[CPANOVICE]

Hello Everyone,

This question is for the future CPA’s who are using Becker.

How do you guys take your own notes while using Becker?

Watch videos and take notes? If so, do you write down everthing the instruction talks about? Please share your note taking strategy for Becker.

Thanks

 

 

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[Tux]

The majority of my note cards came from rules that I needed to know in order to answer the MCQ's. So, you can start by taking fewer notes during the videos, and more while practicing the MCQ's.

So, if this is your first section, break up one chapter's videos into several sections.

Watch one section, then do all the homework for that topic within the chapter. This will help you to see which rules they want you to focus on, and you'll make note cards on those rules while you're going through the MCQ's. It will feel time-consuming, but for me, it was necessary in order to learn it.

As you go further into the future topics and chapters, you'll take more notes while watching the video because you'll be able to think – Oh! I need to know this.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[Tux]

The majority of my note cards came from rules that I needed to know in order to answer the MCQ's. So, you can start by taking fewer notes during the videos, and more while practicing the MCQ's.

So, if this is your first section, break up one chapter's videos into several sections.

Watch one section, then do all the homework for that topic within the chapter. This will help you to see which rules they want you to focus on, and you'll make note cards on those rules while you're going through the MCQ's. It will feel time-consuming, but for me, it was necessary in order to learn it.

As you go further into the future topics and chapters, you'll take more notes while watching the video because you'll be able to think – Oh! I need to know this.

FAR - 86 - 2/27/14
AUD - 75 - 5/29/14
BEC - 80 - 8/31/14
REG - 89 - 2/27/15
Praise Jesus! I'm done!!

Study resources:
Becker
Wiley test bank

[CPANOVICE]

@ Tux Thank you very much for your response. Was this the approach you used to pass FAR? Did you read the text or only viewed lectures?

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[CPANOVICE]

@ Tux Thank you very much for your response. Was this the approach you used to pass FAR? Did you read the text or only viewed lectures?

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[JennyPope]

For Auditing I watched the entire video, read through the chapter and made flash cards/took notes, and then did all the MC. With Regulation I've been breaking the video up over 2 days – 1/2 one day, notes, mc and then 1/2 a day or two later, notes, mc. I agree that breaking the videos up helps you focus on what they want you to remember.

Also, with Auditing I used a lot of flash cards to memorize things but I've found that it is easier to do outlines with Reg.

AUD 80
REG 76
FAR 1/2015 - 73, 5/2015 - 72, 7/2015 - 76!
BEC 81

[JennyPope]

For Auditing I watched the entire video, read through the chapter and made flash cards/took notes, and then did all the MC. With Regulation I've been breaking the video up over 2 days – 1/2 one day, notes, mc and then 1/2 a day or two later, notes, mc. I agree that breaking the videos up helps you focus on what they want you to remember.

Also, with Auditing I used a lot of flash cards to memorize things but I've found that it is easier to do outlines with Reg.

AUD 80
REG 76
FAR 1/2015 - 73, 5/2015 - 72, 7/2015 - 76!
BEC 81

[CPANOVICE]

@JennyPope Thanks for your response. I will take your advice into consideration.

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[CPANOVICE]

@JennyPope Thanks for your response. I will take your advice into consideration.

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[Study Monk]

I agree with Tux. I wasted a lot of time trying to write every fact nugget down when I was working with FAR. With audit I got behind on my studies and just focused on the information necessary to answer the multiple choice questions. The end result was a better score with less study time.

I also believe that creating notes in the form of flashcards is the most productive method of “note taking”. This whole CPA process has convinced me that testing yourself is the key to learning. I actually think typing out flashcards and importing them to your smartphone is an excellent way to mix up your study routine. Having the option of going over “notes” while going on a walk, laying on the couch, or sitting outside is a great way to mix up your study routine. Carrying a binder around is a lot more inconvenient than carrying around a smart phone.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[Study Monk]

I agree with Tux. I wasted a lot of time trying to write every fact nugget down when I was working with FAR. With audit I got behind on my studies and just focused on the information necessary to answer the multiple choice questions. The end result was a better score with less study time.

I also believe that creating notes in the form of flashcards is the most productive method of “note taking”. This whole CPA process has convinced me that testing yourself is the key to learning. I actually think typing out flashcards and importing them to your smartphone is an excellent way to mix up your study routine. Having the option of going over “notes” while going on a walk, laying on the couch, or sitting outside is a great way to mix up your study routine. Carrying a binder around is a lot more inconvenient than carrying around a smart phone.

I spoke to an ancient wise man who sent me on a mushroom induced journey through an ancient forest to find the key to passing the CPA exam. A talking spider monkey told me to throw the last of my drinking water in the dirt to find what I was looking for. So I followed his instructions and the following message appeared in the soil:

"Do 5000 multiple choice questions for each section"

[CPANOVICE]

@Study Monk I would love to follow this strategy. It would save me a tremendous amount of studying time but I'm afraid to use it. Any other thoughts on this strategy that Study Monk and Tux are referring to?

My current strategy:

I read the chapter quickly without taking notes just to get a grasp on the material. Than I view the lecture videos and make sure that I am writing down everything Tim/ other lecturer say's to highlight on a spiral notebook. This method is taking very very long. After finishing a lecture, I do 20 homework problems. I repeat this for each subsection. Once I am done with the whole section, for e.g., F5, I rewrite all my notes and complete more homework problems. After finishing more sections, I plan on using the WTB to do more problems on each section I have completed as well. What do you think about this strategy? does this strategy seem good?

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[CPANOVICE]

@Study Monk I would love to follow this strategy. It would save me a tremendous amount of studying time but I'm afraid to use it. Any other thoughts on this strategy that Study Monk and Tux are referring to?

My current strategy:

I read the chapter quickly without taking notes just to get a grasp on the material. Than I view the lecture videos and make sure that I am writing down everything Tim/ other lecturer say's to highlight on a spiral notebook. This method is taking very very long. After finishing a lecture, I do 20 homework problems. I repeat this for each subsection. Once I am done with the whole section, for e.g., F5, I rewrite all my notes and complete more homework problems. After finishing more sections, I plan on using the WTB to do more problems on each section I have completed as well. What do you think about this strategy? does this strategy seem good?

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[NicoleL]

I never took any additional notes beyond what Gearty/Olinto had us highlight and write in the book. After that I never looked at it again. I did purchase Becker flashcards and used those quite a bit as well as reading over the ebook and the chapter summaries online. During the multiple choice questions, I just read the answers (and made sure I understood what I did wrong). I'm a horrible note taker and do not learn from either taking or rewriting notes. I'm applying the same philosophy to my studying for Reg.

FAR - 93 (YAY!!!!)
REG - 93 (Double YAY!)
BEC - 87 (Whew!)
AUD - 96 (DONE!!!!!)

[NicoleL]

I never took any additional notes beyond what Gearty/Olinto had us highlight and write in the book. After that I never looked at it again. I did purchase Becker flashcards and used those quite a bit as well as reading over the ebook and the chapter summaries online. During the multiple choice questions, I just read the answers (and made sure I understood what I did wrong). I'm a horrible note taker and do not learn from either taking or rewriting notes. I'm applying the same philosophy to my studying for Reg.

FAR - 93 (YAY!!!!)
REG - 93 (Double YAY!)
BEC - 87 (Whew!)
AUD - 96 (DONE!!!!!)

[CPANOVICE]

@NicoleL Did you read the book at all or just watched the lecture.videos an take the notes they mentioned? Great score on FAR by the way. I am currently prepping for FAR as well.

FAR:TBD
REG:TBD
AUD:TBD
BEC:TBD

I am using Becker self study, ninja blitz and Wiley (I am using the paperback version of the testbank)

Brief overview of study method:
1. Skim through chapter quickly
2. Watch lecture videos
3. Take a lot of notes on what the lecturers emphasize
4. Complete half HW after lectures half after rewriting notes

[Author]

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