2013

The CPA Exam

Becker Professional Education

A global leader in professional

education serving accounting,

finance, project management and

healthcare professionals from career

start to finish.

Obtaining your CPA License

Education | Exam | Experience

Every state is unique

The Three E’s

TSBPA Education Requirements• Baccalaureate Degree

• 150 Semester Hours

– minimum of 30 upper-division semester hours in

accounting

• above the principles level

– 24 upper-division hours of related business courses

– 3-hour STATE-APPROVED ethics course

• View approved courses at www.tsbpa.state.tx.us

• As of July 1st, 2011:

• 2 semester hours of accounting or tax research and

analysis

• 2 semester hours of accounting or business

communications

(Within the 30 hours of accounting and 24 hours of business)

State Requirements

Becker.com/stateState Board of AccountancyThisWaytoCPA.com NASBA.org (National Association of State Boards of Accountancy)

CPA Exam Process

Qualify• Review state

requirements

Apply• Submit your

application to sit for the CPA Exam

Prepare• Enroll in

Becker

• Receive your Notice-to-Schedule (NTS)

Schedule• Schedule

exam with Prometric

Succeed• Study and sit

for the CPA Exam

5 Key Steps

JAN

OPEN

FEB

OPEN

MAR

CLOSED

APR

OPEN

MAY

OPEN

JUN

CLOSED

JUL

OPEN

AUG

OPEN

SEP

CLOSED

OCT

OPEN

NOV

OPEN

DEC

CLOSED

2nd Qtr Window

1st Qtr Window

3rd Qtr Window

4th Qtr Window

• Sit for exams as soon as eligible.

• Must pass all 4 parts within an 18-month window.

• Firms want new hires to pass early in their careers.

Begin Application Process

The On Demand Exam

Structure and Content

About the CPA Exam

Exam Overview

4 Independent SectionsFinancial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)4 hours

Regulation (REG)3 hours

Auditing and Attestation (AUD)4 hours

Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)3 hours

Exam can be taken in any state or jurisdiction

Exam is administered at Prometric Testing Centers

Financial

Financial - Structure

60%

40%

• Three multiple-choice question (MCQ) testlets containing 90 questions

• One testlet containing seven short, task-based simulations (TBS)

• 15 MCQs and 1 TBS are pretest questions

• Passing Grade 75

Financial - Content

Concepts & Standards (including

IFRS)17% - 23%

Financial Statement Accounts27% - 33%

Specific Transactions

27% - 33%

Government Accounting

8% - 12%

Not-for-Profit Accounting8% - 12%

Financial - IFRS (INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING

STANDARDS)

Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of the following:

• Differences between financial statements prepared under U.S.

GAAP and under IFRS

• First-time adoption of IFRS related to financial reporting,

presentation and disclosures in general-purpose financial

statements

Audit

Audit - Structure

60%

40%

• Three multiple-choice question (MCQ) testlets containing 90 questions

• One testlet containing seven short, task-based simulations TBS

• 15 MCQs and 1 TBS are pretest questions

• Passing Grade 75

Audit - Content

Professional Re-sponsibilities

16% - 20%

Engagement Accep-tance & Understand-ing the Assignment

12% - 16%

Understanding the Entity & Environment

16% - 20%

Performing Audit Procedures & Eval-

uating Evidence16% - 20%

Evaluating Findings, Communication &

Reporting16% - 20%

Accounting & Review Engagements

12% - 16%

Regulation

Regulation - Structure

60%

40%

• Three multiple-choice question (MCQ) testlets containing 72 questions

• One testlet containing six short, task-based simulations (TBS)

• 12 MCQs and 1 TBS are pretest questions

• Passing Grade 75

Regulation - Content

Federal Taxation of Entities

18% - 24%

Ethics, Professional & Legal Responsi-

bilities15% - 19%

Business Law17% - 21%

Federal Tax Proce-dures & Accounting

Issues11% - 15%

Federal Taxation of Property Transac-

tions12% - 16%

Federal Taxation of Individuals13% - 19%

Business

Business - Structure

85%

15%

• Three multiple-choice question (MCQ) testlets containing 72 questions

• Three written communication tasks

• 12 MCQs and 1 written communication task are pretest questions

• Passing Grade 75

Business - Content

Corporate Gov-ernance

16% - 20%

Economic Con-cepts & Analysis

16% – 20%

Financial Management19% - 23%

Information Sys-tems & Commu-

nication15% - 19%

Strategic Planning10% - 14%

Operations Management

12% - 16%

Exam Tip/Strategy # 1

• Time Management – Critical

• Financial/Auditing Illustration

• Time 4 Hours = 240 Minutes

• M/C 3 Testlets 90 questions 60 pts = value 2/3 pt each

• 30 mc/50 min = 1min 42 sec per question

• Task Based Simulations 7 questions 40 pts= value 6pts

ea.

• 7 TBS/90 min = 12 min 51secs per question

• Answer All Questions- Exam ‘Positively’ graded

• Remember 15 -20% of Exam does not count

=15M/C,1TBS

Exam Tip/Strategy #2

• Read with Comprehension

• Theory/Concept M/C Questions - read from

beginning/review all answer choices

• Computational Questions –always read last sentence

first

• Check dates ‘very carefully’

• ‘Fiscal Year’ vs ‘Calendar Year’

• ‘Full year’ vs ‘Fractional Year’

Exam Structure

Multiple Choice

Simulations

Research Tasks• Research task format based on the FASB Codification™.

Written Communication (BEC Only)

Becker’s CPA Exam Review

Becker CPA Exam Review

• The leader in CPA review for more than 50 years

• Over 500,000 candidates have passed the CPA

exam using Becker, more than any other review

provider

• Double the pass rate of non-Becker candidates*

• Partnerships with the Big 4 and 99 of the top 100

accounting firms

• 31 out of the 37 most recent Elijah Watt Sells

Award winners prepared with Becker’s CPA Exam

Review.

• Since 2005, almost 90% of all Watt Sells

winners have prepared with Becker.

*Becker Professional Education students pass at double the rate of all CPA exam candidates who did not take a Becker course, based on averages of AICPA-published pass rates. Data verified by an independent third-party firm.

Rising Trend In Sitting for the Exam

In 2012, 92,839 candidates sat for

the CPA Exam, up from the previous

year's 90,632. The all-time-high

spike of over 100,000 in 2010 was a

result of candidates rushing to take

the test before it switched to the

current CBT format.

Flexible Course Formats

Over 250worldwide locations

Dedicated online

instructors

Anytimeanywhere

Becker Live Class Schedules

Becker has classes in 200+ cities follow

link below.

http://www.becker.com/accounting/

cpaexamreview/locations_sched/

index.cfm

Becker also has self-study and online

classes.

Exam Tip/Strategy # 3

• Apply - Dec grads in Oct, May grads in March

• File all forms ‘Accurately’

• Sit in ‘State’ you are going to ‘Practice’; Meet ‘State’

‘Educational Requirements”

• Transcripts sent on a timely basis

• ‘Order of Exams’: If possible select most comfortable

section first i.e. Regulation – strong ‘tax’ background;

however not critical

• Complete exam:

- - Within 6-8 months

- Prior to commencing

employment

A Complete CPA Review Focused on Your Success

• Study anywhere, anywhere using any device

• Expert Instruction and Unlimited Academic Support

• Comprehensive Textbooks and eBooks

• Interactive Study Planner and Writing Tutorials

• Becker Software with resources that replicate the

content and functionality of the CPA Exam

Multiple Choice Homework

Simulations

Final Exams

Study Road Map

• Provides guidance on

what to study and how

much time to devote to

each topic.

• Fully integrates all

course elements.

Multiple Choice Questions

• Over 6,500 questions.

• Link to lecture and link

to text features provide

clarification on

challenging topics.

• Complete answer

explanations.

• Timer allows you to stay

on pace.

Simulations

• Over 250 task-based

simulations.

• Functionality mirrors the

CPA Exam.

• Timer allows you to stay

on pace.

Review Before Exam

• Provides direction on

how to prepare in your

final days leading up to

the exam.

• Includes two full final

exams per part that

mirror the CPA Exam.

Study Planner

• Creates a customized

preparation plan that

fits your needs.

• Drag and drop

functionality allows you

to easily address

schedule changes.

• Export capability to MS

Outlook.

Additional Study Tools

Flashcards• Over 1,000 cards in a portable format for learning anywhere,

anytime• Available in traditional or mobile formats: iPhone®, iPod Touch®,

iPad® and Android

Final Review• Complements your CPA Exam Review course.• Shows you which areas to focus on during your last critical

days of study.• Available in live or self-study formats

0% Financing

• 18 month interest-free loan

• Available on our four-part CPA Exam Review, Final Review and Flashcards

• All applicants are pre-approved

• $125 processing fee applies

For full details and to get started: becker.com/financing

The Becker Promise

• If you study with Becker but do not

pass the CPA Exam, you may

repeat our course at no additional

tuition cost if you satisfy our

requirements.

• Learn more at becker.com/promise

“”

Christopher Michael LeonWatt Sells winner and Becker alum

I credit a lot of my success on the exam to Becker. My best advice to other candidates:

Don't skimp on the exam review. The time & money you invest now

will pay off for a lifetime and Becker is one of the best investments you can make.

Exam Tip/Strategy # 4

• Review each textbook chapter in 2+ hours –’no more’

• Key - Focus on Past Questions

– Exam is 80-85% repetitive

– Review all M/C 3X

– Utilize ‘Progress Test’ tool

– Review all simulations/written communications 2X

• Take the 2 ‘Final Exams’ 3/4 days before actually exam

• Earn the ‘Becker Promise’

• Utilize ‘Academic Support’

• ‘Final Review’ Program (optional)

Contact Information

Deborah Alvarado

dalvarado@becker.com

512.924.4436

or

www.becker.com

1-877-CPA EXAM

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