[SeePeeAyy]

I don’t want to sound lazy, but I’ve probably written about 20+ memos so far in college. For those using becker, did you actually spend time writing out each memo one by one?

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't hurt to take a look at them since there is a specific format they are looking for such as how to word your intro and outro. I spent about a half hour on the last day of my review to get their wording down. Everything else in the memo is really up to you.

[Da Bears]

Just look at how they write it, know format. everything beyond that is waste of time.

FAR- 8/14/12 91
AUD- 10/16/12 88
BEC- 11/07/12 92
REG- 01/05/13 86
NIU CPA Review

[Starlight]

All I really did was listen to the lecture about it. It gives you a good run down of what they're looking for and what not to do.

REG: 86
AUD: 92
FAR: 84
BEC: 87
Ethics: Passed!
Licensed 11/20/12

Supporting my husband on his CPA journey: 75% of the way there!

[mrwills12]

I agree with watching the lecture about it, that is where you will get alot of info on it. I maybe spent 5 mins total for each chapter with the sims. I would look at the question and kind of think what i would type. I think that is maybe what you should do at the very least just to see if your thinking and structure is comparable to what Becker says is a good answer. Also if you take the Becker final exams practice writing a couple there just to get a feel for the time it takes you to answer. But overall i didnt spend much time on them and really wouldnt recommend a lot of time with them maybe 2 hours total (excluding the written sims in the final exam)

FAR - 88 (Jul 2012)
AUD - 85 (Oct 2012)
BEC - 82 (Nov 2012)
REG - 92 (Jan 2013) DONE!

Using Becker Self Study 2012

[SeePeeAyy]

Awesome thanks all!

Ill probably watch the lecture and then attempt 2-3 during my final review.

[homerun07]

here's what i did: (i used becker)

i listened to the lecture about it but never wrote any of them out.. in the last week before my test i went through each essay in the becker software and wrote down each of the topics–

i made sure i was fairly knowlegdable on each topic.

then i took those 2 practice final exams and those were the only essays that i actually wrote-

i read the tests version of the essay to see if i was on the right track.

hope that helps!

[Noct]

For what it's worth, I passed BEC without answering any essays. I was sick as a dog the day I took the exam, and I ran out of time just after finishing the third testlet. The written portion is only worth 15%, so you can pass without it. However, I would suggest having a basic understanding of the memo format so you can at least attempt an answer. That 15% can help compensate for errors in the MCQ.

FAR - 79 - 07/2012
AUD - 65, 78 - 11/2012
BEC - 76 - 11/2012
REG - 78 - 01/2013
ETH - 98 - 01/2013

Material: Wiley books

[SeePeeAyy]

@Noct

Nice work, but I think the 15 points would probably be easier than some of the more complicated MCQs.

[neville]

Print those simulations answers out and just rewrite those answers a few times out on paper. You will get the method of writing.

Apart from that just focus on the MCQs, I got an 85 just doing multiple MCQs endlessly and focusing on weak areas.

REG: Passed
FAR: TBD
BEC: Passed
AUD: Passed

[musicamor]

I never once spent time on writing memo's during my study time and I scored well in that area. You need to follow a simple format, touching on key areas and you will do fine. E-mail me if you desire a document I developed on WCs for BEC. j.j.roldan@me.com

Texas CPA - licensed in 2012!!!

[Noct]

@SeePeeAyy

I agree that the 15% from the essays is important. It can mean the difference between pass and fail. However, my point is that everyone has a finite amount of time to study, so given the choice of spending my time on practice essays worth 15% or MCQ worth 85%, I'll take MCQ every time.

FAR - 79 - 07/2012
AUD - 65, 78 - 11/2012
BEC - 76 - 11/2012
REG - 78 - 01/2013
ETH - 98 - 01/2013

Material: Wiley books

[Anonymous]

As others have said I think it depends on your level of writing ability. I was a history undergrad so writing is second nature to me. I blew off studying the Becker WC sims. Although I think I did pretty good on the actual exam (still awaiting score) I would have been benefitted by maybe writing out 2 or 3 the day before the test. The writing portion is pretty easy but its just so different from everything else on these tests. So actually writing a few, and just reading over a few more, should be helpful.

I had an hour left for the sims and thought that would be way more time than I would need. I finished with 2 mins left. Not that I couldn't write but piecing it all together with a coherent frame that addresses all the questions asked isn't as simple as you might think.

Hope my experience helps. Good luck.

[SeePeeAyy]

Thanks all!

Do they really not grade you on content, this is what I keep hearing..

[mrwills12]

From what BECKER says, content doesnt not matter that much you just have to stay on topic. However, the WC sims on the test say you will be graded based on technical competence and writing ability. So if you stay on topic you should be fine, i would more worry about the structure and openings/closings. That is at least what i did.

FAR - 88 (Jul 2012)
AUD - 85 (Oct 2012)
BEC - 82 (Nov 2012)
REG - 92 (Jan 2013) DONE!

Using Becker Self Study 2012

[Author]

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