BEST review courses for 2023 (BIG DISCOUNTS + MY RECOMMENDATION)

You must do more than just memorize formulas to answer exam MCQs successfully. Instead, to achieve the levels of knowledge needed to perform well on the MCQs, you must consistently answer with exam-caliber practice questions. Realistically difficult MCQs are an important CPA review component, so you need a course that delivers them.

1. Wiley CPAexcel

Wiley probably gives you more practice questions than you need, but that’s a good thing. In fact, Wiley provides so many MCQs that you might never see the same one twice, which will keep you from memorizing them. Furthermore, Wiley has been in the business long enough to know how to write an MCQ that sounds like what you’ll see on the CPA Exam. So, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get your knowledge where the exam expects it to be.

2. Gleim CPA Review

Gleim CPA Review is another course that has built its reputation on quality questions. Gleim also supplies you with a mountain of MCQs. And with over 40 years in the industry, Gleim also has every AICPA-released MCQ. On top of that, Gleim’s detailed answer explanations accompany every MCQ.

The 2 MCQ testlets on each exam section contribute 50% of your score, so I suggest you weight MCQs about as heavily in your review course decision.

TBSs are a significant part of the CPA Exam. For this reason, they should be a significant element of your CPA review course. Some providers craft TBSs reflecting actual exam sims better than others, so you’ll want to prioritize courses excelling in simulations.

The number of practice TBSs is also crucial, and it varies greatly.

1. Gleim CPA Review

Not only does Gleim CPA Review offer the most TBSs, but they also present the highest quality TBSs. Most every Gleim TBS meets the CPA Exam’s standards. As a result, your knowledge can meet the exam’s standards as well. TBSs are too important to not position Gleim near the top of your list based on simulations alone.

2. Wiley CPAexcel

Wiley has the second most TBSs, and theirs also represent the real thing in both appearance and difficulty level. Wiley updates their test bank regularly to maintain the accuracy of their TBSs. Furthermore, they also offer performance tracking so you can assess your progress.

3. Becker CPA Review

Like Wiley, Becker CPA Review also offers 400+ TBSs. What’s more, Becker has created an exclusive video series designed to help candidates master TBSs, the most challenging type of CPA Exam question. This series, called SkillMaster videos, contains a step-by-step tutorial for overcoming every single one of Becker’s 400+ TBSs.

Due to their elevated difficulty and different types, the more practice TBSs you get, the better. You’ll get plenty in these three courses.

The point of audio lectures is to let you study for the exam when you’re simultaneously occupied with less demanding tasks like exercising, cleaning, or commuting. All of the review courses with audio lectures allow you to download and access them via whichever listening device you desire.

To determine which audio lectures you need, consider the amount of content coverage they offer (do they skimp on the details or thoroughly address explanations and examples?) and the lecturer’s teaching style (do they hold you at rapt attention or threaten to put you to sleep?).

The course with audio lectures that meets both criteria is ​NINJA CPA Review. The Gleim CPA Review lectures are also a good option.

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1. NINJA CPA Review

NINJA CPA Review offers the most popular and best-selling audio lectures. These audio lectures cover the essentials and let you make the most of every minute until exam day. The audio lectures come with the NINJA CPA monthly package.

And NINJA CPA Review has freshly-recorded lectures available; no rips of the video lessons here!

2. Gleim CPA Review

The Gleim CPA Review audio lectures are professionally done and offer thorough coverage as well. While they are not as entertaining as Roger’s, they still provide good information. On top of that, you can stream or download them according to your preference.

If audio lectures are an important review component for you, then you’ll find these audio lectures to be the most comprehensive and effective available.

Not every course contains a study planner. But of the planners available, I’ve found the interactive, adaptive ones are best for keeping you on track for success. In my opinion, a quality study planner is straightforward, which means it’s simple and intuitive. It should also be customizable in that it generates a personalized agenda incorporating your days off. Finally, it should adjust by recording your progress, modifying due dates as necessary, and holding you accountable. Study planners meeting these criteria come from Surgent CPA Review, Wiley CPA Review, and Gleim CPA Review.

1. Surgent CPA Review

The study planner in Surgent CPA Review is definitely one of the best because it is based entirely on your schedule and your daily learning progress. Your exam date and days when you’re not available to study dictate your overall study schedule. Then, your daily study plan (daily surge) adapts according to how well you performed in previous lessons.

2. Wiley CPAexcel

The Wiley CPAexcel study planner is very impressive. After you order your exams, add testing appointment dates, and input your availability, the planner produces a tailored schedule of sessions and assessments that’s easy to follow and modify. And, if you don’t know your exam dates, the planner suggests a schedule to get you started.

3. Gleim CPA Review

The Gleim CPA Review study planner is just as good, as it also lets you insert all your schedule information and study preferences before revealing a realistic plan. Equally important, the Gleim study planner adapts when you add or remove blackout dates. It also texts or emails you about missed study sessions.

To ensure you pick the best test date and are totally prepared in time, you must determine how fast you want to pass, find time in your schedule for regular study sessions, average 1-2 study hours a day, and figure out when you can finish studying. The interactive study planners in these courses makes this entire process much easier.

Contact via phone, email, live chat, and social messaging comes standard for many CPA review providers. However, a select few outfit their courses with access to teams of experts. Such extra steps enable these providers to really distinguish themselves. To that end, the 2 that I find have the best customer support are Gleim CPA Review and Wiley CPAexcel.

1. Gleim CPA Review

Gleim CPA Review has an outstanding reputation for customer support for 3 reasons. First, Gleim offers access to exam mentors called Personal Counselors who will help you create a study plan, supply advice, answer questions, and extend encouragement as needed. Second, the Gleim team also includes technical experts who will assist you with any computer or course access problems. Third, Gleim has made it easy for you to tap into the knowledge of their accounting experts by incorporating a practice question inquiry system into their course.

2. Wiley CPAexcel

Wiley CPAexcel offers its own trio of candidate services. First, the Partner Until You Pass Guarantee gives you free online content and courseware updates until you pass. Second, their professor mentoring lets you receive online support from subject-expert professors. Finally, the Virtual Classroom series includes live, online instruction and support.

Study aid like this can make a world of difference in the speed and success of your CPA Exam studies. With this in mind, you really should regard review providers who offer such extraordinary customer service and personalized coaching above those that don’t.

Though several are distinct courses, most cram courses are supplementary: you take them only after you’ve completed a more comprehensive ​CPA study guide. In some instances (but not most), you can only purchase the cram course if you’re already using another course from that review provider.

The two providers with cram courses that stand out are Roger CPA Review and Yaeger CPA Review.

1. Roger CPA Review

Roger’s online cram course comes with everything you need to boost your CPA Exam score by up to 10 points in a short period of time. With 2 months of access, you get 10 to 25-minute micro lesson lectures, practice questions on the lectures with in-depth explanations, and succinct digital textbooks.

2. Yaeger CPA Review

The Yaeger cram course also serves as a final wrap up that can increase your points. The course uses video lectures to solidify must-know concepts in your mind. What’s more, it also comes with digital textbooks.

If you are very nervous about the CPA Exam and don’t feel confident in your preparations as exam day closes in, you might want to invest in one of these quality cram courses.

Flashcards are great for memorizing definitions, formulas, journal entries, and anything else you’re struggling to understand. While making your own increases your comprehension and retention of the information, buying pre-made flashcards saves time and effort. Consequently, if you want to experience the convenience of these handy study aids without getting a cramp in your hand, you should purchase flashcards from these 3 providers.

1. Roger CPA Review

Roger CPA Review gives you flashcard options. On the one hand, you can select the digital flashcards that are accessible via phone or tablet to stimulate your memory and develop active recall. With the digital flashcards, you can flag cards you’ve mastered and even break the deck down by topic. On the other hand, you can choose the printed flashcards. These section-specific collections keep things simple by including an assortment of over 200 terms, mnemonics, and summaries of foundational CPA Exam concepts.

2. Wiley CPAexcel

Wiley’s flashcards only come in printed packs, but there are 250 cards for each section. Authored by an award-winning CPA candidate, these flashcards promise to reinforce your understanding of content areas in the CPA Exam Blueprints, pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses, and give you even more chances to challenge yourself.

3. Surgent CPA Review

Surgent CPA has created a complete set of spiral-bound printed flashcards for all 4 exam sections. The set includes 250 AUD, 250 BEC, 300 FAR, and 250 REG flashcards that cover over 1,000 terms and definitions in total. And Surgent updates their flashcards quarterly so that they always match the latest CPA Exam Blueprints. Surgent’s printed flashcards come with the Premier and Ultimate courses or can be purchased separately. However, Surgent also has 2,200 digital flashcards in their free flashcard app. The fact that no purchase is necessary to access these flashcards makes them useful even if you make your own flashcards as well.

The Wiley, Roger, and Surgent flashcards are inexpensive study tools targeting the tricky exam topics that most candidates struggle with, so they’re worth the money. Try one of these flashcard options to enjoy the benefits of flashcards fast.

This convenience is made possible by the mobile apps some CPA review providers have created to complement their courses. Whenever you have a chance to glance at your phone or tablet, you have a chance to study thanks to mobile apps.

The functionality of CPA Exam mobile apps varies. Some contain digital flashcards, others create quizzes, a few encompass an entire course, and one is a game. Each has their pros and cons, but the 2 best mobile apps come from Roger CPA Review and Wiley CPAexcel.

1. WileyCPAexcel

The Wiley CPA mobile app is a must for Wiley users. This fantastic app includes 140+ hours of the Wiley video lectures, 10,000+ practice questions with explanations, and 4,000+ digital flashcards. The app syncs with the online course so that both resources track your study progress, which is awesome. On top of that, you can even use the app to study offline when you don’t have internet access.

2. Roger CPA Review

Roger has 2 great mobile apps. The first is the flashcards app, which I recommended above. The second is a multiple-choice questions quiz app. This app lets you study from a test bank of over 3,500 AICPA-released questions and learn more about the answers to these questions with expert-written explanations. On top of that, you can even keep track of your score, bookmark specific questions, and use a calculator and timer just like those found on the CPA Exam.

Mobile apps are so popular and easy to use that studying for the CPA Exam with one just feels natural. If you agree, choose one of these mobile apps to expand your opportunities to review.

A good CPA course not only delivers the exam content, but it also measures your study progress. For this purpose, tools such as performance tracking software and study planners ensure that you efficiently review all of the exam material. A review course also monitors your understanding because the CPA Exam expects you to reach certain levels of skill with the exam content:

• Remembering and Understanding: The perception and comprehension of the significance of an area utilizing knowledge gained.
• Application: The use or demonstration of knowledge, concepts, or techniques.
• Analysis: The examination and study of interrelationships of separate areas in order to identify causes and find evidence to support inferences.
• Evaluation: The examination or assessment of problems and use of judgment to draw conclusions.

The CPA Exam uses multiple-choice questions, simulations, and written communications to determine if you have reached these skill levels. To this same end, CPA review courses include test banks of practice questions. These questions let you apply what you’re learning so your skill levels increase. An exam-emulating test bank also allows you to get comfortable with the exam format and functionality in advance. As a result, this familiarity builds your confidence and minimizes any surprises you may encounter.

If you’d rather not take on the CPA Exam alone, I’ve got good news: Most CPA review courses provide some form of customer service. Depending on the course, you may be able to rely on friendly exam mentors to answer your questions, help you create your study plan, coach you through the course, encourage you during study struggles, and keep you on track to reaching your goals. Besides that, your course may also come with the aid of a technical team for resolving computer or course issues. Finally, you may even get to the chance to have questions and concepts explained to you by accounting experts and professors. You can usually talk with these members of your CPA Exam team via your phone, email, or course.