[Anonymous]

Becker Question –

Hello!

I am about to embark on my CPA exam study journey…yay!?

I’ll keep it short and to the point:

My general study strategy as of now is to go through the lectures and take notes (I do better with actually writing stuff done vs. listening). Then do MCQs and Simulations.

My question is 2 fold: Are the lectures beneficial, or am I wasting time with the lectures? Should I just do MCQs and Sims repeatedly, taking a learning-as-I-go approach?

[NicoleL]

You're most likely going to get answers from both ends. I listened to the lecture (without taking notes), then I re-read the chapter while having the e-book open and copying over the highlights and underlines (that the lecture tells you to do). I couldn't watch and make those notes at the same time and comprehend anything. Then I did the Homework and Sims barely using the book. I redid all the MCQ until I had them all correct and understood the explanantions.

Now the lectures are boring but I figured my method gives me 2 passes through the chapter. I re-read the chapter for the final review so I had a total of 3 times through to understand everything. Also, you paid for the lectures…why not give them a shot at least for one of the exams. If you do exceptional well on exam #1, don't use them on exam #2 if you don't think they helped.

FAR - 93 (YAY!!!!)
REG - 93 (Double YAY!)
BEC - 87 (Whew!)
AUD - 96 (DONE!!!!!)

[NicoleL]

You're most likely going to get answers from both ends. I listened to the lecture (without taking notes), then I re-read the chapter while having the e-book open and copying over the highlights and underlines (that the lecture tells you to do). I couldn't watch and make those notes at the same time and comprehend anything. Then I did the Homework and Sims barely using the book. I redid all the MCQ until I had them all correct and understood the explanantions.

Now the lectures are boring but I figured my method gives me 2 passes through the chapter. I re-read the chapter for the final review so I had a total of 3 times through to understand everything. Also, you paid for the lectures…why not give them a shot at least for one of the exams. If you do exceptional well on exam #1, don't use them on exam #2 if you don't think they helped.

FAR - 93 (YAY!!!!)
REG - 93 (Double YAY!)
BEC - 87 (Whew!)
AUD - 96 (DONE!!!!!)

[JamesBJames]

@NicoleL is spot on. You're most likely going to get answers from both ends.

I think the lectures are a necessary evil. I'm not a big fan of Tim Gearty – even more-so after this AUD hell – but he highlights the important stuff and I re-type out everything he says is necessary.

Peter Olinto is actually entertaining, in my opinion, and there's no reason you should skip his lectures.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[JamesBJames]

@NicoleL is spot on. You're most likely going to get answers from both ends.

I think the lectures are a necessary evil. I'm not a big fan of Tim Gearty – even more-so after this AUD hell – but he highlights the important stuff and I re-type out everything he says is necessary.

Peter Olinto is actually entertaining, in my opinion, and there's no reason you should skip his lectures.

FAR: May 1st, 2014 - 91
AUD: May 29th, 2014 - 97!
BEC: July 16th, 2014 - 91
REG: August 29th, 2014 - 88

Licensed December 2015

Feel free to add me on LinkedIn by clicking my username!

[onmyway17]

The lectures helped a lot for me. The main advise i can give you is to break the chapter into sections ( just like the hw) is broken down. Don't listen/read the whole chapter and than go do all the questions. Listen/read one section, go do the hw related to the section and than move on to the next. At least this worked best for me.. when I tried to do all the hw after i had finished the chapter it was to much and would take longer bc i had already forgot everything! Good luck!!!

FAR - 82
AUD- 91
REG- 81
BEC- 78

If it's important, you will find a way... if not, you will find an excuse. LET 2014 be the year!!!!

[onmyway17]

The lectures helped a lot for me. The main advise i can give you is to break the chapter into sections ( just like the hw) is broken down. Don't listen/read the whole chapter and than go do all the questions. Listen/read one section, go do the hw related to the section and than move on to the next. At least this worked best for me.. when I tried to do all the hw after i had finished the chapter it was to much and would take longer bc i had already forgot everything! Good luck!!!

FAR - 82
AUD- 91
REG- 81
BEC- 78

If it's important, you will find a way... if not, you will find an excuse. LET 2014 be the year!!!!

[mariam almas]

currently studying AUD, I attended the life course at university i felt that i wasted my time and money for nothing because Becker lectures are much much much batter i understood the material better, he emphasizes the important topics and points.

i recommend u to:

1) study the chapter in details, spend enough time in it, then;

2) listen to the lecture.

3)do the MCQs plus Sims immediately after the lecture, do not memorize the question, try to understand it well, read the explanation even if ur answer is correct.

and do the same thing for chapter2, 3 …… and so on. after u have done with all the chapters, study each chapter again but not in details to spend more time in practicing the MCQs and Sims. in my opinion, no need to listen to the lectures twice, once is enough.

if ther is enough time, supplement ur study by new MCQs like WailyTestBank or NinjaMQCs, just to make sure that u really understood the concept and familiar with the tricky questions.

good luck

AUD: 81 (Done)
REG: Currently studying
FAR: TBD
BEC: TBD

NH

[mariam almas]

currently studying AUD, I attended the life course at university i felt that i wasted my time and money for nothing because Becker lectures are much much much batter i understood the material better, he emphasizes the important topics and points.

i recommend u to:

1) study the chapter in details, spend enough time in it, then;

2) listen to the lecture.

3)do the MCQs plus Sims immediately after the lecture, do not memorize the question, try to understand it well, read the explanation even if ur answer is correct.

and do the same thing for chapter2, 3 …… and so on. after u have done with all the chapters, study each chapter again but not in details to spend more time in practicing the MCQs and Sims. in my opinion, no need to listen to the lectures twice, once is enough.

if ther is enough time, supplement ur study by new MCQs like WailyTestBank or NinjaMQCs, just to make sure that u really understood the concept and familiar with the tricky questions.

good luck

AUD: 81 (Done)
REG: Currently studying
FAR: TBD
BEC: TBD

NH

[kdubbadizzle]

Going to have to agree with Nicole….that was my approach as well and it worked very well. Also, as part of your review before the exam make sure to do a bunch of progress tests to find out exactly what your weaker topics are.

Good luck!

F - 89 8/13
A - 83 12/13
B - 87 1/14
R - 82 4/14

Becker Self-Study.

They call me Markus Sanchez. Yes, we're related.

[kdubbadizzle]

Going to have to agree with Nicole….that was my approach as well and it worked very well. Also, as part of your review before the exam make sure to do a bunch of progress tests to find out exactly what your weaker topics are.

Good luck!

F - 89 8/13
A - 83 12/13
B - 87 1/14
R - 82 4/14

Becker Self-Study.

They call me Markus Sanchez. Yes, we're related.

[Author]

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