[Shay]

I feel like I dont know much about cost accounting in BEC. I do have Becker 2012. some of the stuff I am not understanding the concepts…I need help with how should I prepare myself for the exam. I have been studying since Feb 1, 2012. finish all HW problems…

[ROACH]

@OP, yeah man cost isn't fun. I would try to breakdown each section.

-Job order, Process, and know ABC.

-Know how to calculate COGM that'll help get you to COGS (easy imo)

-Know accounting for overhead (over/under applied)… this is important it'll help you with strategic planning section.

-Know how to calculate joint cost and by-products (semi-easy imo).

-and the direct and step method of allocation (easy imo).

There is a lil more than this in the chapter…

The cost MCQs on Wiley testbank are a real a**. Its 90% is calculating… the rest are theory questions. Its good practice for sure. Work on your weak areas but don't dwell too much on this chapter… just keep doing MCQs.

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[misanthrope87]

Did you go through the questions only once? Do it more than once. Becker is really good with the cost accounting in my opinion.

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[Shay]

@ROACH..thanks for breaking the topic down. yea thats exactly what did with cost material is to study each topic separately…here is the break of what I dont know.

-Job order, Process, and know ABC.

-Know how to calculate joint cost and by-products (semi-easy imo).

-and the direct and step method of allocation (easy imo).

-Normal Spoilage

I am good with math materials. but from what I hear, there are more concepts questions on real exam then math. like for example, If they ask, which method gives lower cost per unit…ABC or normal costing…you see I wouldnt know how to answer…I started using the “Cost Accounting 14ed by Horngren” to prepare myself better. I see you took BEC once already..you thinks its a good idea? any more tips b/c this would be my first ever try at the exam.

@misanthrope87

I did it HW probrems 3+ times already. I havent taken the Final Exam review yet. b/c I am not getting the concepts. just read my msg I wrote above. you also took BEC, what else should I do to pass? I know IT section, because I develope facebook apps. I am totally confident it IT!

thanks both you for replying…I am planing to take on may 20,2012.(nervous)

[Anonymous]

@Shay, I haven't prepared for BEC yet but I know from doing cost accounting in college that you need to dump the book by Horngren. It takes him 4 pages to explain something that should only take a paragraph—all of his books are really wordy and I feel overall he just makes cost accounting more difficult. Unfortunately, that's all I can really attribute to your question. If you're having a really difficult time I would try to look up some Youtube videos or some other free resources to get a better grasp of the topics you're struggling with.

[ROACH]

@Shay yeah man theory questions relating to calculations are something else. I'll just focus on trying to understand them while working out the problem and reading the text over and over until you got a solid handle… I know thats not much advice. And about the book…I've never heard of it.

A quick tip for BEC… read the details in the Becker book. My first time around I focused on knowing the calculations and I practiced a lot of MCQs but I didn't bother reading the book much. So my overall general knowledge of topics in BEC was good but if you asked me to explain the small stuff.. this and that… I could barely tell you.

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[misanthrope87]

@Shay

Well luckily, you have a lot of time left to get those concepts down and it's great that you know IT.

What % are you getting in these becker quizzes?

I also recommend reading the book like ROACH suggested.

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[Shay]

@EELCPA

thats so true about that cost accounting book. I'm returning to back to library….lol

@ROACH

I got the Wiley Book 2012ed today. I am thinking about that reading that too. just to get more info on topics that are not mention clearly. I will read beckers book over & over. I guess I am thinking too much into each topic in BEC. For example, there is one question about Normal Spoilage, which I didnt it first time. I went online, I notice you can calculate LIFO or Equivalents units when you have any kind of spoilage. so I freaked out. b/c Becker just talks about the definition..So I didnt wanted to feel like on exam, if there is a concept question other whats mention in becker…Did you ever feel like there was something on exam, that was not mention in Becker book, questions or video?

@misanthrope87

Are you talking about the HW problems? I took it about a month ago, then I think I got 70s..thats b/c I went click-click-click..if I would spend few more seconds..I would have gotten 85s…

I dont know, if y'all can answer this question? what was the exam mostly based on? was it ECON, Cost, IT…etc..

Thanks y'all

[ROACH]

@Shay, do all the MCQs in the Wiley book if you have time… if not focus on weak areas. It'll get you more exposed to different Qs. If you go through Wiley MCQs you should be okay don't sweat it. It's an easy exam.

Btw, I used Wiley to study and tbh my memory is just one big blur. I did see a lot of questions (calculations) that I choose not to study because I thought it wouldn't be on the exam.. big mistake. There wasn't no focus… there was a good mix of everything if I remember correctly so make sure you know all parts. Also, all exams are different so you might get an exam with a lot of IT questions, some with lots of calculations, some with no calculations, etc.. pretty much its whether god wants to a** f*** you or not.. that's how I see it.

BEC: 66 | 69 | 7/23/2013
AUD: 8/28/2013
REG:
FAR:

[Shay]

I just took practice Exam #1 in Becker.

Testlet 1–91

Testlet 2–87

Testlet 3–83

to be honest I have done all HW problems like 3+ times (since feb). and some problems in the practice exam were similar. So I think these results are overstated…I did take time to solve it rather then just then choosing the right answer. Do you think I am ready for the real exam. I know myself, that I am really BAD at taking exams

I want to take exam before end of May. I felt like the questions I really put soo much energy (cost mgmt, Project mgmt,) didnt even show up. questions were random. is that how real exam is?

[Anonymous]

@Shay, your scores on the Becker exam look great. If you're worried that you became too familiar with the MCQs that you did then you may want to do some from cpareviewforfree.com, go over the 2011 AICPA released MCQs, or buy the Wiley testbank to get more practice. However, if you feel you have a good grasp on the calculations and theories I wouldn't really bother. Do you feel ready? It might be better for you to take is sooner than later.

[Shay]

@EELCPA..I have been studying since feb..sometimes I feel like I am ready, but if I wait longer, I think I might just forgot all the stuff I have been learning. I justed to give myself enough time learn EVERYthing, since it will be my first time. I got the Wiley test bank 2011 and AICPA released questions. I will work on those, and let you know my results. I tried few topcis questions at cpareviewfree.com. I range from 60% to 80% depending on topics.

[Anonymous]

@Shay, keep up the good work! With those scores, I'd say you are probably ready to sit for the exam now. Remember, it only takes a 75 🙂

[Keely]

When is your test? I had almost the exact scores on Final Exam 1 as you. I don't know if I passed, but I know I wouldn't have done any better if I waited any longer. I was as prepared as I could be. Final Exam 2 is horrible and you will cry (I ended up with a 79 average), but when you see the real exam, you'll be overjoyed it's nothing like that. My BEC test was very straight-forward. Good or bad thing, I don't know yet. Go take the exam, I'd be willing to bet you'll pass.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Shay]

I havent signed up yet. seats are open til may 29…have u gotten your BEC score yet…which topics they focus on the most. I use a TI-83 calculator while practice..so will that make a difference when using computer calculator..see thats what I a afraid, if real exam isn't like the practice one, then I feel like wasting time with these exams.

[Keely]

You are using Becker, right? You'll be fine. I use my TI-80-something for the Becker homework, but I use their calculator on the Final Exams just to get a feel for how much extra time it will take me in the real exam. If you are doing that well on Becker, I would go ahead and schedule the exam. I had mine scheduled for the 24th and moved it up two weeks because I noticed myself forgetting more than I was learning. I did all the Becker questions, both Final Exams, some CPA Review For Free questions, and I can honestly say there were zero surprises on my exam. That's not to say I knew all the answers, there were a few questions (calculations) that I did not know the answer and just totally guessed. But I felt, honestly, pretty good when I walked out. The questions are an array of topics, just like Becker, and have absolutely no order. I think that's what makes the exam so difficult. Going from COSO to Finance to IT, etc. I would study the Becker IT section, definitely read the appendix more than once, even though they say once is enough. Concentrate on the stuff you have to memorize. Really understand COSO as well and you will be fine. You can only study so much on calculations. Again, the calculations on the actual exam are much more straight forward than Becker's.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Author]

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