[Anonymous]

I just completed AUD course on Becker and will be starting BEC next week. I am also on the Fastpass schedule so it is really intense, though not as bad as I though it would be. However, I’m starting to second guess myself choosing Becker. When I was going through AUD last week, I successfully went through the lectures and listened really carefully, but when it came to doing the homework and the simulations, I was pretty much banging my head against the wall. I had to cram study for hours just to barely pass the homework. Granted, I still did not do spectacularly. Plus, I felt obligated to finish the homework all in one day even though my courses are not live, so I felt rushed as well. Also, keep in mind that I have anxiety and trying to study for hours and feeling like I have such a deadline to finish all the hours worth of homework for one chapter in less than a day only to do not-so-well made me question my sanity.

When I decided on Becker, I felt rushed because I was tired of wasting away my life before I decided to start studying for the CPA exam. When I graduated college in 2012, I could not find a job with my degree so I went back to school to take all the required courses to take the CPA exam and become licensed. And I thought I was finally starting to get my life in order, but after multiple panic attacks last week because I had trouble doing the homework and studying over and over and still not completely getting it, I am starting to lose all hope. I’m starting to think Becker is just not matching my learning style. Maybe I should have chosen Wiley CpaExcel or Roger? But I didn’t waste $3500 on Becker just to give up. What should I do? I’m starting to second guess myself that I can even pass the CPA exam… and second guessing myself on choosing Becker.

Also, please don’t bash me. I did not come here to be made fun of for my mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Just a four hour lecture in the morning and the homework and simulations that you do on your own after you are done. No set schedule.

And, AUD was my first class. I was planning to take the AUD exam this week but the California Board of Accountancy has not approved my application yet so that kind of messed up my schedule. My original schedule was to take AUD first, then go through the remaining three classes before I take the other three. I had to do this because I have no gap in between my classes and the original live class in San Francisco got cancelled. I figured that I would take FAR second in late August since that was my last class and I would have an easier time remembering the material since it is fresh in my mind. As for REG and BEC, I would study for them on my own in September and take them on two separate days in October.

So now, I would have to wait until I am done with Fastpass, take FAR first. Then take AUD, BEC, and REG in October and November, though it won't be easy.

[Anonymous]

Relax! What you're feeling is perfectly normal. Do not expect to do well on your MCQs the first or even fourth time! Even studying the material diligently, you will more often than not need several passes at quizzes before you start to “get it”. Stick with it until you do. Study as much as you can but NOT at the expense of your sanity. Allow yourself to take breaks and try to relax during those breaks. It's hard to turn your brain off after so much intense studying but do your best to try. You are worrying about way too much. Becker will prepare you and is the most recognized name in the business. Whether or not a cheaper alternative would have also prepared you is irrelevant. The material is horrible no matter who you use. The only way you're going to get through this is by focusing on the task at hand, which is one study unit at a time. Don't worry how bad the next one is. Dont worry about how hard it will be to remember it all. Allow yourself time to study and a healthy review and don't beat yourself up over needing a breakwhen you need a break. You can do this.

[Skynet]

One Last thing I will say, and everyone hates this is that be prepare for Failure.

Not everyone passes on their first tries so there will be setbacks. BE PREPARE FOR IT! It's part of the exam process. What you do after a Failed exam or exams will determine you success.

Everyone here have experienced one way or the other yet they continue to perservere no matter the odds.

[Anonymous]

PS: 70-75 on the homework is a lot better than a lot of us get. I often feel like i know it inside and out and will get a 40%. I'll stick with it over and over and over again until i can do at least 80-85. It takes a ton of passes, but don't worry if you're seeing the same questions over and over again if you understand how to answer them or why the answer is what it is. If you have memorized a question, it will likely be wiped out of your brain with all the other information you're trying to cram, so come back to that unit weeks later and see how many you can still get right.

I also deal with a ton of anxiety, and on top of that, i discovered in January that i had to finish everything by end of May or probably never get licensed due to the changing reqs in CO, that I would only have 1 shot on my weakest subject, and that i had to do it all in less time than any of the others. I was licensed on June 30, the very last day to be licensed under the old rule. I would've needed tons more school otherwise. Talk about stress.

Remember: do not be discouraged at wrong answers. Every answer you get wrong at home can be a question you get right on test day.

[Anonymous]

Just keep plugging away as best you can, as others have said consistently getting 70 – 75% on Becker MCQ's translates favorably to actual exam results. The practice questions they have in the software are a couple levels more complex than what you will see on the actual exam – so if you are acing all of the Becker questions you will be over-prepared for the exam. You just have to keep going through the homework questions again and again and again until you've mastered the concepts. When I was studying for the exam, I would ultimately make 3 – 4 passes through each of the MCQ topics, it can take that many times before you pick up on not only the concepts but also how they test you on those concepts based on the wording of the questions. You just need to keep working and not give up, unfortunately there aren't any easy answers, it just takes mountains of time.

Do keep one thing in the back of your mind in case you feel the Fastpass is too intense or too rushed for you to feel prepared – you can switch formats once for free with Becker. I did the self-study option and it was about as painless as they could've made it. I would recommend it to anyone who is motivated enough to study on their own because of the flexibility and because of the instructors. Definitely keep going with the Fastpass, but if you're feeling like it isn't working for you then just don't write Becker completely off as a total loss – you do have alternative options available.

[Anonymous]

I find it funny that you are not liking Becker cause you feel rushed but you got their fast pass ;). By definition the fast pass will make you feel rushed.

[Anonymous]

Becker is very polarizing. Some people love it and others hate it. The cost is a big factor in this because Becker is not cheap. In fact I think it's one of the most expensive review courses out there for CPA Exam prep. Personally I think Becker works but the whole process is very disheartening. I started with FAR and I was convinced I was going to fail by the end of Chapter 2. But I stuck with Becker and managed to pass all 4 exams on the first try with Becker as my primary study materials.

Here's the thing that nobody tells you up front about Becker. The first time you do the homework, you're going to do terrible. That's why it's disheartening and that's why I was convinced I was going to fail. But getting 50% of the first homework attempt is very common. The important thing is to not get frustrated with those results but to learn from them so and understand why you're missing the questions you are.

Final note on Becker. Becker tends to be much more difficult and wordy than the actual exam. This is especially true for FAR. But if you can handle the Becker questions and do well on them you should be well prepared on exam day.

[Anonymous]

Becker got a great reputation years ago doing huge live lecture classes when the test was in a different format. I don't believe they offer the best product for today's test. I followed their method and studied the materials like crazy as well as doing the questions many times. My scores do not represent the amount of work I put in, but maybe I'm just dumb.

I only used Ninja for my Audit retake and wish I had just bought Ninja MCQ for all tests. I feel the actual test was way harder than Becker, and I never felt Becker prepared me. In my opinion, Ninja is more representative of the questions you will actually get on the test.

Just my experience. Everyone's is different.

[Anonymous]

Oh please……. If you are scoring above 67 on homework, you are fine.

[win2bet]

funny i got becker for free recently, & not even using it. prefer my Wiley study guide & ninja MCQ

REG 68,87
BEC 85
FAR 75
AUD 64,64, 86!

[markfwb]

Relax. Becker is the standard that all review courses try to be. Most Elijah watts sells award winners used Becker. I use Gleim because its guaranteed. I would buy Rogers in a heart beat but he needs to back his course with a guarantee or access till u pass. Anything over 50 bucks is a lot of money for me especially over a grand.

Using only Gleim. If i can pass this exam then anyone can. I am a stupid idiot.

[Author]

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