[Jsn3004]

I’m going to begin studying for BEC tomorrow and I wanted to know how did you guys use CPA Excel to study for BEC? I’ve heard that the lectures aren’t very useful for BEC but I thought they were very vital to me passing when I was taking FAR. Also, BEC is pretty foreign to me so I don’t think watching the lectures will hurt. I was hoping to hear what others did. I will be using Ninja MCQ to supplement again. I just don’t know if i’ll use it before or after I finish my review course.

[courtja]

I used CPAExcel for BEC. I didn't watch the videos. I just read through the text, took notes, and did the questions. I don't like watching videos because I have a hard time concentrating on them, but if you think they help you, you should definitely use them. I also used Ninja MC Questions just as extra practice. I used Ninja after I finished the study material because I like reading about the subject first before attempting questions. I would suggest memorizing the cost variances, net present value method, and the ratios.

[thetoddgreen]

I am using Wiley and just started studying this month, starting on BEC (first test). I keep seeing how people say they use Ninja, or any other material to supplement. Can I ask why? Since Wiley has large test banks, focus notes, and flash cards… I am curious why get even MORE supplemental material? I for one, don't know if I could even get through it all with additional supplements.

Anyone care to chime in, on their thinking of why they suggest getting third party supplemental material?

[sancasuki]

Make sure to make a list of all the formulas you find in CPAExcel and Ninja.

[Jsn3004]

@courtja Yeah I have a hard time concentrating reading for prolonged periods of time so the lectures seemed to help me, but I do think I should try to buckle down and finish through the text.

[courtja]

@thetoddgreen I just liked the idea of having something different to study. It made me feel more prepared having two different types of study material, just in case CPAExcel didn't cover something or I wasn't understanding the way they explained it or etc. Also, I would start to memorize the questions on CPAExcel, so I wasn't getting as much out of it. I like how Ninja will let you customize your questions so you can do only questions you've never seen before, or just do some random questions as a refresher.

I also never used the flash cards, quick notes, and stuff from CPAExcel. I didn't find it helpful. For me, the study text and mc questions/sims are really the only helpful things.

[tg7174]

I used CPAexcel for BEC. I read the text, did the problems, read the NINJA notes, and used the test bank for both NINJA mcq and cpaexcel. I didn't watch the videos.

[courtja]

@Jsn3004 I've never watched the videos so I'm not sure what they covered, but you might try reading along with the videos?

[CaribSalsera]

CPAexcel was sufficient for me. I watched the videos for all of the lessons except for the Planning and Measurement topics. For some reason I found those lectures just made me more confused. Read the text and did all the MCQs — it got me the score I needed.

[courtja]

@caribsalsera I'm starting on studying for REG using CPAExcel. Did you think CPAExcel prepared you well for that section? A few people I work with told me CPAExcel does a bad job covering REG. Trying to decide if I should use something else for that section.

[smoothiezguy]

I've used CPAExcel… I pretty much ended up just using it for the text book. The videos I didn't find to be super useful, the flashcards are kind of a joke, and while their MCQs aren't bad the interface sure was. Fortunately, the interface problem has significantly been improved. However, I still find the Ninja MCQ's to be better – less errors and repetitions.

My strategy – read the CPAExcel book and take MCQs. And more MCQs, and more MCQs, etc.

CMA - 430
BEC - 83
FAR - ?
AUD -
REG -

[CaribSalsera]

@courtja, for REG on the tax side I think CPAexcel did a decent job. The Business Law was portion was weaker. I was saved because I took a crazy amount of notes and made tons of flash cards. It could just be because of the nature of the topic, lol. For REG (unlike BEC) I also used NINJA notes. (Thank you Jeff!)

[Char143]

I say supplement with ninja plus… but what I failed 2x so who the eff knows.

AUD (2/16)-84
REG (05/16)-69 Retake (7/16)-79 (ty ninja MCQ)
BEC-TBD
FAR-9/8/16

[Hurricane]

I agree that the videos don't do a good job of preparing one for the exam, especially the cost accounting portion. I watched every lecture, but they didn't help me much at all with the practice questions. I had to learn most of it just by working a ton of MCQ's and reading text.

AUD - 96
BEC - 88
FAR - 88
REG - TBS

[jomarie237]

I used CPAExcel exclusively both times and failed both times. I'm scheduled to take it for a 3rd time in January and will use Ninja and then supplement with CPAExcel. My practice exams were in the high 80's low 90's both times and answered all the sample questions. I got a 73 the first time and 72 the second time. I read the text and answered questions, but never watched the videos.

[jhofener]

I used CPA Excel exclusively for BEC. I failed the first time (73) at no fault of CPA Excel, all mine. I skimmed over the IT section and you can't skim anything in the CPA. Spent two weeks retaking every single multiple choice question in CPA Excel and got an 82 the second time. Everyone is different and understands things differently. If you put the work in, you'll be fine!

[Author]

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