[OMG]

Just from what I’ve seen from my colleagues and some people on here, a lot of people struggle with BEC and I’m wondering if anyone knows why. I’ve just started diving into the material so I haven’t gotten into the meat of it (Lectures 3 and 5 in Becker). But with only 5 lectures, I would think it’s not that bad. Is that why…people underestimate it?

[whitesoxfancpa]

For the DM and DL variances, I don't use Becker's “PURE DADS” crap. I use “PURE ASAS” or “PURE AS AS.” The “ASAS” is what goes outside the parentheses in the formula.

P A

U S

R A

E S

If you know what goes inside the parentheses (S – A, or standard minus actual), then “PURE ASAS” works. The “ASAS” stands for “actual standard actual standard.”

Works for me!

AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88

[JamaicanGirlCPA]

Hi whitesoxfancpa, Can you please explain the Spending and Volume Overhead Variances?

BEC - 79 11/06/10
AUD - 2011
REG - 2011
FIN - 2011

[whitesoxfancpa]

JamaicanGirlCPA,

I give Roger CPA credit for this:

The best way I do the overhead variances is by drawing a picture. In fact, tomorrow when I am taking my exam, the first thing I'm going to do is draw a picture on my scratch paper.

I don't know how this will turn out when I post it, but I start with four columns across the top:

Actual……….Budget@actual activity……….Budget@standard activity……….Applied

I typically draw three big V's below the chart, linking each item to the one next to it.

The difference between the first two columns is SPENDING VARIANCE. This is variable and fixed.

The difference between the 2nd and 3rd columns is EFFICIENCY VARIANCE. This is variable only.

The difference between the last two columns is VOLUME VARIANCE. This is fixed only

The mnemonic I use is from Roger CPA…”SEVen!” There are four columns and three variances which = SEVen. S = Spending, E = Efficiency, V = Volume

I know it sounds awfully complicated, but it really is super easy. Just memorize the four columns across the top. Then memorize the “SEVen” mnemonic. Then memorize that the first one (the S) is variable and fixed, the second one (the E) is variable only, and the third one (the V) is fixed only.

If you have that down, the variance questions answer themselves.

I tried everything else and couldn't understand them, so I finally buckled down and just flat-out memorized that chart, the “SEVen” thing, and the fixed/variable thing listed above.

Try it. I think you'll be surprised at how effective it is.

AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88

[JamaicanGirlCPA]

WhiteSoxFanCPA,

Thank you very much!! So much easier.

Good Luck tomorrow.

I know you will do very well.

BEC - 79 11/06/10
AUD - 2011
REG - 2011
FIN - 2011

[whitesoxfancpa]

JamaicanGirlCPA,

Thanks. I think I did alright.

I hope that explanation helped you out. Complicated but I guess that's the nature of the beast.

AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88

[Masaman]

whitesoxfancpa,

It looks like you have been really successful with the test so far. May I ask you what material you use and how long you study? I'm using Beckers self study and try to do 1 lecture with the MCQ's per week so 5 weeks for BEC. I try to review previous lectures during odd time like lunch break, appointments, etc. Probably like 10 hours a week. I know that isn't that much compared to some numbers I've seen.

Thanks!

Edit – Okay so it looks like you use Rogers from a previous post.

[whitesoxfancpa]

Hey Masaman,

Actually no, I use Becker. I used a free Roger lecture that was posted here. Just the one on variances because I was having a little trouble with it. Other than that 57 minute lecture, I've used Becker only for all my sections.

My routine is typically about 15-18 hours per chapter, plus a review of each chapter, plus Becker's Final Review. I probably studied about 110 hours for BEC.

Before I get through all the chapters, I never review previous material. That's just how I do it. Here's my typical routine per chapter (each study session is about 2.5-3 hours):

Session #1: Start lecture/do MC questions (first half of chapter)

Session #2: Finish lecture/MC questions (second half of chapter)

In the first two sessions, I just get through the lecture and MC questions one time each. I don't worry too much about wrong answers or figuring out why they were wrong. When doing the questions, I do them along with the lecture. So after each little piece of the lecture, I immediately work those questions.

Session #3: Read first half of chapter, do MC questions again, really try to understand them (first half of chapter)

Session #4: Read second half of chapter, do MC questions again, really try to understand them (second half of chapter)

When doing this, I do it the same as the lectures, meaning I read the section and immediately work those MC questions afterward.

Session #5: Redo all MC questions (at this point it goes quicker since I've seen them all twice already). For answers I'm getting wrong, really try to drill down on why it was wrong so I don't make the same mistake again.

Session #6: Do supplemental questions, work simulations briefly (not for BEC), review flashcards, work MC questions for problem areas or maybe do a 50 question progress test.

This approach has worked for me. It took me a couple chapters in my first section (AUD) to really figure out what works.

Also, for the theory stuff, I find that rather than trying to memorize everything, if you just trust that Becker's MC questions cover the important stuff, you can learn the theory by repetition of the questions rather than by reading and memorizing stuff from the book. You may begin memorizing answers to questions, but that's OK if you're memorizing a concept you'll need to know!

Best of luck to you. These exams aren't nearly as difficult as they're often made out to be. It's a ton of material but nothing in extreme detail. Practice and put in the time and you'll succeed.

AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88

[75 CPA]

I used both Becker and Yaeger for BEC. I thought that Yaeger, with Cindy Simpson as the teacher, was a better teaching course than Becker. Additionally, Becker is far more expensive than Yaeger! I used, to some extent, all four Becker courses. I thought that BEC was Becker's weakest review course. AUD was Becker's strongest review course, in my opinion.

[Masaman]

whitesoxfancpa,

Thanks for that breakdown. Your method sounds pretty solid. I've been trying to do something similar to your method but I think not having a solid plan really hurts me. Sometimes I sit there and think should I review the chapter or move on or do something else. I tend to get lost in what to study. I'll try using your plan as it does sound very comprehensive. One part where we differed was after the lecture I would do the MCQ's but I would try to understand the wrong answers and make notes on them. I think that bogged me down timewise and at the same time I got really discouraged since I was focusing more on the negative. Your review of the text after the lecture then understanding the MCQ's sounds much better than trying to nail the topic right from the start.

Thanks for the help!

[FreshStart]

I was trying to find the free lecture someone mentioned from Roger CPA on variances. I would like to add that to the other materials I am already using. Can someone help me find it?

[FreshStart]

whitesoxfancpa Thanks for the help. I will check that out tomorrow. These old eyes and bones need a rest.

[Author]

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