The CPA Exam is one of the hardest professional exams in the world and it is not surprising considering how important the accounting profession is to businesses and industries. It is no exaggeration that accounting forms the foundation based on which critical decisions about lending and investing, mergers and acquisitions, expansion into new markets, and more are made. The success of all these depends on accurate financial data provided by accountants.
It is thus natural that the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) exam should be designed to test the mettle and the knowledge of aspiring accountants to the fullest making it one of the hardest to pass with low success rates. Each section of the exam is of 4 hours duration. There are four sections to be completed to get the CPA licensure apart from the required 150 hours of credit work. These are Auditing and Accounting (AUD), Business Environment and Concepts (BEC), Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR), and Regulation (REG).
These sections can be taken up in any order but once started, all must be completed within an 18-month testing window. If you fail any part, it cannot be repeated till the opening of the next testing window. The exam is so structured that a range of skill sets will be tested ranging from Remembering and Understanding concepts to Application, Analysis, and Evaluation.
It takes about 80-100 hours of study for each section to adequately prepare and pass them. This is the most daunting part of the exam, finding this time to study and adhere strictly to a study plan.
Now comes the most crucial part for CPA aspirants and that is should you self-study or invest in a top CPA Review course to help you get over the line.
Let’s check this aspect in some detail.
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Are Prep Courses Necessary to Study for The CPA Exam
Yes, it is tempting to save money on investing in a CPA Review while deciding to self-study. You can also prepare at your own pace without having to follow a study plan or attend video lectures at specific times as would be required by a prep course. But is it worthwhile to do so that is, study without any guidance from the experts and pros who have once gone through the grind themselves?
Here are some points to consider in favor of opting for a reputed CPA Review course before deciding in this regard.
- Saving money in the long run: Surprised? How can you save money when you have to pay for a course (and they do not come cheap)? Look at it this way. The chance of you passing the exam is over 90% if you study from course materials of prep providers. This is because you get to practice with mock simulations that replicate the real exam. This is not so for self-study where the typical pass percentage is around 50%. So, if you cannot make it the first time around, you have to spend on repeat registration not to speak of time spent on studying again.
- Studying more efficiently: Even though you will be following a study schedule, CPA Review courses through cutting-edge software will evaluate your learning style and work out a study plan accordingly. Hence, your studies will be customized as per your best learning patterns and you get higher output.
- Getting updated knowledge: New accounting regulations are constantly being introduced in the accounting field, especially concerning tax laws. With self-study, it is not easy to keep abreast of them always. But the information in video lectures and audio lessons by CPA experts will always be as per the latest amendments and your study materials will be updated in real time.
- Optimizing time management: Finding time for sustained preparations can be challenging especially if you are employed. With self-study, there will be a leaning toward taking it easy. But with CPA Review your prep will be more regimented and disciplined as you will have a study plan given to you that you must follow. This accountability will make for better time management.
The best CPA Reviews have thousands of practice questions and mock simulations that replicate the real exam. Therefore, by opting for prep materials you gather the confidence to face one of the toughest professional exams in the world by knowing what to expect on D-Day.
Becker CPA Review
The Becker CPA Review is endorsed by the Big 4 accounting firms, government agencies, and universities, and a network of over 2000 CPA firms in the country and is therefore considered to be the benchmark among CPA Reviews.
However, on certain parameters, as we shall see later in the post, other CPA Reviews such as Gleim are ahead in the amount and quality of study materials provided.
While Becker offers more practice questions than some of its competitors, it lacks behind in the area of incorporating the latest technologies in its study plans. Further, this Review follows the classroom-type learning techniques depending mainly on reading textbooks and viewing lectures. Hence, choose Becker if you have plenty of time on your hands and want to study at your own pace.
Becker CPA Review offers three packages – Advantage, Premium, and Pro with each of them providing enough course materials and practice questions to enable you to pass the exam in the first attempt. The pricing though is on the high side comparatively and this can be a downside to many.
Becker CPA Deals
Gleim CPA Review
Gleim is among the top CPA Reviews with access to a staggering 11,300 multiple-choice questions and simulations that are the foundation of the actual CPA exam. This makes Gleim the best when it comes to the volume of course materials provided to students at a price that is quite affordable.
However, students do not feel overwhelmed with the course as the modules are easy-to-read bite-sized lessons. Coupled with the SmartAdapt learning technology, you will be guided through the lessons efficiently and informed about your weaknesses and the areas in which you need more practice.
The icing on the cake for Gleim CPA Review is the two full-length practice exams at the end of each course. The first exam is to be taken about 1-2 weeks before the exam date and diagnoses your level of preparation. Based on this result, the SmartAdapt software will design a custom final review checklist of the areas you need to focus on the more.
What sets Gleim apart from the others in the field is the hassle-free Access Until You Pass guarantee.
Gleim Coupon Codes
Becker vs Gleim CPA Review
There are a few critical parameters that are essential to judge any CPA Review. These are typically the lectures, both video and audio, and multiple-choice questions and simulations. Now, we will see what each course has to offer in these areas and which of these two has a distinct advantage.
Becker vs Gleim lectures
Becker
The Becker video lectures are professionally crafted and are very efficient and focused on the subject, though they often tend to be a lot more serious and less engaging. The exclusive ExamSolver videos are linked to multiple-choice questions and simulations to help you know how to answer them. Again, the SkillBuilder videos provide strategies for answering questions. The only downside is that Becker does not offer audio lectures pod-cast style, preventing you from studying while on the go.
Gleim
The basic package of Gleim does not include video lectures and has audio lessons only. However, the Premium Review course has over 100 hours of video lectures. All Gleim courses have 20 hours of audio lectures. The video lectures are divided into 440+ small bite-sized chunks which is great when you are trying to make the most of the time available on your hands. Gleim employs university professors to handle their lectures and hence you always get high-quality content. Each exam section has different lecturers so you can get people who are specialized in their field only taking classes as against accounting generalists.
Winner: On the Becker vs Gleim lectures, Becker CPA Review emerges as the winner because it offers a direct and clear-cut presentation of the prep materials and is ideal for students who do not like distractions in their video lectures. Stay focused for 30-60 minutes with Becker and get a wealth of information.
Becker vs Gleim MCQs/simulations
Becker
The Becker CPA Review courses have 9,200+ multiple-choice questions and 1,300 task-based simulations. If you still want more, add mock exams, 1300+ supplemental questions, and a condensed final review by enrolling in their Premium or Pro courses. Becker has simulated questions that also mirror the real exams so that you can have a precise idea of what to expect on test day.
Gleim
If you consider the sheer volume in numbers in Becker vs Gleim MCQs or Becker vs Gleim simulations, Gleim is clearly ahead with 10,000 MCQs and over 1,300 simulation questions. This means that you have the opportunity of a lot more practice with both MCQs and simulations and can be prepared for the exams well in time. However, so many test questions can be overwhelming at times but here Gleim has an answer. Their SmartAdapt technology informs you which topics you should focus on based on your weaknesses so that you do not have to wade through the full test bank of questions.
Winner: Gleim is a clear winner in Becker vs Gleim MCQs as well as Becker vs Gleim simulations in terms of numbers. Becker though is a solid option for students who do not need a lot of repetition and would rather concentrate on the course materials instead of testing their level of preparedness with practice questions.
Becker vs Gleim CPA Review – Packages and Pricing
One of the most important factors while considering these two CPA Reviews is the Becker vs Gleim pricing and packages. It is a key point of consideration for students while choosing a course.
Becker
Becker offers three different prep packages – Advantage, Premium, and Pro
- Advantage: This is a no-frills package with the bare necessities such as video lessons, practice questions, textbooks, and 12 simulated questions. Access is limited to 24 months. Priced at $2,500, it is more expensive than any other starter course.
- Premium: This is Becker’s standard course. Apart from what is offered in the Advantage package, there are also more practice questions, live classwork, and unlimited access. The package is available for $3,100.
- Pro: The package has everything of the Premium course plus in-person classes and tutoring with an expert from Becker. Available at $3,800, Pro has a pass guarantee and Becker will reimburse you $250 for every section that you do not pass.
Becker package prices are the highest in this niche.
Gleim
Gleim CPA Review offers two packages and a Mega Test Bank
- Traditional CPA Review System: Priced at $1,599, this basic course from Gleim is not short of features though. The SmartAdapt guided Review has all the essentials to enable you to pass the exam – 1,300 task-based simulations, 10,000 multiple-choice questions, 350+ simulations with exhibits, audio lectures, digital and physical books, and guidance from personal counselors.
- Premium CPA Review System: This Premium package, also guided by the SmartAdapt technology, is priced at $1,999 and has a host of features. In addition to what is offered in the Traditional package, this one additionally offers accounting expert guidance, Expert-led Gleim instruct videos, digital flashcards, audio lectures, and access to private study groups. Most importantly, Gleim offers an Access Until You Pass Guarantee with this package.
- CPA Mega Test Bank: This is an ideal supplement if you have bought one of the two packages. It contains an extra 560+ task-based simulations and 2,000+ multiple-choice questions per section.
Winner: If you take the price alone in Becker vs Gleim pricing, Gleim appears to be an obvious choice. But the two courses are for different types of learners so the jury is still out on this matter.
Becker vs Gleim Reddit
Most comments on Reddit focus on the Gleim CPA Review only. However, one user of the Review has found Gleim to be harder and has scored higher marks in the exam with Becker. This is what he has to say.
“Gleim is way harder in my opinion. My prof used it for my audit class and I never got more than 65s or 70s on quizzes. Studied AUD using Becker and did much better with it. Got an 82 on the real exam.”
Summing Up
There is not much to choose from between Becker vs Gleim CPA review. While Gleim scores in the sheer number of MCQs and simulations provided for practice, Becker’s video lectures are a lot more topic-oriented. Because of the wide diversity of learning techniques between the two, it is not easy to say which CPA Review comes out on top.
