[Anonymous]

Alright time for some much needed ranting. Obviously Becker does a great job of preparing candidates; it did a great job with the first three sections for me.

However, I’m just really frustrated with the volume and presentation of information right now. I’m trying to finish up A6 for the second time around, and I’m just overwhelmed with all the information on the different types of governmental reports, standards, reporting requirements, etc. It all just seems to run together, probably because of the way the outline is presented. I’ll be halfway through a chapter, reading about internal controls for the 50th time in that chapter, and stop and think “where does this all fit in again? What standards am I looking at? How is this different than what I’ve read before about internal controls?” AHH just so frustrated right now. I just don’t feel like I can possibly memorize all of this information before next Friday.

I’m trying to re-watch some of the lectures in hope that it helps some of this stuff sink in, but I just get frustrated by Tim saying “highlight this, OK now let’s move on to this. – reads exactly what the text says – OK now let’s move on to another area.” Does this really help anyone at all???

/rant over, blood pressure back down. Back to studying.

[Anonymous]

I took my first section yesterday (BEC) and I'm also very frustrated with Becker. My first testlet was an absolutely breeze, but after that it was just foreign language. SO much stuff that wasn't covered in Becker; I could have taken the Becker book into the exam with me and still gotten 15 questions flat out wrong. Additionally, all this still that Becker ensured me was valuable study information (variances, etc.) wasn't tested whatsoever. I just feel that my time and effort was wasted, and I'm mad that Becker didn't even expose me to all of these things that I was left to flounder on in the actual exam.

I think what it comes down to is that every exam is different, and there's no way to cover all the bases in an review course. Becker just wants you to PASS, and there's inherent flaws in every review program. The magnitude of information to cover is just so vast, as well as very complex, so it's easy to get frustrated with the presentation of various elements.

I understand the rant, but relax! Judging on your past performance, it seems safe to assume you will pass this section as well!

[khum2011]

I wouldn't worry too much @akh89. Audit is pretty tricky, but a lot of the questions I saw on the exam were the same as the questions in my Becker material. It was crazy, I couldn't believe it when it was happening. Just remember, internal controls were tested in BEC, I think in the Becker material they say in the lecture videos they throw it in just in case? And as for governmental audit reports – yes they are weird and I didn't understand them at first but now I do them and its a piece of cake. Basically governmental funds don't record capital assets/depreciation & long term debt, so we do the statement of net assets and activities to record those things on the books. I would focus on what changes the audit report. Go through the book and write out a list of when you add an explanaory paragraph etc. That should help you bring it all together. Good luck!

FAR - 82
BEC - 77
AUD - 79
REG - 81

Done 🙂

[Keely]

Judging from your other scores, you should do well on AUD. I felt the same way when studying for it (also prepared with Becker). A4 was gibberish to me. The best advice I can give you is do more MCQs and SIMs and READ THE BOOK. Reading the book, line by line, slowly, will make it sink in way better than watching Tim Gearty.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the encouragement, everyone. I think I'm probably more frustrated with myself for not studying as hard as I should, but I'm projecting that frustration on to Becker. I think I'll stick to doing mostly MCQ's, then read the chapters after I've done the homework questions to reinforce the material.

Happy 4th!

[Anonymous]

@battipjw, I know it can be very frustrating when you take your exam and things that they say you should focus on you don't see on your exam, but you have to remember that every exam is different and I actually was very heavily tested on a particular subject they said to focus on my second time at BEC. You just never know what you will see

[jdj017400]

Tim Gearty is absolutely worthless in my opinion.

BEC - 80 (11/30/2010), Lost Credit - Retake 11/30/2012, 80 (FINISHED!)
AUD - 71 (05/31/2011), 79 (08/28/2011)
REG - 70 (11/30/2011), 87 (02/09/2012)
FAR - 61 (5/31/2012), 80 (08/31/2012)

[Keely]

He is just so freakin' laaaaame. Every other line is a stupid joke. I get he wants to make the material somewhat interesting, but just cut to the chase and stop saying “again” every other word and you'd knock an hour off each lecture! He has to be the biggest dork ever.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Anonymous]

Haha I agree 100%^. I don't know why but Olinto is hilarious imo…I always chuckle when he takes random stabs at Gearty. Must be that Bronx accent.

I was super happy to see he teaches FAR.

[Author]

Replies