[bosoxfan127]

Hi all,

This is my first ever post on the forum, I’m in need of a little help with my studying, I’ve taken multiple exams and have yet to pass one, barely failing in the low 70’s/high 60’s each time. I’m using becker, but I’m hoping some people may have some tips for me because getting 70’s and not passing is starting to get frustrating and old.

A little background, I graduated from college in the spring and began work in public accounting this summer. I took FAR in July and got a 68, then REG in August and got a 72, took FAR again in October and got a 71, just took BEC and got a 72. At this point I’m super frustrated, I get in at least 25 hours a week studying, I watch the videos, read the book, do all the HW, review and follow backers study program pretty much to a tee. I tended to learn well in college by taking very good notes and reading the book really trying to understand the concepts so I’ve been doing that for these exams.

I’ve taken a holistic look at the way I study and I think I may be spending too much time reading/note taking and not doing enough practice questions. That method worked for me in school, maybe not so much on these exams?

Before tax season begins I’ve decided to reschedule BEC for the second week of January, essentially my thinking is that I should try and pass this one before it changes in March since its under going the most drastic change. So I have a little less than 3.5 weeks with plenty of time over the holidays to knock this out, any help or suggestions people have to improve my studying (in general and for BEC in a few weeks) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

[Mike J]

First off, I HATE Becker with a passion. They are over-priced and rely too much on memory gimmicks than making sure you know the concepts.

Everyone is different, however.

Allow me to peddle the same advice I've given to others. You have to be honest with yourself; determine which topics for each exam you don't know well enough and review learn them from scratch.

Once you feel like you're comfortable, THEN go back to your actual CPA review materials.

You also need to make sure your notes are good. I would make sure they incorporate any MCQ or SIM explanations–but in your own words.

Lastly, make sure you think logically about how to manipulate the information you're given to solve the problem. Eg for FAR, rather than memorize journal entries, think logically about what happens when you expense something or pay/receive cash. The NINJA Plus videos are an excellent investment and explain this concept very well.

I hope this helps

[Goingallin]

I've passed FAR and BEC using Becker's multiple choice questions as the sole study material. So I guess my advice would be to put more time doing multiple choices rather than reading the book or watching the lectures. I went as far as not even taking notes. I just did the homework questions over and over.

btw I'm 40 and have a toddler so if I could pass without having to read the book, that should tell you how effective reviewing homework questions is.

[Anonymous]

I think MCQ is your friend in this case. The book definitely helps to learn/review/understand the concepts and certain details, but I think just reading the book and taking notes for this test isn't going to do it. I am currently through the book and homework in Becker, and have definitely gone to re-read certain sections I skipped around but I think doing the MCQ is where it's at, with understanding what you did wrong if you did it wrong. I just got Ninja MCQ and it's a bit of a different flavor-for $47 might be worth a shot. I am basically focusing on these for now and doing progress tests in both Becker and Ninja as much as I can.

[aaronmo]

Becker worked for me…I don't have a comparison point, but it got me through all 4 exams pretty quickly. I was also woefully less prepared in terms of class work than most others, so, overall, I was happy with them. I have complaints about Becker…particularly in BEC, but from what I've seen posted here, they all have blind spots. As far as cost…to me $1000 +/- in relation to overall cost was pretty meaningless; I don't see exam prep as an area to search for value.

I DEFINITELY think Becker uses MCQ to teach and to hammer home its points. We're all different learners…I can tell you what worked for me…but also understand I tweaked how I studied and prepped for each section…

I watched lecture. I took notes directly in the book. I quickly read the material before MCQ, but without taking more notes. Sort of a refresher. I SLOWLY did MCQ…and anything I had any issue with, right or wrong, I read each answer until I understood it. If I eneded to, I went back to the text or re-watched a lecture. There were other times I googled concepts to drill them down (LOVE Investopedia!). After I did MCQ THOROUGHLY, I went back and took notes on problem areas, or areas requiring memorization/highlighting.

When I had memory intensive areas where I had to learn the difference between things, I used spreadsheet notes where I highlighted the differences in columns. I did that a LOT in REG, and I should have done it in FAR for IFRS/GAAP.

[.]

Why are you skipping around between different exams? You shouldn't do that. Stick with one exam until you pass it.

I would say for BEC, get Ninja MCQs. Write down all the formulas in your book on a few sheets of paper. Do the questions by each little subtopic. You learn more by doing a whole bunch of questions in a row on the same topic than by skipping around from topic to topic. Choose “new questions” so that you don't waste any time on repeats.

FAR - June 2016 - 88
REG - July 2016 - 89
AUD - Aug 2016 - review phase currently
BEC - Sep 2016 -

Wiley CPA Excel & Ninja MCQ

[rb2017]

I used Becker for the majority of my studying. I as well struggled when I first started and couldn't seem to pass a test.

In my opinion, Becker has the best mcq – they seem to drill certain topics down until you get it. However I HATED the lectures. I never want to hear Tim Gearty's voice again. I ended up getting the Ninja Audio Notes and would listen/take notes through that, go through the Becker book and write out the mnemonics and continue to use Becker MCQ.

For 2 out of the 3 tests I've passed, I put on the Ninja audio lectures the day of the exam and key things stick with you right before you go in. I'm certain it helped me passed, as each time it's helped with at least 4 mcq on the exam.

Also, as soon as I sit down at the computer at the testing center, I write out as many mnemonics that I can remember since it's somewhat fresh and I don't freak out in the middle of the test haha.

Hope these help.

[Anonymous]

Hey bosoxfan127. First off I understand your frustration because I've been there before. Just wanna say keep your head up. Your scores are close and you can pass with just some adjustments. I think your problem is probably similar to mine and it is related to how you are going about the final review for the exam.

What has worked for me is after going the normal Becker process (lectures + HW) is I then do all the homework a second time for all the chapters. This allows me to see which areas I'm weak at and then I will do a third round for the homework but in a different order where I prioritize chapters I am weak at.

Also, I'm not sure if you do this or not but I also start using progress tests in this final review time. Say I review Chapters 1-2 today I'll also start doing progress tests of 1-2 with like 20 questions total(if you wanna do 30 to be more in line with the exam feel free). And then the next day I review 3-4 I'll start doing some progress tests of 3-4 and then some of 1-4 to get my brain comfortable having to remember things from 4 chapters. Keep doing this until you got all the chapters comfortable and you can start doing progress tests of all the chapters.

Also do the sims and also do the AICPA released questions that Becker lets you download in PDF form on the software.

[Small4]

Hi bosoxfan127

I think you may be looking at BECKER being not the best “sole” material for your studies. I’ve taken these exams far too many times (on and off for 10 yrs)…so what I noticed is BECKER is very good at shortening your learning via shortcuts and terms but concepts is what I felt like I lacked.

I suggest still sticking with your BECKER as your main study option but supplement it like I did with NINJA MCQs. Perhaps focus on 20-40 MCQs (mix with concepts vs calc type MCQ) per topic…more mcqs on trouble topics….and learn the material via studying them. Its hard to read solely textbook then apply general concepts to questions, so I felt like I had better success learning the actual practice questions like it’s a book. (i.e. had an excel row list of each topic, and do 20-30 MCQ subsets till you “feel” comfy)
Ex. FAR
Business Combinations & Consolidations: 65%, 65%, 80% (move to next topic)
Basic Concepts: 60%….till you get 80%
Accounting Changes….

I say focus on using video lecture on very hard concepts like bonds, leases, and say various NFP and Govt concepts, but not for everything. I myself stopped using BECKER for FAR eventually, I did add CPAExcel (if its covered by say your employer) since I found their videos far more focused and concise on just the topics you need them for.

So in short, keep w/ BECKER but utilize its summaries to focus down on your studies, add NINJA MCQ and SIMS ($47 bucks per section aint bad at all)….PRINT trouble questions and study like a book. Lastly, focus on JEs for FAR, my scores also hovered borderline passing, but I got over the hump by getting points from SIMs…..(i.e. FAR = gain comfort of JEs in both transactions on topics; AUD = basically look at real-life examples of public company reports to get a feel; BEC = do practice questions but understand the incorrect ones; REG = same as BEC)

P.S. Not sure if you are a morning or night person, but I used to work in Big4 and nights can be very longggg. Although I’m no longer there…I suggest maybe carving mornings (6-8am, even on weekends) as your go-to study time, that way your brain is sharp and can retain it better? Just my two cents…
Good luck, you can do it!

BEC - 68,70,72,75 5/15
AUD - 78(expired), 77 8/15
REG - 29,58,65,77 1/16
FAR - 56,68,73 - retake October hopefully (last shot)

Been doing this since 2007 on and off...

[ZombieMouse]

How do you learn best? Becker covers A LOT of ground between lectures, MCQ's, sims, flashcards, progress tests and practice tests. If you follow the recommended study program to a tee, then you may be spending too much time on too much material. That was my problem with Becker, which I only used “correctly” for REG (my weakest subject): by the time I made it to R8, I had already forgotten everything I learned in R1-R2!

You need to figure out how you learn best, and tailor your study program appropriately. If you don't learn from lectures, skip them (I did) and focus on whatever is most helpful to you.

Since you've already studied for BEC and have limited time, I wouldn't recommend starting from scratch. Take a cumulative progress test and use it to identify areas where you are weaker. Start with these — they represent your best opportunities to pick up points before the exam. Review the textbook to re-familiarize yourself with the material. Take new notes if it helps, or don't if it doesn't. (No guilt for “skipping” parts of the program! You are being strategic, not lazy!) Then dive into the MCQ's. I was a concepts person in college, too, so either my eyes or my brain inevitably skipped over the in-text examples. The MCQ's (and the sims, for the other three exams) were what really drove the concepts home for me, because they enforced practical application.

I didn't use Ninja, so I can't comment on supplementing Becker materials. Personally, I don't think it's necessary until you've already seen all of the MCQ in Becker, but I have seen Ninja help a lot of people who needed to pick up a few extra points to pass and just weren't getting there with their primary study program.

Good luck.

[Author]

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