[jhd7]

I’ve passed 3 sections of the exam using cpaexcel, but overall I’m very dissatisfied with it. It’s taken me multiple tries to pass each section, and I feel like the only reason I passed those 3 parts was because of all the supplementary study materials I’ve purchased (ninja notes+audio, wiley test bank, yaeger cram for reg). I’m taking FAR on Friday, which hopefully I will pass and be done with the whole thing. However, I feel severely under prepared like never before and I know I shouldn’t be thinking about failing but I’m just trying to plan my next move in the worst case scenario. I’m thinking about switching to Becker for FAR. Does anyone have advice on this? Have you done it? I’m trying to figure out if I should make the switch and pay the money or if I have an unfair judgment of cpaexcel and should stay. Thanks

Created with Compare Ninja

AUD- 78
BEC- 79
REG- 91
FAR- 83

Licensed NJ CPA

DONE

[Not a Quitter]

Well, I have used CPAExel and have passed two parts. One on the first try and the others I've taken multiple times. For me personally I cannot blame my failed attempts on CPAExcel. When I get real with myself I know I was not 100% prepared for the exams I failed. So before you shell out a huge chunk of money for Becker, are you mastering the CPAExcel tests? If you are making 90+ on the practice exams and still failing multiple times then maybe you should switch.

Also, I'm always baffled when ppl use so many different review courses at once. If you are working, how do you possibly have times to get through any one subject throughly by going through so many avenues. Every time I think about getting a supplement I give myself a relaity check that if I just spend more time mastering CPAExcel I know it's enough for me to pass. Especially with FAR having 1900+ multiple choice and 150+ SIMS.

FAR- 85 I'm DONE!
BEC- 75
REG- 60,60,75
AUD- 74,74,83

CPAExcel used for BEC, AUD, REG
Exam Matrix used for FAR plus NINJA Blitz, cpareviewforfree and a little CPAExcel

[jhd7]

With CPAexcel for aud I getting 85 on the practice exams like clockwork and always came away with a failing score on the real thing. Then I added wiley test bank and just worked basically every question for two months and that is what got me over the hump finally. Same with REG. Then I added wiley test bank and yaeger cram and I got a 91. But I can't totally blame it all on CPAexcel. That's definitely not what I'm saying. I just want to be the best prepared I can for FAR next time around if there is a next time. This time around for FAR I tried to do it a little different where I just watched the videos, took all the notes I could, and then reviewed my yaeger cram and did as many MCQs as I could on wiley.

And as far as using the other courses and working, you basically just have to not sleep haha.

AUD- 78
BEC- 79
REG- 91
FAR- 83

Licensed NJ CPA

DONE

[Readytobedonenow]

I used the following:

REG (Becker/Ninja Notes/Wiley TB)

BEC (Becker/Ninja Notes)

AUD (Becker/Ninja Audio)

FAR (1st attempt: Becker) (2nd attempt: Becker/Ninja Notes/Wiley TB) (3rd attempt: Wiley TB/Ninja Audio, and CPA excel)

I really think CPA excel supp with Ninja Audio and Wiley TB for FAR was good. Granted, I had already exhausted my Becker book but wasn't retaining info like I did with CPA excel. However, CPA excel doesn't highlight higher tested areas like Becker does. There is so much info that it was a bit overwhelming the first time through it. I liked Becker for mnemonics but liked watching the actual steps to solving problems in CPA excel. Looking back, I prob overdid it with all the review courses I took (and spent too much $) but…I passed my fourth part today and it's all worth it now!

AUD Passed,84
REG Passed,84
BEC Passed,77
FAR 69,63,84!!

[jhd7]

@readytobedonenow First off, congrats! Second, I felt so bogged down when I went through all the cpaexcel videos. I felt like they went into such detail for every single section and I wasn't getting anywhere. Did you feel the same way? I felt like if I went through all the videos and did all the questions and everything it would've taken me four months to prepare. Did you skip anything when you went through cpaexcel?

AUD- 78
BEC- 79
REG- 91
FAR- 83

Licensed NJ CPA

DONE

[Anonymous]

I used Becker and definitely like it since I don't have to buy any other supplementary materials. Becker is very straight forward, focusing on all test points. I went through SIM & MQ twice before taking FAR and I would say I had already known what's gonna be in the test.

FAR 87 on first try BTW

[jhd7]

@dearja thank you for the input. How long did it take you to prepare? Approx hours/months

AUD- 78
BEC- 79
REG- 91
FAR- 83

Licensed NJ CPA

DONE

[Anonymous]

I prepared for 3.5 months, average 3hrs every day.

[Readytobedonenow]

I went through 5 legal pads of paper taking notes. First, I went through the videos and only did the m/c and sims that went with each section. There really weren't as many as Becker so that part wasn't overwhelming. I did not even crack open the books until I had watched at all videos – and only then did I look at sections I was not comfortable with (I liked the way CPA excel laid out goodwill). Then I went back over every sim because that is usually where I am weak. Wiley sims to me aren't near as difficult as what is on the actual exam. Then, 2 weeks before the exam I hit Wiley TB hard – did all m/c in Far I also listened to ninja audio 2-3 times a week. I reread my notes (most of them) used the Progress Report in Wiley and redid m/c and sims from becker on weak areas. I got up every morning at 5 and did what I could before work and then hit the books 6 nights a week and 10-12 hours on the weekends. I had the CPA excel app on my phone and carried headphones with me everywhere to listen to Ninja Audio when avail. Sooo not a part of my life I want to relive, but it's what it took for me to pass.

AUD Passed,84
REG Passed,84
BEC Passed,77
FAR 69,63,84!!

[jhd7]

Did you feel as though doing the MCQs and sims on earlier lessons was a waste of time? I have tried doing that and I feel like in the end I just forgot what I did in the beginning anyway. I've heard a couple people say that same thing as well.

AUD- 78
BEC- 79
REG- 91
FAR- 83

Licensed NJ CPA

DONE

[Study Monk]

I have been paying special attention to what programs people are using to pass these exams, and there appears to be no correlation between what program people take and their scores. I actually have seen more people with multiple fails using Becker than cpaexcel. Most of the people on this site with scores in the 90's also use Becker. I used Becker for FAR and put in about 250 hours and scored a 77 on my first try. I would attribute passing more to the 250 hours than to Becker.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[calicpa]

I feel like cpaexcel/WTB is a strong combo. I passed BEC,AUD, and FAR on first try with cpaexcel/WTB. I failed REG, but that is because I did a very poor final review.

BEC - 84, 4/6/13
AUD - 77, 5/28/13
REG - 83, 4/12/14
FAR - 83, 10/3/13

Ethics - 90% 4/24/13

150 unit education requirement met!
Work experience met!

[Study Monk]

@ jhd7 Did you use cpaexcel/wiley on REG to get that 91? I think a lot of people who fail these exams multiple times are just going into the exams with not enough study hours under their belt. I could of went in to FAR with 160 hours(the recommended amount of studying) and scored a 67. I then could of retook FAR with another 60 hours to score a 74 without knowing I just needed 10 more hours to score a 77. Instead I put in 250 hours in one effort and got it out of the way.

I think the trick to these exams is finding the right amount of time you need to put in before taking the exam based on your skill set and prior knowledge. I am sure that if you put in the study time that you accumulated in the three times you prepared for REG in one single effort you would of probably scored a 99.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[jhd7]

@studymonk On my 3rd try at reg I used mostly yaeger cram and wtb. The only time I touched cpaexcel was for a few areas I wanted to brush up on like AMT. I mostly credit my jump in score to the yaeger cram and the fact that I had just finished my 1st semester of my master in tax program where I took a bus. law class, partnership tax and personal tax class.

I agree with you on the timing thing. I found the common thread of each of my passes was that I didn't know what the hell extra I could've done if I needed to study for that section again.

AUD- 78
BEC- 79
REG- 91
FAR- 83

Licensed NJ CPA

DONE

[Sol]

I used CPAexcel for all three exams that I have taken, and I passed on the first try with outstanding scores. If you study hard and have the correct materials, you should pass equally with most review companies. If you think that mnemonics would help you then Beckers can assist you in your quest for the CPA. Otherwise, CPAexcel provides just the information you need to pass, and pass astoundingly.

FAR: 97
AUD: 99
REG: 94
BEC: May 2014

[jhd7]

@Sol What is your method? Do you watch the videos then do the questions? Or do you have a different way?

AUD- 78
BEC- 79
REG- 91
FAR- 83

Licensed NJ CPA

DONE

[Author]

Replies