Check-in: If you are using CPAexcel...say hello on this forum......I'm on the CPA Exam Review Forums but many have Becker. CPAExcel is a very different review experience. So please check-in and we can follow each other on the other forums too.
FAR first?: I started with FAR and just couldn't last through 239 sections and two volumes of text. I started printing out the power points and flashcard sections for later review for the first 1/3 of the sections and had a stack of 1,000 pages...!
BEC first: I gave up and decided to start with BEC to build up my study stamina with CPAExcel. So I'm studying for BEC first and FAR right behind it. And then back on track with AUD and REG last.
MCQs and TBSs as you go or at the end? The CPAexcel has proficiency and past exam questions and simulations in each sections....and also videos and slides and online text..... @RandomAlt suggested getting through all the FAR material first and then going back and doing the MCQ and TBSs....Head Ninja, Jeff, of Another 71 recommends doing the MCQs and SIMs only at the end.....Has that worked with anyone else?
Mentored Discussions: I signed up for the works with CPAExcel and find the Mentored Discussions essential. I read those religiously within each section. A professor answers questions on any referenced text or question.
Flashcards: The flashcards are mostly online and far more than those in the box set.
Exam Planner: The Planner assigns by "assignment" which can throw you off...Each assignment has 3-6 sections and not evenly allocated in hours each day...sometimes 2 hours and sometimes 6 hours makes it difficult to manage time relative to the planner schedule. Some have suggested tracking progress through the percentage progress indicator.
Videos: Some skip the videos and just read the slides...I personally like hearing someone walk through the slides...but if you are looking to save time...out goes the videos.
Past exam questions: I have found the study text material is NOT complete when it comes to the past exam questions...So it is important to go through the MCQs at least in study mode to get a comprehensive review of each section and understand why something is right--and wrong too.
Wiley Test Bank vs. CPAexcel past exam and simulations: I have not compared the two to see how much overlap there is and curious what others have found if using both.
Other supplemental materials: I bought Ninja notes from Another 71 early on as I had to have a simple review framework and CPAexcel doesn't provide it...They cover everything but don't net it out.
Mneumonics: CPAexcel professors...don't see many mneumonics like they have in Becker, Rogers and Ninja notes...If you wish to post neumonics or sources to them, would welcome them.