[Anonymous]

Becker Question –

I’m getting my feelings hurt in this section. Particularly the Operations Management area dealing with Cost Measurements. I’ve only gone through the homework once, but i’ve NEVER scored so low or been so frustrated. These questions are ridiculous.

[Keely]

I was feeling the same was as you about six weeks ago. I cried…a lot. My struggle was actually COSO. I hate interpreting things, I'd rather do the math. That way I KNOW it's right or wrong.

Anyway, my point is, while I haven't taken the test yet, I have come a long way. I posted something the first week I started studying about how frustrated I was, and my low scores on the MCQs, and someone said it'll all come together with repetition. It really did. Six weeks later I feel like I know it like the back of my hand, and I want to take the test today.

I am the most pessimistic person on Earth, so you can trust me when I say it does get better. Best of luck!

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

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

If you think B1 is bad, wait until B5!

@keelydare1 any tips for variances? I'm doing the homework questions for the second time and that stuff is still not clicking. I keep reviewing the book and lecture, but has not helped much.

[Anonymous]

LoL thanks. I'm thinking its cause i'm not in the mood to study. I took my first 2 sections a year ago. Now I'm working and havent had the time to really study like I want.

[Keely]

@chakdey: The best tip I can give you is don't take any shortcuts. I've seen these questions calculated several ways, and I always always always do it the long way.

I, hated at first, but now really like the brackets and the SEV mnemonic. I reread B2 pg. 47 a lot (the example). I draw the brackets and the A BA BS A above it. Break the BA and BS into fixed and variable, as the example does. You can see you'll never have a fixed efficiency variance just as you will never have a variable volume variance. A variable OH efficiency variance is just asking you what the difference is between the standard rate at actual hours and the standard rate at standard hours allowed. But I don't use the traditional formula, like standard rate x (actual hours – standard hours allowed), I actually calculate the whole thing and put it in a T account. It is much easier to me that way.

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

VA CPA #42010

[Shay]

I have finished all the materials in BEC. will take pratice exam 1 from Becker tommorow. I hate Cost Accounting!!!..any tips on how to study that material?

[Keely]

@shay: I also hated Cost Accounting. Just try to understand the concepts one by one. I think Becker does a pretty good job of breaking them down. Make sure things make sense to you. I think this is a good piece of advice people will give you for any part of the exam. But as I said in a prior post, this was my first exam and I was extremely overwhelmed with the material. If you can understand the basics, like contribution margin, variance analysis, absorption vs. variable costing, it should all come together. Practice exam 1 from Becker was pretty manageable. I averaged a 91. 2nd practice was another story and I cried my way through it…but still ended up with a 79. Let us know how you do!

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

VA CPA #42010

[Keely]

PS if you have a cost accounting textbook, you might also find that helpful. I used my old one from school, you could probably find one at a used bookstore if you didn't keep yours. I found it useful for elaboration of the definitions Becker had.

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

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

I finally understand variance analysis, not all of it completely, but im slowly getting there. I went through my old textbook, but there is way to much details in it. I went over many times the few pages that Pete explains the varinaces in the lecture.

@shay the key is to keep going over and over and over the material and keep doing them MCQ.

[Shay]

@keelydare1 I got the “Cost Accounting 14ed Horngen” but that stuff is too much details and info. and I know BEC isnt just Cost accounting, there are 5 other sections to prepare :(-

the topic I am struggling about: Process, ABC, Job-costing, Joint Cost, Normal spoilage. Other cost topics I am good at are COGM, LIFO, variances, B.E point, Var/ Absorption costing. thats probably it..

@ I think its lame to be doing same questions over and over. I did it 3+ times already, I am not getting the stupid concepts.(I think I failed cost acct in college..lol..jk) every time i watch videos on youtube, they all teach did method on solve the problem. but no one is teaching concepts..for example, “which is more beneficial method Variable or Absorption costing??

[Anonymous]

Hey Brushrop03, just dropping in to give you some reassurance. When I did B1 and B2, my scores were awful; far lower than anything I ever did in REG. Even B3 were pretty bad. When I say bad, I mean 50s and 60s WHILE looking up the answers in the book. It gets better and in my opinion the actual exam questions were significantly easier than 75% of the Becker questions in those sections. I got an 86 on the actual BEC exam. Chin up.

[Shay]

@Entourage

first congrats on 86!!…any tips?

[kambsa]

Similar story here with BEC. Scoring super low in the mc questions on Becker but I am trying to understand the concepts and doing the questions over n over. Man some of these calcs are insane but I think the more I do it and go back to the book if I don't understand it does start to make sense. B1, B3, and B5 all were tough for me. I am also supplementing with Wiley book MC questions. Haven't start them yet. Trying to get Becker questions done first. Good luck all!

AUD - Passed 88
REG - Passed 87
BEC - Passed 78
FAR - Passed 75

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys.

I'm on B5 now. Order of my studying has been B1, B3 – B5, and B2 last.

B5 is a beast as someone mentioned. They make it seem very straight forward in the lectures, but the multiple choice questions are a different story.

In general, are the questions on the test as complex/difficult as they are in Becker?

[Anonymous]

@Shay – sorry I didn't see that post until now. I didn't spend all too much time doing MC on Becker. I did them all once and went through the ones I didn't know a second time. In my opinion, it is better to go through the book and make sure you know how to do each type of problem. I did that a lot just to keep everything fresh. Also, if you are going to do questions, hit the IT questions the day/night before the exam. Jeff gave me that advice and I think it's great advice. Don't stress at all about the writing. It really is straight forward. Best of luck!

[Shay]

@Entourage..thnks.

I did becker MC like 5x. I will go for the last run sign-up and take the exam. sick and tired of studying. I supplemented Wiley. for more questions. Were there any surprises on exam?

[Author]

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