[Anonymous]

Hi All,

This will be my second time sitting for BEC (got a 74 last round. Ouch.) and I just want to get this over with. Cost accounting was never a strong area for me, and all these formulas are really overwhelming. Could anyone please offer any advice on how to study/understand all the formulas for this section of the exam. The last time I took BEC, I only focused on MCQ. I was strong with those, but lacked in conceptual understanding. I have a somewhat photographic memory, so it’s pretty easy for me to memorize, but a major downside is that if I see something presented in a way which I’m unfamiliar with, I get stuck. This time, I’ve done the lectures, read the book, took my own notes, and do the flash cards. I still feel like there’s so much stuff, and so many formulas to memorize. I am using Becker as my prep…I think it does a great job with some areas, but my last exam was a total curve ball. I felt like I had studied for the wrong exam. There were questions that I have never seen on the prep, and it was very very frustrating. I don’t want to waste my time on things I won’t be tested on, but there’s just so much stuff. Any tips or tricks in regards to this would be EXTREMELY helpful. My exam is in two weeks…HELP!

-D

[Rocky123]

I use the internet quite a bit for clarification on things I don't understand from Becker. I did that will all of the exams. It helped. Trying googling a topic and browse different sites.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held its ground.

AUD-PASS
BEC-PASS
REG-PASS
FAR-PASS

Rocky123, CPA

[Anonymous]

1) Keep at it. A 74 puts you right in the wheelhouse.

2) Make sure you take the “You view” when you're doing the sims. By that, I mean tailor your message to the intended audience.

3) Write out the equations.

4) Practice the cost accounting and FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS on other weak spots.

5) Don't neglect the finance and corp governance stuff. That adds up.

[y_u_no_pass]

Well the good news is you were very close with a 74! You probably don't need to learn too much more. For cost you really only need to learn a few formulas. Mostly the variances which are usually tested pretty heavily, and the general format for the different income statements. I was never great at cost but was very grateful to have tutored it through Beta Alpha Psi. I was able to review the information very quickly, because I had helped teach people it and reviewed it myself over time. If you are comfortable with the t-accounts and the flow of inputs to outputs you can solve many of the problems just with t-accounts.

Most of the finance formulas don't really need to be memorized, since they are in the name. Mostly just the Du Pont formula and any you may confuse. I always confused ROA and ROI so I had to work on those. Although I saw NONE on my exam, you should be comfortable with using the time value of money formulas and converting to and from annuity due. For economics, focus on the differences between the various theoretical economies (Perfect Monopoly, perfect Oligopoly, etc.) There are a couple of economics formulas you may want to memorize.

Once you have it all memorized, focus on application. Work a ton of problems until you have practiced solving them in all sorts of different ways. They do try to trick you on the CPA exam all the time. You really have to be able to think of creative ways to solve problems sometimes.

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.

[Kimboroni]

Every test is different, so you really still have to study everything again, since there's no way of knowing what you won't be tested on. I wish we could know going in, but we don't.

Just keep running through the calculations so that you can increase your comfort level as you practice. Get a second test bank if you need one. Ninja MQC is supposed to be great prep for BEC, and it doesn't cost much.

AUD 84 (1/9/14-Wiley books/TB + free materials)
FAR 83 (5/21/14-the above + NINJA 10 Pt Combo Lite)
REG 84 (7/9/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC/Notes)
BEC 76 (10/5/14-Wiley books/TB + NINJA Audio/FC)

Disclaimer: My ninja avatar is not meant to imply that I have any affiliation with this site other than being a forum member. That's a pic of a T-shirt that my daughter gave me for my birthday. 🙂

[Anonymous]

I don't have any advice. Just wanted to say I'm right there with you and I hate BEC so much that I want to stab it in the heart over and over again until it bleeds a slow and painful death.

[TiffaNiffaNi]

LOL. I had to do a double take to make sure I hadn't written the title to this post. BEC sucks!!!!!! I was like…oh, it's the “easiest” section. HA HA HA HA

HA HA HA HA HA

HA HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

FAR: 7/17/14- 79
AUD: 8/20/14- 91
REG: 10/1/14- 88
BEC: 11/10/14- 85

Becker Self-Study

[alecia18210]

I am in the same boat as you, except my exam is Saturday. I thought this was the easiest section, but apparently it's not for me. Good luck, I will spend the next couple of hours working MCQ. All the best !

PS. As someone else mentioned, use other sources. My favorite is Youtube.

Roger CPA Review + Ninja Audio + Wiley Test Bank+Ninja MCQ

FAR PASSED 7/14
AUD 72(2x)- 8/2014, Rematch 04/15
REG 02/2015
BEC 06/2015

"I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength". Philippians 4:13

[alecia18210]

I am in the same boat as you, except my exam is Saturday. I thought this was the easiest section, but apparently it's not for me. Good luck, I will spend the next couple of hours working MCQ. All the best !

PS. As someone else mentioned, use other sources. My favorite is Youtube.

Roger CPA Review + Ninja Audio + Wiley Test Bank+Ninja MCQ

FAR PASSED 7/14
AUD 72(2x)- 8/2014, Rematch 04/15
REG 02/2015
BEC 06/2015

"I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength". Philippians 4:13

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys! This exam is the devil. So many different concepts on it, I feel like this is all four years of college in one exam. Easiest my a**. Good luck to you all as well

[Jlalls45]

Hey dam – what/which concept(s) is giving you the most trouble? COGS/COGM? Or variances, WACC/FIFO, etc.?

AUD - P
BEC - P
REG - waiting
FAR - 5/28

[Anonymous]

Hi there, I just had BEC exam yesterday 16th -10 and this the third time I sit for the BEC. For me BEC is the most difficult paper. It was very challenging exam. My first BEC exam was 68 and the second time was 71. I found a lot of areas was not mentioned in becker material in the exam. I was soo angry. Please advice in case not passed (God forbidden ), tell.me another source to study from. Thanks

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the response! I'm having a lot of trouble remembering the variances, and COGS/COGM. It's just a lot of information to remember on top of everything from B-3 and what not. I'm trying to dumb it down, and figure out an easier way to conceptualize/do them @Jlalls45

[SomedayCPA2015]

I actually ordered an intro to Managerial Accounting book from Amazon for about $2.00 to break down the cost stuff for me. I just googled a local college to see what book was in their syllabus and purchased that particular book. I made the mistake of focusing too much on the cost material (2nd time sitting for BEC) but it helped a TON. Next time around I will be focusing on the entire 6 chapters in Becker, because as Kim said, you never know what you're going to get.

REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
AUD - Passed
FAR - Passed!!!! I have my life back.

[Anonymous]

Nice, what book did you end up getting? I think I still have mine somewhere @SomedayCPA2015

[SomedayCPA2015]

@dam I can't remember the exact title, and it is at home but I'll look when I get home from work and let you know. I just hated my managerial accounting class so much, it was literally the only book I had discarded upon completion of the class. =/ The other thing I did, was sign up for a free Audible membership and I listened the the Wiley CPA review on variance analysis, and wrote it out as I listened. That helped me a ton as well. It is really outdated, so I really only used it for variance analysis. I finally gave in and bought the Ninja 10-point combo this week, so I will probably do that same thing while listening to Jeff's audio for my third attempt (70 and then 72. Ugh!). Oh, and google Roger variance analysis. Unfortunately, my two exams were completely different and as I had said, I focused too much on this the second time around. Good luck!

REG - Passed
BEC - Passed
AUD - Passed
FAR - Passed!!!! I have my life back.

[Author]

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