[kpb]

Becker Question –

I just started studying for the CPA exam on 2/4/14. I am taking the online course which covers about 2 chapters a week. I am only on chapter 3 (just finished, currently doing a progress test on b1, b2, and b3 for review). I am studying about 5-8 hours a day, 6 days a week. I am feeling pretty stressed and worried, trying to stay positive. I don’t know how some people do two chapters a week, it seems like it takes me about 4-5 days to finish one chapter (watching lectures really helps me to understand the gist of the material because obviously when we get to the homework it expects you to be an expert at it, doing all the homeworks not really caring about the % score (usually 60%+) and doing progress tests and reading the chapter.) I mean how much more studying can we do? I still feel like i’m going to get a crazy calculation question on the exam and not know what the heck i’m doing.

Any advice? I still don’t know how some people can work full time have kids, etc. and still manage to study for this thing only 2-3 hours a day. I need some advice to see if i’m on the right track, studying 6 days 5-8 hours a day and doing all MCQs and reading material and watching lectures & doing progress tests. for some odd reason, the homework always seems a lot harder than whatever is taught in the book and some topics aren’t even on the book.

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[futurecpa2012]

No offense, but I think your going about it all wrong. I would break that study time down to about 3-4 hours max. Then into segments for a more concentrated study time. Also no Facebook or any other social media avenue and no cell phone. There is alot of members on here that will tell you these things can kill your ability to pass this exam. Focus on learning the core concepts of the topic your covering before you hit the questions also. You can't apply a concept you dont't fully understand.

Theres my two cents.

[futurecpa2012]

No offense, but I think your going about it all wrong. I would break that study time down to about 3-4 hours max. Then into segments for a more concentrated study time. Also no Facebook or any other social media avenue and no cell phone. There is alot of members on here that will tell you these things can kill your ability to pass this exam. Focus on learning the core concepts of the topic your covering before you hit the questions also. You can't apply a concept you dont't fully understand.

Theres my two cents.

[kpb]

Thanks for the input. I just don't know how to get studying done in 3-4 hours. It takes me about:

watching lectures: 7 hours with breaks in between every couple hours (day 1) finish all lectures on the chapter

reading chapter: 4 hours (day 2) and then do some homework

homework: at least 5 hours each day (day 2, 3, 4) until fully finished with all homework questions ONCE

practice tests: usually 100 questions (day 5)

this is all just for one chapter. How is it possible to fit ALL of that material plus ALL the questions into 3-4 hours per day for only few days (if i was getting two chapters a week done)

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[kpb]

Thanks for the input. I just don't know how to get studying done in 3-4 hours. It takes me about:

watching lectures: 7 hours with breaks in between every couple hours (day 1) finish all lectures on the chapter

reading chapter: 4 hours (day 2) and then do some homework

homework: at least 5 hours each day (day 2, 3, 4) until fully finished with all homework questions ONCE

practice tests: usually 100 questions (day 5)

this is all just for one chapter. How is it possible to fit ALL of that material plus ALL the questions into 3-4 hours per day for only few days (if i was getting two chapters a week done)

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[JustWant 75]

i think B2 is pretty challenging especially with the 200+ MCQs. It took me a while to get through B2 but i think the other chapters B4-6 is fairly straight forward, and it shouldn't take that long. Since this is your first exam i think it's ok to feel overwhelmed, but just keep working on the MCQs and reviewing the chapters .

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[JustWant 75]

i think B2 is pretty challenging especially with the 200+ MCQs. It took me a while to get through B2 but i think the other chapters B4-6 is fairly straight forward, and it shouldn't take that long. Since this is your first exam i think it's ok to feel overwhelmed, but just keep working on the MCQs and reviewing the chapters .

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[kpb]

Thank you Justwant75! I just want at least 75 also ha.

I feel like B1 was easiest so far, then B2 got hard, then B3 got harder. I can't even begin to imagine the AUD, REG, FAR books. My first progress test score (b1 and b2) after studying B2 was an 85%, I just took another one after finishing B3 for B1-B3 and my score was an 80%. I used 100 questions on both progress tests. Sighs. Hopefully that's a great sign!

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[kpb]

Thank you Justwant75! I just want at least 75 also ha.

I feel like B1 was easiest so far, then B2 got hard, then B3 got harder. I can't even begin to imagine the AUD, REG, FAR books. My first progress test score (b1 and b2) after studying B2 was an 85%, I just took another one after finishing B3 for B1-B3 and my score was an 80%. I used 100 questions on both progress tests. Sighs. Hopefully that's a great sign!

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[JustWant 75]

@kpb the progress test scores are pretty good, keep it up. Make sure to focus on the IT chapter as well and i think you will be good to go. Since B4-6 won't take that long i would suggest you focus on B2-3 and try to get the concepts down. Also i made a cheat sheet for all the formulas and what it actually meant..it seemed like it helped on exam day. We shall see tomorrow for my scores :/

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[JustWant 75]

@kpb the progress test scores are pretty good, keep it up. Make sure to focus on the IT chapter as well and i think you will be good to go. Since B4-6 won't take that long i would suggest you focus on B2-3 and try to get the concepts down. Also i made a cheat sheet for all the formulas and what it actually meant..it seemed like it helped on exam day. We shall see tomorrow for my scores :/

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[kpb]

@justwant75, that is probably what i will do too a sheet with formulas I can't seem to memorize.

Will B4-6 really fly by?

How so? I am going to start (and finish) B4 lectures tomorrow. I read B3 and B5 were heavily tested.

Good luck and let me know what you got 🙂 It will be motivation for me ha congrats on your FAR & AUD scores. Thanks for your input, I honestly know NOONE else taking the CPA exams and my family/husband doesn't really understand how intimidating it sounds and looks so I have noone to talk to really.

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[kpb]

@justwant75, that is probably what i will do too a sheet with formulas I can't seem to memorize.

Will B4-6 really fly by?

How so? I am going to start (and finish) B4 lectures tomorrow. I read B3 and B5 were heavily tested.

Good luck and let me know what you got 🙂 It will be motivation for me ha congrats on your FAR & AUD scores. Thanks for your input, I honestly know NOONE else taking the CPA exams and my family/husband doesn't really understand how intimidating it sounds and looks so I have noone to talk to really.

BEC - 81 4/08/14
FAR - 80 8/25/14 Thank you Jesus!
REG - 69 (Nov 14),80 1/08/15 Thank God!
AUD - 70 (May 14), xx 5/1/15

Becker Online & Becker Flashcards
I definitely wish I was one of those people who got all 4 exams done in 4 months, but unfortunately LIFE (being a newlywed, stress, adjusting to newlywed life and cpa exam study life, as well as starting a job with a Big4 which I am very happy about) got in the way, just happy that I am passing period!!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

[Anonymous]

That depends on your knowledge of economics and finance. IMO the econ section is mostly basics and pretty simple. I watched the Becker videos, did the homework once and felt confident in that area. The IT section make sure you know the different IT positions and their roles. You can kill yourself memorizing terminology, don't go overboard.

Just an FYI I studied 2 sections a week for 3 weeks and took the exam. I was scoring high 60 – low 70 on becker and landed an 85 on my exam.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

That depends on your knowledge of economics and finance. IMO the econ section is mostly basics and pretty simple. I watched the Becker videos, did the homework once and felt confident in that area. The IT section make sure you know the different IT positions and their roles. You can kill yourself memorizing terminology, don't go overboard.

Just an FYI I studied 2 sections a week for 3 weeks and took the exam. I was scoring high 60 – low 70 on becker and landed an 85 on my exam.

Good luck.

[JustWant 75]

That is very true what @cook7166 said. It depends on your knowledge but they seem to be much easier than B2-3. I think the instructor that covered the IT did pretty well on it that i didn't even read the material before i did the HW. Econ concepts are not very complicated. I ended up getting a 79 when i felt like i failed walking out of the exam. I got weaker on B2 but stronger on B3. Make sure you also practice on the written communication portion as its 15%.

Becker, Ninja Audio + Notes

FAR: 80 (Aug 2013)
AUD: 91 (Nov 2013)
BEC: 79 (Feb 2014)
REG: 80 (May 2014)

[Author]

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