KasiaS
offlineMember
Are you reviewing the answers to the MCQs? When I was studying, I'd review the answers to all MCQs to understand why 1 answer is correct and why the other 3 aren't. I also made notecards for topics that I was consistently scoring low on - that was the most helpful thing for me.
That Cartoon Mouse
offlineMember
Ditto. It's important that you understand why you got a question wrong and just as important to understand why you got it right. I used the Wiley book for MCQs and what worked for me was answering a question and immediately looking at the answer explanation in the back (I used those Post-It stick on tabs so I could easily flip back and forth). Even if I got the question right, I wrote down the rule that the question was testing or the entire mnemonic that would help answer the question. I did this every time, even if I was writing down the same thing as I did for the last question.
I never used the NINJA notes and I don't really know what it stands for, but apparently the J stands for 'just write it down' and I think that's exactly right. It's the repetition and having to translate information from one form (the book) to another (your notes) that are going to help you internalize the information.
Jeff - another71.com
offlineadmin
Your MCQs to Video watching ratio seems out of wack. What video are you watching? It looks like you're teaching yourself the materials via the MCQs...you wouldn't be the first person to ever do that btw.
KasiaS
offlineMember
I personally thought that it was the easiest exam of the 4 sections, but that's just me. Everyone has different strengths.
It also depends which test bank you're using. I used the Gleim test bank and I thought those MCQs were a fair representation of what's on the exam. I've also heard from other candidates that Wiley is much harder than the actual exam and there seem to be mixed reviews about Becker.
Try to focus on understanding the concepts underlying the questions and you should start scoring higher. Also, keep in mind that you don't have to be scoring in the 90s to pass. I was scoring in the low to mid-70s on my BEC practice and scored an 83.
Givemesleep
offlineMember
Kasias - what part are you referring to of BEC that is the easiest? I think 50% of it is real easy, it's the cost accounting, formula non-sense that's hard. Thanks for the help
That Cartoon Mouse
offlineMember
Everything's hard if you don't know the answer. I only have experience with the Wiley test bank and I did comparably on FAR and Audit, but did better on REG and BEC, but I don't know if there is anything significant to that. I don't recall if the questions as a whole were harder but there were things I didn't know on the exam and things I thought were bone simple.
See Pee A
offlineMember
I normally scored in the 70s on most homework sections and passed all my exams with a comfortable margin. The 70s were mostly when I went through the sections for the first time and I did not often repeat many questions since I didn't have the time.
Are you using Becker? It seems like your skipping most of the lectures and trying to just get the MC. This can be done, but you really have to commit more time to reading answer explanations and learning from there.
Givemesleep
offlineMember
Using Roger Cram for video, exam matrix for the rest. I passed Reg using exam matrix, so the plan was to use it again for BEC and enhance it with a little Roger Cram video.
See Pee A
offlineMember
Cram is meant as a final review tool, not an initial learning tool. I know of a few people who felt confident enough to use just the cram and some question banks to get through the exam, but it's going to be close. Judging by your scores on MC, you will be cutting it close on exam day as to whether or not you pass. I would strongly encourage you to get a full review, but if you can't/won't, then just take your time on MC. Read the questions carefully and read the explanations even more carefully. They are an excellent learning tool.
The real issue with over-reliance on MC banks is when it comes to simulations, they may take a topic that you spent little/no time with to learn the rules since you just did MC, and you may feel lost. BEC won't really have an issue here since there are no sims (WC instead), but it seems from your MC scores that you are just a bit short and need some more guidance. I can't attest to this, but maybe NINJA notes or some other supplement? In any case, good luck! You are close, but are very borderline right now.
That Cartoon Mouse
offlineMember
Ah, cost. Yeah, I used Roger (non-cram) for BEC and I liked Wiley's method of doing overhead variances better (it was easier for me to visualize and sketch), but Roger's method for equivalent units was better, and then I created some of my own mnemonics for stuff that wasn't well covered by either one. Those parts are definitely the hard ones, and it took me a while to figure out that one method was helping me and another wasn't -- it really matters what works for you. some things fit well into your memory that won't fit into mine and vice versa.
What kind of formulas are you having trouble with?
KasiaS
offlineMember
@Givemesleep, I thought the entire exam was easy. The NIU course was wonderful in covering all of the material very thoroughly, and cost accounting comes easy to me so I didn't struggle on that topic like some others have.
75
offlineMember
BEC is the easiest exam, only because it has the least material, but it's also the one I scored the lowest :P
I don't think it's easy. The only easy parts to me were Economics and the ratios.
You have time to redo everything and write down all things you get wrong.
That Cartoon Mouse
offlineMember
The flipside to "everything's hard if you don't know how to do it" is "everything's easy if you already know how to do it."
I found the ratios easy because working with ratios was part of my job. Other things I could make t-accounts for. Other things I memorized. Other things I could just logic my way through. The rest was hard. It's going to be hard but the exam tests discipline. Things are going to be hard, but they're not going to be impossible.
You're going to have to examine:
(1) Whether your study courses are right for you
(2) Whether you're studying as effectively as you can -- are you taking shortcuts?
(3) Whether you get things right because you understand the concept or because you're lucky.
(4) How you study what you get wrong.
Best of luck!
Givemesleep
offlineMember
@Justinnn - good point.Here's my breakdown.
94% Corporate Governance
76% Econ
65% IT
51% Financial
52% Strategic Planning
53% Operations Management
Obvisouly I suck in the harder areas. The bottom three were way lower initially, but I am improving.
@75 - many thanks for the encouragement, I do beleive I have enough time. With Reg, I poured it on the last two weeks heavy duty, thats my style.
Cartoon and everyone else, good feedback much appreciated.
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