[NotAnother74]

Hello all,

New to the board here.

Little background, I have passed -0- parts of the exam, I took AUD last year (July) with Becker and failed by 1 point. Thus my handle “notanother74”. I was in an MTax program and didn’t have enough time to study, so it’s probably not fair to blame it on Becker, I only studied audit for 2.5 weeks.

Anyways, I was ambitious after graduating undergrad in December 2009 and I got my Becker materials in November 2009, online edition. Being ignorant, I got the material opened them right up installed the software and starting making my study plan so on so fourth. Got to the MTax program and quickly realized that I would not have time to study for the CPA exam and take a full load to finish in a 11 months before starting at my job. Not to mention my student loans didn’t leave enough to actually pay appx. 1,000 bucks in exam fee’s. So, I attempted Audit and obviously it didn’t work out as I originally expected.

Couple of weeks ago, after busy season, I started to study Audit again but realized this little box in my lecture that said “expires in X days”. What?! Not knowing anything about expiring (If I spend 3,000 bucks on something I assume it’s mine) I researched and realized “whoop’s, I messed up”.

So, I still have the books and the flashcards, but I will lose my software in 29 days, the lectures aren’t important to me as I stopped listening to them because I cannot focus listening to lectures, I do better reading, but the questions are obviously VERY important.

Will the combo of Becker books and flashcards with the $50 Gleim question software CD’s with 2,000 question per section work? I don’t have a whole lot of money to spend on $250 exam fee’s and extraordinary software, so please, no suggestions on Yaeger, renewing Becker, ect. I simply do not have the money, so just a disclaimer.

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[kb24]

I guess it's feasible, but I know there have been several PCAOB and international standards added since 2009. Check the current CSO against the one in the Becker intro text to see what new material has been added since then. I'm not sure if the PCAOB are available for free, but you get a six month free subscription to the AICPA research if you're an exam candidate–as I recall, you only need to have your NTS. The Gleim test bank should be a big help. Other possibilities to supplement your material that aren't that expensive are the Wiley text (available on Amazon or B&N for about $35 I think) which is much more abbreviated than Becker but would give you info about the new material and the Ninja notes.

Good luck.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[NotAnother74]

I know about the new standards, but I have already been through the updated 2010 lectures for audit and there's hardly anything on International.

I am ok for Audit again, because like I said, I have already been through the lectures for 2010. I am taking it at the end of July so I think I am fine, the PCAOB stuff I am printing off. At least the big changes for new stuff inconsistent with the book.

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[kb24]

As of 1/1/11 international standards and a bunch of new PCAOB (beyond those included in 2010) were added to the exam.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[NotAnother74]

Oh yeah, I meant 2011. I got the 2011 update package free. I have the 2010 textbooks because Becker distributes new materials middle of November. I got the 2010 textbooks November 2009. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[kb24]

Now I'm confused. Are the textbooks you got in your update the ones for the exam this year or for 2010?

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[NotAnother74]

lol, sorry. The update only came with the software. My textbooks are 2010, software is 2011.

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[Herbieherb]

Wiley book+testbank is like minimum

NEW YORK- DONE

[kb24]

OK. I don't have the Becker 2010 text, but my understanding is that there were some PCAOB added as of 1/1/11 that weren't included in the 2010 exam. I do know that in the 2011 A-2 text there was a section that you were supposed to study prior to June, and a different one if you were taking your exam after June. I don't know all the differences because I took my exam in April and didn't look at the second section. Also, the international audit standards are included on the 2011 exam. I hope this clarifies things.

FAR 4/1/11 - 89
AUD 4/15/11 - 85
REG 4/29/11 - 80
BEC 5/13/11 - 85

[NotAnother74]

Congrats Herb on your newly gained license!

Is Wiley better than Becker? The 2 of you both referenced Wiley, although I have Becker books.

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[Herbieherb]

@not another…Thx . Wiley gives u the most up to.date material+ questions for about 35 dollars a section. The most bang for your buck. Becker is more streamlined, written better, better organized, less reading, mnuemonic, etc, but expensive.

NEW YORK- DONE

[NotAnother74]

Thanks Herbie. I'll give Wiley a shot. Thanks!

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[NotAnother74]

Just ordered a brand new Wiley book off Amazon for 27 bucks! Oh boy.

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[Anonymous]

Wiley is a standby for most of us here. It's very detailed information, and its the SAME material used for Yaeger, the only difference is you don't get the video lectures. Its really hard studying with outdated material, especially with all the Jan 1, 2011 and now the new July 1, 2011 changes. I used Wiley books and Gleim online test bank and I passed Audit and BEC on the first try. I failed REG on the first try, the sims really got me, so I got Wiley online test bank to practice more MCQ's and simulations.

The Ninja notes are also really good, try getting them on a BOGO sale to save money. I liked it because it really helped give me a quick snapshot of the most basic and important concepts, then I could take notes from Wiley to fill in the notes more.

I also get the Becker online updates free from their website to help supplement, because Wiley is only updated once a year with each new publishing, and Becker will put free updates on their website almost monthly. They are in pdf form, and you dont have to be a Becker student to get them.

[Sherrid]

You can extend the life of your software by changing the date on your computer. I'm pretty sure this isn't illegal. Just reset the date your computer recognizes as today for as long a time as you consider necessary to have access to the material.

I haven't tried it because my software is still active but I'm pretty sure it will work.

Good luck!

[NotAnother74]

@ Sherrid,

Nah, that didn't work! LOL, it was a great thought though. I changed the date on my computer and then tried to open Becker, but I got an error message that said “system date mismatch, Becker software requires that the software date match the system date to operate. Please adjust your system date to the correct date”

Nice try!

F AR - 76
B EC - 82
A UD - 77 (lost credit)/Retake 2/25
R EG - 80

[Author]

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