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jpatel854
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Joined: 10 Nov 2009
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Posted: 10 Nov 2009 at 21:51 \| IP Logged

The purpose of this post is for previous and current exam takers to criticize my strategy ,hopefully this will allow me to make it better. I have never taken the CPA and i just want to get an idea if ive got the right ideas. Currently I am a student and will have the 150 hours needed to sit for the CPA in Jan.

I plan on taking the exam in 2010, i want to use Wiley and Becker materials.I want to take AUD,FAR,REG then BEC in that order. I plan on studying each section about 1.5 months

When responding please address each question with #1,#2,etc.

#1. If i use Wiley 2009-2010 review and questions and Becker 2009 lectures and questions, would that be enough? Or will Becker 2009 be outdated? I know it maybe for REG.

#2 I basically want to go over Becker, supplement it with Wiley and do questions. A basic outline of my day would be, 4-5 hrs, REad becker lecture, Browse Wiley Review, take notes,...break... do questions.....then later on check answers and learn from mistakes. Is that too much to have in one day?

#3
Once im through studying each section how much time should someone take to review all of the material in section prior to the test date? 1-2 weeks?3 weeks?

#4 I know Becker 2009 might be outdated, would Wiley be sufficient to pass the exam? Has anyone just relied on Wiley to pass the exam? I read some posts and noticed mixed opinions.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.Thanks alot

Kfan
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Joined: 02 Oct 2009
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Posted: 11 Nov 2009 at 00:16 \| IP Logged

I think that you're making a mistake going with Becker. It's really expensive and the quality of the instruction is mediocre. The yaeger course is better quality, more in depth, and much cheaper.

lkbcpa2b
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Joined: 07 Nov 2009
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Posted: 11 Nov 2009 at 01:16 \| IP Logged

Wiley has served me well so far...I definitely think it is enough to pass the CPA exam. I don't even have an accounting degree.

__________________
LKB, CPA, MBA, MSQF

BEC 8/15/09 -76
FAR 10/2/09 -76
AUD 10/16/09 -77
REG 11/24/09 -76

Wiley CPA Review

minicre
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Joined: 15 Jul 2008
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Posted: 11 Nov 2009 at 11:30 \| IP Logged

First off, I think it is a bad idea to mix ANY 2 study materials. One is sufficent if you study properly. You seem like you will be on top of your game, therefore you shouldn't have a problem in this area. With that being said, Becker IS expensive, but it is the "people's choise" as well as the Big 4's choice. There is a reason for that... Because it works! It worked for me, and I am not a typical accounting brain.

Also, just my opinion but I would leave AUD til the end because I feel like everything builds up to it. Also if you begin working in AUD and getting real life experience it will help with the test for sure. FARE and REG are more conceptual whereas you just need to memorize stuff and do not need real life experience. BEC is just the wild card, and you will probably not be doing any of it in practice too often. So you can take that whenever.

Now to answer your questions:

#1)Yes they would both be enough... But the better questions is... Why use 2 materials? Becker 2009 will NOT be updated. I have the last 3 years Becker materials (from friends etc..) and barley anything has changed. Also, any changes that occur is posted on their website in PDF form. The extra MCQ questions are also usually posted on Becker website as the AICPA released questions. Majority of these makeup the "new questions" for the year. Becker has worked for me, I never failed... So its possible. Clearly thats why they are most profitable.

#2) I do believe that this is too much for one day. Before I began working I was studying around 5-8 hours a day like you wish to do. I usually would take one day to watch the lecture and re-read the notes. 1 day to do all the MCQ questions. 1 day to make flash cards for chapter. 1 day to re-read notes, re-do questions that i got wrong, and do supplementals. And then 1 day to do simulations and clean-up anything I missed for chapter. Repeat for all chapters. I took around 1 week per a chapter. Also after week 2 i would take a mini test of chapter 1 and 2. After week 3, I would do a mini test of chpt 1,2 & 3, AND SO ON... This is so I don't forget stuff...

The key to this test is repetition. Always repeat everything, and it will be cemented in your brain.

#3) After I was done with every chapter, I would give each chapter around 2 or 3 days each to re-do everything. AKA, redo all the MCQ and re-read chapter/flash cards and redo simulations. Also rewatch lectures if i felt like it was a hard one.

After I re-do every chapter like that, then I would give myself one more week. First I would do the Becker final exams. Do very badly on them cause they are hard. Then I would re-do the questions I got wrong through out. And re-read notes and flash cards etc... Basically just clean up and get my confidence back.

#4) Can not pass judgement on Wiley... but I will say... ALL material can be sufficent for different people. Its all about how you approach it. I never looked at any other material other than Becker but I am sure it can be sufficent.

Hope this helps, and message me if you need anything further.

Jake,

__________________
REG------FAR------BEC------AUD

-79-------78-------77------90->

ALL DONE on 1st TRY, w/Becker!

jpatel854
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Joined: 10 Nov 2009
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Posts: 10

Posted: 11 Nov 2009 at 13:24 \| IP Logged

Thanks a lot Jake! I appreciate you taking the time to give me such great feedback. Thanks to everyone else too.

Like you, i got my Becker materials (09') from a friend but no video lectures.I just have the class notes, lectures, and pass master questions.

Are those video lectures any different from the written lectures? I learn better reading anyhow. I think i'll stick to one set of study materials as you suggested.

Thanks again for your help, and I might message you if I have some other questions.

JP

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