[Anonymous]

Hey everyone,

I’m set to take BEC on Feb 27th and am studying with Becker 2012. I finished all the material this past Monday so I have about 3 weeks to review. For those of you who have used Becker, I wanted to know what you thought about the actual CPA Exam questions, were they harder or easier than Becker? I’m mostly concerned about the calculations. I’m trying my best with the first 2 chapters (cost accounting, budgeting, variances, etc.) and am struggling with the calculation problems. I’m getting in the 60s on the HW for this section. Can anyone relate to this/give any suggestions on how to understand this material better? I’ve made formula sheets and have been trying my best to memorize the formulas but I feel like the hard part is more applying the formula than anything. I know I still have plenty of time to review but it’s hard to keep the faith when HW questions are killing you. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[jokami]

I would say… keep doing them. Repetition is the key to this exam… Try to focus also on IT.

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

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the response, does anyone else have suggestions?

[Peanut]

Becker's calculation questions are generally more difficult than the actual exam. When I initially watched the lectures I wrote down all the formulas, then re wrote them in my final review. Keep working them. If you feel like you're starting to memorize the Becker questions, I'd suggest buying an additional test bank since you have a couple of weeks before the big day. I used Becker + Wiley online test bank to pass BEC. I would go through Becker's chapter 3 & 5 MCQ at least twice. Good luck!!

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the response. Just to confirm, I'm using the 2012 edition of Becker. Chapters 3 and 5 in 2012?

[Peanut]

Are they the $hitty ones with all the calculations? Then yes. LOL. I don't think Becker 2012 for BEC changed much from 2011. I did every MCQ in Becker twice, I think doing that really drills the information.

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Anonymous]

haha alright. It looks like all the chapters have calculations, except for IT. Chapter 3 is Financial Management with calculations such as CAPM and WACC. Chapter 5 is economics. Chapters 1 and 2 are the cost accounting stuff including variances and budgeting and that is where I'm running into the most trouble. I understand the finance stuff pretty well

[Peanut]

Oh they did change it around a bit. If you're short on how much study time you can put it, redoing the chapters with, CAPM, WACC, Cost accounting, and COSO will definitely benefit you. But hey, if you have time, running through all 5 chapters MCQ again will definitely help!

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Peanut]

I wouldn't exert all of your energy for variances and what not. I wouldn't really exert all of your energy on any one particular topic (with any of these exams actually). Especially with BEC, it's a big dumping ground. A bunch of random topics, all in one book. The way the AICPA gods work is; whatever topics you studied the most, you will not see on your exam & the topics you studied the least, will appear several times on your exam. lol

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Anonymous]

Haha yea that's actually what I've heard. Funny how those things work out. Well I really appreciate the help. I'm trying not to get too hung up on one part. The best thing about this exam is that there are no SIM calculations so no matter what, I still have 25% to get a problem right even if it's a total guess haha. Oy I need a drink.

[PistolPete]

@Entourage – I'm in the same boat. I was completely overwhelmed with the lectures and questions the first time around. Since finishing the material, I've gone back and reworked every question in Becker. Scoring in the low 60's the first time, now my scores were in the mid 70's upper 80's. I guess you retain a little more than you might think.

I agree, the Wiley test bank helps out quite a bit. They hit the material at slightly different angles that may work better for you.

I don't know how, but my confidence is starting to build. I did a Becker simulated exam (progress check) yesterday and scored a 92%…It was open book though 🙂 It's all about constant reinforcement.

FAR - 68, 79
AUD - 82
REG - 71, 71, 80
BEC - 76

CMA
Part 1: October 2013
Part 2: January 2014

[Justinnnn]

Something I like to do is, even on a simple question, I like to have a mental check list. For example, not every one of Becker's NPV calculations make you apply the tax effects. But I mentally check for a tax rate even after I have read the question. I try to work in 0% as a tax rate. That way, when I see another Becker question with a tax rate, I don't overlook it. Or when cost accounting questions have materials to finished units conversion of 1 to 1, i mentally go Materials X 1 per finished unit = 1.

Just how I like to reinforce the full mechanics.

REG 80 2/7/11
FAR 91 10/8/11
AUD 97 11/22/11
BEC 96 2/4/12

CPA 3/15/13

[PistolPete]

Yep. Me too. I also wright out the formula every time before I even attempt plugging in the numbers.

FAR - 68, 79
AUD - 82
REG - 71, 71, 80
BEC - 76

CMA
Part 1: October 2013
Part 2: January 2014

[Texas27]

I took BEC on Feb 2 and I found some of the Becker questions for BEC to be outright ridiculous compared to the actual exam. There are some Becker questions that take 5 minutes even if you know what you are doing. On the exam I had a lot of calculation questions but they were not nearly as complex. Although I felt by doing the hard Becker questions it made me grasp the concept better. Just know the formulas and you should be fine with the calculation questions. I felt good leaving the exam but hopefully I didn't fail and I am not completely wrong though!!

BEC - Feb 2012: 80
AUD - Feb 2012: 84
FAR - Apr 2012: 78
REG - May 2012: 90

Thanks Becker!

[Peanut]

@Texas27, I completely agree!

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Author]

Replies