Just from what I've seen from my colleagues and some people on here, a lot of people struggle with BEC and I'm wondering if anyone knows why. I've just started diving into the material so I haven't gotten into the meat of it (Lectures 3 and 5 in Becker). But with only 5 lectures, I would think it's not that bad. Is that why...people underestimate it?
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michelle119
offlineMemberI think a lot of people underestimate it and it has a lot of information... It doesn't have as much as FAR but I found it difficult because it was a lot of unrelated information that was taken from a lot of my freshman classes that I hadn't seen in a couple of years. Just keep studying and you'll do fine. Best of luck!
FAR 7/2 - 88
BEC 7/30 - 87
AUD 8/27 - 80
REG 11/12 - 96Posted 1 year ago # -
Florida_Candidate
offlineMemberMy issue is that there seemed to be no "big picture". with FAR, REG, and AUD I could watch all the lectures and then go back and fill in details and just continually add to this "picture" I had in my head regarding the overall material. For BEC it was literally 5 different mini-exams to study for. No big picture whatsoever and I had no idea what was going to be tested more heavily and what wasn't and I just felt really horrible about it lol.
FAR-91 (7/29)
AUD-99 (8/23)
BEC-90 (10/1)
REG-99 (11/3)Posted 1 year ago # -
yankees144
offlineMemberI agree with Florida, BEC was just this mash-up of material they couldn't find spots for in the other exams. It was hard to make useful connections between chapters while studying, so you always felt like you were learning something completely new and disregarding everything you read in the last chapter. At least in the other sections, some chapters prepped you for later ones or expanded on previous material.
Becker Review Course - Done!!
BEC - 77, REG - 88, AUD - 90, FAR - 83Posted 1 year ago # -
CPA Someday
offlineMemberI underestimated it because everyone else told me it was so easy.. so I slacked just a bit on studying.. therefore my score suffered. The IS information was annoying! You have to be up-to-the minute on the information. The study materials unfortunately are not THAT up to date when you sit for the exam.. but we pass :)
REG 81; BEC 79; FAR 81!!; AUD 71, 92
Ethics 98
Illinois DOES post on Saturdays!!!Posted 1 year ago # -
Trevor
offlineMemberThis is probably the most asked question on the forum... I really think that it is a little of both of what people are saying. I think we tend to not see a "bigger picture" or an end to bring everything together. The bigger picture helps I think because you can answer multiple choice questions thinking of the overall goal... you know what I mean? a more educated guess? And then there is the underestimating... I even did it the second time around. Honestly it is not a lot of information and I do not think the material is difficult, but when it comes down to it you just need to put in some solid hours. I think that this is where the problem is for most...
BEC: 73,81(7/6/2010); AUD: 75(5/24/2010); FAR: 76(8/31/2010); REG: 77 (10/18/2010) - DONE!!!!Posted 1 year ago # -
75orbust
offlineMemberI think the most obvious reason is the lack of simulations. There is a reason that almost everyone seems to do worse on BEC than the other 3 sections and it is the only one without simulations(for now)...hmmm coincidence?? A lot of easy points can be gained in the simulations imo. The research is generally a layup, the writing is easy too- you don't even necesarily need to be correct in your response to get a lot of points if you can just formulate good sentences and use correct grammar and punctuation. And the tabs you can usually work your way through if you have enough time like in AUD in REG.
Also, BEC questions are less forgiving than the other tests imo. What I mean is most of the IT stuff for example is pretty cut and dry, either you know it or you don't. In comparison to AUD where you can generally think your way through questions without necessarily knowing the answer off the top of your head and you can generally narrow it down.
FAR-1/04- 86 KAPLAN Review
REG-5/12- 89 MN Licensed CPA
BEC-7/17- 81 ETHICS - 100
AUD-8/31- 85Posted 1 year ago # -
MPoni123
offlineMemberFor me, BEC just had the most confusing type of information to retain. The other 3 sections I actually understood first time around watching the lectures, etc. With BEC (using Becker), I just did not understand the material. It really made no sense to me. Once I switched to Yaeger and listened to Cindy explain it (mostly financial management and variances), I definitely grasped the concepts.
AUD - 84; REG - 90; BEC - 79; FAR - 75; ALL DONE!!Posted 1 year ago # -
italianCPA
offlineMemberKobe,
I found the supplemental becker info on B4 not necessary at all. My IT questions were vague, not technical at all, they looked like they came from the AUD exam.
Anyways, I suggest you don't blow them off, just skim through it.FAR - 7/26/10 - 95
AUD - 8/10/10 - 88
BEC - 8/31/10 - 88
REG - 10/15/10 - 95Posted 1 year ago # -
Numberguy
offlineMemberI just took BEC yesterday. I think BEC gives people problems because they look at it as the smallest test..shortest time and no Sims. I agree with everyone else for the lack of the "Big Picture". Another reason is that you can have an IT Question and then you are calculating the NPV on the next question and the next one is on Partnerships...Your mind has to switch gears between totally different concepts throughout the test.
BEC 81 expired, 74, Oct 80
FAR 79
REG 70, 70, 82
AUD 74, 65, NovPosted 1 year ago # -
kobebryant168
offlineMemberHey ItalianCPA!
Agreed with you, that supplement questions in IT are like, nothing
But my biggest concern is Managerial Accounting! thats where I failed last time and I m really having a hard time getting through that, any good suggestions on how to tackle it down?Greatly appreciated!
AUD 74, 77
BEC 73, 71, 71, 78
FAR 78
REG 70
I was born in the 80s...yet my scores are all in 70sPosted 1 year ago # -
FARSUXCPA
offlineMemberimo 1. it's lack of preparation may be due to underestimating the exam 2. it throws a broad range of topics into the mix and ppl may not have exposure to certain areas be it IT, NAV calc or cost 3. Both Becker and Wiley do a horrible job of preparing for IT questions 4. it's not curved (as much) because ppl have plenty of time to finish the test.
DONE!Posted 1 year ago # -
CPA Someday
offlineMemberHey Kobe, if you are using Becker I strongly suggest the Becker final review
OR
Take a step back and look at the equations as you would like to remember them. For example, I remember one equation that becker tells you to remember like "2(a+bc) / bc-a" Why didn't becker have you memorize it as "2(bc+a) / bc-a" At least the letters would be in the same order so it is easy to remember.
Also with the Variance formula's I tried to make the letters fall in the same order .... something like...
AAAS AAAS; SSAS SSAS
Direct Material
Price (purchase x price) Quantity (quantity X price)
A X A S X S
A X S A X S
Direct Labor
Rate (hours x rate) Efficiency (allowed x rate)
A X A S X S
A X S A X SA = Actual S = Standard
I'm not sure why Becker didn't make some of the equations easier to remember.. It helped me to look at each equation the way I could remember it, rather than the way Becker was telling me to.. I hope this helps someone!
REG 81; BEC 79; FAR 81!!; AUD 71, 92
Ethics 98
Illinois DOES post on Saturdays!!!Posted 1 year ago # -
HazeEastwood
offlineMemberThere is no rhyme or reason to BEC. I took FAR and I could tie alot of things back together in FAR and create a framework to remember the information. BEC especially IT is all over the place and very hard to follow. Plus the calculation seem to take forever to complete. Over all the test is far more challenging than I thought. I think I will take it in the next 2 weeks. Not looking forward to it!
FAR-81
BEC-84
AUD-91
REG-89Posted 1 year ago # -
whitesoxfancpa
offlineMemberFor the DM and DL variances, I don't use Becker's "PURE DADS" crap. I use "PURE ASAS" or "PURE AS AS." The "ASAS" is what goes outside the parentheses in the formula.
P A
U S
R A
E SIf you know what goes inside the parentheses (S - A, or standard minus actual), then "PURE ASAS" works. The "ASAS" stands for "actual standard actual standard."
Works for me!
AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88Posted 1 year ago # -
whitesoxfancpa
offlineMemberJamaicanGirlCPA,
I give Roger CPA credit for this:
The best way I do the overhead variances is by drawing a picture. In fact, tomorrow when I am taking my exam, the first thing I'm going to do is draw a picture on my scratch paper.
I don't know how this will turn out when I post it, but I start with four columns across the top:
Actual..........Budget@actual activity..........Budget@standard activity..........Applied
I typically draw three big V's below the chart, linking each item to the one next to it.
The difference between the first two columns is SPENDING VARIANCE. This is variable and fixed.
The difference between the 2nd and 3rd columns is EFFICIENCY VARIANCE. This is variable only.
The difference between the last two columns is VOLUME VARIANCE. This is fixed only
The mnemonic I use is from Roger CPA..."SEVen!" There are four columns and three variances which = SEVen. S = Spending, E = Efficiency, V = VolumeI know it sounds awfully complicated, but it really is super easy. Just memorize the four columns across the top. Then memorize the "SEVen" mnemonic. Then memorize that the first one (the S) is variable and fixed, the second one (the E) is variable only, and the third one (the V) is fixed only.
If you have that down, the variance questions answer themselves.
I tried everything else and couldn't understand them, so I finally buckled down and just flat-out memorized that chart, the "SEVen" thing, and the fixed/variable thing listed above.
Try it. I think you'll be surprised at how effective it is.
AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88Posted 1 year ago # -
Masaman
offlineMemberwhitesoxfancpa,
It looks like you have been really successful with the test so far. May I ask you what material you use and how long you study? I'm using Beckers self study and try to do 1 lecture with the MCQ's per week so 5 weeks for BEC. I try to review previous lectures during odd time like lunch break, appointments, etc. Probably like 10 hours a week. I know that isn't that much compared to some numbers I've seen.
Thanks!
Edit - Okay so it looks like you use Rogers from a previous post.
Posted 1 year ago # -
whitesoxfancpa
offlineMemberHey Masaman,
Actually no, I use Becker. I used a free Roger lecture that was posted here. Just the one on variances because I was having a little trouble with it. Other than that 57 minute lecture, I've used Becker only for all my sections.
My routine is typically about 15-18 hours per chapter, plus a review of each chapter, plus Becker's Final Review. I probably studied about 110 hours for BEC.
Before I get through all the chapters, I never review previous material. That's just how I do it. Here's my typical routine per chapter (each study session is about 2.5-3 hours):
Session #1: Start lecture/do MC questions (first half of chapter)
Session #2: Finish lecture/MC questions (second half of chapter)
In the first two sessions, I just get through the lecture and MC questions one time each. I don't worry too much about wrong answers or figuring out why they were wrong. When doing the questions, I do them along with the lecture. So after each little piece of the lecture, I immediately work those questions.
Session #3: Read first half of chapter, do MC questions again, really try to understand them (first half of chapter)
Session #4: Read second half of chapter, do MC questions again, really try to understand them (second half of chapter)
When doing this, I do it the same as the lectures, meaning I read the section and immediately work those MC questions afterward.
Session #5: Redo all MC questions (at this point it goes quicker since I've seen them all twice already). For answers I'm getting wrong, really try to drill down on why it was wrong so I don't make the same mistake again.
Session #6: Do supplemental questions, work simulations briefly (not for BEC), review flashcards, work MC questions for problem areas or maybe do a 50 question progress test.This approach has worked for me. It took me a couple chapters in my first section (AUD) to really figure out what works.
Also, for the theory stuff, I find that rather than trying to memorize everything, if you just trust that Becker's MC questions cover the important stuff, you can learn the theory by repetition of the questions rather than by reading and memorizing stuff from the book. You may begin memorizing answers to questions, but that's OK if you're memorizing a concept you'll need to know!
Best of luck to you. These exams aren't nearly as difficult as they're often made out to be. It's a ton of material but nothing in extreme detail. Practice and put in the time and you'll succeed.
AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88Posted 1 year ago # -
75 CPA
offlineMemberI used both Becker and Yaeger for BEC. I thought that Yaeger, with Cindy Simpson as the teacher, was a better teaching course than Becker. Additionally, Becker is far more expensive than Yaeger! I used, to some extent, all four Becker courses. I thought that BEC was Becker's weakest review course. AUD was Becker's strongest review course, in my opinion.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Masaman
offlineMemberwhitesoxfancpa,
Thanks for that breakdown. Your method sounds pretty solid. I've been trying to do something similar to your method but I think not having a solid plan really hurts me. Sometimes I sit there and think should I review the chapter or move on or do something else. I tend to get lost in what to study. I'll try using your plan as it does sound very comprehensive. One part where we differed was after the lecture I would do the MCQ's but I would try to understand the wrong answers and make notes on them. I think that bogged me down timewise and at the same time I got really discouraged since I was focusing more on the negative. Your review of the text after the lecture then understanding the MCQ's sounds much better than trying to nail the topic right from the start.
Thanks for the help!
Posted 1 year ago # -
whitesoxfancpa
offlineMemberFreshStart,
Just click the BEC one.
http://www.rogercpareview.com/full-demo.cfm?email=rien0323@hotmail.com
AUD 96 FAR 95 REG 94 BEC 88Posted 1 year ago #
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