[Anonymous]

I need help with BEC!!!! This is my final section but my last two scores was 70 and 72. Can anybody that pass BEC tell me what should i do differently? Also, did anybody use cpareviewforfree.com and did it help you at all?

[ReadytoPasstheCPA]

@cpaexamstress: What is your current strategy for studying? Is it different from the other sections that you have passed? I have passed BEC twice. As the scope of the material is rather broad, I have found it effective to perform a thorough review of all of the material in the final week before the exam.

I reviewed the free questions from cpareviewforfree.com. Although there are some useful questions, I felt that the majority of the questions for BEC were Sub-par. For instance, the IT section probably had over twenty questions about A.I. Artificial Intelligence, which is a subject I have never seen or heard of being emphasized on the CPA exam, although it was a decent movie.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

I was NOT a fan of BEC material. I have passed BEC and FAR, and can honestly say I would rather study FAR any day. That aside, here is what i did to pass……..I used Becker and went through each lecture one section at a time taking notes in the book and on a pad and tried to understand the concepts the best i could. After each section, i completed the MCQs that corresponded with the lecture. To keep concepts fresh throughout the different sections, i used Becker's flashcards. The last couple days before my exam i did nonstop MCQs. I did 1 written communications exercise and thought it was a waste of time.

I did this over the course of 1 month while working full time. The one thing i really tried to focus on for this exam vs FAR was to spend more quality time studying. I cut out distractions and did bigger chunks at a time as opposed to FAR when i was doing smaller amounts and felt like i should be studying all the time. This approach also helps from a social aspect….I still felt like i had time to do things with my girlfriend and friends as opposed to always saying i have to study.

Thats what worked for me……good luck

[Anonymous]

@ReadytoPasstheCPA: I used the same method of studying for this section. I just do not understand why this section is giving me problem. But, I will implement your studying method, it will not hurt. I would like to know, what review program are you using? Are you in public accounting?

[kbbflo]

Have to give Jeff props on this – I decided to take BEC during the extended window – so only had about 2 weeks to study for it. I bought the 10 point combo and did a ton of MCQs and listened to the audio (which only supplements study materials, you probably won't pass with the audio alone) everyday to and from work (20 mins away). I scored a 75! Not a score to post on my wall – but passing none the less. I would definately recommend the audio and the wiley test bank. I skimmed the notes (sorry – no time to re-write) and did not use the flashcards but I do not think I could have pulled it off otherwise. Lots of MCQs!!! I supplemented with Becker 2011 book, fast forward academy free test bank and cpareviewforfree.

good luck! If I can do it you can!!!

[Noct]

Lots and lots of MCQ. As you work through them, make sure you understand each question and its answer.

FAR - 79 - 07/2012
AUD - 65, 78 - 11/2012
BEC - 76 - 11/2012
REG - 78 - 01/2013
ETH - 98 - 01/2013

Material: Wiley books

[jeff]

Nice kbbflo!

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[kbbflo]

BTW – my first practice test at the beginning of the two weeks was a 58….This is my “second career” so a lot of what was tested on BEC was learned during my first degree program (graduated in 2001) and never seen again….Gret job Jeff – will be buying the 10 point for FAR as well 🙂

[Anonymous]

I just passed BEC w a 75. My method was similar to Beavis' in that I spread my studying out through the day. I worked tons of multiple choice questions particularly for B1-3. 2 days before my exam my laptop charger disappeared and I wasn't able to do any more MC in the pass master software. Instead I went through and outlined the chapters and rewrote my notes condensing the material on each rewrite. I also made a jumbo list of about 50 formulas that I rewrote, rewrote, and rewrote. When I began the exam I actually dumped a lot of these formulas onto the scratch paper to help guide me through the exam.

Hope this helps and good luck.

[JDubb416]

Ohh BEC… I just got my second 74. I am scheduled to retake it next week but am having a terrible time focusing, and my REG NTS expires feb 24. So even if I retake BEC next week I have only 6ish weeks for REG… Can't decide if I should push for both or just pause on BEC for now, take that in the second 2013 window, and focus on REG instead to break the monotony??

BEC - 78 8/14
AUD - 79 7/14
FAR - TBD 10/15
REG - TBD 11/15

*Not shown: the painful fails, including an excruciating twice earned membership to the 74 club and an expired BEC credit.

CPA Excel (switched from Becker) | NINJA (10 pt + MCQ) | Wiley (test bank and notes)

[ReadytoPasstheCPA]

@cpaexamstress: I'm using Becker. I was previously in Public Accounting, but graduated up to a Fortune 20 Company. Experience in both Arenas have aided my knowledge in studying for the exams. All the best in passing the Exam!

[Tina82]

Out of the 3 sections I hated BEC most. I studied the same for my retake (after a 74). I found the wiley test bank questions and ninja notes to be helpful for this section in particular. Both give a slightly different angle for studying the BEC concepts/questions. For the accounting piece I ended up setting up templates in excel for various problems. My weak area was definitely the variances but I ended up passing on the 2nd try. I'm not a “fan” of studying for FAR but the BEC exan was definitely worst so far. Don't forget to save some time (probaby around 45 minutes) for the writing portion – easy points on the exam.

R - 74;88
A - 84
B - 74;89
F - no study = 67; May 15 = 87 & done

[Author]

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