[cpawax]

I am on the F3 section of Becker and have been using it for a few weeks. So, far I do not feel confident in the material I am learning. I watch the lectures, read the book, make flash cards, then do MCQs and the simulations; however, I am consistently scoring maximum in the 60s on the MCQs. I am considering purchasing the Ten Point Combo to supplement Becker or I might try to apply the NINJA strategy to Becker, but before I do I have a few questions. I realize that everyone learns differently, but I’ll take any advice I can get.

To any one who has used just Becker did you study using the traditional method or the NINJA way? Results?

If I purchased the Ten Point Combo should I apply the NINJA way to Becker or use that traditional and use the NINJA way with the Ten Point Combo materials?

Thoughts?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

drill the MCQ. Do them again. Learn by doing. You'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

drill the MCQ. Do them again. Learn by doing. You'll be fine.

[SeattleAccountant]

@cpawax, since you are only on F-3 and it is your first round, it is possible that you are not yet able to form an accurate opinion of whether becker is helpful or not. Wait until you complete all of the sections and review all for the second time (sims and MCQ), to make a decision to supplement. I've used becker to review and noticed that some of the subjects did not become clear or rather, were not explained clearly up until the last F-10 chapter!

bwt, i found actual test easier than becker MCQ but take it with grain of salt since i'm still waiting for my results.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[SeattleAccountant]

@cpawax, since you are only on F-3 and it is your first round, it is possible that you are not yet able to form an accurate opinion of whether becker is helpful or not. Wait until you complete all of the sections and review all for the second time (sims and MCQ), to make a decision to supplement. I've used becker to review and noticed that some of the subjects did not become clear or rather, were not explained clearly up until the last F-10 chapter!

bwt, i found actual test easier than becker MCQ but take it with grain of salt since i'm still waiting for my results.

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[kts1010]

I just used becker and supplemented with the NINJA notes which I think are great for reading when you have some extra time. I just carried them around on my phone so when I was taking lunch at work I could pull them out and read a little. I think Becker does a great job and has helped me pass three of these tests and hopefully the last one here real soon.

AUD - 08/20/12 - 82
REG - 10/30/12 - 82
FAR - 01/05/13 - 80
BEC - 04/15/13 - 84

[kts1010]

I just used becker and supplemented with the NINJA notes which I think are great for reading when you have some extra time. I just carried them around on my phone so when I was taking lunch at work I could pull them out and read a little. I think Becker does a great job and has helped me pass three of these tests and hopefully the last one here real soon.

AUD - 08/20/12 - 82
REG - 10/30/12 - 82
FAR - 01/05/13 - 80
BEC - 04/15/13 - 84

[Keely]

Yes, Becker is enough. There was nothing on my test that I hadn't seen before in Becker. However, I will say, at least for the test I had, you needed to have in depth knowledge of almost everything in Becker in order to pass the exam. I don't know if I just got a weird test or what, but there were questions that asked the same thing, five different ways, and the SIMs were straight forward but couldn't be completed with just an overview knowledge of the topic.

I said this in another thread. Because there was so much information in FAR, I chose to just move on from things I didn't really understand well enough, and it shows in my score, with it being my lowest. F3 is especially frustrating, but you should really try to learn it well, along with every other chapter in Becker. You'll be fine if you really master what's in the book. And the key to that is doing, and redoing, the MCQs.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[Keely]

Yes, Becker is enough. There was nothing on my test that I hadn't seen before in Becker. However, I will say, at least for the test I had, you needed to have in depth knowledge of almost everything in Becker in order to pass the exam. I don't know if I just got a weird test or what, but there were questions that asked the same thing, five different ways, and the SIMs were straight forward but couldn't be completed with just an overview knowledge of the topic.

I said this in another thread. Because there was so much information in FAR, I chose to just move on from things I didn't really understand well enough, and it shows in my score, with it being my lowest. F3 is especially frustrating, but you should really try to learn it well, along with every other chapter in Becker. You'll be fine if you really master what's in the book. And the key to that is doing, and redoing, the MCQs.

BEC: (4/2012) 88
AUD: (5/2012) 91
REG: (8/2012) 82
FAR: (1/2013) 78 🙂

VA CPA #42010

[syllo2012]

@cpawax

I just finished F4. I have been studying for 3 weeks now. My exam is on April 1st. I feel the EXACT same way as you. I am scoring in the 50s and 60s. Some instances I just want to cry! (but I don't cry..lol…I just get mad). As an example, today I was doing Inventory Valuation homework. There are tons of questions about how to value inventory (Cost, Replacement Cost, Market Ceiling, or Market Floor). I viewed the lectures, read the book, did the homework with the book open to that exact page and I kept getting them wrong one after the other. Over and Over. I could not grasp the concept for some reason! I was ready to give up. Hang up the gloves for the day and just move on to the next section. But I kept at it, kept getting mad, kept trying. The section had around 36 MCQ and by the end I had learned and grasped Inventory Valuation!! and had only a 56% (20/36). But then I went back and did the 16 that I had gotten wrong, which were all Inventory Valuation and knew how to answer them ALL correctly! (without having the answer memorized). The same thing has happened to me in other sections (F2 – Timing Issues) and I find that you can learn even if you get the answer wrong, you just find out why you got it wrong and learn from it. Additionally, I have found that after I do all the MCQ's and go back to the lecture I see everything in a different light. Its like everything makes sense second time around (I wonder if I even paid attention the first time..lol)

Based on the experience of all the people that I know who have passed the CPA, Becker is enough. Although, some have complemented it with Ninja notes and Wiley Test Bank, which I probably will do also if I see that I have enough time (but ONLY if you have enough time, if not, just stick with Becker). Also, they say everything starts making sense towards the end, like @ SeattleAccountant mentioned.

What I would like to tell us both (I am in dire need of the pep talk..lol) is do not get discouraged. Just keep chugging along and learn from every multiple choice regardless of what your score is the first time around.

Good luck! (to us both!)

FAR - 04/15/13 70 - 07/02/13 79!!!
AUD - 08/19/13 84 🙂
REG - 10/14/13
BEC - 11/29/13

Using Becker

[syllo2012]

@cpawax

I just finished F4. I have been studying for 3 weeks now. My exam is on April 1st. I feel the EXACT same way as you. I am scoring in the 50s and 60s. Some instances I just want to cry! (but I don't cry..lol…I just get mad). As an example, today I was doing Inventory Valuation homework. There are tons of questions about how to value inventory (Cost, Replacement Cost, Market Ceiling, or Market Floor). I viewed the lectures, read the book, did the homework with the book open to that exact page and I kept getting them wrong one after the other. Over and Over. I could not grasp the concept for some reason! I was ready to give up. Hang up the gloves for the day and just move on to the next section. But I kept at it, kept getting mad, kept trying. The section had around 36 MCQ and by the end I had learned and grasped Inventory Valuation!! and had only a 56% (20/36). But then I went back and did the 16 that I had gotten wrong, which were all Inventory Valuation and knew how to answer them ALL correctly! (without having the answer memorized). The same thing has happened to me in other sections (F2 – Timing Issues) and I find that you can learn even if you get the answer wrong, you just find out why you got it wrong and learn from it. Additionally, I have found that after I do all the MCQ's and go back to the lecture I see everything in a different light. Its like everything makes sense second time around (I wonder if I even paid attention the first time..lol)

Based on the experience of all the people that I know who have passed the CPA, Becker is enough. Although, some have complemented it with Ninja notes and Wiley Test Bank, which I probably will do also if I see that I have enough time (but ONLY if you have enough time, if not, just stick with Becker). Also, they say everything starts making sense towards the end, like @ SeattleAccountant mentioned.

What I would like to tell us both (I am in dire need of the pep talk..lol) is do not get discouraged. Just keep chugging along and learn from every multiple choice regardless of what your score is the first time around.

Good luck! (to us both!)

FAR - 04/15/13 70 - 07/02/13 79!!!
AUD - 08/19/13 84 🙂
REG - 10/14/13
BEC - 11/29/13

Using Becker

[SeattleAccountant]

@syllo2012, let me tell you how I learned once and for good the inventory LCM in advanced accounting class.

It had been called rather cheesy name, a middle finger approach, but this method works/worked for me thru out college years and for Becker MCQs.

1. Set aside & take a note of cost $value.

2. Separately, take all three numbers (replacement cost, NRV, NRV-P) and arrange them from high to low $ or from low to high, really does not matter.

There will be one number whose value would fall in the middle = middle finger.

3. Take that number (“middle finger” 🙂 and compare to the original cost (under current inventory method = per books).

The lower of two, middle or the cost, is your inventory value!

Give it a try!

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[SeattleAccountant]

@syllo2012, let me tell you how I learned once and for good the inventory LCM in advanced accounting class.

It had been called rather cheesy name, a middle finger approach, but this method works/worked for me thru out college years and for Becker MCQs.

1. Set aside & take a note of cost $value.

2. Separately, take all three numbers (replacement cost, NRV, NRV-P) and arrange them from high to low $ or from low to high, really does not matter.

There will be one number whose value would fall in the middle = middle finger.

3. Take that number (“middle finger” 🙂 and compare to the original cost (under current inventory method = per books).

The lower of two, middle or the cost, is your inventory value!

Give it a try!

Becker Class of Jan - Aug 2013: FARB DONE!!!!
CPA license pending 🙂

[kctiger]

@ Keely – Your comment is a bit confusing. If you don't mind me asking, can you clarify? You clearly didn't “master” everything in the Becker book as you skipped over sections. You did pass the exam though, which you claim is impossible without “mastering” the book. I have gone through this book twice now, and there is no way I could master everything in this book. It can't happen. Unless you teach the material, which keeps all of it fresh in your mind, I don't see how you could master the material. I don't care if I get a 78 or 98, so long as the score is a 75 or above, I'm fine with that. I'm hoping you just got a weird test.

My test is coming up on Feb 13. There isn't a whole lot more I can do to prepare besides continually doing MCQs. I assume you had a fairly good broad knowledge about the Becker topics, but you still passed. I hope that is a good sign for the rest of us. Most people do poorly on Becker's MCQs at first. I found that out the hard way. I think the key is learning from your wrong answers. The book does not explain every detail very well, so there are obvious times that the MCQ is the only tool you have to learn.

[kctiger]

@ Keely – Your comment is a bit confusing. If you don't mind me asking, can you clarify? You clearly didn't “master” everything in the Becker book as you skipped over sections. You did pass the exam though, which you claim is impossible without “mastering” the book. I have gone through this book twice now, and there is no way I could master everything in this book. It can't happen. Unless you teach the material, which keeps all of it fresh in your mind, I don't see how you could master the material. I don't care if I get a 78 or 98, so long as the score is a 75 or above, I'm fine with that. I'm hoping you just got a weird test.

My test is coming up on Feb 13. There isn't a whole lot more I can do to prepare besides continually doing MCQs. I assume you had a fairly good broad knowledge about the Becker topics, but you still passed. I hope that is a good sign for the rest of us. Most people do poorly on Becker's MCQs at first. I found that out the hard way. I think the key is learning from your wrong answers. The book does not explain every detail very well, so there are obvious times that the MCQ is the only tool you have to learn.

[syllo2012]

@SeattleAccountant

After two hours of frustration and going through all the motions, it finally dawned on me to use the middle OR Cost, if the cost was lower than…. But now, thanks to you, I will not ever forget because I will think about the middle finger..lol…

FAR - 04/15/13 70 - 07/02/13 79!!!
AUD - 08/19/13 84 🙂
REG - 10/14/13
BEC - 11/29/13

Using Becker

[Author]

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