Has anyone used Becker and Wiley?

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    Topic
  • #201552
    CJC14
    Participant

    I’ve used Becker for REG and BEC (passed REG, taking BEC 5/13/16). I’m seriously considering switching to Wiley based on what I’ve read about the way it works and I think it would compliment my study style (plus I work full-time). I’ve asked a few CPAs and they recommend I stick with Becker since it worked for me with REG. I’d love to hear from others who have used each program and if you were able to pass using Wiley?

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 80
    REG - 77
    Think positive!
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total)
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  • #773624
    ABTX411
    Participant

    CJC14 –

    I use only use Wiley, but there are people in my review class who have also acquired the Becker materials and are using both simultaneously. I also have plenty of friends who have exclusively used Becker. There doesn't seem to be a huge difference in the performance of those who use Becker vs. Wiley exclusively. I think the key is to stick with one program or the other for each section ,and use it to its fullest extent. Don't try to use pieces of each for a single section. The people in my review course who have tried this are not performing nearly as well as some of us who are fully utilizing a single program. If you do decide to switch, keep in mind that you might have a bit of a set back time-wise to adjust to the new format. I like Wiley, but it took me a while to learn how to get the most out of the program. If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to try to help.

    BEC - 90 - 2/04/2016
    AUD - 97 - 2/29/2016
    FAR - 92 - 4/19/2016
    REG - 88 - 5/19/2016

    #773625
    CJC14
    Participant

    Thank you ABTX411 –
    I agree with you as far as sticking with one program. I did use Ninja MCQs for both REG and BEC, but it was to have access to additional MCQs. I would probably continue that for which ever I choose. The reason Wiley is attractive to me is the smaller “chunks” of videos and questions. Is this what you have found? Becker has long videos that I end up dreading. I watched a video that reviewed the Wiley product and it seemed like it might be a good fit. Do you like the smaller sections in Wiley?

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 80
    REG - 77
    Think positive!
    #773626
    ABTX411
    Participant

    Yes to all of the above. Most of the individual videos and study text sections are very manageable. There are just a lot of sections. I like the way it's set up, and I've found that “study mode” for the mcqs inside the course and “practice mode” for the test bank mcqs are the most effective study methods for me.

    BEC - 90 - 2/04/2016
    AUD - 97 - 2/29/2016
    FAR - 92 - 4/19/2016
    REG - 88 - 5/19/2016

    #773627
    Pork Flavored Bacon
    Participant

    I used Becker as my main study guide and Wiley as my secondary for the questions. It's been a little while since I have studied but from what I remember, I did not like Wiley at all. Maybe I purchased a bad book or something.

    I really liked Becker because when I looked at the answers, they would explain why my answer was incorrect. “A is incorrect because xxx. B is incorrect because yyy.” The Wiley book I had was “A is incorrect. B is incorrect.” etc.

    I'm sure my experience is unique as I see a lot of people swear by Wiley here on these forums.

    FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

    #773628
    CJC14
    Participant

    @Pork Flavored Bacon (haha!) – did you only use the Wiley book?

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 80
    REG - 77
    Think positive!
    #773629
    Louie
    Participant

    Wiley is more detailed than Becker, especially for BEC…. It's hard to pass BEC without understanding the topics like youknow your own name and Willey gives you that detailed material..Becker is only good if all you need is to memorize the materials spill it out on exam day. Doing that for BEC is really bad cos most questions on BEC is almost like GMAT questions eg all answers are alike.

    AUD - 85
    BEC - 76
    FAR - 77
    REG - 80
    "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
    Romans 9:16
    #773630
    CJC14
    Participant

    @Ianowi78 – I had thought about Wiley for BEC, but was talked out of it. It has taken me a long time to get through Becker for BEC. I wish I had gone with my gut. I think I've turned a corner with the material and I'll take the next 3 weeks to know it like the back of my hand! Thanks for the input!

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 80
    REG - 77
    Think positive!
    #773631
    jessica8926
    Participant

    I actually just took my BEC test and used Becker and Wiley for the first time ever. I will say I am a die hard Becker fan and have used it religiously to pass three sections of this test. I think it fits my style and really prepares me well enough to know the topics inside and out. That being said BEC was hopefully my last one so for my second try I added Wiley test bank. However, the only reason I added Wiley was because my Becker was expiring 4 days before my test and I needed something to keep studying with.

    That being said, I really did not like Wiley at all. I think it was just because I had never used any other study program besides Becker and there were stark contrasts between the way the material was taught. Becker has its own unique way and memorization tricks where as Wiley does too so it was pretty hard for me to switch to Wiley for a few days. It was good because I got to see more questions, but if I got something wrong Wiley would tell me a completely different way or reason for why it was wrong compared to what Becker had taught me. Not to say Wiley was wrong, they just go about things differently.

    I would say if you like Becker, the format, explanations etc, I would stick to that and not mess something up that works for you. I got nervous the night before my test because I felt Wiley was messing with what I already knew from Becker so just be mindful of that. In the end I felt prepared for my test and when I took it on 4/21 I felt I did really well. However, I would attribute that to Becker because I used it for 99% of my study time for BEC.

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 82
    FAR - 75
    REG - 81
    Illinois Certified Public Accountant 2016

    AUD - 69, 77
    REG - 74, 81
    FAR - 75!
    BEC - 71, 82

    IL candidate!

    Finally done (5/24/16)!! Yahooooooo!

    #773632
    CJC14
    Participant

    Thank you, Jessica. I didn't mind Becker for REG, but now that I am going through BEC with Becker I am dragging. The videos are just sooooo long and hard to get through. I don't know if it's the subject matter or the program. I feel like from what I've heard about Wiley, it may work better with the way I study. I work full-time, have a family and need to fit studying in when I can which may only be an hour or two a night on some nights.

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 80
    REG - 77
    Think positive!
    #773633
    ABTX411
    Participant

    CJC14 –

    I'm a single mom with a full time job, so I totally understand. Look at my exam dates and scores in my signature block. I started studying on 1/9/16 – Wiley definitely works. Just be sure to get the full web based program with the additional test bank. If you decide to go with it, I can give you a quick run down of what I feel is the best way to make the most of your study time with the program.

    BEC - 90 - 2/04/2016
    AUD - 97 - 2/29/2016
    FAR - 92 - 4/19/2016
    REG - 88 - 5/19/2016

    #773634
    mtaylo24
    Participant

    I use Gleim for BEC, and will admit it was a struggle to get through the first pass, but I am going through my second pass now, and I am already in ch.17 after only 9 days. Gleim is organized better imho, as they have 20 chs, compared to 5 or 6 modules. The test bank breaks it down by specific units as well. I definitely think its the best bang for your buck.

    CPA (2017)

    REG:  75

    BEC:  76

    FAR:  77

    AUD: 78

     

    CMA (2019)

    P1: 380

    P2: 360

    AUD - 1st - 60 (12/12), 61 (2/13), 61 (8/13), 78! (11/15)
    REG - 55 (2/16) 69 (5/16) Retake(8/16)
    BEC - 71(5/16) Retake (9/16)
    FAR - (8/16)

    #773635
    CJC14
    Participant

    ABTX411 – Wow! You need to be on the Wiley advertising! Those scores! Wow! Any tips for BEC (I'm taking in 3 weeks)? If I go with Wiley next it will be for FAR. I would definitely get the full version. I'd be saving money compared to Becker.

    mtaylo24 – did you use Gleim and another program to compare? I'll look into it.

    AUD - 77
    BEC - 80
    FAR - 80
    REG - 77
    Think positive!
    #773636
    Pork Flavored Bacon
    Participant

    CJC14,

    I used both Becker and Wiley. I definitely used Becker more and used Wiley as the supplement. My Wiley book was just a huuuge book filled with questions. There was no chapter material. It was just topic after topic after topic and thousands of questions.

    FAR - 75 | REG - 87 | AUD - 82 | LAW - 81

    #773637
    Credit Revenue
    Participant

    What year was this Pork Bacon? Since you have LAW listed instead of BEC?.

    A - 79 expires 4/30/16 need a pass on REG
    B - 78
    F - 80
    R - 83!!! Can live again!

    #773638
    ABTX411
    Participant

    My best advice for BEC is to get through as many practice MCQs as you possibly can, and then do 100 more. As is the case with all of these exams, time management is key. Be sure to leave enough time for the WCs at the end. Before you sit, create a standard intro and conclusion that you can use for any question. Write them out at least 3 – 5 times before you go in. I started all of my WCs on the exam by typing my intro and conclusion, and then going back and answering the question in between. I also read through a bunch of sample answers to the WCs in the Wiley material. I felt like this helped to concrete my understanding of a few more topics.

    GOOD LUCK!

    BEC - 90 - 2/04/2016
    AUD - 97 - 2/29/2016
    FAR - 92 - 4/19/2016
    REG - 88 - 5/19/2016

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 18 total)
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