[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

[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?

[garrisom16]

@ 5280 Yes Becker has helped me pass, obviously. It's not like I could have just studied from my old textbooks from college. But I feel since the MCQ's were really all I used, that I could have gotten away with an cheaper alternative to Becker.

Thanks for all the support about REG, but I don't have much hope. There was allot of small detail type stuff on my exam that you really wouldn't know unless you studied pretty comprehensively and in-depth, which I obviously did not.. and the SIMS were brutal. I'm hoping to be one of those stories where “I thought for sure I failed” success stories, but i'm not holding my breathe. Less than a day left to wait though..

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

[garrisom16]

@ 5280 Yes Becker has helped me pass, obviously. It's not like I could have just studied from my old textbooks from college. But I feel since the MCQ's were really all I used, that I could have gotten away with an cheaper alternative to Becker.

Thanks for all the support about REG, but I don't have much hope. There was allot of small detail type stuff on my exam that you really wouldn't know unless you studied pretty comprehensively and in-depth, which I obviously did not.. and the SIMS were brutal. I'm hoping to be one of those stories where “I thought for sure I failed” success stories, but i'm not holding my breathe. Less than a day left to wait though..

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

[zieba]

don't forget to use authoritative literature for REG sims. I found a listing of various deadlines in the AL which I would not have otherwise known.

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]

don't forget to use authoritative literature for REG sims. I found a listing of various deadlines in the AL which I would not have otherwise known.

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

[Anonymous]

FYI, Becker licenses their questions from the AICPA too. Im pretty sure the only difference between Wiley and Becker are the adapted ones in which they change a detail or two in the question.

[Anonymous]

FYI, Becker licenses their questions from the AICPA too. Im pretty sure the only difference between Wiley and Becker are the adapted ones in which they change a detail or two in the question.

[Anonymous]

@zieba You're right in saying Becker questions do not accurately approximate test day. However, in my experience so far, I appreciate the depth of the Becker MCQ's – questions on test day aren't as daunting because I'm so used to the hard, long winded Becker questions.

In addition, if you do the MCQ's in order, they build off of each other, reinforcing intertwining concepts. That being said, NINJA audio has also been extremely valuable in my study time as well. It's just a matter of how you learn best.

[Anonymous]

@zieba You're right in saying Becker questions do not accurately approximate test day. However, in my experience so far, I appreciate the depth of the Becker MCQ's – questions on test day aren't as daunting because I'm so used to the hard, long winded Becker questions.

In addition, if you do the MCQ's in order, they build off of each other, reinforcing intertwining concepts. That being said, NINJA audio has also been extremely valuable in my study time as well. It's just a matter of how you learn best.

[fuzyfro89]

I would say overpriced, not overrated. It prepares you as well as any other program out there (some may be better worse for certain individuals depending on their own learning styles). I think the reason it's so highly priced is that all the Big 4 will pay for it directly, though they get a big discount off the retail price.

If I remember correctly, the full set retails for ~$3K, but my paycheck only had around $1.5K added to my gross income for the materials.

[fuzyfro89]

I would say overpriced, not overrated. It prepares you as well as any other program out there (some may be better worse for certain individuals depending on their own learning styles). I think the reason it's so highly priced is that all the Big 4 will pay for it directly, though they get a big discount off the retail price.

If I remember correctly, the full set retails for ~$3K, but my paycheck only had around $1.5K added to my gross income for the materials.

[Anonymous]

Hmm, well I used only Becker and passed each section by a healthy margin on the first try. I don't consider it overrated at all. It worked fine for me. Plus, my firm paid for the materials, which made the cost component a non-factor.

I agree with the previous sentiment. I think it may be overpriced, but not overrated.

[Anonymous]

Hmm, well I used only Becker and passed each section by a healthy margin on the first try. I don't consider it overrated at all. It worked fine for me. Plus, my firm paid for the materials, which made the cost component a non-factor.

I agree with the previous sentiment. I think it may be overpriced, but not overrated.

[impska]

The lectures are, by far, the weakest part of Becker. Some us don't really need them – because we learn well from reading the textbook, so having someone read TO us is unhelpful. For people who do need the lectures, they would benefit from something beyond just having a couple of guys tell them what to underline.

But let's face it – the Becker package works. If you do what they say, follow their method, do all of the MCQs, read the book and watch the lectures, and take some notes, you will pass the CPA exam. Usually on the first try.

Can some people pass on the first try by studying for two days and eating some fiber in the morning? Sure.

But the pass rate for each section of the exam sits at around 50%. So obviously most people would benefit from a more structured system. You pay Becker to hold your hand and get you through it. And that's what it does.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[impska]

The lectures are, by far, the weakest part of Becker. Some us don't really need them – because we learn well from reading the textbook, so having someone read TO us is unhelpful. For people who do need the lectures, they would benefit from something beyond just having a couple of guys tell them what to underline.

But let's face it – the Becker package works. If you do what they say, follow their method, do all of the MCQs, read the book and watch the lectures, and take some notes, you will pass the CPA exam. Usually on the first try.

Can some people pass on the first try by studying for two days and eating some fiber in the morning? Sure.

But the pass rate for each section of the exam sits at around 50%. So obviously most people would benefit from a more structured system. You pay Becker to hold your hand and get you through it. And that's what it does.

REG - 94
BEC - 92
FAR - 92
AUD - 99

[Author]

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