[futurePA CPA]

I am starting chapter 4 today in Becker and wanted to gage how I am doing through 3 chapters. I have gotten at least an 80% on all the homework questions minus 1 or 2 of them. How do the homework questions compare to exam questions in terms of difficulty? I’m trying to decide whether to move forward or take a day and do a bunch of progress tests on the chapters 1-3. Any suggestions?

BEC-75!
AUD-64, 84!
REG-72,77!
FAR- 74, 82!
Done!!

[SaveBandit]

For me, the actual FAR test was nothing like Becker. I mean, all the concepts were there but the style of the questions were different. The Becker questions are all very detail oriented, and require multi step calculations. My test wasn't like that at all. It was heavier on conceptual and the math questions weren't quite so detailed. I think it's possible that Becker presents you mostly with worst case scenario questions for FAR.

That said, you are faring much better on the HW than me. I was probably in the 65-70% range on the majority of my HW. I would definitely stop and review or you'll forget information by the time you get to the end.

4 for 4

FAR 85
AUD 94
BEC 86
REG 90

[MaLoTu]

I agree with SaveBandit. I have taken all 4 exams and have used Becker for all my attempts. Becker does prepare you for the content that will be on the test (FAR is tricky, they test things that are not emphasized in Becker lectures, I don't do lectures anymore), but the questions will not be written like Becker. I have never said on an exam “oh, I remember this question”. The closest was REG with similarity to Becker. The furthest is AUD. FAR, like I mentioned, tends to focus on broader application of concepts, but they can choose some very obscure topics to test.

[futurePA CPA]

Thanks for the responses! So do you two think the actual exam is easier than Becker then? I agree with you MaLoTu, in that I don't do the lectures any more unless I get to a topic that I can't figure out on my own. I've also never gotten an identical question on an exam that I saw on a homework but I have gotten a few that were very similar with numbers being different. I'm just hoping I'm on the right track for this exam so I can pass it and be done with this whole process.

BEC-75!
AUD-64, 84!
REG-72,77!
FAR- 74, 82!
Done!!

[AlexCPA]

How about FAR actual MCQ vs. Ninja FAR MCQ? Does anyone have experience and can tell me if they are similar? I have read that Ninja is harder.

FAR - 89
AUD - 88
REG - TBD
BEC - TBD

Using Becker and Ninja MCQ

[MaLoTu]

I think that, collectively, the questions on the homework are more in depth than what you will see on the exam, in most cases (across any and all material). However, I have heard some people say they got really involved MCQ on the exam, but I think it is more the exception than the rule.

[mitchmatch]

I 100% agree with save bandit. I think Becket chooses the hardest worst case scenario questions. I found Beckers to be way harder then all the exams I have taken. I was always in the 50-60% range for the mcq homework and sims, and as for the two final review yet I got a 50 on those as well. Thought I passed the actual exam, so it seems as if Beckers really makes it as hard as possible to over prepare.

FAR-76 First attempt.
AUD-79 First attempt.
REG-79 First attempt.
BEC-79 First attempt.

Done!

BECKERS

[Jamessemma]

I use to do about a chapter a week (thats lecture, MCQ and simulations) and then when i got to the end i realized i forgot much of the first 3-4 chapters and have to began recovering when i should be reviewing for everything. With that said i changed my study schedule and i began watching 2 chapters a week and then the week after i began doing the MCQ for those chapters. I skip simulations for the end review. This allows me to receive an extra week or 2 for review on top of the 2 weeks i have prepared to review so basically 3-4 weeks of review (instead of 2 weeks). During those review stages i start doing simulations and by watching the lectures so close together, i get done with the material quicker and the lectures are still fairly fresh in my mind. Also some chapters go together so it allows your to separate the material and understand the material much better. So far this has began helping me remember more information since the lectures were much recent then before.

For FAR i broke it up with chapters 1-4 together, 5-7 together, 8-9 together (both mostly governmental with a little not for profit) and then 10 either with governmental or just alone.

Hope this helps.

BEC: 82
FAR: 80
REG: 81
AUD: Last exam, end of may 2016.

Key to passing the exam is understanding the topic chapter and sections, not just memorizing what you read. The more you practice multiple choice, the greater chance you have to passing the exam.

[Author]

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