[hacka75]

Is anyone using the Bisk AUD Classic software to study? I have it, and I have had nothing but PROBLEMS. The “clicks” take approximately 7 seconds for each “click”. When I say “click” I am talking about moving to the next question or showing an answer. Every other software I have used is a maximum of 2 seconds if not immediate. Is this not 2011, how can a company stay in business selling software that takes this long. I have re-installed 3 times and each time I loose my stats (needed to get your money back if you fail). Tech support has been abrasive at best.

Does anyone have anything positive to say about any of the Bisk Classic versions?

BTW, the Bisk Online version was excellent.

FAR 8/26/2011 - 77
AUD 11/17/11 - 87
REG 4/30/12 - 82
BEC 8/13/12 - 80!!

Pro Golfer/ Fisher who spends 50 hrs a week accounting for things

[saucesah]

I know you wrote this a few months ago – but as a response… there are a couple ladies in our firm that use BISK, both who have experience a lot of technical issues with the software enough to push them to another review course.

How do you feel about BISK as study material in general?

Today, I became a cool kid.

AUD - Passed
REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed

[hacka75]

saucesah,

Actually I think I wrote it somewhere around 11/11/11. So not that old. Glad someone else has the same issues.

I like the Bisk Online software. I thought Bob was unbelievable for FAR. The material was complete, & concise (as far as FAR can be). For AUD, I have not received my score back, but the way the material was covered was very confusing. From moving back & forth between chapters to just not really connecting the dots, if you know what I mean. Also, IFRS was not really covered.

On 11/14/11 I finally had a manager of IT tell me that the Classic Version of the Bisk should not be used with Windows Vista (took AUD on 11/17). He advised me to purchase Windows 7. I laughed in his face. He also said the Bisk IT people could not really test it on Vista, since none of their machines were Vista. Again, all I could do was laugh. It was so infuriating. Also my sales rep has not/ will not call me back.

I do plan on using the Bisk Online version for REG, which I am taking in January. I also supplement with Jeff's another71 notes.

Have you used Bisk for REG or BEC? Would you mind sharing your thoughts?

FAR 8/26/2011 - 77
AUD 11/17/11 - 87
REG 4/30/12 - 82
BEC 8/13/12 - 80!!

Pro Golfer/ Fisher who spends 50 hrs a week accounting for things

[saucesah]

To tell you the truth, I have only studied and taken FAR- which I failed brutally- with BISK. THOUGH, most of it was attributed to my poor studying skills and working around busy season.

Some of my friends still use BISK, but they also supplement it with Jeff's NINJA notes, along with other free online MCQ's. Based on many discussions, we aren't too fond of BISK due to various reasons – technical issues being the bulk of the problem… with that beind said, i think using BISK is ok, but I advise of supplementing it w/ other material, if possible.

Sorry I can't quite add to the content of the material for the other two sections.

A few of us have been using CPAexcel… and we like it a lot.

Today, I became a cool kid.

AUD - Passed
REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed

[katiekanton]

I have BISK and love it DESPITE the technical problems. Bob is a freakin' gold mine and that workbook that comes with his lectures is worth the price of admission.

Having said that, yes I am experiencing technical issues with the software as well, so much so that I purchased a brand new, clean laptop over black friday to see if it was the software or my computer, since the tech people acted as if I was the only person in America having an issue.

My issue is that since the update, if you are going through MCQs, and you click on the next question in the list after answering the one you're on, it grades the question twice, which really screws up your stats and makes the custom exams virtually useless. If you click on “Next” instead, it works for 10-15 questions and then shuts the whole system down.

My personal opinion is that it has something to do with a specific version of internet explorer since the software doesn't work on 9. They're really blowing a golden opportunity too. Earlier this year, it was announced that some of the Big 4 who had been using both Becker and Bisk were going to Bisk as their primary. They're cheaper, Bob's a genius, and if they'd just get these tech issues solved they could be the go-to software.

My email is in my profile if any of you want to talk in depth about testing certain tech issues amongst our computers.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[saucesah]

Hacka75 & katiekanton-

So…you guys use the online classes?

Today, I became a cool kid.

AUD - Passed
REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed

[katiekanton]

No I have the home study course with the lectures on dvd.

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[hacka75]

@ saucesah –

I used the Bisk Online version for FAR & the Bisk Classic version for AUD. Don't look at my scores, I have a lot of experience with auditing. I am going back to the Bisk Online version for REG. The Classic was a disaster for me (see earlier post, mostly due to my using Windows Vista).

FAR 8/26/2011 - 77
AUD 11/17/11 - 87
REG 4/30/12 - 82
BEC 8/13/12 - 80!!

Pro Golfer/ Fisher who spends 50 hrs a week accounting for things

[katiekanton]

Hacka75

It's my understanding that if you do the online version, you're stuck to a timetable along with everyone else in your “class”. Is that right?

AUD - 88
FAR - 90
REG - 85
BEC - 88

[hacka75]

@ katiekanton

That is correct, with the online version, the class does expire at the end of the session (end of Feb 2012 for my new REG). The teacher ends somewhere around 1/15, but he stills answers forum questions. I did not use the teacher at all with FAR. You get the book, the chapter outlines and a DVD of the videos for the class to keep, so really all you are missing (if you fail) are the questions.

Maybe the BIG 4 switch to Bisk will give them a little cash infusion & help them to work out the tech issues, it sure would help me.

FAR 8/26/2011 - 77
AUD 11/17/11 - 87
REG 4/30/12 - 82
BEC 8/13/12 - 80!!

Pro Golfer/ Fisher who spends 50 hrs a week accounting for things

[saucesah]

Hacka75 – Can you briefly go over how the online version works?

I have a friend who is currently using CPAexcel course…and though it doesn't go into ALL the categories, it operates like a class (Quizzes, optional homework problems, etc.) – which I really like the idea of.

Today, I became a cool kid.

AUD - Passed
REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
FAR - Passed

[hacka75]

@ Saucesah

The Online Bisk version is very much like the Classic version. The only difference is you can use the software from any computer & you have a teacher who will answer questions through a forum. So far this time for REG the forum has been used a significant amount, so you can see others questions and the teachers answers. The video's, outlines, content and questions are exactly the same for both versions. You can do specific sections for practice homework/ quizzes. Bisk does try to keep you on schedule by providing a timeline for each week (7 weeks).

The main difference for me has been the “click” time. 7 seconds for the Classic vs. 1/4 second for the online. This is a significant amount of time when you go through 1000 questions.

Your question about “all of the categories”, I am not sure what all of the categories are, but I think Bisk covers the vast majority of categories. However, I cross Bisk with Jeff's Ninja notes. Also, every now & then I will do 50 questions in Wiley (Jeff has put the whole Wiley software package on sale several times). For both AUD & FAR Jeff's notes added/ clarified several points where I was having trouble.

Sorry if this rambling, I am sick as a dog.

FAR 8/26/2011 - 77
AUD 11/17/11 - 87
REG 4/30/12 - 82
BEC 8/13/12 - 80!!

Pro Golfer/ Fisher who spends 50 hrs a week accounting for things

[Author]

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