Posted: 16 Nov 2009 at 12:37 | IP Logged
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Becker chapters 3-5 are the most important for BEC. Chapter 1 on business structures is also very important and heavily tested, but the questions on the actual exam are pretty basic. Becker chapter 4 (IT) coverage is not the best; Wiley is a great supplement, but nothing can fully prepare you for the IT questions. Chapter 2 on economics is very lightly tested, even though it is a lot of material.
Becker’s chapter 3 and 5 Passmaster questions (and/or the corresponding questions in Wiley and Bisk) are especially good practice. They require a lot of calculations in many steps, but the actual questions on the exam will require fewer, simpler calculations. Many CPA candidates have trouble with variances. Becker doesn’t explain variances that well, but Wiley current version page 333 has a good overview of overhead variances. Becker passmaster question CPA-04158 also has a very useful chart for overhead variances.
I used multiple sources to make sure I covered as much material as reasonably possible, as well as to see topics presented in different ways. My main material was Bisk 2009-2010 edition, but I also have 2006 Becker textbooks, MCQs and flashcards, as well as free Wiley software I got from http://www.wiley.com/college/uopcpa thanks to someone else on this board who posted about this.
This free Wiley software has a few hundred practice problems for each section, as well as excerpts from the Wiley study books. It is version 13, 1 version older than the current section, but a great, free supplement, especially for BEC. There are some mistakes and outdated numbers for REG, and it does not have the SFAS 141(R) for FAR.
I also used http://www.cpareviewforfree.com/ which has practice problems worth doing, although they are not as worthwhile as Becker Passmaster problems and Wiley, but still a good supplement if you have time. The BEC IT problems are pretty useful as well.
I tried to make sure I knew all the material in the review materials very well. I did the readings and all the practice problems at least twice. I went through particularly troublesome areas (cost accounting for me) three times. As I did each practice problem, I tried to make sure I understood why the correct choice is correct and why the others are wrong. I reviewed any area that I felt at all shaky on. It is important to do as many practice problems as possible.
I also took the free Gleim diagnostic quiz and practice final exam: http://www.gleim.com/accounting/cpa/diagnosticquiz.php http://www.gleim.com/accounting/cpa/practice_exam.php Gleim's exam interface is very close to the real thing. You can get pretty good answers and explanations for the diagnostic quiz, but they don't give you the answers to the practice exam. They only email you a score.
The AICPA recently released questions are also a good review tool, especially for BEC. The ones from previous years are integrated into the major review materials, but make sure you download the most recent released questions that have not made it into the review materials.
__________________ KJ, CPA licensed in New York
AUD - May 2009 - 99
FAR - July 2009 - 99
REG - Aug 2009 - 99
BEC - Oct 2009 - 93
License applied for Nov 2009, received Jan 2010
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