[garrisom16]

I feel like I wasted so much money on Becker. I started studying around October 2012 and got through about 3 of the sections of Becker (watching the lectures, highlighting, MCQs). Something came up and wasn’t able to study any more until about the weekend before my exam (took it on a Monday). Over the weekend all I did was MCQ’s for the remaining sections. What I would do was as the question popped up, I would hit the “ebook” button which would take you to where is was in the book, learn how to do it, then do the question. I would then do the progress tests in small batches (20 questions) as my review. If I got a question wrong, I would go back and read the answer and even look it up in the book to make sure I understood why it was wrong. The questions would be repetitive enough that eventually I would learn the material. I studied probably 20-25 hours over the weekend and ending up passing with an 80.

For far I had a similar situation. I had gotten through about 2 sections but then went out of town during busy season and didn’t get much studying in as we were working long hours. As soon as I got back I got really sick and was out of commission for about a week and a half. This left me with just a weekend before my exam. I decided to employ the same technique as audit and ended up passing with an 82.

I ended up taking about 6 or 7 months off and in December 2013 decided to get my NTS and sign up for the last two parts. I basically decided to try my technique again for BEC and studied for about 2.5 days before my exam with that strategy. I actually felt the most confident out of the 3 so far and ended up with a 75. I’ll take it.

Did the same thing for REG (took it on 2/27/14). I felt pretty confident going into the exam but got tore up by the SIMS. (I didn’t even look at the SIMS while preparing for FAR/BEC/REG) I should find out tomorrow if I passed.

To get to my point, I feel like the Becker software is overrated and a huge waste of money. The lectures are pointless (at least for me). I found I was just rushing to keep up with the highlighting and underlining and that I actually wasn’t learning anything. I didn’t feel like I was getting anything out of them. It seems like, if you are the kind of person that learns best by working things through yourself, I feel like MCQ’s are the way to learn. I’m not sure what else is out there as I havnt used any of the other study materials, but if you are thinking about dropping thousands on Becker, you might want to reconsider it and try an alternative approach to studying. I’m sure I’m going to get flamed for this, but it can be done

AUD - 80
FAR - 82
BEC - 75
REG - 2/27/14

[Anonymous]

That's awesome man!! Unfortunately, I don't think your strategy would work for most individuals.

[Anonymous]

That's awesome man!! Unfortunately, I don't think your strategy would work for most individuals.

[zieba]

I agree. A few years ago I purchased it at retail. More recently I was err… gifted Becker software so I don't fee like I spent a lot. I passed AUD with Becker and somehow – I still have no freaking clue, or ability to actually do these questions – passed REG, I also passed BEC. Hmm… I guess I'm not making a good point… where I was going with this is that throughout this time I had this feeling like it was overrated. I kept saying all I'm going is highlighting and then slowly slogging through these long questions which are nothing like what I see on the exam. I too kept going to the ebook to get the right answers. To hell with Gearty, his monotone voice and his highlighters. I decided to supplement with WTB for FAR, which quickly became my main study source. I feel like I understand more with WTB…it's cheaper and I feel like the questions are more on point.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[zieba]

I agree. A few years ago I purchased it at retail. More recently I was err… gifted Becker software so I don't fee like I spent a lot. I passed AUD with Becker and somehow – I still have no freaking clue, or ability to actually do these questions – passed REG, I also passed BEC. Hmm… I guess I'm not making a good point… where I was going with this is that throughout this time I had this feeling like it was overrated. I kept saying all I'm going is highlighting and then slowly slogging through these long questions which are nothing like what I see on the exam. I too kept going to the ebook to get the right answers. To hell with Gearty, his monotone voice and his highlighters. I decided to supplement with WTB for FAR, which quickly became my main study source. I feel like I understand more with WTB…it's cheaper and I feel like the questions are more on point.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[Boate]

Boy do I wish I was you….. like a lot of us we put in the time for these exams and don't come out on top. Congrats to your success and I hope you passed REG. As someone who uses the Becker Self-Review, I would say it is overrated due to the quality you receive for the price you pay. The lectures can only help depending on you're learning style. If I had done the research prior to purchasing all 4 sections of Becker I would not have used this program. I was influenced by friends who had used the program, which was provided to them by their companies, whereas I paid for it out of pocket. I went with the belief that you get what you pay for…… wish I had done more research but at the end of the day if I pass all my exams with Becker than it was worth it. At this point all I care about is that CPA license!

AUD: (65)(66) 77
REG: (66) (48) destroyed me mentally.....
FAR: (68) (66)(69)(71)
BEC: (63) 75

"Greatness is not some precious thing, it is no more unique to us than breathing. We are ALL capable of it."

[Boate]

Boy do I wish I was you….. like a lot of us we put in the time for these exams and don't come out on top. Congrats to your success and I hope you passed REG. As someone who uses the Becker Self-Review, I would say it is overrated due to the quality you receive for the price you pay. The lectures can only help depending on you're learning style. If I had done the research prior to purchasing all 4 sections of Becker I would not have used this program. I was influenced by friends who had used the program, which was provided to them by their companies, whereas I paid for it out of pocket. I went with the belief that you get what you pay for…… wish I had done more research but at the end of the day if I pass all my exams with Becker than it was worth it. At this point all I care about is that CPA license!

AUD: (65)(66) 77
REG: (66) (48) destroyed me mentally.....
FAR: (68) (66)(69)(71)
BEC: (63) 75

"Greatness is not some precious thing, it is no more unique to us than breathing. We are ALL capable of it."

[rmsmith]

I'm actually the same way…I don't like going through the lectures or mcq anymore I just skip to review and figure things out from there. But if it weren't for Becker I wouldn't even know where to begin and it is helpful explaining things when you do need it..plus the firm pays for it so why not

AUD: 87
FAR: 80
REG: 80
BEC: 85

[rmsmith]

I'm actually the same way…I don't like going through the lectures or mcq anymore I just skip to review and figure things out from there. But if it weren't for Becker I wouldn't even know where to begin and it is helpful explaining things when you do need it..plus the firm pays for it so why not

AUD: 87
FAR: 80
REG: 80
BEC: 85

[Kimboroni]

I haven't used it, but the advice on passing the exam from my professor for business law and tax was that Becker is overpriced, and that there are other cheaper programs that are just as good (he mentioned Wiley, and I don't remember what the others were). It didn't sound like it fit my learning style anyway– boring lectures, highlighting, etc.

Practicing MCQs is one of the most important things to do to prepare, I think. Practicing SIMs is good, too– even if the samples don't really match up to what the test has, it gets you thinking about all of the various ways that the information could be tested, and you get in the right mindset of processing the info in a deeper way.

But if you just aren't getting it, having access to lectures or other explanatory materials is really helpful.

Your experience sounds pretty rare. But, yeah, Becker probably is overrated. It works fine for many people, but it is sooooo expensive.

I hope you passed REG!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Kimboroni]

I haven't used it, but the advice on passing the exam from my professor for business law and tax was that Becker is overpriced, and that there are other cheaper programs that are just as good (he mentioned Wiley, and I don't remember what the others were). It didn't sound like it fit my learning style anyway– boring lectures, highlighting, etc.

Practicing MCQs is one of the most important things to do to prepare, I think. Practicing SIMs is good, too– even if the samples don't really match up to what the test has, it gets you thinking about all of the various ways that the information could be tested, and you get in the right mindset of processing the info in a deeper way.

But if you just aren't getting it, having access to lectures or other explanatory materials is really helpful.

Your experience sounds pretty rare. But, yeah, Becker probably is overrated. It works fine for many people, but it is sooooo expensive.

I hope you passed REG!

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

How can you guys say that Becker is overrated if all of you are passing sections on the first try….it's doing exactly what it's advertised to do – help you become a CPA….

What a strange thread. With that being said, I have been pretty impressed with Becker so far. Their MCQ's are great, and I actually like the lectures.

[Anonymous]

How can you guys say that Becker is overrated if all of you are passing sections on the first try….it's doing exactly what it's advertised to do – help you become a CPA….

What a strange thread. With that being said, I have been pretty impressed with Becker so far. Their MCQ's are great, and I actually like the lectures.

[zieba]

How are their MCQ's great, if only a handful of the homework MCQ's were actually released AICPA questions?

WTB licenses their questions from the AICPA and those questions better approximate test day.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[zieba]

How are their MCQ's great, if only a handful of the homework MCQ's were actually released AICPA questions?

WTB licenses their questions from the AICPA and those questions better approximate test day.

AUD - 75*, 88 done 5/14! (*exp)
BEC - 74 , 77
REG - 65 , 76 (10 point combooo!!)
FAR - 69 , 75

Dr: perseverance
Dr: intelligence
Dr: luck
. Cr: . advisory score

[TNIRISH]

I don't think that overrated is the correct term to use here. Becker is a fine and comprehensive product but it is not for everyone. If you do everything it asks you to do you should pass the test, but products will get you there as well. Is it the best value? Then again it depends but since it is one of the most expensive out there it probably is not. With that said, whatever works for you and helps you pass the test can't really be overrated can it?

[Author]

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