[Lostnfound]

I failed BEC for the second time using only Becker both times. First time I took it, I did not take the test very seriously but still studied a lot and got a 64. I was bummed after failing so I took a break for a year until I got the motivation to start again. The second time around, I decided to study with Becker again because I didn’t take it very seriously the first time. I studied night and day, weeknights, and weekends and I failed with a 71. I went through all the videos and all the questions multiple times but I did not pass the practice exams BEC provided nor did I pass their quizes with flying colors. Now my question is, what’s my move now? Do I use Becker again but I should add the final review and the flashcards? Do I use Yaeger? Wiley test bank? Roger? Ninja Notes? Ninja flashcards? I know the material I just need to reinforce it a bit and plus I’ve never been very good at multiple choice. Please help, it would be much appreciated.

BEC - 64 (11/10), 71(4/12)
AUD - N/A
FAR - N/A
REG - N/A

[Anonymous]

this is my last section and for me its really difficult to understand and get the math right, i never took cost accounting..but i keep doing each section until i can score a 90% above on the hw. i would make your own flashcards and write the formulas on there. when you get the questions right on the hw make sure you know why you are getting them right. learn the concepts…thats how i passed other 3 parts. what do you score do you get on the quizzes? and learn how to love the mc they will be your advantages in the other tests because the sims are harder!

[Anonymous]

i also got the Wiley test bank for this section and will use that in few weeks. i passed the other 3 with only becker

[The Dingo]

@Lostnfound

Here's the deal: Yes, if they help your learning style you should: Buy the flashcards, order the audio, re-write your review notes. Now, you said you worked evenings and weekends and did the practice problems, but you failed the exam, so here's a couple of questions:

How much time did you really put in to the study plan? Take a long look, if it was three solid weekends and a couple of evenings, then maybe you need to invest more time?

How was you comfort level on the practice problems? Seriously — were you able to work the practice problems with your eyes closed, without looking at the answer, without checking your hints? Because that's what you need to be able to do.

How do you get there:

Use A LOT of paper. Don't just do a fly-by walk-through of the problems, work them, and if you don't understand, don't just read them, but re-work every step the book shows you…Re-work the same damn one three times until you can do the steps on autopilot…In your head: “Okay, where does the number come from, how do I back into the revenue from GM, etc.”

Know your weaknesses: Do you have down the IT stuff, are you solid on those network structure definitions and are you good with the COSO concepts…If not, you've got some reading to do, but if so, STEP AWAY from that section and dig deep on variances and the cost accounting concepts.

You have to get uncomfortable.

Say, “Yeah, I HATE this, but I'm going to work the overhead costing question now and five more times with the book, then I'm doing the next damn one one my own.”

Those small victories will get you there.

The most important thing: Just keep going. And no more one year sabbaticals between sections, because you're going to start passing sections, then the 18 month clock starts.

[bighitter56]

I would definitely recommend buying the Wiley test bank, and consider buying the wiley self study book. I read the book, worked through the MQC's online (alot!), and got an 86. I found that a lot of the questions on the actual cpa exam were very similar to the online test bank, and also somewhat easier.

BEC- 86
AUD- 96
REG- 83
FAR- soon hopefully

Using Wiley CPA Review Books and 2012 Wiley Online Test Bank
MBA in Finance & Strategy

[Anonymous]

I am in the same boat with BEC

This exam will be the death of me.

I have taken week-long vacations and spent 8+ hours a day on this material with Becker.

The problem I am having is in school I mastered cost accounting, operations management and even minored in economics but for some reason I am thrown complete curve balls on exam day.

I have sat for this section three times and cannot break past a 71….

Think I am highly discouraged with this section and with this being the fourth time working the material and lectures and questions I feel like Becker has done a poor job at preparing me for this section.

I just order the Wiley self-study book hoping their prospective will allow me to pass!!!

[Whatdidyou]

Hopefully after you failed the practice exams you did them again and again until you got a high score. If you didn't that is what you need to do & try to do it using logic and reasoning instead of just memorizing. Even if you do memorize, ask yourself if it makes complete sense to you, and if it doesnt – look it up!

Becker was enough for me. With that said, Becker doesn't go completely in depth to every topic (that would be too much and actually hurt most people's scores), they just cover the materials to the depth that its been tested at in the past. I think, for most people, this is a very good thing.

With that said, while going through BECKER, there are several areas where I used my coursework/knowledge (which went much more in depth on many of the topics) to understand the material at a level that BECKER does not necessarily teach you (and which you dont need to know for the exam). However, sometimes having a deeper (than needed) understanding helps you remember the basics better and therefore do better on the exam than memorizing a bunch of mnuemonics. It depends on what type of learner you are and how much study time you have available.

Amar, Wiley may give you that more in depth understanding which could help (if you have the time to study it all). You can also supplement the coso stuff with COSO's website, cost accounting stuff with old college textbook,…etc. For your weaker subjects, this is what I'd recommend. Or everytime you find yourself trying to memorize instead of understand. You're not too far away – just a change in materials actually may be enough to give you a slightly different perspective on a topic or two that could push your score past 75.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Whatdidyou]

Hopefully after you failed the practice exams you did them again and again until you got a high score. If you didn't that is what you need to do & try to do it using logic and reasoning instead of just memorizing. Even if you do memorize, ask yourself if it makes complete sense to you, and if it doesnt – look it up!

Becker was enough for me. With that said, Becker doesn't go completely in depth to every topic (that would be too much and actually hurt most people's scores), they just cover the materials to the depth that its been tested at in the past. I think, for most people, this is a very good thing.

With that said, while going through BECKER, there are several areas where I used my coursework/knowledge (which went much more in depth on many of the topics) to understand the material at a level that BECKER does not necessarily teach you (and which you dont need to know for the exam). However, sometimes having a deeper (than needed) understanding helps you remember the basics better and therefore do better on the exam than memorizing a bunch of mnuemonics. It depends on what type of learner you are and how much study time you have available.

Amar, Wiley may give you that more in depth understanding which could help (if you have the time to study it all). You can also supplement the coso stuff with COSO's website, cost accounting stuff with old college textbook,…etc. For your weaker subjects, this is what I'd recommend. Or everytime you find yourself trying to memorize instead of understand. You're not too far away – just a change in materials actually may be enough to give you a slightly different perspective on a topic or two that could push your score past 75.

REG - Passed!!
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed
AUD - Passed

Study Materials: Becker basic course

[Author]

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