[jeff]

Welcome to the BEC CPA Exam study group for October, November, and December 2018 exams. 🙂

Please introduce yourself & when you’re taking your exam (approximate timeframe).

BEC Study Group Links and Resources:

1. NINJA Monthly – Full BEC Course for $67/mo
2. How to Study for BEC with NINJA Only
3. How to Pass BEC in 20 Days
4. How to Retake BEC After Failing
5. Video: Study Advice for BEC
6. CPA Reviewed Podcast
7. CPA Exam Score Release Dates
8. NINJA MCQ Trending vs Actual BEC Scores
9. I Passed the CPA Exam!
10. I Passed BEC!
11. NINJA BEC Written Communications List by Topic
12. Free CPA Review: BEC

[CPA2018]

1. Approx exam date (Late October, mid-November, etc)
I'm going to take BEC on October 5.
2. Topic you're most-comfortable within this exam section
The topics that I like the most are economic concepts, and financial/capital budgeting and relevant calcs (NPV, IRR, …)
3. Topic you're weakest in / worries you the most.
Cost accounting – OH variances!

[Anonymous]

1. Taking BEC mid-November 2018
2. I’m most comfortable with the Corporate Governance (the easiest topic to understand so mastering the concept is a piece of cake)
3. IT worries me the most (I’m not an IT geek. Besides, Information technology is an enormous field of study with tons of focus areas.)

[kayzee997]

i'm currently studying using becker. For cost accounting(B3 & 4) i take around 2 minutes on an average for numerical problems(not very simple ones) while some take around 3-4 mins(complex ones). Want to know if this is normal and how else i can pick up my pace. Usually i need to read the question twice and figure out which formula to use which takes up most of my time. Is taking that long for sums of equal difficulty in the exams considered normal? would i have enough time to get through 31 mcq in around 45 mins(for each testlet) ?

[Heena93]

1. I am giving my BEC exam on 21st November 2018
2. I am most comfortable with Budgeting Techniques and Ratio Analysis.
3. I am weakest in IT topics.

[Alex]

Hello everyone! I’m getting ready to study for BEC and plan to take the test in December. Few questions for everyone: 1) is 5 to 6 weeks enough to study for BEC? 2) I plan on using Becker and supplement with Ninja( audio and flash cards). Is Becker enough for BEC? 3) what is everyone’s study method? How do you plan to prepare for BEC? And 4) can I take BEC before FAR? I haven’t taken FAR and am worried to see FAR questions in BEC.

[Anonymous]

1. Approx exam date (Late October, mid-November, etc)
I plan to take BEC in early/mid- November

2. Topic you're most-comfortable within this exam section
I am not really totally comfortable with anything. It is usually only during my final review that I start to feel comfortable. However, I am not far in my studying. Only about 1/3 of the way done with the material

3. Topic you're weakest in / worries you the most.
I feel the weakest on financial analysis models. The concepts make sense, but when I get to the Becker questions I feel like what they are asking for comes completely out of left field.

My study routine for the past three exams is the same that I am using for BEC. I study using Becker only. I go through each lecture, taking notes, doing all of the skills tests and mcq's. Then when I am done with that I do a two week final review where I type up all of my handwritten notes, make flashcards, and hammer out mcq's (progress test style) and simulations . At the end of each week during final review I take a practice test to make sure that I am able to remember all of the information I studied in an comprehensive exam format. I understand that this method is pretty time consuming, but since I have been studying full time so it hasn't been too much of a challenge.It's worked for me before and I'm hoping it will continue to work even though I will be starting work full time in about 2 weeks.

[Lexi]

Hi everyone!
1. Taking exam Early November
2. Most comfortable so far with budgeting (since I do that for work)
3. Cost accounting was never my forte, but I just started studying so hopefully it clicks!

Good luck everybody, looking forward to exchanging questions!!

[sking]

Hi everyone!
1. Approx exam date (Late October, mid-November, etc)
I plan on taking the exam in October.
2. Topic you're most-comfortable within this exam section
I am most comfortable with corporate governance, economics and IT related topics.
3. Topic you're weakest in / worries you the most.
I am weaker in cost accounting and variances. If anyone has any tips on how to solidify these topics please share!

I am using Becker and supplementing with NINJA.

[CPAmojo]

All- I received a 74 in BEC and can’t seem to pass this last one… it doesn’t help that I keep thinking that it’s the easiest one. Here’s what I did last time:

I read Becker and took my own notes, and re-wrote my notes. I memorized all of the formulas and pounded NINjA MCQ and never really trended higher than a 72%. I did this all studying 4 weeks while working full-time.

This time:

I’ll go through all the Becker lectures underlining and highlighting for about 3 weeks (no mcq). Then re-write my notes from last time while reading the book (1-2 weeks). Then pound NINJA MCQ to understand the concepts again… probably will trend low again but will reset and then go into NINJA MCQ hopefully in to the review phase with a trending of over 80% (2 weeks). Take a week off of work and study as much as possible.

I know I’m spending a lot of time.. approx 8-9 weeks, but I need to pass this last one before my first expires.

Any thoughts on how I can modify this or is this fine? Again, I passed 3 exams while understanding concepts first (skipped all lectures and just took my own notes, and pounded NINJA mcq). Because I have more time this go around- I think I owe it to myself to do the Becker lectures and really understand the concepts of BEC. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Hi Cpamojo! The only thing I'd do differently, is to start the Ninja MCQs right away. The Becker lectures are good, and will probably help with things like Econ, but drilling the MCQs is really what got me me comfortable with the material and the live test. Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Hey Alex! 1) Yes, 5-6 weeks is enough time for studying BEC. 2&3) I also used Becker and supplemented with Ninja audio and MCQs (although for AUD, REG and FAR I used Becker less and less). Personally, the MCQs are what got me through all four sections. I think i drilled about 2000-3500 questions per section (2000 was FAR, as the questions and answers are much longer). I've never found a use for flashcards, but everyone learns differently. And #4, my favorite question! YES! I took BEC first, then AUD, REG and lastly FAR. Passed each one on the first try, so it is totally doable. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

1. Approx exam date (Late October, mid-November, etc)
I plan on sitting October 26th (Hope this is the last exam!)
2. Topic you're most-comfortable within this exam section
Financial Management (Accounting and Finance Major in College)
3. Topic you're weakest in / worries you the most.
IT since I hear everyone struggle with it and it can be complex

[Anonymous]

Hello friends!
1. I am taking BEC on Nov 10. Crossing my fingers that it will be my last exam.
2. So far I am most comfortable with corporate governance. I just finished my MAcc last December and I had several classes that really drilled the COSO cube and ERM framework into my brain.
3. I am guessing that I will struggle with cost accounting. I haven't gotten to it in Wiley yet, but I don't have any experience with it in my job or from school.
I usually purchase Ninja for my last month of review, listening to the audio on repeat for about four weeks of commute time really helps, plus having different MCQs to do.

[Danni]

Hey Everyone!!
I am to give FAR in the last week of October! I am studying from Wiley CPA review! I wanted to buy the NINJA training. Can I buy only the MCQ . How is the NINJA coverage. Please help me as I am new to this. Also is it okay if I give the FAR paper first. Is there any specific sequence to give the papers

Thanks much!

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone, I really need someone to help me understand how to solve this problem…
Assume for this year, sales are $1,275,000, variable cost total $850,000 and fixed cost total $320,000. What level of sales in dollars, will be needed next year in order to break even if fixed costs remain flat and variable costs remain the same percentage of sales?

I'm tired of operating in fear and mediocrity. It's time to try. It's time to do. It's time to go.

[Author]

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