[Anonymous]

Becker Question –

Hey guys,

I’m sure we all realize that FAR is a beast due to the amount of information we have to go over. I began to study for FAR about a week or two ago and plan to take it in July. F1 was great but F2 is giving me problems (seems like its not uncommon). Luckily, I was able to grasp the construction contracts and installment sales pretty quickly, do you guys think these two topics are tested more than the other topics in F2? I hope so, it would make me feel a lot better if that’s the case.

Unfortunately, im making stupid mistakes with smaller topics like R&D/Software costs… for some reason it just wont stick with me, but I am almost completely lost on the foreign exchange topic. I get the individual transaction portion of this topic, but the whole revaluation/translation/functional/dysfunctional/histocial cost/current cost/weighted average stuff is pretty confusing. Ive been going back and forth for the last few days and it just wont stick. Any tips?

I dont think I can afford to waste more time on this topic. Im aiming to start F3 now, but im not confident at the moment. I plan to go back and look at it agian, but seeing how I have a month left to study, I might not be able to do so.

What do you guys think?

[Anonymous]

I am actually in the same boat as you, taking the exam at the same time and started studying last week. I am focusing on all of the major parts first, and if there is a section I am not comfortable with I am going to re-visit it after I make it through all of the lectures.

Would you rather spend 3 hours studying and be able to answer 5 questions, or 2 questions? Those little topics fall into the latter, while the major sections that make up a majority of the exam are the former.

[lynseyklly]

I suggest you move on. I felt very similar to what you describe. I had already been through AUD, and didn't have the same difficulties. So when beginning FAR, I got really behind on my studies. Initially I planned to do 2 sections per week, but I was struggling and kept pushing sections back. You need to spend enough time on the material so that you aren't skipping over sections, but try not to let it overwhelm and discourage you. Just do the best you can to push through, and leave time to review all sections at the end. I think a lot of people get through all 10 sections wondering what they covered in the beginning, but you will be surprised at what you can retain. One thing I didn't do, that I would looking back, is keep minimal notes on each section as you go through. For instance the calculations of % completion or installment sales…and review on occasion as you go through. I think it may help you feel like you have a better grasp on all the topics.

AUD 85 (2/22/12)
FAR 81 (5/10/12)
BEC 7/13/12
REG 10/1/12

using Becker

[flynewbie]

Totally same situation!! Omggg

I started actually wonder if I had been studying right or not…. Up until F2, I kinda feel stuck here and there. I glimpsed at F3 and other parts but still I think I need more tips as to how to handle this Becker FAR better way.

Any ideas or advice as to how to approach Becker FAR reviews???? Some people say its good to watch videos at the end, I feel I need to first read the book, then do MCQs & then the videos, i don't know?

[masa_inn]

I am with you. It seems like I cannot retain anything delivered during F2; I keep bombing MCQ in F2 HW and feel very discouraged. I think I've learned more doing Wiley MCQ and reading the explanations.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[SDTrojan1904]

This is how I study using Becker and its been very effective for me after some experimenting. As you know each 3 hour lecture/chapter is broken down into sub topics that can range from 10 mins to 20 mins or even as much as 1.5 hours. First I view the lecture for that subtopic, then do the flashcards for that subtopic, and lastly do the PassMaster questions for that subtopic. Once you've done the questions, write notes for explanations you might forget or create flashcards for the concepts you feel that you should.

Watch the lecture for subtopic first: I find this way helpful because the subtopic (if it isnt one of those rare 1.5 hour clips) is just short enough, around 25 mins, for me to focus! As soon as my mind is wandering off, the video clip for that subtopic is done!

Do the flashcards immediately after watching subtopic lecture: This is where the understanding process starts to happen and since you've watched the entire clip for that subtopic, you can then make better flashcards cus you know how to tie things together as YOU see fit. I used to pause the lecture, create a flashcard if I saw a Becker mnemonic or something flashcard-appropriate, but then as I resumed the lecture and a few pages later, I realized I could have added more stuff to the FC or wrote it differently to allow me to better understand said material.

Do the passmaster questions for that subtopic after doing FCs for that subtopic: By this time, you've created your flashcards and just by reviewing the material to create the flashcards itself, you have seen the material enough to really have an understanding of it. The passmaster questions are there to reinforce that understanding by reading the solutions for every answer.

One you're done completing the passmaster questions, create new flashcards you feel you probably should or write notes on explanations from the questions that you will probably forget or if the explanation was written differenly in a way that explains it better than how you concluded with that answer (even if you got the answer right). When writing these notes, I usually box off in red ink the topic in the explanation and then underline in red ink the actual answer. This way the topics and answer of that note pops out when reviewing them days later. I would review these notes at the beginning of each study session.

Obviously this way is gonna take a lot longer but you will see your retention ability and learning process improve.

[Anonymous]

Im basically watching the lecture, outlining any important information/formulas, then doing the HW questions and simulations. I think its just the amount of material in this chapter that is just overwhelming.

Does anyone have a good trick to remember R&D costs/Software costs (internally and for sale) information? I am getting majority of these questions wrong and I can see these being easier questions on the exam to get that extra point. Would be very helpful if someone has some useful tips on this topic.

[flynewbie]

cjnc2001,

Thank god somebody is also in the same situation!!!

Omggggg, FAR so annoying lol (sorry for wining) but Yesssssss a.n.n.o.y.ing… gosh

anyway, im thinking of getting YAEGER cuz I feel Becker is not teaching & going over the details gosh!

So for software cost etc, try write the words down to help u remember!

[masa_inn]

@flynewbie – I started taking my own notes as per Jeff's suggestion. I got Ninja for FAR and take my notes on Ninja notes.

I basically went over F2 from scratch, this time taking notes – it does help.

What are you going to do if Yaeger fails you as well? You cannot buy all review courses here, or can you? 🙂

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[flynewbie]

Hi,

Yeah, I'm doing the same now! I think taking notes does help & applying it…

I do see your point about Yaeger. Its just i guess I was getting frustrated for lack of depth of the topics. For example, I am doing well on soft.cost, R&D etc (which are all what the Instuctor from becker) advised & walked through. As for the Revenue Recognition, AR, Notes.Rec etc, I keep getting those wrong 🙁 I mean its understandable w my case of not having solid accounting backgr. yet & thats why from what I read, the Yaeger seems to really teach those nuts and bolts.

So I'm looking forward to it. I feel that I shouldn't move one before I grasp these subjects and I have a feeling that I will be in trouble if I don't make myself grasp them now.

[Anonymous]

F2 was really really hard for me at the beginning, however, reading the chapter 3times and redoing all the MCQs couple times…it makes a lot of sense. I started out with 60% and ended up with 90%. I literally wanted to throw my laptop out the first time I was going over F2, but hang in there, it'll start to stick.

[masa_inn]

@CPA628 – thank you for sharing. I am still oh-not-so-good with HW for this chapter and feel like the stupidest person ever. Hope it gets better.

FAR
AUD 02/10/14 passed
BEC
REG

Roger, WTB, Ninja materials

[jokami]

Ironically FARE has been the easiest for me… It is a mixture of principles and intermediate accounting… It is really what you took in college… I know it is very overwhelming but once you finish the book for the first time… The second time around is a lot faster and understanding much more the concepts… The third time it is a trip!

Now BEC… Arrrrrrrrgggggg! That is a whole other story!

B - 62, 70, 72, 79!!!
A - 68, 81
R - 70, 82
F - 84

"The limit to your abilities is where you place them" - Fortune Cookies

[kalisacboy]

I studied Becker by watching the lecture, read the chapter twice, do the practice problems once, then move on to the next chapter whether i understand it or not. once i finished all chapters then i went back to the beginning for a full reviews. i repeated the same cycle a few times and did lots of practice problems until I fully understood it. My last week before my exam I went over the Becker final reviews course, did two final exams, and did Wiley problems. I noticed Becker materials keep repeating similar information in the later chapters. Once you finish the whole book, you will understand the first few chapters much easier.

AUDIT - 78 (8/18/2011)
REG - 78 (11/30/2011)
FAR - 87 (5/4/2012)
BEC - 79 (8/15/2012) I'm done!

[flynewbie]

@kalisacboy

Thanks all for the advise! I'm on my way to CPA 😉

[Author]

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