CPA

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the feedback. The scenario of spending 10 mins on a long math type problem (like what wizards mentioned) is exactly what I'm doing to myself now and it leaves me nothing but frustrated. I'm really good with the basic concepts and formulas, but when I get a Becker question that goes on forever I worry that I'm wasting time on minutia that I could be spending on more valuable review.

I think I will continue to go through the Becker MCQs in their entirety one more time (I'm on Chapter 2 all over again) and then move on to just conceptual stuff (both Becker and Wiley) after that.

[Anonymous]

I mean I passed the exam by writing and rewriting the formulas, so I don't think its an “ineffective use of study time” at all.

But follow the plan you feel comfortable with.

[GO Hawks]

did BEC on 5/25/2013 and also used Becker. You are right, some of the budgeting and cost accounting questions in Becker are very extensive, like 3-4 steps. I would say know how to do it all, but don't get too frustrated when Becker gets you with one of the 7 minutes computation questions.

a list of formulas/ notecards could work.. but you should really know why the formulas are constricted the way they are as well. But l'm sure you already know that!

your AUD score is awesome, I'm studying for AUD now and think it's more conceptually more challenging then anything in BEC- grass is always greener. keep at in, You're gonna rock it.

BEC 88 5/25/2013
FAR 96 7/01/2013
AUD 99 7/08/2013
REG 93 8/01/2013

Straight Becker'in it

[wizards8507]

@GO Hawks

Go Bruins.

NY CPA

[Anonymous]

@ DJN

I remember being as worried as you were. There was one math problem that took me close to 10 mins in Becker, but on the exam, the math was not anything difficult (by that I mean not anything that would take you longer than 2-3 mins). I wouldn't worry about those. Say you get one on the exam, skip it and tackle it at the end of the testlet.

[Anonymous]

I think review programs really prepare for us for the worst case scenarios with problems and MCQs and in a way, I'm glad they are harder in our review programs. I'm not saying we don't get some hard questions on the test, but to have harder problems and questions in the review programs helps us prepare even better.

[Author]

Replies