[Anonymous]

Ok guys, please don’t make fun but for some reason I can’t understand bonds. I have listened to the Becker Lecture, written notes, reviewed notes and done several MCQ and I still can’t understand what is going on. I get the theory questions correct but not the calculation questions. Anyone have any tips or maybe a different way to explain them? Not even Ninja Notes are clearing things up for me…

[Anonymous]

For calculations, I would start off by doing a bunch of MCQs and then writing the formulas down as to how they are coming up with the answer (Face value times stated rate, etc). Every time I would get the answer wrong, I would recalculate the problem to get to the correct answer and then write down notes. It was a hard concept for me to learn too, but I just kept practicing and practicing and practicing.

Also, there are some SIMS in Becker that are helpful in learning how bond interest expense/receivables are calculated too to give you a better picture versus just looking at formulas. It really helped me to visually see amortization tables.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

A few things to try…

* This website…https://www.principlesofaccounting.com/ Chapter 13 covers Bonds. Perhaps seeing the info presented differently will help.

* Repetition – I didn't understand bonds the first 2 or 3 times I went through it. Then one day after working some MCQ's, the lightbulb went off and I finally got it.

* If you're still having a hard time, I would purchase the Yaeger Cram if it's in the budget. Cindy does an amazing job explaining bonds… I give her all the credit for my new understanding of all things bond related.

I had so many bond questions on my exam that I'm not sure you could pass without knowing this topic (unless you didn't miss any other questions.)

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice guys! I moved on and have gone over CashFlow and Governmental/NFP and am about to head back to bonds. Hopefully the break helped. I am going to start fresh and see if listening to the lecture again will help. This is really the one section that I am absolutely overwhelmed with. Hopefully the extra time will pay off…

Thanks again!

[Author]

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