[Yolonge]

I just wanted to share a story as I see people asking how to prepare for BEC. I studied BEC for 2 weeks with Wiley CPA Excel study guide and ninja mcq only approximately at around 30-35 hours. This is a study combination for poor and stingy people like myself who does not want to buy a review course.

To begin with, BEC is made up of 6 topics and has no simulation.

Corporate governance

IT

Economics

Finance

Strategic planning

Operations

I only had 2 weeks to prepare, because I wanted to take the test before the testing period so I can get the score for both REG/BEC on a same day (which is kind of dumb, but I hate waiting). Given that BEC has no simulation, I used similar approach as in FAR; that is I do not really need to understand to pass so hammering mcq will be fine as I am not targeting high score (FAR research is pretty helpful).

With 14 days available and 2 Saturdays off, I only had 12 days to study. I needed to take Saturdays off to keep my sanity. So I planned 8 days to study and 4 days to review.

I started with Wiley CPAExcel. The way I used it is instead of reading/solving MCQ, I went to problem straight but marked the answer prior from the answer sheet. I went over the questions with answers simultaneously to cover bigger topics (Corporate governance, IT, Econ, Finance) and skipped smaller two to save time (planning/operation). Covering one topic per day, It took 4 days to study with Wiley.

I used ninja MCQ to study and review. I was able to do all questions for 4 topics, but had to skip finance and half of operations management.

Ninja MCQ stat – https://tinypic.com/r/rw57xy/9

As for written part, I have read couple written portion on Ninja MCQ but did not spend time on it.

I have seen people studying BEC for 1-3 days, but this will work on people with normal intelligence like myself.

Score report – https://tinypic.com/r/2igp004/9

I am not surprised to do bad on finance, but this was expected.

I do not recommend this method, as this was really about passing but not to gain knowledge but you can certain pass BEC half-assed with just doing mcq without studying. But if you are like me just trying to pass, why not?

Good luck with studying and pass BEC while it is easy with no sim. Next year, it will be a 4 hour test with sim AND essay.

Materials: Wiley book + Ninja MCQ

FAR - 83 (Jan 2016)
Study time: 6 weeks
BEC - 87 (April 2016)
Study time: 2 weeks
AUD - 92 (July 2016), (74 Feb 2016), (72 May 2016)
Study time: 4 (Feb) + 2 (May) + 3 (July) = 9 weeks total
REG - (70 April 2016)
Study time: 3 weeks

[mtaylo24]

@Broag – I acquired the pdf through ebay, it was q1 2015 though. I don't think Wiley sells the pdf copies anymore through their website, they use the bookshelf platform. They do still sell hard copies though. This thread below kind of gave me the idea…

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/my-study-strategy

AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
FAR - (8/16)

[Vanessachy]

@Nessie, I am planning on finish reading the book next week (I am on Chapter 2) and finish up all the questions on the book (I used Becker 2014 book and I love Becker books, they just work for me). Also, I would use Gleim to practice some MCQ. After next week, I plan on practicing questions on Ninja. After finish up Ninja MCQ, I will probably takes one and half week, I need to reread the book and memorize some important points. Although, English is not my first language, I will not practice writing too much, but I will take a look on Ninja program.

Normally I come to the office at 6:45 and study until 8:30, then I go back home around 6pm and study until 11ish pm. That will give me enough time during the week. I also plan on study 8/day during the weekends. I think I will have enough time to finish my plan.

What about you Nessie?

Far 10/26/2015, 64, 1/4/2016, 82
Reg 7/10/2015, 60, 2/27/2016, 86
Aud, 5/9/2016, 74 (ouch), 7/26/2016, I cannot wait to take this test again
Bec, 6/10/2016, 70,9/8 retake

[TheHoundThatRides]

I passed BEC in 3 weeks. I feel there was luck at play in my pass. I did not get a crazy “mixed bag” of questions I hear others complain about. It all felt straightforward and conceptual.

This is because during my studying, I completely focused on Econ, Cost Accounting, and I found the IT sorta easy. I guessed on practically all finance and business environment type questions on the actual exam so perhaps those two sections and my low performance on them kept the rest of the exam easy. I must have done well enough on the sections I had focused on and the essays in order to squeak by with a 78 pass.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[Ib]

@mhei8116 Congrats on passing BEC. I took my BEC exam on May 6th. I am not sure whether I will pass it. To many guesses on computational MCQs. I did not completed all Ninja MCQs. Only managed to get through Corporate governance and some Economics. I primarily used WileyCPaexcel book to reveiw MCQs. I wish you had posted this few weeks ago.

FAR 79
AUD 87
BEC 78
REG 08/31/2016

[Ib]

@TheHoundThatRides Yea. You are right. You should be happy. I got mixed crap on BEC exam. All three testlests had computational MCQs. That kind of ruin everything for me. I did not hope to see all this. The moral is to not take chance at these exams. They can throw anything..Better prepare for it…

FAR 79
AUD 87
BEC 78
REG 08/31/2016

[RE2PECT]

TheHoundThatRides- I'm considering a similar strategy as you, except I was going to focus on Econ, Governance and IT. I hate cost accounting and feel that for the amount of time I'd have to spend to learn it better, I'd be better off focusing on the other concepts. For FAR and AUD I spent extra time studying for topics I was weaker in and barely saw any of them on both exams. Of course the opposite will happen when I take BEC lol.

FAR: 75 Roger & Ninja (notes/flashcards/audio/MCQ)
AUD: 73, 81
BEC: 71, retake 8/29
REG:

[Larry]

3 weeks!! I've spent over 200 hours studying for BEC and I'm not sure what to expect on Monday when I take the exam. I feel as if I'm putting way too much pressure on myself before my REG expires in February. I'm afraid of the 2017 changes.

REG - 82
FAR - 78
BEC - 76
AUD - 8/27/16

[Yolonge]

Martin

I missed your post. I am not trying to offend anyone. I have seen some people on the forum saying that they studied bec for 1-3 days and managed to pass it, so I was referring to that.

I am just trying to say this method was manageable for me with work schedule. I did mentioned that I felt like I got lucky on the exam because it was very straight forward.

Materials: Wiley book + Ninja MCQ

FAR - 83 (Jan 2016)
Study time: 6 weeks
BEC - 87 (April 2016)
Study time: 2 weeks
AUD - 92 (July 2016), (74 Feb 2016), (72 May 2016)
Study time: 4 (Feb) + 2 (May) + 3 (July) = 9 weeks total
REG - (70 April 2016)
Study time: 3 weeks

[Martin]

No worries, I never got offended, i was being sarcastic. I know people who have completed all 4 parts in one window, so this exam is easy for just a few individuals. Do you have an Exec MBA? The students who usually passed BEC so fast, they usually have an MBA. Good Luck with Audit.

Through God all things can happen!

“You never fail until you stop trying.”
― Albert Einstein
When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people;as I grow older, I admire kind people.
“Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.”

FAR= 72-84
Audit= 73-82
BEC= 74-75
Reg=77

[Joe C.]

Mhei did you use the Wiley book and just do the problems? If so did you do all of them at the end of the chapters? Just want to claify as I failed by 1 point.

BEC 75
AUD 9/6
REG TBD
FAR TBD

WI Candidate

[Missy]

I think its important for people to know that if they get in a time crunch (happens to the best of us, even with the best of planning life gets in the way sometimes) there is still hope if they're down to the wire and have very limited time until their exam.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[ruggercpa2b]

I agree with mla said above. I do not see how this is different from Jeff's post about being a time crunch and how to get the most out of studying in 20 days. Everyone seems to embrace that and reference to it when someone mentions that they could not get around to studying and are in a time crunch. Yet when someone else shares their story of getting an exam done in 2 weeks or however many days they are not treated well. I think we tend to forget that we all come from different backgrounds and have different learning abilities. Why are we always nicer to those that struggle with exams and beat down on those that passed with minimal studying.

AUD - 73, 72 retake 7/2/2016
BEC - 8/20/2016
REG - TBD
FAR - TBD

I am so ready for this nightmare to be over. Been at this way too long.

[pickanicken]

I passed BEC in 9 days. I quickly read each section of (Insert your choice of study material) and then answered every MCQ for that section. After I got through all the material I spent the rest of the time answering a mix of MCQ. Calculations aren't critical. I didn't spend any time worrying about the written portion. Know the concepts and you will be fine.

PS – this method does not work for all exams lol and it might not work for you even on this exam. I am just sharing what I did. I used a similar strategy for AUD. REG and FAR are a whole different animal – again, in my opinion.

REG - 81
BEC - 83
AUD - 86
FAR - 78 (Done!)

[Nessie]

rugger, I think it is the way people come across, or their tone. I have an immediate family member who is a mathematical genius. He had a double Ph.D at 25 years old in electrical engineering and computer engineering. He used to write the LSAT and the GMAT for fun.

Anyway, here is the rub, he would never brag, try to differentiate himself- basically he is a very humble guy. You would never know he was a genius, and I doubt he bothers posting online about his perfect scores, or how little time he spend studying. *That's* the difference!

REG Aug 20/15: 88
AUD: Feb 29/16: 80
FAR: Jun 10/16: 80
BEC?

Becker self-study, Becker Final Review & NINJA MCQS

[TheHoundThatRides]

@Nessie

i would imagine he would at least talk a little about his study methods/time if he were a member of an internet discussion forum about studying.

I certainly did not have an easy time passing FAR and I failed my attempt at AUD. But personally I find it encouraging that there are people out there who can do the sections that are challenging for me in a short amount of time. I think “well if this guy did it in 2 weeks certainly my 8 weeks will be enough.” So that's why I share my experience with passing BEC reasonably quick.

BEC - 78 (August 2015)
FAR - 80 (November 2015)
AUD - 73, 67. (Ok I gotta confess I was even more lazy this time around)
REG - August 27th, 2016

[Author]

Replies