[Never_Give_Up1]

So I am scheduled to take BEC on Aug 30th. I took it a couple years ago when I was “half-assin” my studying. I ended up running out of time during my exam when I was on my written com’s. Fast forward a few years. The FAR, REG, AUD exams I have all felt like there was ample amount of time to take the exam. Now that I am studying for BEC I am running way long on my questions I am getting in the cost accounting questions. I am getting the feeling like I am going to run out of time again on the 30th. Is this the standard for this exam? I just feel like the amount of information in these cost accounting questions takes me 3-4 min to digest alone then I have to start the calculations and can easily eat up 5-10 min on 1 question. I am getting them right, it just takes me some time to work through the problem. Please tell me it wont be like that on exam day… nothing I hate more than looking at my time knowing I probably wont be able to finish my sims… stresses me out to where I rush and miss things.

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[barelystayingsane]

I am also curious about this. I'm not as fast on BS'ing essays, so I'm allocating myself 20 minutes for each memo (as opposed to 15 minutes as Gearty suggests). That would then give me two hours for the first three testlets or a minute and 40 seconds per question. I'm hoping that's enough time.

@Never_Give_Up1 one piece of advice I can give you for the cost accounting questions is to scroll to the bottom and read the actual question, initially ignoring the details. Becker's cost accounting questions all have a bunch of unnecessary details, and there's no point in reading them if you won't be using them for your answer.

[Never_Give_Up1]

@StayingSane – Yup im using Becker and some of the questions I look at and want to go I have had SIMs easier than this in AUD and FAR… WTF! Ill have to start doing that. I still feel like this exam with only 3.5 hours of time is pushing it. I am WAY slow on the Written part also. Last time I took it and had the 1.5 hours of time for the 3 sims… still ran out.

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[SeattleAccountant]

@Never_Give_Up1

BEC is 3 hours, not 3.5!

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[Never_Give_Up1]

WHAT!! How is BEC even possible then… Audit gave 4.5 hours and you didn't even have to write any essays or do calculations during the questions… That is unreal… Mind = Blown

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[SeattleAccountant]

@Never_Give_Up1

Oh my, but you seriously did not know about it being 3 hours same as REG?!

You took REG, how was time management during that test? Maybe use same strategy with BEC, it can be done certainly. Last final test, last push 🙂

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[kevlee]

Doing more questions will help your speed of knowing what the questions is asking just remember to read carefully.

It usually takes me 1-2 min max per question unless its heavy calculations but u usually only get a couple of those during a test. as for the essays 4-5 paragraphs with 4-6 sentences should be fine using good content (even made up if you need to, don't need to be right) and correct grammar.

I always leave with 30mins-1hr left on the clock so far for all the exams I have taken.

Good luck!

[Never_Give_Up1]

I swear I remember it being 3.5 last time I took it… but granted that was like 3 years ago. I finished REG with like an 45 min to an hour to spare. The one thing I remember was it took me forever to write out the essays (not the fastest typer) Also I have noticed that the questions for BEC are taking me longer than any of the other sections to answer so that is why I am surprised it is only 3 hours. It is doable that is for sure… maybe Becker just kicks you in the face with their first 2 chapters to let you know it is not going to be a walk in the park.

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[mrogovitz]

I took BEC on 7/20 and was finished with the MC testlets with about an hour and a half to spare. I am by no means a fast test taker, and I suppose you could chalk up the speed of the MC testlets to the fact that I did poorly on the first testlet (although I do not believe this to be the case). I used Becker to study and worked all the problems and it took me a long time to make my way through the cost accounting questions as well. However, the “math” based questions that I did receive on the exam did not compare to the amount of thought and time I had to put in to the Becker practice questions. I remember the explanation of the answer for one of the Becker practice questions actually saying that that type of question would not show up on the exam due to its lengthy nature and overall complexity of the question. It was released because it would never be used on an exam so the AICPA could care less about releasing it. I thought it was pretty funny but also pretty mean of them to throw it in as a practice question.

AUD: Attempt 1: 60; Attempt 2: 78
BEC: Attempt 1: 75 (lost credit); Attempt 2: 80
FAR: Attempt 1: 74; Attempt 2: 74; Attempt 3: 78
REG: Attempt 1: 76 (lost credit); Attempt 2: 68; Attempt 3: 80

Finished 11/01/2013!!!

[barelystayingsane]

@Never_Give_Up1 AUD is only 4 hours for the actual exam. They say 4.5 hours to include the post-exam survey or reading the disclosure requirement thing at the beginning, but for actual testing purposes, the exam is only 4 hours.

@kevlee How do you finish a half hour to an hour early?? It looks like it's taken you multiple tries to pass some exams. Do you just not go back and check your answers?

[Anonymous]

For the written part, try writing a LOT of timed essays. You could Google practice SAT essays or CLEP College Composition essays just to give you more material. Of course the topics for those will be nothing like the BEC memos, but they'd be great for learning to write quickly. I've always been decent at BSing essays, but I know it's not easy for a lot of people! However, I believe it's a skill that can be learned. Just got to practice it like crazy! And…typing skills are a big part of that too – might try a typing tutor type program, I think there's several good ones for free online.

Personally, BEC had plenty of time for me (finished with about half the time left), but I know a lot of that was due to being quicker with the memos.

Also, BEC simulations say in the directions that the technical accuracy (like, having your accounting info in the essay correct) *does* matter. My review materials said that it didn't, but the directions said it does. 😐

[Never_Give_Up1]

@StayingSane – I have left every exam I have taken with time on the Clock except BEC 3 years ago. Walked out of AUD with 1:45 left on the clock. REG was :45-1 and FAR was :40. When I take the test I either know the question or I don't. Going back over my questions ends up being a waste of time for me usually. If I think it is something I can recall I just need more time that 60 seconds to answer it I will flag it and come back and look at it again after the testlet is complete before I move on.

FAR - 81
REG - 81
AUD - 82
BEC - 81

Ethics - Done
State License Exam - Done

License - Licensed CPA in Utah

[kevlee]

@barelystayingsane

I always get stronger on MCQ for all categories because I do a few thousands before test time comes so that is my strong area. I try to not spend more than 2 mins on a single question unless I have time left over but usually when I read a question I already recognize where and what topic it is from.

But I always bomb the sims, not because they're hard, but because they have been on insane topics. BEC is the only test I passed on the first try. I passed BEC/AUD within the same wave with a week apart from each other in April. I just took FAR recently and the sims were definitely easier than the other 2 times I took it. So hopefully I'm done with FAR. I'm retaking REG next month and going to aim for a 99. The first time I took it I ran into family issues and had no motivation to study at all a week before the test which sucked.

[Author]

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