Tips to Pass BEC or REG Before the Exam ChangesJanuary 10, 2017

Introductions

• Denise ProbertCPA, CGMAWiley Director of Curriculum,Accounting Test Prep

• Julie SnowWiley CPAexcel Product Support

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2017 CPA EXAM

January · February · March 10

April 1 · New Exam Launch

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Webinar Agenda

• Quarter One: Why BEC or REG?– Structure– Content– Higher-order cognitive skills

• Exam Strategies• Cram Tips• Raffle• Ask the Expert

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2017 Quarter One Testing: Why BEC?

Testlet 1  24  MCQs

Testlet 2  24  MCQs

Testlet 3  24  MCQs

Testlet 4      3  WCs

Current Exam Format

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2017 Quarter One Testing: Why BEC?

Testlet  131  MCQs

Testlet 231  MCQs

Testlet 32  TBSs

Testlet 43  TBSs

Testlet 5  3  WCs

New Exam Format

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2017 Quarter One Testing: Why REG?

Testlet 1  24  MCQs

Testlet 2  24  MCQs

Testlet 3  24  MCQs

Testlet 4      6  TBSs

Current Exam Format

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2017 Quarter One Testing: Why REG?

Testlet 1  38  MCQs

Testlet 2  38  MCQs

Testlet 3  2  TBSs

Testlet 4      4  TBSs

Testlet 5  3  TBSs  

New Exam Format

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%  of  Exam Contents

16  -­‐ 20% Corporate  Governance

16  – 20% Economic  Concepts  and  Analysis

19  – 23% Financial  Management

15  – 19% Information  Systems  and  Communications

10  – 14% Strategic  Planning

12  – 16% Operations  Management

Current Content Tested on the BEC Exam

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Reallocation of BEC Content

I. Corporate  Governance 16%  -­‐ 20% I. Corporate  Governance 17%  -­‐ 27%

II.  Economic Concepts  and  Analysis 16%  -­‐ 20% II.  Economic Concepts  and  Analysis 17%  -­‐ 27%

III.  Financial  Management 19%  -­‐ 23% III. Financial  Management 11%  -­‐ 21%

IV.  Information  Systems  and  Communications

15%  -­‐ 19% IV.  Information  Technology 15%  -­‐ 25%

V.  Strategic  Planning 10%  -­‐ 14% V.  Operations  Management 15%  -­‐ 25%

VI.  Operations  Management 12%  -­‐ 16%

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%  of  Exam Contents15 -­‐ 19% Ethics,  Professional,  and  Legal  Responsibilities17  – 21% Business  Law11  – 15% Federal  Tax  Process,  Procedures,  Accounting,  and  

Planning12  – 16% Federal  Taxation  of  Property  Transactions13  – 19% Federal  Taxation  of  Individuals

18  – 24% Federal  Taxation  of  Entities

Current Content Tested on the REG Exam

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Reallocation of REG Content

I. Ethics,  Professional  and  Legal  Responsibilities

15%  -­‐ 19% I. Ethics,  Professional  Responsibilities  and  Federal  Tax  Procedures

10%  -­‐ 20%

I.  Business  Law 17%  -­‐ 21% II.  Business  Law 10%  -­‐ 20%

III.  Federal  Tax  Process, Procedures,  Accounting  and  Planning

11%  -­‐ 15% III. Federal  Taxation  of  Property  Transactions

12%  -­‐ 22%

IV.  Federal  Taxation  of  Property  Transactions

12%  -­‐ 16% IV.  Federal  Taxation  of  Individuals 15%  -­‐ 25%

V.  Federal  Taxation  of  Individuals 13%  -­‐ 19% V.  Federal Taxation  of  Entities 28%  -­‐ 38%

VI.  Federal  Taxation  of  Entities 18%  -­‐ 24%

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Reallocation of Higher-Order Cognitive Skills

Section Remembering  and  Understanding

Application Analysis Evaluation

Q1  2017ALL 50% 50%

April 1,  2017BEC 15%-­‐25% 50%-­‐60% 20%-­‐30%REG 25%-­‐35% 35%-­‐45% 25%-­‐35%

Strategies to Sit for BEC or REG in Quarter One

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Strategies to Sit in Quarter One

• Commit to studying and set up your exam planner• Apply immediately– If you have NOT already applied, allow up to 6 weeks – If you have NOT already applied, first fully understand:

• Application process• Notice-To-Schedule (NTS), including its expiration

– If you have your NTS and have time to study, schedule immediately with Prometric

• Study, study, study• Keep in mind the 18-month rolling calendar once you pass your

first section

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Strategies to Sit in Quarter OneCan  I  sit  for  BEC  or  

REG  in  Q1?

Do  I  have  adequate  study  time?

Apply/receive  NTS

Schedule  Q1  exam  if  seats  available

Do  I  have  my  NTS?  

Schedule  exam  ASAP*

SCHEDULE  EXAM  ASAP**Fee  incurred  if  reschedule  within   30  business   days  before  your  exam.  

No  cancellations  24  hours   or  less  from  exam  time

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Strategies to Sit in Quarter OneApplying

Source:  NASBA  2016  Candidate  Bulletin 17

Scheduling

Source:  www.prometric.com

Strategies to Sit in Quarter One

Strategies to Sit in Quarter OneScheduling

Source:  www.prometric.com

Strategies to Sit in Quarter OneScheduling

Source:  www.prometric.com

Strategies to Sit in Quarter OneScheduling

Source:  www.prometric.com

Study TipsSample Plan: BEC in Quarter One

BEC  exam  date  is  

3/1/2017

BEC  is  11-­‐19  study  hours  per  week

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Study TipsGet Started : Your Personalized Exam Plan

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Study TipsGet Started: Dashboard

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Study TipsGet Started: Course Syllabus

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Study Tips

• Focused study time– Read the study text– Watch the lesson videos– Do as many multiple-choice questions as possible– Familiarize yourself with TBSs and WCs

• Final review– Work more MCQs– Highlight challenging content – Highlight content most likely to appear on exam that should be

top of mind• Accountability• Milestone rewards• Motivation

Study wisely

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Exam Tips

• Know where you are taking your exam and how to get there (consider traffic and weather)

• Arrive at Prometric early• Bring your NTS• Ready, get set, Go!– Leave nothing blank– If in doubt, practice MCQ answer choice elimination– Mark questions for review if needed– Manage the clock– Focus– Relax– Breathe– Be confident

• Celebrate

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Raffle!

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Ask the Expert

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