I just simply do not understand the variances in BEC. I am using Becker. I can answer all 23 multiple choice questions correctly on the software, but I don't really understand what I am doing. I'm afraid that, if the exam words the questions a little different, I will be totally lost. Can someone please give me some insight in how to better understand these. The You Tube videos did not help much either. I think I'm just missing the big picture of variances. Thank you.
CPA Exam Review Forum » General CPA Exam Forum » After You Pass: Ethics Exam, Certificates, Work Experience and Licensure
-
hopeful_cpa
offlineMemberunfortunately i think we are all facing the same issues with BEC. i have my exam this friday and i am freaking out because of the variance chapter, it really doesnt make any sense at all.
if there was a good list of variance that we would need to know it would help a little, but each questions asks a difference variance that isnt in the book.
BEC: Done
REG: Done
AUD: 74!!! ARRGHHHH!!!!! comparable/comparable you gotta be kidding me?!?!
FAR: 2/29/12 Leap year luck
Who's on a war path with the CPA exam!?!? I am.Posted 1 year ago # -
75 CPA
offlineMemberI have noticed that a lot of people are having trouble understanding Cost Accounting in Section 5 for Becker. The reason for this is because Becker does a terrible job of explaining variances. I also had trouble learning this topic, specifically the overhead variance analysis, with Becker.
Cindy made variance analysis very easy for me in YaegerÂ’s BEC Home Study. Cindy summarized all the variances in an easy to understand handout. Additionally, she answered some questions that I had by e-mail. Try that with Becker!
Posted 1 year ago # -
itsmestacey
offlineMemberSouth - Are you having trouble remembering the formulas or just understanding the concepts?
There are more questions on CPAReviewForFree.com if you want to try that without investing in another product.
IL Candidate: FAR - 76, BEC - 74, 76, REG - 8/30, AUD - OctoberPosted 1 year ago # -
south0085
offlineMemberI'm having trouble with the Formulas but probably mostly with the concepts. When I see one of the questions on Becker I know exactly what numbers to use to solve the problem. But if the questions was worded a different way or if the numbers were put in a different format, I'm not sure that I could answer the question.
Posted 1 year ago # -
I had issues with the variances when I went through it as well.
For Becker:
On the direct variances they skip over their own shortcut in the lecture. Look at the SAD, PURE, and DADS mnemonics. It took me 5-10 minutes to figure out what they were trying to do but once I did the direct variances were cake. You can look at the bottom left corner of the 1st page cheat sheet I used in my final days before the BEC exam for that bit (link at bottom of this post).
The overhead variances are a bit more of a pain. They have that one ugly example that Peter says to go over a couple of times. I did that and was still having issues (watched that part of the lecture multiple times). I finally just plain old memorized the formulas (really only 3 of them to memorize) and drew the chart on my white board with the formula until I could do it easily from memory. Those questions became much simpler, although still tricky. You can see (although possibly not read) this on the 1st page on the bottom right on my cheat sheet (link at bottom of post).
The Becker homework questions on variances are a pain in the @$$. They make you back into the inputs you need for everything. The actual exam was much simpler. You were given the inputs, you just had to know which inputs and what formula to use to calculate it. Overall it just took some really focused time on these two things. After spending that time and memorizing the OH variance stuff I didn't stress as much.
Link to my 2 page BEC cheat sheet:
http://www.dalesines.com/cpa-exam/BEC.pdfRTCDQ!!.......Read the Cocka-Doody Question!
AUD-94; REG-97; BEC-93; FAR-94
see how I did it day by day: http://cpa-exam.dalesines.com
contact info on blogPosted 1 year ago # -
FL_CPA2010
offlineMemberBEC was a beast, and the variance questions were awful. I had a really hard time with those. And you will need to know different ways to use the formulas, so you need to understand it thoroughly. If you are one of those that "will be lost if a few things were changed", then you'll be lost on the exam. That is what happened for me :x
REG 79 (Becker); BEC 63 (Becker) 70 (Yaeger); AUD 66 (Becker; 11/30 - Becker); FAR 11/24 (Yaeger/Wiley)Posted 1 year ago # -
connieCPAin2010
offlineMemberYou definitely need to know and understand the basic formulas. There are many variations but if you get the basics, you should be able to apply it as needed. Read the question then decide which formula you need to use, then start plugging in the appropriate given amounts to work through it.
Becker's MCQs are much more in depth than what you will find on the real exam. And Becker is more calculation intensive; you will find much more theory on the exam.
Good luck!!
BEC 79 (1/05/10)
REG 80 (3/05/10)
AUD 82 (5/28/10)
FAR 79 (8/27/10) I'm DONE!Posted 1 year ago #
CPA Exam Review Forum » General CPA Exam Forum » After You Pass: Ethics Exam, Certificates, Work Experience and Licensure
Reply
You must log in to post.