[Givemesleep]

I have completed 2,000 mcq’s so far and watched 8 hours of video and still only have an average score of 65%. This can’t be real.

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[KasiaS]

Are you reviewing the answers to the MCQs? When I was studying, I'd review the answers to all MCQs to understand why 1 answer is correct and why the other 3 aren't. I also made notecards for topics that I was consistently scoring low on – that was the most helpful thing for me.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[That Cartoon Mouse]

Ditto. It's important that you understand why you got a question wrong and just as important to understand why you got it right. I used the Wiley book for MCQs and what worked for me was answering a question and immediately looking at the answer explanation in the back (I used those Post-It stick on tabs so I could easily flip back and forth). Even if I got the question right, I wrote down the rule that the question was testing or the entire mnemonic that would help answer the question. I did this every time, even if I was writing down the same thing as I did for the last question.

I never used the NINJA notes and I don't really know what it stands for, but apparently the J stands for ‘just write it down' and I think that's exactly right. It's the repetition and having to translate information from one form (the book) to another (your notes) that are going to help you internalize the information.

REG 82 (10/07/11)
BEC 88 (11/01/11)
FAR 86 (11/21/11)
AUD 82 (11/30/11)
----------
Roger CPA Review, live & cram course

[Givemesleep]

Is BEC as hard on the real exam

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[jeff]

Your MCQs to Video watching ratio seems out of wack. What video are you watching? It looks like you're teaching yourself the materials via the MCQs…you wouldn't be the first person to ever do that btw.

[KasiaS]

I personally thought that it was the easiest exam of the 4 sections, but that's just me. Everyone has different strengths.

It also depends which test bank you're using. I used the Gleim test bank and I thought those MCQs were a fair representation of what's on the exam. I've also heard from other candidates that Wiley is much harder than the actual exam and there seem to be mixed reviews about Becker.

Try to focus on understanding the concepts underlying the questions and you should start scoring higher. Also, keep in mind that you don't have to be scoring in the 90s to pass. I was scoring in the low to mid-70s on my BEC practice and scored an 83.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Givemesleep]

Jeff – I am using exam matrix for the MCQ's and a Roger Cram for the 8 hour video

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[Givemesleep]

Kasias – what part are you referring to of BEC that is the easiest? I think 50% of it is real easy, it's the cost accounting, formula non-sense that's hard. Thanks for the help

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[That Cartoon Mouse]

Everything's hard if you don't know the answer. I only have experience with the Wiley test bank and I did comparably on FAR and Audit, but did better on REG and BEC, but I don't know if there is anything significant to that. I don't recall if the questions as a whole were harder but there were things I didn't know on the exam and things I thought were bone simple.

REG 82 (10/07/11)
BEC 88 (11/01/11)
FAR 86 (11/21/11)
AUD 82 (11/30/11)
----------
Roger CPA Review, live & cram course

[See Pee A]

I normally scored in the 70s on most homework sections and passed all my exams with a comfortable margin. The 70s were mostly when I went through the sections for the first time and I did not often repeat many questions since I didn't have the time.

Are you using Becker? It seems like your skipping most of the lectures and trying to just get the MC. This can be done, but you really have to commit more time to reading answer explanations and learning from there.

BEC 86 (08/30/11)
FAR 84 (10/13/11)
REG 88 (11/08/11)
AUD 86 (11/29/11)

Exam prep - Becker self-study

[Givemesleep]

Using Roger Cram for video, exam matrix for the rest. I passed Reg using exam matrix, so the plan was to use it again for BEC and enhance it with a little Roger Cram video.

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[See Pee A]

Cram is meant as a final review tool, not an initial learning tool. I know of a few people who felt confident enough to use just the cram and some question banks to get through the exam, but it's going to be close. Judging by your scores on MC, you will be cutting it close on exam day as to whether or not you pass. I would strongly encourage you to get a full review, but if you can't/won't, then just take your time on MC. Read the questions carefully and read the explanations even more carefully. They are an excellent learning tool.

The real issue with over-reliance on MC banks is when it comes to simulations, they may take a topic that you spent little/no time with to learn the rules since you just did MC, and you may feel lost. BEC won't really have an issue here since there are no sims (WC instead), but it seems from your MC scores that you are just a bit short and need some more guidance. I can't attest to this, but maybe NINJA notes or some other supplement? In any case, good luck! You are close, but are very borderline right now.

BEC 86 (08/30/11)
FAR 84 (10/13/11)
REG 88 (11/08/11)
AUD 86 (11/29/11)

Exam prep - Becker self-study

[That Cartoon Mouse]

Ah, cost. Yeah, I used Roger (non-cram) for BEC and I liked Wiley's method of doing overhead variances better (it was easier for me to visualize and sketch), but Roger's method for equivalent units was better, and then I created some of my own mnemonics for stuff that wasn't well covered by either one. Those parts are definitely the hard ones, and it took me a while to figure out that one method was helping me and another wasn't — it really matters what works for you. some things fit well into your memory that won't fit into mine and vice versa.

What kind of formulas are you having trouble with?

REG 82 (10/07/11)
BEC 88 (11/01/11)
FAR 86 (11/21/11)
AUD 82 (11/30/11)
----------
Roger CPA Review, live & cram course

[Givemesleep]

SEE PEE A – I am using a full course, Exam Matrix. Just using the Roger Cram videos to supplement some areas that I need video for. Thanks for the input

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[KasiaS]

@Givemesleep, I thought the entire exam was easy. The NIU course was wonderful in covering all of the material very thoroughly, and cost accounting comes easy to me so I didn't struggle on that topic like some others have.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Givemesleep]

I will be ratcheting up my study time. I took next week off to just study like ten hours a day, then all weekend, then it's time – thanks all.

Reg 11/15/2011 - 80
Aud 02/28/2012 - 81
Bec 05/31/2012 - 78
Far 08/31/2012 - 83 Do you believe in Miracles, YES !!!

CPA License received 10/2012 !!
CFE License received 04/2013 !!
EA License received

Givemesleep

[Author]

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