[Jay]

I am taking BEC on the 23rd. I have Roger CPA, Ninja MCQ, and Ninja Audio. I feel like I know the Economics section really well as I’ve done a lot there (I spent 4 days reading, listening, MCQ and taking notes) but now I’m looking at what remains and I am pretty sure I won’t be able to learn all the other topics as well as I did Econ. Of the remaining topics:

Corporate Governance

Financial Management

Information Systems and Communications

Strategic Planning

Operations Management

Which should I focus on more and which do I focus on less?

I usually read the Roger Text and then do Roger MCQ and then Ninja MCQ. On my commute I replay the same section I am studying for with the Ninja Audio.

Should I just power through all parts equally spending 2 days on each? Which sections were heavily tested when you took BEC?

Thanks for the feedback guys.

REG 82 (08/08/15)

[Anonymous]

Coincidentally, we're using all of the same products to study for BEC, but I do not test until the 26th. Unfortunately, I will not be able to answer your question from experience. However, on the Roger CPA Review website it breaks down the percentages as to what will be tested from most to least. If you think it'll help here it is…

BTW, I find myself quite concerned about the amount of content vs time, but I'm sure we'll be fine.

I'm tired of operating in fear and mediocrity. It's time to try. It's time to do. It's time to go.

[MaLoTu]

Corporate governance is a must know. Beyond that the test can throw anything at you and I feel that it does not proportionately test topics. Your exam can be primarily finance, cost accounting, IT, economics, etc. I failed because they primarily tested one topic that I did not study very well.

The study questions go a lot more in depth than the test questions likely will. I would not count on the test be mostly conceptual, but there should be a good mix of concept and formula questions.

I am taking BEC (retake) on 2/25 … it is a little overwhelming to study.

[Jdn9201]

I took BEC back in August and I really don't remember being heavily tested in one area vs another (and even if I did, I wouldn't feel comfortable sharing that information due to the disclosure policy 🙂 ). I think you should spend an equal time on all of them. I know it's a lot of material, but try to make sure you understand the big picture or over-arching concept – think mile wide, inch deep. There's no way they can test you over a lot of specifics with that many topics because there's ‘only' 90 MCQ's to do so. Also, don't spend too much time on the written responses – so many of those points are earned just by repeating what is being asked in the intro and conclusion.

BEC - 88 8/29/15
REG - 82 11/14/15
AUD - 83 1/8/16
FAR - 80 2/29/16

[Excel14]

My test is scheduled for 2/28, and I am worried. Using Gleim, and doing my last 3 units, which involve Cost Accounting. Not doing well at all. Worried about all of the earlier material too, a lot of which has been forgotten. Wow.

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[maloney021]

I'll be the first to admit that I caught a major break on BEC, but I went in primarily focusing on Corporate Governance, Cost Accounting, and the Economic portions of the exam.

I ended up catching the major break of performing strongly on the written portion of the exam. I think the mistake most people make is that they don't know the proper outlines of the different writing vehicles out there (memo's, letters, e-mails, etc.). I feel if you know how to structure those well, and can have a working knowledge of whatever subject you're tested on, you can perform strongly in the writing section. Just my two cents.

FAR - (8/20) 70, (10/28) 72, (2/22) 76
REG - (6/8) 69...
BEC - (11/18) 77
AUD - (4/14) 72...

[Jay]

I hate how on these exams, everyone has a different experience. It's smart on their part but it sucks for us.

@jdn9201 said “a mile wide, inch deep” and that is probably whats going to happen. I will spend 2 days on each section remaining and what time is remaining will be used to review and go in as deep as I can on Corporate Governance.

Anyone else care to share their experience and possibly a few tips is more than welcome.

REG 82 (08/08/15)

[y_u_no_pass]

I think cost accounting and corporate governance are the most important. Not much to study for finance the formulas are mostly in the names. The other stuff is very broad and you really don't know what you will see. I remember on my exam there was some random operations management formula I had done the exact same problem on like the day before the exam and if not there is no way I would know it. So review as much as you can I am a fan of more reading and notecards for review than problems. But it depends on your learning style. Also I never had more than a day to review.

Florida CPA!
Took final exam 2/25/15.
Sent in Application 3/12/15.
Issued License 3/20/15.
Used CPA Excel solely for all exams.

[taejeen]

My test is on the 27th. I want this to be over…but Ninja MCQ's are kicking my butt at the moment.

FAR 76 (8/1/2015)
AUD 83 (10/17/2015)
REG 85 (1/9/2016)
BEC 83 (2/27/2016) DONE!

[hasy]

I remember a lot of calculations. I would have loved conceptual stuff. For the most part, everything is important. But if you had to choose,

COSO
IT
Financial Management

Those 3 were pretty heavy on my exam.

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved - Helen Keller

-

BEC 80 (10/23/15)
FAR 72 (4/2/15); 83 (7/11/16)
REG 52 (4/28/15)
AUD (9/9/16)

Roger + NINJA MCQ + WTB

[jberrier]

I started studying for BEC in late January, and take the exam on February 29. I was very happy that I passed my first exam, FAR, on January 20, but I'm really struggling with this one. Sure, the test isn't as wide/comprehensive as FAR, but I'm finding this one much harder, overall. I thought it was bad enough once I got to Financial Management, but I'm really struggling with the Cost Accounting stuff, especially variances. It makes sense conceptually, but I just seem to have trouble applying it to problems.

I don't think it would be as bad if I didn't feel pressured to finish the material very soon, but I really feel the time crunch with this one.

[okcpa2015]

If you're using NINJA MCQ I would use this process.

2 sets – Trouble Questions or Missed Last Time Seen
1 set – Everything

10 questions each. When hitting the final review phase of studying that hit all the weak areas, but kept everything fresh as well.

FAR - 91
REG - 88
AUD - 98
BEC - 88

[Jay]

I remember in school that my best grades came from the 2 cost accounting ones. That was years ago.

It seems like the consensus is that the main topics are:

Economics
Corporate Governance (COSO)
IT
Cost Accounting

In terms of volume, that's basically 80% of the Study Material. I really need to pass another. I don't know why I stopped after passing REG but getting back in the groove of things is turning out to be more difficult than anticipated.

Thankfully, after Tax Season, I am taking a couple months off from work to study. Hopefully that will be enough for me complete this hellish journey.

R.I.P. CPA Exam (I really wish)

REG 82 (08/08/15)

[MrHopeful215]

I dont think one section was emphasized more than the other, It honestly really changes every time you take it too. I never saw them test heavily the same items twice. I got the Gleim test bank and got over 80% on all the sections and was good for the exam. I passed and wrote 3 sentences for each written part. An intro a conclusion and one random sentence…… not the best advice…

AUD - 82
REG - 78
BEC - 78
FAR - 76

[Author]

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