[GSU Josh]

Well, I just took BEC for my first time today. I guess it’s about what I expected. The range in difficulty is quite amazing. Some were quite easy, and some were next to impossible. The good thing is, I don’t feel like I just failed it. That being said, I think it will be very close. When score release time rolls around, I will be quite scared. For now, I just need to recover a little bit and start trying to find a job. I don’t know if I should start completing the licensure application or not; I just don’t know what it takes to pass BEC.

As far as the test goes, the first testlet was easy to medium difficulty, the second testlet was extremely difficult, and the third testlet was very easy. I feel like I missed/marked between about 5-10 on the first testlet, about 10 on the second testlet, and about 5 or less on the third testlet. Not taking into consideration pretest questions, if I had 25 questions I was unsure of/missed and then got 25% of them right due to guessing then my score would be just under 80% not counting a curve. Of course, I could have done better or worse than this.

I know BEC testlets are not adaptive so it doesn’t matter that my third testlet was easy. I would recommend that BEC not be taken lightly. It is a threat just like the other exams. I knew it wouldn’t be a walk in the park. I know many say that Becker is not enough for this section, but I felt like it covered it pretty well. There are always gonna be a few questions out of left field no matter what. After reviewing my books, there are only about 2 questions I should have gotten that I missed. I did have to guess on about 3 or 4 calculation questions, but I did get the vast majority of them right. The test is quite evenly split between math and theory. Variance problems were easy and Becker is overkill for this. I did use all the time, but only because I had it. I actually had plenty of time during the test and felt like I could definitely take my time. IT questions did not seem too bad either, but we will see. Not too many foreign topics on the exam. I think it would be beneficial to have taken audit before this section, though.

Overall, I would say there’s a greater chance I passed than failed. On the other hand, I know this test isn’t curved much or even at all so I don’t know exactly what it takes to pass it. Only time will tell.

AUD - 74, 87; BEC - 84; FAR - 78; REG - 79
It's done, Son!

[Anonymous]

Congrats…it sounds like you're finished to me!

[GSU Josh]

Thanks, I hope so! There is definitely a luck factor involved. For all I know, I could get back a 65 so I'm not really leaning one way or the other. I really hope this is it as it really sucks to study for a retake (only had to once so far, fingers crossed).

AUD - 74, 87; BEC - 84; FAR - 78; REG - 79
It's done, Son!

[italianCPA]

I sit for it on Tuesday.

I finished the becker lectures and the homework (suppl excluded) questions a hour ago.

It is NOT easy stuff, very concept-based.

I started to review my notes for chapter 1 and I will take the supplemental Qs.

Hopefully I'll be done with the review and the 402 supplemental Qs by tomorrow night so I can do my final review and hopefully one final exam on Monday.

However, I agree, it is not to be taken lightly. I think not having sims and WC is actually not a good thing, since this usually are points that we can make up from missed MCQs.

The cost part is hard because of the calculations, true, but I don't see how anybody without any finance background can cruise through chapter 3…..

FAR - 7/26/10 - 95
AUD - 8/10/10 - 88
BEC - 8/31/10 - 88
REG - 10/15/10 - 95

[Anonymous]

@italian- I'll tell you what I've said over and over on this forum….know the IT inside and out, that'll be the hardest conceptual thing you see. The calculations aren't nearly as hard as in the Becker software (assuming that's what review material you use).

[financeguy]

calculations on the exam are much easier than in the review materials. If you know the equations and formulas they are actually really easy on the exam imo.

AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
Done!

[italianCPA]

@DocHalladay

Noted.

I hope I will have time to read the becker addendum and do the 21 extra MCQs. My IT general education and knowledge is average, I'd say, so I can use common sense, unless the question is extremely technical.

I have two friends that took (or are taking) the CPA exam. They're both auditors and they both had problems with BEC (passed at the third try). I'm not an auditor but I'm definitely not taking it lightly.

FAR - 7/26/10 - 95
AUD - 8/10/10 - 88
BEC - 8/31/10 - 88
REG - 10/15/10 - 95

[Anonymous]

Nothing is overly technical, IMO. I would just recommend if you get stuck on IT and they're asking something that sounds “made up”…it probably is.

[SFCPA13]

Hey guys-

I'm taking BEC in a day and a half, and have been cranking through Gleim study questions.

Anyone used Gleim review software for BEC and know how it compares to the exam?

FAR-75, BEC-80, AUD-85, REG-79
Gleim Review

[Author]

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