[Keely]

Ok, I know I’m jumping the gun here. Today was Day 3 of studying. I’m using Becker. I’ve gotten through B1, just completed all the HW today.

I have been reading this board for hours…is Becker not enough to pass BEC? I got all bent out of shape and bought Wiley Test Bank. After all, it can’t hurt. I did 30 MCQ’s all related to Corporate Governance, and also did the CPA Review for Free Corporate Governance MCQ’s. Um, half of what I saw was not even touched on in the Corporate Governance section of Becker. “According to SAS # so and so…” That was not mentioned in B1. At all. This is my first section, so I have nothing to pull on to make even an educated guess. I am starting to get very nervous because I hadn’t seen these topics reviewed in B1 in Becker.

Is Becker enough? I feel like I’m understanding the material so far, but I’m starting to worry the exam will be completely different and I won’t even have a clue on half the questions. I feel like I am an awesome writer/BSer, so I am counting on doing well on the WC.

Anyone have any insight on Becker BEC? Sorry for the book I wrote… 🙂

Keely

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

VA CPA #42010

[Minimorty]

There are a ton of us who used Becker only, supplemented with Wiley Test Bank, and passed all sections on the first try. The Becker materials will have 95% of what you'll see on the exams. Listen to the lectures, work the questions, rinse and repeat. Keep doing like you are doing and utilize the Wiley bank to review and go over some of the concepts from Becker. Like you said, for BEC you want to focus on the multiple choice, especially if you are a decent writer. That being said, Becker has like a 45 minute video on the WC portion. Just watch it once through. Good luck!

[Texas27]

I used Becker and I passed on the first try. The main thing is that you need to understand the concepts and not just memorize the multiple choice question answers. If you know the answer to a calculation problem without even doing it you should still work through the problem. Also when you take the final exams and do the progress tests, you can keep track of what chapters/areas are your weakest and you can focus on those. Just make sure you understand the concepts, Becker is definitely enough. As far as the IT section goes though, I only worked through it once and never looked at it again. The IT questions on the exam are very unpredictable. The funny thing is on my score report it says I was strong in IT but I guessed on 80% of the IT questions on the actual exam. Good luck!

BEC - Feb 2012: 80
AUD - Feb 2012: 84
FAR - Apr 2012: 78
REG - May 2012: 90

Thanks Becker!

[Keely]

Thanks, guys! For what it's worth, it's the damn Corporate Governance section that's giving me trouble. Calculations are so much easier for me, because it's pretty straight forward. The components of internal control are so…broad and similar (to me). I haven't gotten this down yet, even though I've spent several hours on it. Watched lectures, did HW, reread the book, re-did the HW. The MCQs about what best describes X….is it representative of control activities? monitoring? Ughhhhh. When I took the CPA Review For Free test…about 20 or 30% of the questions I was just blindly guessing on and it really frustrated me, because I just simply had no idea. I'm not a genius or anything, but I've always found if I put in the hours, I will do well. With this small section, I am not feeling that way. I know it's only a small part and it's early, but I'm just nervous and I want to do well. I want this behind me!

Anyway, a question: Progress Tests, how do you narrow them down to only give you questions on a specific section, i.e. B1? I keep getting questions from all sections, and I've only studied the one.

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

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

I just took BEC and I had to guess on most of the questions which were theory and very few calculations (cost accounting). For those that passed BEC apperently the exam has changed and AICPA wants to make it more difficult. BEC much harder than FAR or Audit. I'm hoping the curve goes to my favor though.

[Anonymous]

I took BEC on February 11th using only Becker. I crammed and basically did all the lectures and homework in about an 8 day period. That is how I study best though. If I take a month to study Ill forget everything the first 2 weeks.

With that being said I got an 81 using only becker, but it was my worst grade so far of what I have passed (I also passed FAR and REG using only becker). I didnt practice any writing simulations. I just watched that 45 minute video and wrote my simulations just as they described and added in a bunch of keyword fluff.

All in all I think Becker adequately prepares you, but if you don't think its enough, it never hurts to supplement with other materials.

[selkins]

I took BEC January 27 and I used basically the same process @dp143 did. I crammed the last 10 days or so, mostly focusing on the MCQ's provided by becker. I did not practice the writing part and just focused on the formulas that I had trouble with and tried to better understand the theory. I made a 75 so that probably isnt the best way to go at it but I let time catch up to me. Supplementing additional mcq's wont hurt; hammering out questions is what works best for me and I am considering Wiley for when I take audit in April.

AUD- 76
BEC- 75
FAR- 87
REG- 78

[SFMLE]

I used Becker for BEC and passed on my first try.

BEC 8/31/11 80
AUD 10/14/11 89
REG 11/30/11 63, 1/14/12 72
FAR 2/29/12

[MChro12]

I think Becker does a pretty good job on everything but the first section (COSO/ERM/Corp govern). Becker is way too mnemonic heavy on that. Go more in depth in the reading and you'll be fine. The free Gleim test bank, the only other material I used for the exam, probably got me an extra question right on that part, which is nice since I only got a 79

Reg 77 (Aug 11)
Aud 80 (Nov 11)
BEC 79 (Jan 12)
FAR 80 (April 12)

[Anonymous]

I passed with Becker!

[Keely]

I agree with the fact Becker is too heavy on mnemonics in the Corp. Governance section. There are very few details or ways to differentiate between some of the similar components. Am I the only one with whom this section is not clicking? I'm considering buying the Ninja notes because I feel like, while MCQs are great, I need some more explanation. I don't know, I tend to go overkill. Like I said, I'm just really not interested in taking it again!

Overall, I'm not ready to make a decision about whether I like Becker or not. It has to be doing something right to be so popular! I just dread the feeling of leaving the exam having guessed on a bunch of stuff. I'm not a good guesser! I have a lot of time before the exam, and I'm just going to do the best I can. I'll let everyone know how it goes. Congrats to all those who've passed!

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

VA CPA #42010

[Keely]

I have a silly question. Can you use pencil and paper on the exam?

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

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

You get 2 pencils and 4 scratch sheets of paper.

[CPA = Continuous Pain & Agony]

Only used Becker and passed with 80. BEC was my first exam experience. As long as you follow Becker's recommended schedule, you will be fine. If you don't put in the hours you will struggle. My biggest piece of advice is know cost accounting.

B - 80 (10/06/11)
A - 84 (01/03/12)
R - 81 (02/16/12)
F - 82 (11/23/11)

Thank you Jesus!

Used Becker Self-Study

[twest]

I haven't got into BEC yet except for the WC video but I have used Becker for my all my other sections. I tried CPA Excel first with FAR and REG, but after I switched to Becker Live Class, I've passed FAR, REG and AUD. I will agree that Becker is mnemonic happy! Some of them didn't make sense to me so I just read the material to get the concept. I wasn't learning what I needed to with CPAExcel. You just have ask yourself, “how do I learn?” I realized I learned better in a structrued classroom setting so I signed up with Becker. The Dallas Live Instructor is absolutely the best! Liliana knows her stuff and knows how to give you the tools to pass. So it is possible to pass with Becker only. Just my 2cents.

FAR - 63, 79
AUD - 83!
REG - 37, 79
BEC - 70, 79

[Anonymous]

I also used Becker exclusively and passed each part on the first try. You have to do all the work – all the lectures, all the homework, and do practice exams. I also used Becker's final review for all parts – which I thought helped immensely.

I've never had a cost accounting class nor an auditing class (I have a business degree and have supplemented that with accounting courses, but had not taken either of those when I started the testing process last fall). So considering that I think Becker did its job very well.

[Author]

Replies