[jeff]

I have a question that I hope you can help me with…. I purchased the Becker CD’s and installed them on my PC. I have taken and passed all but one of the exams (BEC left).. I was checking to see if my software was up to date and noticed an expiration date of November 2013.. Does this mean my software ( downloaded from my CD’s) will no longer work after November….or will it no longer be supported but I can still take practice exams and do study questions etc?

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

[Jennifer241]

When I see a variance questions I look at the last sentence first, which variance do they want me to use?

P – Price Variance

U – Useage (quantity) Variance

R – Rate Variance

E – Efficiency Variance

Then write out your formula variance that they want from you. As you read through the problem write down all the information that you will need to plug in your answer. Often times they will give you a bunch of info that isn't even needed.

This has helped me to not get overrun with all that information at once.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Zaq]

This is how I approach the math questions:

Step 1: Read the question stem. What are they asking? Identify the “X” you are solving for. Let's assume they're asking for the Direct Material Price Variance.

Step 2: Write out the formula. I do this in all my practice HW questions just to get in the habit. It helps me memorize it as well. The formula here being (Std. $ – Act. $) x Act. units purchased.

Step 3: Identify the variables within the problem. Then plug and chug.

In regards to variances, as Jennifer said, SAD PURE DADS is pretty awesome. But the best way to memorize the formulas with or without the mnemonics is to do a crapload of MCQ's and write down the formulas over and over IMO.

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.

[Zaq]

This is how I approach the math questions:

Step 1: Read the question stem. What are they asking? Identify the “X” you are solving for. Let's assume they're asking for the Direct Material Price Variance.

Step 2: Write out the formula. I do this in all my practice HW questions just to get in the habit. It helps me memorize it as well. The formula here being (Std. $ – Act. $) x Act. units purchased.

Step 3: Identify the variables within the problem. Then plug and chug.

In regards to variances, as Jennifer said, SAD PURE DADS is pretty awesome. But the best way to memorize the formulas with or without the mnemonics is to do a crapload of MCQ's and write down the formulas over and over IMO.

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.

[ZSRizvi]

Does anyone else feel like the Becker progress tests don't really measure your progress? They just recycle the questions from the homework and if you have a good memory, you'll remember the answer you had when doing the homework. I still try to do the calculations just to make sure I can get to the answer but… getting 90s on the tests aren't so satisfying if you feel like the only reason you're getting the high scores is because you have the answers memorized.

BEC (July 2013)
FAR (OCT 2013)
REG (NOV 2013)
AUD (JAN 2014)

The CPA Exam is an opponent that not even the Fellowship of the Ring would want to come across.

I have a long...long...journey ahead of me.

[ZSRizvi]

Does anyone else feel like the Becker progress tests don't really measure your progress? They just recycle the questions from the homework and if you have a good memory, you'll remember the answer you had when doing the homework. I still try to do the calculations just to make sure I can get to the answer but… getting 90s on the tests aren't so satisfying if you feel like the only reason you're getting the high scores is because you have the answers memorized.

BEC (July 2013)
FAR (OCT 2013)
REG (NOV 2013)
AUD (JAN 2014)

The CPA Exam is an opponent that not even the Fellowship of the Ring would want to come across.

I have a long...long...journey ahead of me.

[Jennifer241]

I don't have that problem, horrible memory.

But if I did, I would probably purchase the Wiley Test bank and see if I get the same scoring percentage, if so then Becker has taught what you need.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[Jennifer241]

I don't have that problem, horrible memory.

But if I did, I would probably purchase the Wiley Test bank and see if I get the same scoring percentage, if so then Becker has taught what you need.

AUD - Jan 9,13 Pass
REG - Aug 30,13 Pass
BEC - Oct 26,13 Pass
FAR - Dec 4,13 Pass

Licensed CPA in the state of Oregon

[ZSRizvi]

Yes, I have the Wiley Test Bank. I took a progress test on it and got an 83% compared to the 94% on Becker. However, Wiley also covers different material and to a different (perhaps deeper) extent than Becker which also explains why I performed lower.

I just took the practice final exam #1 for Becker and got an 87, 75, 87. I calculated what my overall MCQ score would have been and it was 70. Which means I would have to score phenomenally on the WC to even get an 80-85 (the maximum).

But I've also heard people say that Becker questions are harder than the actual exam? Can anyone attest to that?

What about you Jennifer? How were the Wiley questions for AUD in relation to the actual exam?

BEC (July 2013)
FAR (OCT 2013)
REG (NOV 2013)
AUD (JAN 2014)

The CPA Exam is an opponent that not even the Fellowship of the Ring would want to come across.

I have a long...long...journey ahead of me.

[ZSRizvi]

Yes, I have the Wiley Test Bank. I took a progress test on it and got an 83% compared to the 94% on Becker. However, Wiley also covers different material and to a different (perhaps deeper) extent than Becker which also explains why I performed lower.

I just took the practice final exam #1 for Becker and got an 87, 75, 87. I calculated what my overall MCQ score would have been and it was 70. Which means I would have to score phenomenally on the WC to even get an 80-85 (the maximum).

But I've also heard people say that Becker questions are harder than the actual exam? Can anyone attest to that?

What about you Jennifer? How were the Wiley questions for AUD in relation to the actual exam?

BEC (July 2013)
FAR (OCT 2013)
REG (NOV 2013)
AUD (JAN 2014)

The CPA Exam is an opponent that not even the Fellowship of the Ring would want to come across.

I have a long...long...journey ahead of me.

[mmp3]

@ZSRizvi: With scores like that you should do more than fine. My experience has been the following:

Failed both FAR Becker practice exams MCQs and ended up with 92 on actual exam

Scored in 80s on AUD practice exam MCQs and got a 99

Reg borderline failed both practice exams and score is TBD…fingers crossed!

As far as Sims on those exams I always think the real sims are much different than what I practiced so it's hard to judge. I do believe the combination of doing all the homework and practice sims just helps you to get very familiar with the topics. And I always think time management is the key to the actual exam so the more homework questions you do hopefully the faster you can answer the mcqs on test day which will leave more time for the writing in the case of BEC.

FAR 92 (2/27/13)
AUD 99 (4/18/13)
REG 93 (7/5/13)
BEC 92 (8/12/13)

Becker Self Study

[mmp3]

@ZSRizvi: With scores like that you should do more than fine. My experience has been the following:

Failed both FAR Becker practice exams MCQs and ended up with 92 on actual exam

Scored in 80s on AUD practice exam MCQs and got a 99

Reg borderline failed both practice exams and score is TBD…fingers crossed!

As far as Sims on those exams I always think the real sims are much different than what I practiced so it's hard to judge. I do believe the combination of doing all the homework and practice sims just helps you to get very familiar with the topics. And I always think time management is the key to the actual exam so the more homework questions you do hopefully the faster you can answer the mcqs on test day which will leave more time for the writing in the case of BEC.

FAR 92 (2/27/13)
AUD 99 (4/18/13)
REG 93 (7/5/13)
BEC 92 (8/12/13)

Becker Self Study

[ROACH]

I have a problem with memorizing all the wiley test bank answers too.. I'm supplementing with the book and cpareviewforfree.. its helping.. i'm seeing a lot of different q's.

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[ROACH]

I have a problem with memorizing all the wiley test bank answers too.. I'm supplementing with the book and cpareviewforfree.. its helping.. i'm seeing a lot of different q's.

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[Zaq]

There are SO many formulas to memorize in B3! What the hell!

Do you guys have any tips for memorizing all these formulas?

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.

[Zaq]

There are SO many formulas to memorize in B3! What the hell!

Do you guys have any tips for memorizing all these formulas?

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.

[Author]

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