[Ponzumomo]

I failed in last window and I retook the exam today. The testlets were 20x harder than last window, I swear to God….I was speechless when I saw the questions on testlet 1. I got over 10 calculations and heavily tested on the small topics….I think I need to retake again…btw, I used Wiley, Becker, ninja notes and cpa review for free…even the writing communication was harder than last window…sigh….

[Sherrid]

@ponzomomo

I failed last window as well. With a 74! I sat again two days ago for this beast. But my experience was very different than yours. My first testlet was fairly easy- there was only one math intense calculation and it was my first question….I was thinking oh s**t! The theory question were relatively easy with the exception of 5 or 6 and I'm hoping these are pretest questions and won't count. I ran short on time for the written communications because I took the time to double check some of my calc's. I'm hoping I get a 75 but you never know….I could've failed. I used Becker and Jeff's ninja notes and studied every free moment I had. Since you used Becker I'll bet you passed.

[Anonymous]

@ Sherrid –

I took BEC yesterday and had a very similar situation. I had a lot of relatively standard theroy-like questions and one or two calc questions on my first testlet. My second testlet seemed to get “longer” in question format with 3 or 4 calc like questions. My third testlet was similar to my first testlet. Writing was nothing obscure. I too used Becker and Ninja Notes.

[Anonymous]

Yup, pretty much the same experience as me, only this time, I made sure I prepared for the worst. So I was ready for it. I did get a lot of heavy calculation questions that took forever to solve. I sure hope I didn't make any careless errors that would cost me a passing grade.

[Anonymous]

@Ponzumomo

I also failed last window, I'm sitting for mine at the end of November.

It's so hard to tell with these exams whether you've passed or failed…there's a decent chance you really passed!

I hope you did!

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't ever say BEC is easy. To me, it was like a mini version of FAR.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's easy…but when people ask me what I'm studying for, and I say BEC, they say something like “oh, that's the easiest of them all”… It may or may not be true. I guess that's really a personal judgement call.

I didn't pass BEC; I definitely don't think it's easy.

[praying_for_75]

My apologies if this is a bad one…but.. BEC is not so easy..and I'm kinda getting discouraged reading all the negative reviews here b'coz I am sitting for it in 2 weeks…just getting more n more nervous day by day…

But I'm just thinking that I'll prepare the most I can…if I pass well and good…or else,I will LIVE to go back and do it again lol 🙂

[Anonymous]

Ok, I edited my post and now I think we all agree that BEC IS NOT EASY!!! 🙂 (But is it the “easiest” of all 4? Or maybe that should be worded “Is it the “least difficult” of all 4?” Who knows….)

@praying_for_75

Don't get discouraged!! Plenty of people pass the first time!

But it sounds like you've got it right. We will not let this thing beat us!

[praying_for_75]

@Acct- I really appreciate quick responses on this forum…Looks like we are one big CPA family…

But let me tell you…Many people pass the first time, yr right…One of my gal frnds' just read the Becker BEC book once and did all the questions EXCEPT the supplemental questions and passed with a 79 on her first attempt… One of my boy frnds' studied day and night for 5 days and passed BEC with 77 the first time round..He studied FAR for a month and failed with 71….

I guess it just depends and these exams are pretty much the luck of the draw….Its easier to pass if you are tested on the topics that you are more comfy with…

[rlkamp]

Ponzumomo

You and I must have had the same test! I had over 10 calcs in my first testlet. I was prepared for 4 or 5 but over 10. I understand that we should be prepared for anything but calcs take me a bit more time then a theory question. You only get 3 hours for this exam. I looked at the clock after the first testlet and over an hour had passed. I rushed through the second to get back on track. Since I had heavy calcs on every section, I never got ahead and never got to check my calcs. Hopefully my initial answers were right.

This is my second exam. I took audit last window and never felt pressured. This test was so much worse from a time perspective. I can't figure out why they would give you 4 hours for audit and only 3 for BEC??

Here's to hoping we all see at least a 75 in November.

AUD 84 (AUG-11)
BEC 81 (OCT-11)
REG 87 (FEB-12)
FAR 81 (MAY-12)

[Author]

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