Cpa Bec Notes Pdf



Our free CPA practice exams and study resources will help you pass the challenging CPA exam. The CPA designation is one of the most prestigious certifications someone can get in the accounting industry. CPA candidates can expect to put in some long hours while preparing to take the CPA exam. There are numerous requirements that must be met before candidates can sit for the exam.

Those who hold a CPA designation will be distinguished from their colleagues who only hold an accounting degree. CPA candidates should expect a pay bump and an increase in responsibilities after earning their CPA designation. For more information on how to advance your career in accounting, check out our study resources provided below.

Free CPA Practice Tests & Exam Questions

We have compiled a list of free CPA questions and answers. Check out these free CPA sample questions (some of which are PDF/downloadable).

ResourceNotesQuestionsIncludes Explanations?
Official CPA Practice ExamLatest CPA Sample Exams from AICPA. Simulates actual test environment66No
AUD Practice TestFrom AICPA10 MCQ, 6 TBSNo
BEC Practice Test From AICPA10 MCQ, 6 TBS, 2 WCTNo
FAR Practice Test From AICPA10 MCQ, 6 TBSNo
REG Practice Test From AICPA10 MCQ, 6 TBSNo
CPA Exam Sample Questions From NJCPA. Questions from Roger/U-world96 Total (24/section) all MCQYes
CPA Review for Free 900+ questions. Requires registration. Pushes paid product. Affiliated with Fastforward Academy965 MCQYes
Gleim Free CPA Questions Requires registration. Simulates test environment. Answers are not available until you submit testlet. Can review exam, but can only take once.276 MCQ, 28 TBSYes
Official CPA Exam Questions Released (PDF)From MOCPA. AICPA released questions from previous CPA exam.140 MCQNo
Wiley CPA Pop Quiz (PDF)From Wiley/EfficientLearning.com100 MCQYes

The BEC CPA exam has 62 multiple choice questions instead of the previous 72 with a reduced weighting of 50% from the previous 85%. In addition, the BEC will now include 4 task-based simulations going forward which are weighted at 35% of the total exam score. Click here to download free kasneb cpa materials,pastpapers and mock questions.Notes and revision kits available in pdf format.Download questions & answers.

CPA Review COUPON & DISCOUNT CODES

CPA Review Courses

If you feel you need more help than what these resources provide, please check out our review of the best CPA review courses.

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CPA Flashcards

Resource Notes
BEC Flashcards 157 BEC flashcards (Quizlet)
AUD Flashcards 78 AUD flashcards (Quizlet)
REG Flashcards 260 REG flashcards (Quizlet)
FAR Flashcards 207 FAR flashcards (Quizlet)

Other Free CPA Study Resources

Check out these other CPA exam resources.

Resource Notes
CPA Exam Blueprints Latest CPA exam blueprints from AICPA.
Latest CPA Exam Candidate Bulletin (PDF) NASBA CPA exam information
CPA Subreddit (Forum) Forum on Reddit for CPA candidates

CPA Formulas you should know

Name Formula
Profit Margin Net Income/Net Sales
Asset Turnover Net Sales/Average Assets
Financial Leverage Assets/Equity
Return on Assets Net Income/Average Assets
Return of Equity Net Income/Average Equity
Return on Sales Net Income/Sales
Capital Turnover Sales/Capital
Return on Investment Income/Capital
Gross Margin Ratio Gross Margin/Net Sales
Operating Profit Margin Operating Profit/Net Sales
Ending Inventory Beginning Inventory+Purchases-Cost of Sales
Retained Earnings Beginning Retained Earnings+Net Income-Dividends
Contribution Margin Sales-Variable Costs
Pension Formula Contributions+Expected Rate of Return-Service Costs-Interest Costs
Basic EPS Earnings Per Common Share/Weighted Average Common Stock Shares Outstanding
Times Interest Earned (TIE) EBIT/Interest Payments
Operating Leverage % Change EBIT / % Change Sales
Quick Ratio (Current Assets-Inventory)/Current Liabilities
COGS Beginning Finished Goods+Cost of Goods-Ending Finished Goods
Inventory Turnover COGS/Average Inventory
Accounts Payable Turnover COGS/Average Accounts Payable
WACC (Cost of Equity x Weight of Equity)+ Cost of Debt x (1-Tax Rate) x Weight of Debt
Payback Period Initial Investment/Yearly Cash Flows
Market Capitalization Common Stock Price Per Share x Number of Common Stock Shares Outstanding
Dividend Payout Ratio Dividends/Net Income or Yearly Dividends Per Share/EPS
P/E Ratio Common Stock Price Per Share/EPS
Market to Book Ratio Market Value/Book Value
Book Value Per Share Common Stock Equity/Common Shares Outstanding
Breakeven Fixed Costs/Contribution Margin

CPA REVIEW COURSES VS DIY STUDY

With CPA exam pass rates hovering around 50%, students should utilize all possible study resources when preparing for the CPA exam. While there are plenty of free CPA study materials out there, students may be better off using those free resources as supplements to a CPA review course.

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CPA review courses will cover all materials that will be tested on the CPA exam. As well as covering all materials, they will also be continuously updated to reflect the most current information. Think of a CPA review course as an investment – those who earn their CPA designation should expect a pay bump. Some companies may even pay for some of the costs associated with CPA review courses.

Benefits of CPA Review Courses

Cpa Bec Notes Pdf Signer

  • Study Schedules – Most CPA review courses will offer personalized study schedules for students. These schedules will help keep students on track and meet their study goals.
  • Updated Information – CPA review courses will be continuously updated and provide the most current information students should know before heading into their CPA exams.
  • Comparable to Actual Test – Top CPA review courses will offer practice exams that simulate the actual CPA exam (both in content and user interface). This is a great way to prepare for the CPA exam.
  • Diagnostics – CPA review courses are starting to use advanced analytics and diagnostics to help students identify which areas they need to study and review the most. These advanced features will save students tons of time by studying more efficiently.

Bottom Line - If your career is riding on your success on the CPA exam and you have the budget, a top CPA review course is a great option.

CPA Exam Outline

The CPA exam is made up of 4 different sections. Each section takes 4 hours to complete and a total of 16 hours to complete the CPA exam. The four sections on the CPA exam include Auditing and Attestation (AUD), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), Regulation (REG), and Business Environment and Concepts (BEC).

Does Studying For The CPA Make You Want to B-A-R-F?

The CPA exam uses three different questions types – multiple choice (MCQ), task-based simulations (TBS), and written communication tasks (WCT). Read below for more information on specific questions and how each section is weighted.

  • Multiple Choice – The CPA exam uses standard formatting for their multiple-choice questions. The questions will vary in length (a couple sentences) and will have 4 answer choices.
  • Task-Based Simulations – These types of questions will be based on “real-world” problems. Candidates will have to type in their answers. Some problems may be based around journal entries, audit, and analyzing reports.
  • Written Communication Tasks – These types of questions will challenge candidates and their ability to communicate effectively. Candidates will be required to submit a written response to various questions.

CPA Exam by Section

SectionTimeMultiple Choice QuestionsTask-Based Simulations Written Communication
Auditing and Attestation (AUD)4 Hours728
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR)4 Hours6243
Regulation (REG)4 Hours668
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC)4 Hours 768

CPA Concepts and Weights by Section

Auditing and Attestation Sprinkcad cost. Red alert ios.

  • Ethics, Professional Responsibilities, and General Principals: 15-25%
  • Assessing Risk and Developing a Planned Response: 20-30%
  • Performing Further Procedures and Obtaining Evidence: 30-40%
  • Forming Conclusions and Reporting: 15-25%

Financial Accounting and Reporting

  • Conceptual Framework, Standard-Setting, and Financial Reporting: 15-25%
  • Select Financial Statement Accounts: 30-40%
  • Select Transactions 20-30%
  • State and Local Governments: 5-15%

Regulation

  • Ethics and Professional Responsibilities: 10-20%
  • Business Law: 10-20%
  • Federal Taxation of Property Transactions: 12-22%
  • Federal Taxation of Individuals: 15-25%
  • Federal Taxation of Entities: 28-38%

Business Environment and Concepts

  • Corporate Governance: 17-27%
  • Economic Concepts and Analysis: 17-27%
  • Financial Management: 11-21%
  • Information Technology: 15-25%
  • Operations Management: 15-25%

Registering for the CPA Exam

When registering for the CPA exam, candidates should plan on the process taking 1-2 months. The first thing a candidate should do is decide which state they will be practicing in. This will usually be determined by where the candidate intends to work – some states may be more appealing than others based on different requirements.

Before registering, candidates should check with their planned state of registration and make sure all requirements are met. Candidates should gather all transcripts from their undergraduate and graduate classes. Some states have pre-evaluation services that candidates can utilize. The length of time for registration varies from state to state but applicants should plan on 1-2 months.

When applicants register, they can decide whether they want to sit for part of the CPA exam or the whole exam. Candidates will be sent a Notice to Schedule once they are registered. A NTS is an official document that allows candidates to schedule testing with Prometric – the official proctoring service for the CPA.

After receiving a Notice to Schedule, candidates can pick testing dates. Candidates can take the exam sections in any order they choose. A general rule of thumb says that candidates should reserve their seats within 45 days of their test date, but they can reserve a spot up to 5 days before the exam.

The costs associated with the CPA exam varies from state to state. When taking the CPA exam, candidates should expect to pay an application fee and a fee for each individual section on the CPA. Generally, candidates should be prepared to pay $900-$1000 if they are taking the whole CPA exam.

Taking the CPA Exam

The CPA exam is administered during 8 months of the year. The months that the exam is not administered in are March, June, September, and December. In the other 8 months the exam is administered, testing is available to candidates 5 or 6 days per week. The company that proctors the CPA exam is Prometric.

There are a couple of rules to keep in mind when scheduling your CPA exam:

  • Candidates can take one section, some sections, or all sections of the CPA exam during the same testing period
  • Sections can be taken in any order
  • Candidates cannot take the same section of the CPA exam during the same testing period.

Prometric has testing centers in all 50 states. In addition to having testing centers in the states, they also have testing centers in Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

CPA Requirements

CPA requirements are tricky. Each state has their own requirements for candidates who wish to sit for the CPA exam. In general, states have requirements for the following categories:

  • Degree Required
  • Certain Number of Credit Hours Required
  • Credit Hours in Specific Courses Required
  • Some States Require U.S. Citizenship
  • Some States Require State Residency
  • Age Requirement
  • Social Security Number Requirement
  • Work Experience Required
  • Continued Professional Education – Once Candidates Earn Their CPA

CPA Exam FAQs

Which is the hardest of the CPA exams?

Cpa Bec Notes Pdf
According to the AICPA, financial accounting and reporting had the lowest passing rate of the 4 CPA exam sections. Financial accounting and reporting had a passing rate of 46.37%. The next hardest section was audit and attestation with a passing rate of 47.97%. Candidates concerned about passing the CPA exam should check out our review of the best CPA Review courses.

What kind of questions are on the CPA exam?

The CPA exam has 3 different kinds of questions – multiple choice, task-based simulations, and written communication tasks. The multiple-choice questions will have 4 possible answers. The task-based simulations will be based on “real-world” problems and candidates will have to type in their answers. The written communication tasks will require candidates to write their answers and their communication skills will be tested.

Can you self-study for the CPA?

Candidates can absolutely self-study for the CPA exam. With that being said, candidates may save a lot of time by investing in a CPA review course. The best CPA Review courses will have all the updated material in one, easy to find location, and will use proven concepts to help students prepare for the CPA exam.

CPA Scores

The four sections on the CPA exam are each graded separately. Each section is scored on a scale from 1 to 100. The minimum passing score on each section is 75. A candidate must score at least a 75 on each section of the CPA exam to receive their CPA designation. Candidates can expect to receive their scores about 2 weeks after taking their last test.

Good Luck with Your CPA Review!

The sample CPA practice exam questions that we have included above will help you prepare for your final test and discover ways to boost your abilities. So be sure to take our free CPA practice tests and review the areas that need some help. Good luck!

Many students assume that the BEC (Business Environment and Concepts) section of the CPA exam is the easiest one, don’t make this foolish mistake. In recent years the BEC portion has a pass rate around 48%.

Cpa

This section requires quick-thinking application skills about generalized business concepts. Students who excelled in their economics and finance classes tend to score better on this portion than others.

The BEC CPA exam has 62 multiple choice questions instead of the previous 72 with a reduced weighting of 50% from the previous 85%. In addition, the BEC will now include 4 task-based simulations going forward which are weighted at 35% of the total exam score.

The remaining 15% comes from a written communications section where you are required to answer 3 separate questions about relevant BEC topics. You will also be allocated 4 hours instead of the traditional 3 to accommodate the new format. You need to score a 75% or higher in order to pass.

Cpa bec notes pdf notes

BEC Exam Format

Strategic Planning

  • 10% to 14% of the exam
  • Includes Market and Risk Analysis, Strategy Development, and Planning Techniques

Information Systems and Communications

  • 15% to 19% of the exam
  • Topics include basic IT Principles such as OS, File Organization and Security, Disaster Recovery, Business Information System Roles in Transaction Processing and Management Reporting, and IT Function Roles

Financial Management

  • 19% to 23% of the exam
  • Examples include Financing Options such as Various Capital Cost (Debt versus Equity), Loan Rates (Fixed versus Variable), Derivatives and Loan Covenants, and Financial Modeling such as NPV, EVA, DCF, IRR

Operations Management

Cpa Bec Notes Pdf Format

  • 12% to 16% of the exam
  • Examples include cost measurement methods, process and performance management, and project management.

Economic Concepts and Analysis

  • 16% to 20% of the exam
  • Examples include Deflation, Inflation, Exchange Rates, Interest Rates and Impact of Foreign Currencies on Businesses

Corporate Governance

  • 16% to 20% of the exam
  • Includes rights, duties, and responsibilities of the company and their employees as well as monitoring the control environment.

Cpa Bec Notes Pdf Sample

BEC CPA Exam Tips

Conquering the CPA BEC exam is not an easy feat and most certainly should not be taken lightly. It is notorious for being tricky and ambiguous often leaving students feeling more uncertain about their results than any other exam. Here are several handy tips to help you end up on the passing side:

1. One Topic at a Time

The best way to prepare for the BEC exam is to study consistently rather than lumping the required study material together during the last few days before the exam, concentrate on tackling each topic one at a time. Don’t underestimate the BEC exam at any cost. Make sure you study consistently and start weeks if not months before your actual test date.

2. Brush Up On Your Writing Skills

Most candidates tend to shrug off the written communications section – don’t be one of them. This section is comprised of 3 questions requiring you to respond in some form of business writing, such as a memo to a client. Don’t waste time engaging in flowery statements – just be succinct, concise and stay relevant. Using vocabulary and accounting jargon relevant to the topic is a sure way to increase your score.

Cpa Bec Notes Pdf Example

I remember having only 5 minutes left to finish this section due to poor time management. I was not completely familiar with any of the 3 questions, however, I managed to rapidly type 3-4 fluffy sentences for each of them using vocabulary I hoped might make me sound somewhat competent. I thought I would completely fail this section but it in the end I got an “average” grade. When in doubt, use fancy lingo!

BEC CPA Exam Prep

The best way to supplement your BEC exam studies, and ensure you don’t fail, is to do a ton of practice questions. To get access to 2,000 multiple choice questions covering all topics on on the BEC exam, check out the Wiley CPAexcel BEC Test Bank!

Other CPA Exam Sections

Cpa Bec Notes Pdf Format

Check out the AICPA webpage to learn more about the material covered in all 4 parts of the CPA exam.

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