[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am starting on BEC this week, I wonder what is the most challenging topic in BEC? the hardest and most time consuming topic? I am using BECKER.

And what is your approach to that?

Thanks in advance,

[NYCpat]

Definitely no “one size fits all” answer for BEC.

Because the topics are so disparate (Econ, IT, COSO framework), it really depends on your own familiarity and comfort level with each area of focus.

I'd guess that the raw IT topics/terms can throw alot of pure accounting folks for a loop since the vocabulary is foreign to them.

Beyond that, I hear the cost accounting variances are tough for a lot of people. All about memorization with those.

BEC - 82
AUD - 65; retake Feb 2013
FAR - April 2013
REG - July 2013?

[ndelc_4136]

Variance analysis and financial management: study it, learn it, know it

Other topics to focus in on which are less difficult:

IT

Econ

Coso

Why be afraid of what we do not understand?

[Keely]

I actually disliked the strategy stuff, like learning about the balanced scorecard, and supply chain management, etc. That stuff was boring and all ran together. Cost accounting is time consuming, but relatively simple if you have any experience with it already.

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

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

Variance analysis, no matter what i did, i just couldn't get it down. i could do the simple variances but the more difficult ones i just could never get down. luckily i only had one variance question on the entire exam.

other than that, the toughest part for me that was actually on the test….probably just anything cost related. yuckk

[Anonymous]

Thanks so much for all the feedback…

Much appreciated

[Givemesleep]

Definetly variance analysis is the most difficult. I had at least ten maybe twelve.

Not sure why some folks had one and I had so many. Know all the ratios

And cost of capital down cold. CAPM, new and existing cost of stock. The Econ

Is simple when studying, very tricky on the real test.

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

[ppierce]

you had TEN variance questions?? wow i thought i had a lot. i would imagine if you had 10 variance questions you did quit well. there is no way that all those variances would show up if you were tanking.

FAR 80
REG 76
AUD 85
BEC 85
Ethics 98
DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ppierce]

make sure you know what each ratio and formula actually means as well. dont just memorize how to do them.

i had an instance where i knew exactly what they wre looking for but didn't think they provided enough info. when i looked after the exam it turns out they just called it a diff't name on the exam and i 100% knew how to do what they asked. in fact, that happened a couple of times.

FAR 80
REG 76
AUD 85
BEC 85
Ethics 98
DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Givemesleep]

I know I was in shock at how many variances I had, I never heard of that before.

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

[Anonymous]

I took BEC yesterday too and I had @ least 10 variance questions, a lot of cost acg, and a lot of COSO…:(..I had more than 1 hr for the SIMS, but I'm sure I bombed then cuz they sounded like a 3rd grader had written them…Takin the CPA Exam+the flu=fail…:'(…..I'm so dissapointed about myself….

In summary, know your variances, all of them..For COSO, may be refer to outside material..Know your EUPs and your cost of capital material….good luck bro!!

[Author]

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