[Anonymous]

I just got home from my second BEC exam. The first testlet had so many calculations that I was behind from the get go (over an hour). The second testlet was moderate but still had many calculations. The third testlet had significant calculations but not as many as the first. At the end I just had 20 minutes for the essays. Well…I finished two out of three essays.

I’m frustrated because I knew a ton more this time around than the first (72). I had worked so hard to gain understanding of the finance and cost accounting but never anticipated this many calculations. I had done a bunch of AICPA exams and other multiple choice from Becker, Wiley and CPA-For-Free. I felt that I just blasted through any theory questions just to catch up on time. Only two of three essays were completed.

It was the volume of calculations that killed me. I had read through many threads and did not anticipate this pattern of difficulty for the testlets although I really felt I knew the material well.

Did anyone else share the same experience?

[mustpasscpaexam]

My exam experience on Saturday was similar to yours. So many calculations throughout the whole exam. First testlet had tons of wordy calculatons…I was just thinking really????!!! I only left myself with 30 minutes for the written communication. I did complete all of the WCs but they were brief and if I would have had more time to complete, I feel I could have done a better job. =(

[Anonymous]

I totally understand. There is nothing worse than feeling like you knew the material but not being slick enough to set them up more quickly. In fact, I was looking forward to being able to do the calculations. I just did not anticipate that many in the first testlet. Nor, throughout the exam.

[tbstew]

It's very common to hear of people's BEC exam being filled with calculation MCQs. It can be a tough one to get through quickly. I also was running out of time going into the writing section. I finished the last essay with literally 5 seconds to go, and had no time to review. But I still managed an 88, so don't lose hope! You could still pass, even having missed the last essay completely.

Good luck!

AUD - 79
BEC - 88
REG - 87
FAR - 86 - Woot, all done!
Ethics - 100

[Shay]

I hope both of you pass!

Were those calculation one-step or long wordy? Are these calculation similar to Becker or Wiley?

[Anonymous]

@ Carrie

Back in February I had the same experience with BEC. I spent SOOOO much time on the calculations. At the last teslet, I needed to guess about 5 of the MCQ. Plus there were questions about COSO never addressed by Becker. I was left with only 15 minutes for the writing section. Same as you, I did not touch one of the prompts, I only managed to do the first two. The people here say that one of them is not graded. Maybe you are lucky, and it is the one you have not answered to. I wasn't. I failed with 67.

Initially I thought I did not manage to finish because English is not my first language, so I figured it takes me longer to read and comprehend. But I discovered this website, and native people seem to have the same time issues.

I have the re-take on May 31. I prepared initially with Becker, but for this attempt, I bought Wiley – book and test bank. Based on my experience in February (whatever I could recall), I still feel underprepared for COSO, foreign exchange transactions, hedges.

Any ideas? Suggestions? Areas of emphasis?

(Maybe I should search an official website of Treadway Commission)

Good luck to everyone!

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

AUD – 87 (with Becker and Wiley test bank)

FAR – 71 (did not have time to touch 5 simulations)

BEC – 67, re-take 5/31/12

AUD- TBD

[Anonymous]

@ Cornelizza: I recommend layering your preparation materials. When I first took the exam with just Becker, there were those “I had no idea questions.” Well, when I started layering with Wiley I found where some of those “I had no idea questions” came from. Then I got on CPA-Review-for-Free and discovered even more. Thus, I really think the layering of materials is a good way to go.

Becker is good, Wiley is very comprehensive and CPA-Review-for-Free has lots of multiple choice to practice on. I liked that I could download Wiley BEC 2012 right onto my Kindle for $34.00.

The hardest part for me was being able to differentiate what was being asked of the finance and cost accounting questions, set up the problem and work it out in the amount of time needed to stay on track.

[Author]

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