[jeff]

Welcome to the BEC CPA Exam study group for July & August 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 Downloads: NINJA BEC

[Matthew]

My goal for this week is to review examples of the written simulations and continuing to work through lessons.

[Felix The Cat]

Surprised there are no questions in this group regarding ABC Costing…

[Kyle]

Does anyone have a link or some sort of instructional strategy to hedges, swaps, put/call options, etc.? I thought my understanding of these concepts was O.K., however, I’m more confused after Becker. I don’t recall BEC heavily emphasizing these concepts mathematically (made a 73 in May), but I want to be confident heading into my retake (late August).

[B]

How long did it take you to get your NTS? It has been 7 weeks! I did a first time application, but this is ridiculous. I have called 3 times.

[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

I'm sitting next Monday and I'm using Gleim for my main review course and supplementing with the Wiley test bank.

I've noticed that a few of the Gleim finance related SIMS require using Excel in order to calculate either:
1. the Standard deviation and/or variance of an expected return
2. to calculate NPV without a present value table
3. to calculate IRR.

As far as I can tell there aren't any AICPA released questions that require calculating the standard deviation, variance, or IRR (they are always given) and when dealing with NPV the PVF or PVOA are always given or presented in a table.

Is this just a case of Gleim being over the top difficult or do we actually need to use Excel at this level for the exam? I get how to do it, but would need to review the process and really don't want to spend the extra time if I don't have to.

Thanks!

[jeff]

NINJA Monthly winners selected:

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/study-group-giveaway/

[jeff]

@Benj2017 – if I were studying for the CPA Exam today, I would not study to that level of detail.

[sxy5130]

Hi! Hope y’all well.
I don’t know if I should change the date of exam. I’m only at chapter 2 and scheduled my exam on 9/10. Trying to take it in this window so then if I fail I can take it in next window. But I’m not so sure if that’s a good idea. I work full time and usually do one module at a time or sometimes two. Do you think I have a chance?

[Anonymous]

@jeff,
Thats what I've been doing, but thought it might be worth inquiring about…
I like the the fact that Gleim SIMS are tough, but some of the BEC ones seem over the top.

[zrula]

3 more days till the exam and overhead variances are killing me! I just can't get them straight :/

[Anonymous]

Took my exam yesterday. With the exception of variance analysis I felt comfortable a majority of the material, even IT.

While studying I spent plenty of time going over WC’s, sims, and of course MC’s with both Becker and Gleim. I also took 3 mock exams which I did okay on and finished with plenty of time to spare.

I felt confident going in but that quickly changed once I got going. Both sets of MC’s were cost heavy with a lot of variance analysis which took me a combined 2 and a half hours to complete. The SIMS were information overload that would have taking forever to read through and with time running out I had to skip the blanks that required a calculated answer and just go for the drop down answers. I had 20 minutes to complete the WC’s lol you can guess how that went—I finished the first one and got halfway through the second before time expired.
Needless to say I think I will be having to retake BEC.

I never underestimated the difficulty of BEC and the actual exam still has me shook.

Good luck to all that are taking it soon!

[Anonymous]

@Zrula
I found the SAD PURE SE DADS mnemonic to be helpful, are you using that?

SAD = Standard – Actual = Difference
DA = Difference x Actual
DS = Difference x Std

Line up PURE SE with DADS. SE are your variable OH variances
P DA
U DS
R DA
E DS
S = D x A. Variable Spending = (Std OH Rate – Actual OH rate) x Actual Usage (hours)
E = D x S. Efficiency Variance = (STD Hrs – Act HRs) x Std Variable OH Rate

In summary
Standard – Actual. If Positive = Favorable
Price & Rate differences are multiplied by Actual Inputs (DL hrs etc)
Usage & Efficiency differences are multiplied by Standard Price

Fixed Overhead are a little bit easier
Fixed Spending = Budgeted Fixed OH – Actual Fixed OH
Fixed Volume = Budgeted Fixed OH – Standard quantity for actual production (IE your predetermined overhead rate: (Est Cost / Est Base). Then multiplied by actual production)

And if you see a flexible budget variance question:
(Budgeted Cost x Actual production) – Actual Cost

Hopefully that helps

[Rainbow Butterfly]

B Just to let you know, it you are not alone. It took me 9 weeks the first time to get my NTS. I feel I live in a slower state than normal.

[Rainbow Butterfly]

Hi all! so I took FAR august 1st. and here I am trying to pass BEC by Aug 30th… eek! And I work full time and I'm a single mom of a 4 year old. Needless to say, I have no life right now….

[Neek]

Hello my fellow BEC students! I’m taking BEC in two weeks and I’m still struggling horribly with certain variances. Specifically, does anyone know the equations for:
1.) Flexible Budget Spending Variance
2.) Flexible Budget Efficiency Variance
3.) Flexible Budget Volume Variance

I use Becker and I do not see these equations in my book. There are a few MCQ with them and I know variances are important so I don’t want to take any chances come exam day.

[Author]

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