[jgootz421]

Becker Question –

So as I was reviewing for FAR I was running out of time and decided to skip the optional questions on my review and managed to get by with a 79.

Now that I am studying for BEC on a very tight time table I am wondering if I should just skip the optional questions from the start as I am already behind my planned schedule. Curious to hear other peoples opinions on them.

Thanks.

REG - 79 - 8/9/15
FAR - 79 - 11/25/15
BEC - 80 - 1/4/16
AUD - 80 - 2/13/16

[Anonymous]

I skipped most optional questions on Becker, especially on FAR since there was just too much material. I mostly concentrated on the main HW questions. Although I did do a bunch of optional questions for AUD, since most questions didn't require formula or math.

BTW, I also score a 79 on FAR 🙂

[sar_rah]

I didn't do them for far at all, and on bec I only did them for the IT chapter since that was my weak spot (plus, those didn't involve computations). I felt prepared for both having skipped the optional questions. i'd recommend against them since they're just lengthy and full of tricks. normal becker questions are lengthier than most real questions anyway, so those seem like an overkill.

AUD: 98
REG: 91
BEC: 86
FAR: 83

DONE DONE DONE and DONE all on the first try! It IS possible, just keep on studying!

[MOAC]

I have used Becker four times, twice for FAR, one time each for AUD and BEC. Never even once I did even a single optional question but still passed. I do a lot of progress tests so I believe optional questions come up in those progress tests but I myself never went over optional tests.

FAR May 2012 81 (lost credit, didn't sit for other sections.)
FAR 86 Aug 2015
AUD 85 Nov 2015
BEC 84 Dec 2015
REG 78 Mar 2016

Passed ALL sections in first attempt!!

[CPA Slayer]

If you have the time, then yes. If not, I don't believe it will hurt you. They tend to be very difficult and tricky for good practice.

FAR - 84
REG - 86
AUD - 90
BEC - 88

KO the test in 5 months even though I am a dummy!

Through God all things can happen!

"But, in our defense, accountants aren't really boring people.
We just get excited over boring things."

[rudeexcuseme]

For BEC and AUD I did all of the extra MCQ and just treated it as part of the chapter's requirement. No quitting until that chapter is 100% green. Sometime I thought they were more challenging too which is helpful. I began to skip them for REG and I doubt, reading people's comments above, I will have time for them come FAR studying.

[Anonymous]

I tried to do all of the Optional Questions but for BEC I gave up on the Finance Chapter's. They were just WAY out there.

The Optional Questions are much more difficult than anything you're likely to see on the exam. The upside is that if you can do really well on the Optional Questions it should indicate that you have a really solid grasp of the material.

[mitchmatch]

Skip and only come back to it after you are completely done with your review. I did everything that was necessary first, then in the review stage i did the 2 final exams, and then came back to these, but they dont seem to be so important.

FAR-76 First attempt.
AUD-79 First attempt.
REG-79 First attempt.
BEC-79 First attempt.

Done!

BECKERS

[OKCalltheway]

If you don't feel comfortable with the topic or aren't sure, then do the optional questions like they're required. If you're comfortable with the section, include the questions in your review as time permits. I used Becker and that's what I'd do. The key is to not get bogged down or stuck on a topic when it limits the overall quality of studying. Focus on what your study plan will allow. Also note that if you do numerous progress tests, that the optional questions are included in progress tests on a random basis. If you regularly do progress tests (i.e. daily, every other day) and skip optional questions, you will probably notice new (the optional questions) in your progress tests.

FAR - 81 1st attempt
AUD - 91 1st attempt
REG - 93 1st attempt
BEC- 86 1st attempt

[Anonymous]

I only did the optional questions for REG (my weakest area of the four). In general I didn't have time to get through the optional MCQs.

[MaLoTu]

I only do them if they come up on a progress test. IF I had extra time before an exam I might go back and do them just to see a fresh set of questions.

[Anonymous]

From my experience, sometimes I encounter a question that adds to my knowledge that I would never know if I never did the optional questions. I would say it is helpful but I don't think it will hurt you that much if you don't do it.

[Tscape16]

Do them. Extra 8-10 hours per exam section and worth it. The stuff they don't have time to cover in the lecture pops up in the optional section quite a bit and can translate to a couple extra points on the real exam.

FAR - 90 ✔
BEC - 86 ✔
REG - 82 ✔
AUD - 92 ✔
ETHICS - Passed

*Licensed CPA

[Anonymous]

I would not review optional questions. I would listen to the lectures if you have additional time. I would absolutely nail down the regular mc questions in Becker but not the optional questions. I would spend 2 days per section listening to lectures and the 2 days after answering mc questions. Don't spend too much time on one topic; if it doesn't come to you, then move on.

[Author]

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