[Anonymous]

Why does BEC seem to have the most number of people leaving the exam confident but then scoring low? I keep seeing posts about people feeling like they "aced" it, or that it wasn't that bad, and then they score lowest on this section. I felt like I failed FAR & REG, and AUD but passed all three. So I'm worried that if I leave thinking I failed BEC, not only will I have failed, but I will have failed royally.

[Anonymous]

I also felt like I failed FAR, REG and AUD when I left the testing center and passeed all 3. Then, when I left BEC I felt like I did well, naturally I thought that that meant I failed, but indeed, I did do well. So, I guess it all depends. I think it feels easier when you take it because there are no SIMS at the end, but the SIMS actually help your score I think.

[Anonymous]

I felt the most comfortable going out of BEC but I only scored a 78 (still celebrated like I won the superbowl). I came out of both Audit and Regulation ready to sign up for a new NTS and I got 81 on both. I agree with kristyhana with the SIMS, they help a score more than people realize.

[PdxJoseph]

I agree with every one of you. I felt I did much better on BEC than any other section by far, but it was my second-worst passing score.

[Anonymous]

I also agree. REG was my first section and I felt horrible about it coming out, (many questions I just guessed on b/c I clearly didn't know the answer) but ended up with an almost perfect score. Then I sat for BEC, and felt very confident coming out of it and ended up in the low 80s. Not that I'm really complaining, because anything above a 74 might as well be a 99, but I really expected to be much higher for BEC than I was.

I really wish they would give a diagnostic report for every test. I would love to see what I messed up on for the BEC.

Oh well, on to FAR!

[Anonymous]

It scares me that you got an almost perfect score on REG and only low 80s for BEC. I got low 80s for REG, so hopefully that doesn't translate to low 60s for my BEC. It's just a little alarming that I don't think I've seen anyone get a 99 on BEC. Even the Watt Sells folks.

[Anonymous]

Cabinill…don't let other people's scores scare you. Fortunately, BEC is one of those exams that's fairly predictable. What new pronouncements are there in the field of Cost Accounting? probably not many. It's the same stuff from college courses. If you know your concepts down pat, you'll do fine, because there aren't too many curve balls (with the exception of IT MCQ's) thrown at you like in FAR and REG. IF you're prepared, it's the easiest of the one's i've taken (i haven't taken Audit so i can't speak to that). Good luck, and study hard

[Anonymous]

Audit wasn't that bad. I found the study process tedious and boring, and felt like I didn't know anything when I walked into the exam. But I guess I learned more than I realized since I got a 91. I used Yaeger. And I have no audit experience.

The IT questions worry me since they seem so strange and not practical.

[Anonymous]

cabinill – if BEC is your last exam, treat it with Care. if you are prepared, you'll pass. if not prepared, then push it out until you feel you are ready. For me, i was ready after i did all the MCQ's plus Supplemental MCQs twice. Comprehension and calculations are a big part of the exam. don't know what to tell you about IT, other than try your best to understand the key points that Becker drives home (if you use Becker). My score report showed that i did weakest in IT… i was 2 or 3 points lower than the avg scores of the passing candidate, but higher in the other areas. soooo….even if you're not the strongest in IT, you can pass.

[Anonymous]

I already pushed this out from August. I'm using Yaeger, and have done all the required problems in the book, and am plowing through all the software problems. I have no idea if I'm ready. I always wish I had a few extra days. But it's too late for me to reschedule for $35, so pushing it out would be kind of expensive. Although failing it now would obviously be more costly than rescheduling. But still.

[Anonymous]

And yes, it's hopefully my last exam. I really would like to pass so I don't have to deal with BEC's simulations next year.

[Anonymous]

The simulations wont start until 2011! So, you have a whole year in case you don't pass! (i think.. )

I just barely failed BEC, with a 74. I was much stronger than most people in Economics & IT, about average in Finance, but much weaker in Cost & Business Structure. So, try to just feel as comfortable with all the topics.. don't shrug a topic off because it seems easy. The easy topics are the ones with tricky questions it seemed. Read over the Becker class notes- it reinforces the basic topics that the exam can make tricky. You seem kind of nervous, I know its hard, but try not to be. Be confident in your answers, fully read all of the answers, and try not to second guess yourself / persuade your self into believing an answer if its not your first instinct (thats my problem).

If you have time- definitely rework all of the calculation based questions, because there will definitely be questions similar to those on the exam- I found that Becker's calculations were generally harder than the exam. & for the rest of the stuff.. just know the basics & the rules.. because for me, the theoretical/foundational questions were harder on the exam.

[Anonymous]

Good luck!!!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice. I've felt the same way as you in the other sections, that the calculations were similar or easier but the theoretical ones were trickier. I am a total nervous wreck! I get this way before each exam. I swear this thing is shaving years off my life. Good luck to you too!

[Anonymous]

Thanks! Haha I know- we are all going to have signs of aging, like wrinkles & greys, faster than our non-accounting friends because of all this stress lol.

[Anonymous]

Cabinill,

If it makes you feel better, I got an 85 in REG and a 92 in BEC 🙂

[Author]

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