[collegecpa]

What are everyone’s thoughts on skipping the Becker CPA Review lectures and learning from the E-book. I spend so much time highlighting and underlining that I feel I’m not really listening to what Gearty is saying.

 

 

FAR (05/23/16) - 75
AUD(06/09/16) - 77
REG (07/11/16) - 68
BEC (07/25/16) -

[jdagna]

I think everyone learns differently so I don't think one system will necessarily work for everyone. That's what is nice with Becker, and I assume all the other systems as well, that you can kind of figure out what works best for you. I haven't started yet so I have no personal experience but I just graduated Grad school in May and it was the same there. Some people had to read the book before lectures, where if I did that I got nothing out of it and it was a waste of my time. I would only read the book for parts I didn't understand and get enough out of the lectures and powerpoints. The biggest thing for me is doing the homework. I can't just read and retain anything long term with out some practice. So I know the MCQ and simulations, along with writing my own notes to study, will be key.

[Nessie]

@Tscape16, I don’t disagree with you, but how does Becker brag about their pass rate without ever asking candidates the results of their exams?

I’ve taken 2 so far and Becker has never asked how I performed.

Has anyone here ever been asked by Becker the results of their exams??

@bfulcher, I “do” the lectures properly, but after having a few award winning professors at school, I can say that instructor talent is lacking at Becker. They just read from the book and ask you to highlight. Sure there are a few bits per chapter within the lectures, but not enough to justify the time it take to listen to them.

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[MaLoTu]

lol, Nessie …. that is true, they do not send out random questionnaires or anything.

[CPA2BEE]

I'm a Becker user and Becker fan, but I think NINJA is kicking Becker's ass with the Adaptive Learning feature. If Becker had this, I truly believe it would be the best study program. NINJA's Adaptive Learning feature has enhanced my studying more than anything, without a doubt.

FAR - 80
AUD - 82
BEC - 80
REG - 85

ETHICS - 90
EXPERIENCE - COMPLETE
Application for California license mailed 8/4/2016

[Tscape16]

@Nessie I've been contacted via e-mail. It took them until just a few months ago (I passed all four by last August), but I did answer a ten question survey and one of the questions was if I had passed. Another was how many attempts.

FAR - 90 ✔
BEC - 86 ✔
REG - 82 ✔
AUD - 92 ✔
ETHICS - Passed

*Licensed CPA

[Olintos Apprentice]

Becker doesn't ask because they have their pass rate verified by a third-party, independent research firm. The rate is double that of other candidates FYI.

FAR: 89, 2/29/16
AUD: 97, 5/9/16
BEC: 92, 6/10/16
REG: October 2016

[MaLoTu]

Olintos Apprentice – I have never been asked by anyone if I use Becker or if I have passed, etc. in a survey. However, I know that Becker is a good product and I know people who have passed all in their first attempt.

[Grizzly92]

I watched very lecture for FAR and while it felt like a waste of time, I don't think I would recommend skipping them for FAR if you have enough time. I'm skipping them for AUD, I'll probably watch them for REG.

FAR: 89 5/14/16
AUD: 99 6/09/16

Becker Self Study

[Ag12thman]

Grizzly92 and others that did watch the videos — Did you just watch them or did you also do all the highlighting, circling, underlining, etc. that they ask you to do while watching them? Just curious.

FAR: July 2016

[AlexCPA]

I use Becker lectures and Ninja MCQ. I think the good thing about Becker material is that it helps reinforce a lot of major concepts through repetition. So far it has worked out well. I find if I watch the lectures I keep moving at a steady pace and I remember key concepts. When I would just read the book I would spend too much time trying to master every page which was more inefficient. I keep moving forward and do little review. I just do all the lectures and then do Ninja questions for review.

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

Using Becker and Ninja MCQ

[Grizzly92]

I highlighted, underlined, circled, and wrote down everything they told me to. It kind of took my attention away from actually listening sometimes. For audit, I'm just looking at the e-book to highlight, underline etc while reading along at my own pace because I'm low on time. A friend of mine uses the ebook to do all the highlighting and then watches the lecture afterwards straight through, no pausing.. Sounds like a nice strategy but a little time consuming in my opinion.

Two weeks before my FAR exam I went through every chapter and wrote my own notes in a notebook (a couple chapters a day). The week leading up to the exam I read through those notes before sitting down to do MC sessions and whenever I had time. Took forever but I think it helped me. It was a nice review of all the material, writing stuff down kept me focused. I've never heard of anyone else doing this though it's probably not necessary.

FAR: 89 5/14/16
AUD: 99 6/09/16

Becker Self Study

[Anonymous]

lectures were a waste of time for me. but then again i got Becker for free from an employer. you bet your ass if i dished out $3 grand of my own money i would be following their system precisely as it is outlined. no point in paying for something that you are not utilizing to your full benefit. so my answer on whether lectures are a waste of time depends on whether you purchased Becker on your own or had your firm pay for it 😀

Edit: yes, it is true what they say, Tim Gearty sucks.(i heard he's also oneof the largest shareholders in DeVry, Becker's parent company, so i dont think hell be going anywhere anytime soon)

[TrackStar]

I decided to read this time around from the book. So much easier to just read it for yourself. And type up some notes while you read and keep adding to it. Then do all the MCQs you can. BTW I also use Jeff's Ninja Notes for the review when finished reading.

"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with the problems longer" ~Albert Einstein ~

FAR (04/16/16)-61, (07/23/16)- Becker, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs
Reg (09/10/16) Becker, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs
AUD (11/05/16) prob. Roger, Ninja Notes, Ninja MCQs
Bec (TBD)

[Anonymous]

As many have said, Tim Gearty is the bane of my existence. It is beyond painful listening to him say, “again” to introduce every sentence. Again, I would recommend listening to the lectures if you have the time and attention span (which you'll definitely need). Again, I wouldn't focus as much on the highlighting as actually absorbing the material. Highlighting is too distracting and made it way more difficult to review after highlighting…oh…again.

[Author]

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