[jeff]

Welcome to the Q4 2016 CPA Exam Study Group for BEC.

If this is your first post in the study group – please post your target exam date (just the time frame to preserve your anonymity), and your past history with this exam (optional, of course).

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

[So FAR So Good]

The Becker flash cards actually helped me quite a bit with retaining some of the conceptual topics. I found them especially useful considering there was such a broad range of topics to switch between, so they helped me flip from one to the other. It was the first section I used them.

F - 91 (6/5/2016)
A - 7/30/2016
R - 10/8/2016
B - 12/10/2016

[thetoddgreen]

So, I understand econ quite well, from a logical and practical stance for both Micro and Macro. Always have, but I never had to bother with the details. I am not a fan of specified definitions anyway… What you do with information, understanding concepts, etc is always more important than writing a definition word for word. Anyway, I digress…

Supply curves were always a little more odd than demand in my opinion. Demand is straight forward, and supply is ambiguous. Then I run into the export factor… Why does an increase in exports merit a right shift of the aggregate demand curve?

I am looking at it, as if price stays constant (which could be my mistake) then why would more exports = more demand at the same price? To me, there isn't much of a coherent connection. I see a lot online about Net Exports, which somewhat helped, but everything I read was hinging on how imports and exports change prices.

Could someone help me out on a logical level so this doesn't piss me off anymore? Maybe a real-world example or something, on how this actually happens?

(Also, I am realizing maybe this is a silly detail to focus on, but I can't help it, sorry)

[Theodore]

@knightrider75 I purchased the flash cards and I didn't really use them. But i did like the outlines Becker provided. From Ninja I only purchased the MCQ's which were extremely helpful. I took the online classes. Idk about the live lectures, but I was able to go back to the lectures as much as I wanted

C'mon December 16! One more day…

FAR: 66, 76!
REG: 76!
AUD: 72, 9/7/2016
BEC: TBA

Don't Stop When You Are Tired, Stop When You Are Done.

[Anonymous]

Just took BEC for the second time 12/8/16. The first time I took BEC 1/8/16 started studying 11/2/15 up until the date of the test and scored a 50. I watched the videos, read the book, did the homework problems, and review MCQs leading up to the test.

This second time around at BEC I started studying mid to late Oct. 2016 and just hammered out MCQs and paid no mind to anything less. I was scorring any where from 85 to 95 on the quizzes. I took the time to read each explanation to each question. I felt better this time around but I don't feel like it was enough to pass the exam. I have tax season right around the corner and if I do not end up passing when I get my score tomorrow, what should I do and how should I study if I want to take the exam again at the latest late Jan. 2017?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Using Rogers CPA study material.

BEC – 50 (1/8/16) 2nd take (12/8/16) 3rd take if need be (1/15/17 -2/1/17)
FAR – Near Future
AUD – Near Future
Reg – If I pass BEC on the 2nd or 3rd try, going to start studying REG during tax season and hit the books hard after April 15th and take exam mid or late May

Thanks!!

[Anonymous]

@thetoddgreen – I could be totally wrong, but would demand increase because more items are being exported and therefore less items are available domestically to purchase? Thus, fewer items available = increase in demand?

[CPA_Chik]

A little inspiration for BEC takers:
I just got my passing 79 score. Going into the test I was not sure what to expect because this test was horrible to study for and I was frustrated with it more than I want to admit. I was trending less than 70 in Ninja a week before the test and my progress was horrible. But I just was working on my problem questions and concepts for several days before the test. So I had 83 trending going in.
Do not stress if your testlets never get harder!!!! My testlets never got hard, I had mainly one sentence, short conceptuals and several easy calculations. I flagged 3 questions on each testlet. It was ridiculous how easy some questions were. But I guess after Ninja MCQs it just seemed easy. Don't get me wrong, there were a lot of “you know it or you don't” questions, so don't overlook definitions and concepts. Another advise is to use T accounts for solving for amounts when you are given beginning and ending balances, or any in/out activity. Very easy and don't have to guess with + or – signs.

The memos were ok, just some BEC stuff I read about but didn't pay too much attention to. And English is not my native language. I mainly copied/pasted all 3 memos from the scenario they gave you into the intro, the body with some sprinkled action words and phrases and the closing paragraph (in one instance I copied and pasted almost everything into my memo). My advise would be to use a set template for memos. Write the intro and conclusion paragraphs first, and then re-use it in all 3 memos.
And manage your time. I wrote down on the paper 2:20; 1:40; 1:00 to know when to move on to the next testlet. I had around 50 min going into a writing portion and submitted it with 4 min left.

Good luck!!!!

REG - 75!!!
FAR - 66; 73 (FML!!!)
AUD - 09/16
BEC - TBD

[Tncincy]

what about the ninja plus, did anyone gain anything by studying with the videos in Ninja plus? I am currently using them and I am loosing my interest very quickly, I have a few more days before they expire and am wondering should I renew them or just get a book. My goal is BEC early January (before tax season begins. 🙁

It begins with a 75
Been here too long as a cheerleader....ready to pass

[thetoddgreen]

@Allie530 – I guess that is a good way to look at it? Possibly not the reasoning why, but it works for me! Thanks for taking a logical approach.

One thing I have noticed about CPAexcel is that when they explain, it's very ‘by the book' without logical examples. They will do tiny logic examples on things that are pretty obvious, but never on the more complex issues. Hmmm

[CPYay]

Anyone using Ninja MCQs? Section 3 (Financial Management) is murdering me. I've only done about 100 questions so far (just started the MCQs after finishing the Roger videos) and my score for section 3 is 36% (13 missed).

Anyone else struggle in this area? What are you doing to combat it? I'm thinking of doing tons of MCQs on just that section until I get comfortable with the calculations/concepts. Feedback is appreciated!

[rlsrapp]

Help! Can anyone walk me through this problem? Thank you in advance.

Hamilton Company's 8 percent coupon rate, quarterly payment, $1,000 par value bond, which matures in 20 yrs. Currently sells at price $686.86. The company's tax rate 40% .based on the nominal interest rate, not the EAR, what is the firm's component cost of debt for purposes of calculating the WACC?

[crystalblack22]

For my first CPA exam I decided to take BEC which I planned and took in the second quarter of this year and received a 62. I used Becker to prepare for the exam and I gave myself three months to study and review. Despite how unconfident I felt of understanding the material I took it anyway just to get a feel of how the exam will be.

I took a retake of the BEC in the third quarter and received a 63. I used Roger to prepare in hopes that he would better explain the material which he did. I also used Ninja MCQ and done a mock exam with Roger program and got a 75 but in the end I didn’t do much better. I gave myself a month and two weeks to study and review for this retake of BEC.

I thought for sure I was going to pass the retake for BEC, so I already scheduled a date for AUD in the same second quarter before even taking the retake of BEC but after receiving another pathetic grade I push back the AUD exam until the fourth quarter.   

For the fourth quarter I took AUD and received a 60.  This time I used Roger, Becker, Ninja MCQ and Ninja audio to prepare for the exam starting with Roger lectures and MCQ and in between moving to the next chapter for Roger I knock out at least 200 Ninja MCQ. I completed Roger AUD course in two months   and had a trending score of 68 for Ninja. For the last month I just focus on Becker material with listening to lectures that were directly related to concepts I was still little uncertain about and completed all the MCQ and most of the SIMS. For the Becker MCQ that I got incorrect I marked on the software and wrote the questions and answers and the explanations for the answers and attempt the questions again either later on that day or the next day. I also made flash cards and notes for all the lectures I listen to. In total I gave myself three months to prepare for that exam. I am planning to retake AUD again around the mid or end of February. I think I am going to just stick with only Becker and purchase their review course but I am more than open to any suggestion at this point.

[rlsrapp]

[cpaMD86]

@CPYay

Keep chugging along with MCQs. I had the same issue with that section and another. Keep doing MCQs until you've seen them all at least once, and then focus on the “Trouble Questions”. This is the approach that I took – the repetition definitely helped me personally. Seeing results like that definitely left me discouraged, but it came all came together in the end. Keep at it.

FAR: 9/3

[Theodore]

Hi Guys so I will be joining Q1 in 2017 for BEC again. I scored a 74. to be honest I felt like blah for this section since day 1. Motivation level dropped, by A LOT so I was actually surprised I got a 74. I didn't really try. But now looking back, I should have tried harder and I would have been done. SMH. OH well, maybe it can be my first and last 80 lol We got this my future CPA's!

FAR: 66, 76!
REG: 76!
AUD: 72, 9/7/2016
BEC: TBA

Don't Stop When You Are Tired, Stop When You Are Done.

[Author]

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