What is the BEC bubble?

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    Topic
  • #178157
    seraphim893
    Member

    I’m about to take BEC for the first time in July so I just started reading some BEC threads but I haven’t been able to figure it out – what is the BEC bubble everyone refers to?

    FAR - 87!
    AUD - 90!
    REG - 83!
    BEC - 85!! I'M DONE!!!

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  • #422712
    mangos
    Member

    The written portion of the exam is computer graded, so if you're really on the borderline of a passing score you're in the “bubble.”

    If you're in the bubble, there are human graders who will take a second look and regrade it to be more fair.

    FAR (5/07/13): 96

    #422713
    seraphim893
    Member

    Ohhh – thanks!

    Do the computers just look for specific keywords when they're grading?

    FAR - 87!
    AUD - 90!
    REG - 83!
    BEC - 85!! I'M DONE!!!

    #422714
    MCLKT
    Participant

    Nobody knows for sure, but that is the general thought.

    If someone is on the bubble, that WC keyword theory goes out the window, because the written communication will be graded manually.

    And, you can be on the bubble because of MCQ performance.

    Theoretically, your WC could be fine and received a high grade from the computer (key words and all). But MCQ put you on the bubble, say a 75. Then when the WC is graded manually, they can lower the score of that portion. Maybe the keywords were there, but the person grading it found other things like the technical aspect or grammar and decided to lower the score of it knocking your 75 to a 74.

    The bubble sucks.

    A:[73]97 F:[74]85 R:86 B:[74]82
    *NINJA 10 Pt. COMBO & Yaeger*

    #422715
    seraphim893
    Member

    Well, I officially have a new worst BEC nightmare.

    Thanks for the info 🙂

    FAR - 87!
    AUD - 90!
    REG - 83!
    BEC - 85!! I'M DONE!!!

    #422716
    MCLKT
    Participant

    Oh no! Sorry!!!

    On the bright side, it can go the other way too 🙂

    A:[73]97 F:[74]85 R:86 B:[74]82
    *NINJA 10 Pt. COMBO & Yaeger*

    #422717
    IwannaBaCPA
    Participant

    I kind of heard something different. I heard if you were on the bubble – meaning just BELOW passing with the computer graded WC, then a person would manually grade to see if you should get the extra point or so to push you into passing. I don't think it works the other – they manually grade to make you fail.

    I am not for certain though, but I feel like I read that somewhere…If I find it, I will share.

    BEC: 79 - April 2011
    FAR: 78 - May 2011
    AUD: 81 - May 2012
    REG: 79 - October 2012
    Ethics: Passed - March 2013
    I am finally DONE!

    #422718
    IwannaBaCPA
    Participant

    Found it – but I guess it does NOT say they only manually grade up…bummer.

    https://www.aicpa.org/BecomeACPA/CPAExam/PsychometricsandScoring/ScoringInformation/DownloadableDocuments/How_the_CPA_Exam_is_Scored.pdf

    BEC: 79 - April 2011
    FAR: 78 - May 2011
    AUD: 81 - May 2012
    REG: 79 - October 2012
    Ethics: Passed - March 2013
    I am finally DONE!

    #422719

    Just think of how many people were in the bubble back before they switched other sections to TBS instead of written communications.

    REG- Waiting 7/1/13
    BEC- Waiting 7/23/13
    AUD- Studying 8/12/13
    FAR- Signed up 10/1/13
    Studying with CPAExcel and Wiley Test Bank.

    #422720
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    BEC is tough, no doubt. But do not fear. I seriously, I mean seriously thought I failed and I got a 92. No EWS for me… a point or so shy, but I'm just happy to be done. Don't worry about the written. Know the concepts and do your best and you'll be fine. In 3 months I'll have my license (due to experience requirements). Here's an incentive. If you go into public… all this studying and testing will really help you. This is my third week in Public and I know more than most of the people that have been there that haven't taken the exam.

    #422721
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    Hey @bcjasper09, Congratulations on passing all 4 parts in less than 6 months while graduating and starting a new job! Whew! You are ablazing and I wish you well.

    Your comments about BEC are fascinating as you aced the others and my conclusion was always that you would ace this one too…Your disciplined study habits and great mind to ace the others would be consistent going into the final exam. Perhaps there was some emotional fatigue (which makes sense) and letting in some doubt after reading all the posts as you reported.

    Reading that you were “unsure on 3-4” put a bemused smile on my face…most would die to be “unsure” of so few…You have high expectations of your efforts…100% all the way!!!..That is why I'm such a big fan….If you assume you got one right on chance..that is 1 out of 4 and if you guessed another right, that is 2 out of 4 and the other 2 end up being a crap shoot and likely you hit another one so that is 3 our of 4.

    EWS would have been tough….You would have had to reach 99 in BEC and I have not found any forum posts to date that reached that level by any EWS finalist. So a big pat on your back all the same. Oh, and I won my proposed bet that would have a score above 87!

    As far as BEC, I don't know what to thinking going into the exam in July. This one seems to be the most unpredictable as there is no “right or wrong” answer…just the best answer and that is based on the interpretation of the examiners. I consider myself sound in the IT area and without studying getting in the 70s…what is tripping me up…examiners “interpretation” of IT which isn't always based on known convention..so I will have to memorize the definitions like everyone else to ensure I put a flag on BEC peak in July.

    All the best.

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