[john201]

Hello All,

I’m just curious. Has anyone (in this forum obviously) passed any part of the CPA exam by doing Becker MCQ exclusively and ignoring the video lectures and book. I figured each question has a rationale so it should be possible to just repeatedly do MCQs and take note of the rationales.

My time is limited so I contemplated about doing this. Has anyone here used this strategy?

– John

Created with Compare Ninja

[maseosdream]

Hi John,

It might work, but I wouldn't suggest it. If it would work for any part, I'd guess it would be BEC, which is more math based. The problem with the CPA is that so many questions center around theory and the exceptions to rules. Doing MCQ's might just show you the exceptions or rules… and get pretty confusing in the end.

Best of luck!

B - 84 Feb '12
A - 94 Aug '12
R - 80 Nov '12
F - 80 May '13

[barelystayingsane]

This sounds like a terrible idea to me, but maybe that's just because it doesn't fit my learning style. I would imagine that at the very least, this wouldn't work for REG, just because there are so many nitpicky details that may not be covered in the MCQs.

[P or F.. I think Im gonna BARF]

I agree – this sounds like a horrible strategy. I do think that the video lectures on Becker are a waste of time. If anything, this is what you should eliminate. The only value they add (to me at least) are all of the notes and tips, but you can easily get this information by reading the electronic book, which contains all of the lecture notes.

B - (08/29/2013) Passed
A - (07/02/2013) Passed
R - (10/17/2013) 73 - Rematch
F - (05/29/2013) Passed

[snb]

I wouldn't completely eliminate the lectures, but there's no harm in speeding through them and concentrating on the McQ's.

I would skip 10-15 seconds ahead during most of the lecture segments and just make sure to highlight the book/make the same notes they did.

IL
FAR (2/20/13): 76
AUD (4/8/13): 78
BEC: (5/20/13): 86
REG: (7/10/13): 76
Ethics: Done
Operation "Hurry up and pass this thing before we have our first baby in October" COMPLETED

[MrsBing]

Or you can skip the lecture and just read the ebook (since it's highlighed already) or read the book and highlight from looking at the ebook. I wouldn't skip both the lecture and the book. If I had to skip one I would skip the lecture and read the book because the lecture skips sections of the book that you may need to know.

I think just doing the MCQ's w/o reading or watching the lectures will get very confusing because of the multiple rules and exceptions one concept may have.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[MrsBing]

I think the reason must people fail the first time because they're not putting in enough study time and trying to do the minimum.

Becker, Wiley Test Bank, and Ninja 10 Point Combo!

FAR: 89
REG: 87
AUD: 92
BEC: 75
Ethics: 90

Licensed Arizona CPA

[Anonymous]

As much as Tim Gearty and Peter Olinto annoyed me at times during the hours and hours of lectures, I have to say I definitely did get something out of listening to them. *For me* it's not just about the information, but also about how it's delivered, and the emphasis and repetition on certain points, as well as the examples and asides, helped stuff stick in my head.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree, Tim and Peter can get old, but when you're taking the exam and you can hear Peter's voice explaining the answer to the question you are being asked it is nice! I suffered through all the BEC lectures in 6 days and scored decent on my exam. Hoping for the same with FAR!

[MintsRGood]

On my first audit attempt I pulled something like that but with Wiley TB and light reading of the text book…as you can see that approach yielded a 61. It was my first attempt at any section and I had NO clue until I left prometric just shy of hysterical how dreadfully unprepared I was for that exam. Looking back now I actually laugh and shake my head that I was bold enough to think I could pull that off. It did however serve as a wake up call to get serious or get out of the way when it comes to this exam. READ the book and WATCH your lectures. Make your life easier and do the work up front so you don't kick yourself on score release day!!!!!!!!! What section are you preparing for?

@MrsBing I agree with you that often first time test takers greatly underestimate the amount of prep it truly takes to pass; I was one of those people myself!!! I didn't put the work in on the above mentioned attempt and 1000% deserved to fail. It's that simple. Hard work and dedication is how you take a 61 to a 92. There are NO shortcuts to the finish line and hard work is what gets a passing score…nothing less! 🙂

Good luck!!!!!!!! 🙂

REG: 75 DONE 🙂
AUD: 61, 71, 68, 92 DONE 🙂
BEC: 76 DONE 🙂
FAR: 72, 74, 79 DONE 🙂
Licensed Michigan CPA 🙂
-Some people dream of success...others wake up and work hard for it!!!
-The cowards never start and the weak die along the way!
-You better work, b***h!
-Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.-JFK

[acamp]

Passed first three with Wiley Test Bank + Ninja Notes, so yes, its very possible. I watch Becker vids to re-tackle one section, and the vids really helped clarify some things, but it can obviously be done without them

Ninja + Wiley Test Bank: [FAR - 81] [REG - 76] [BEC - 88] [AUD - 73](doh!)

Becker Videos: [AUD - 82]

California CPA

[IwannaBaCPA]

I don't think I would try this approach for the first time taking a section. Certainly I would skip the videos for a retake unless there was a specific area I was struggling with. Basically, the videos FORCE you to go through the book carefully and going through the book is very important in my opinion.

BEC: 79 - April 2011
FAR: 78 - May 2011
AUD: 81 - May 2012
REG: 79 - October 2012
Ethics: Passed - March 2013
I am finally DONE!

[Anonymous]

If you're low on time, I would definitely listen to all the lectures and/or read the book, but not necessarily do all the highlighting and MCQ.

I found highlighting & MCQ most beneficial if the section was computation heavy

Good luck!

[evesocal]

I found the video lectures in Becker to be essential for some of the chapters and that was in addition to taking live classes.

Maybe you can do it without the lectures but I do think they are helpful.

Best of luck to you.

B: 75

R: 80

A: 77

F: 81

Ethics: 84, 92

Licensed in California!

B: 75
R: 80
A: 77
F: 81
Ethics: 84, 92 and done!
Licensed in California

[ice age]

i have passed the Bec Section with 82 with out waching the lectures, just reviewing the higlighted things in the book and solving becker MCQS only.

regarding the Regulation, i have passed with 83 with out solving any simulation from the software, just waching the lectures and solving the MCQS.

Any way, i find that waching the lectures is just a wasting of time, i just wach them to highlight the important things, if i had a highlighted book already , i would not watch the lectures.

Good Luck.

[mla1169]

I passed FAR (barely) by using only cpareviewforfree and filling in the blanks with google. Would I ever recommend doing it that way? No, not a chance. It was a huge gamble and I could have paid dearly for taking that shortcut by having to retake (and pay for) the exam.

But I can't stress enough the importance of hammering the MCQ's.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Author]

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