Best CPA Review Courses & CPA Study Prep Materials of 2024

Compare the Top CPA Exam Prep Guides in 2024

best-cpa-review-courses

Which CPA exam review course is the best for you?

The most popular CPA prep course is Becker CPA Review, but this doesn’t mean it’s necessarily right for you.

Choosing the best CPA review course that will help you pass the CPA exam and become a certified public accountant isn’t easy. There’s a few different test prep companies with great CPA study guides, so how are you supposed to decide which is the right one for you?

A good starting point is to think about how you learn and what course features match your learning style. For example, if you are a visual learner, you’ll likely find CPA study materials that focus on engaging video lectures to be the most helpful. This way you won’t be bored reading the textbooks.

Everyone learns differently, so it’s important that you look for a CPA prep course that works for you regardless of how well it’s rated. After all, you are going to spend close to 400 hours studying for the CPA exam. You want to find a study guide that helps you focus and retain info, so you can reduce the amount of study time—not add to it.

That’s why our team of CPAs made this helpful resource. We reviewed the top CPA review materials, so you can see which one matches your learning style and will help you pass the CPA exam. Let’s compare each of the most popular courses and analyze their features, video lectures, test banks, pros, and cons.


Best CPA Exam Review Courses & CPA Study Materials in April 2024

RankCompanyPricing InformationUnlimited AccessGet Started!
1Surgent CPA Review$1,799Yes!Get Started!
2UWorld Roger CPA Review$2,999Yes!Get Started!
3Gleim CPA Review$1,999Yes!Get Started!
4Yaeger CPA Review$1,399Yes!Get Started!
5Becker CPA Review$2,299Yes!Get Started!

Complete list of CPA Review Course Providers in 2024

Here are the best CPA review courses and study materials to help you pass the CPA exam.


Surgent CPA Review

surgent-cpa-reviewSurgent CPA Review is a newer course having been launched in 2013 by Surgent Professional Education. The program offers three 4-part review courses that include Essentials ($1,599), Premier ($2,399), as well as Ultimate ($2,999) which is expensive but there are financing options available.

The self-paced courses include video lectures but do not have a live teaching component. There are more than 7,500 multiple-choice questions. Surgent also offers a $1,100 discount on students who failed their CPA exam when using other providers.

The courses have an 88 percent pass rate thanks to the proprietary technology such as ReadySCORE, which is a tool that targets weak areas so that you can focus on them.

Pros

The main advantages of this review course are that it focuses on very short lectures for efficient studying, adaptive learning tech predicts the weak study areas and the technology provides exam score predictions.

Cons

When it comes to cons, there are only recorded lectures with no live classes, the Surgent CPA review course requires a lengthy initial diagnostic test and the trial period only extends to five days.


Surgent CPA FAQ

How Accurate is Surgent Ready Score?

The Surgent CPA review ReadyScore is designed to measure how prepared you are to take the CPA exam. It analyzes your current knowledge of the most tested CPA exam topics and computes your theoretical score based on your performance of past exam questions. Students with a Surgent ReadyScore of at least 75 have a CPA Exam pass rate of 92%.

Does Surgent CPA Review have an app?

Yes, every Surgent CPA review course comes with mobile app access to their CPA exam test bank of questions, video lectures, and study textbooks. The Surgent mobile app emulates the full desktop review course, so students can study for the CPA exam on the go.

How Long is the Surgent CPA Review free trial?

Surgent CPA review offers a free 14-day trial of their CPA exam study materials. This is a great deal because it gives you a chance to test out their adaptive technology, test banks, and review course software, so you can decide if it’s right for you.


Who is the Surgent CPA Course Ideal for?

Surgent is the best CPA exam prep course for candidates who want efficient lessons that adapt to their learning style. The course software is easy to navigate and pinpoints what topics you need to study more.

If you want a course that reduces your study time and helps you focus on the materials most important to you, then Surgent is a good choice.

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UWorld Roger CPA Review

uworld-roger-cpa-reviewRoger CPA Review was created in 2001 by Roger Phillip. He was looking to make studying CPA more enjoyable. It involves two 4-part CPA review courses Premier for $1,899 and Elite for $2,999 although deals and discounts are offered from time to time.

Also offered is an Individual Review that goes for $649 that makes it easy for CPA students who are looking to purchase one exam at a time and not to mention financing options are also available.

The courses tend to be self-paced containing both audio and video lectures that are designed to suit different learning styles. There are also more than 6,000 multiple choice questions and more than 100 hours of video lectures and not mention real live support through the chat software.

Pros

When it comes to advantages the course contains engaging as well as funny lectures hence less likely to be boring, its more affordable compared to other courses, contains audio lectures, and the SmartPath technology that predicts learning needs is a plus.

Cons

On the downside, the UWorld app that is used is not user friendly, the multiple-choice questions are less than in other courses and the lectures tend to cover high-level topics and are not detail-oriented.


Roger CPA FAQ

How long does Roger CPA study materials last before it expires?

UWorld Roger CPA review offers two different course packages that expire in different durations. The Elite package offers unlimited access and the course materials never expires, while the Premier package only offers 18 months before the CPA exam study guide expires unless you renew it.

What if I have problems using my UWorld Roger CPA prep course materials?

Roger CPA review offers excellent student support. If you have any problems with your CPA exam review course software or simply have a question about topics on the exam, you can use the support feature to contact a CPA exam expert.

How many hours are Roger CPA lectures?

The UWorld Roger CPA review course comes with over 100 hours of engaging lectures presented by Roger Phillipp. These lectures are typically considered the gold standard in CPA training because they combine high level learning, entertainment, and study strategies into one concise lesson.


Who is UWorld Roger CPA Prep Best for?

The course is highly recommended for anyone who finds it hard to focus when they are studying. If you always find it hard to stay awake during accounting lectures, the Roger CPA review will prevent this thanks to the highly engaging and funny lectures.

If you also like asking questions as you study, the homework help center is available to you all the time. This course is best suited for audio as well as visual learners since there is an audio version of the course available but you will need to pay extra for it.

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Gleim CPA Review Courses

gleim-cpa-reviewGleim CPA Review courses offer study materials that are comprehensive enough to take you through every subject that may appear in a CPA exam. When Dr. Gleim published his first review book, the goal was to offer an affordable study guide for candidates who could not afford live review courses.

Gleim offers two 4-part CPA review courses from the Traditional that goes for $1,599, Premium for $1,999, and Mega Test Bank for $999 all suitable for students who want to purchase simulations and practice questions. Financing option is also available for the programs.

Pros

In terms of advantages, the course tends to be self-paced with 1,300 simulations, 10,000 multiple-choice questions, and not to mention it is very affordable. There is also real person support that is available with a CPA coaching option.

Cons

When it comes to disadvantages, the lack of offline lecture options is a turn off for most people and the video lectures could be a little bit more engaging. That’s the only reason Gleim CPA doesn’t rank higher in our CPA training course list.


Gleim CPA FAQ

Does Gleim CPA Review study guide expire– do I have to pay for updates?

Gleim offers an Access Until You Pass Guarantee where your CPA exam prep course materials will never expire and will also be updated until you pass the exam.  You’ll never have to worry about paying an additional renewal fee or manually updating your study guide. Gleim CPA includes all of that in your course.

Does Gleim CPA have an exam pass guarantee?

Yes, Gleim CPA offers the Gleim Premium CPA Review System Guarantee where if you follow their study system and don’t pass the CPA exam, you will be entitled to full refund of your purchase price. It’s kind of hard to beat that.


Who is the Gleim CPA Course Best for?

Gleim CPA Review stands out as the premier CPA exam prep course for candidates who are looking for detailed study materials and a large volume of practice questions. The goal of this approach is to help students who struggle with the concepts when they were learning them for the first time.

Ideally, Gleim is also perfect for anyone who is very focused and can process information efficiently. At the end of the day, the course is ideal for those who struggle with staying motivated as well as on track with their study schedules since the SmartAdapt takes the guesswork out.


Yaeger CPA Review

yeager-cpa-reviewYaeger CPA Review is proud of its long standing customer support since you can contact any presenter when you purchase the course. In addition, you can communicate with the lecturers whenever you need to. Aside from amazing CPA candidate support, Yaeger CPA offers a premium review course with simple to understand video lectures.

During the lectures, the instructors review tons of multiple-choice questions making it easy to follow through as you take notes. Yaeger courses like Roger CPA Review’s courses will expire after sometimes upon purchase which is ideal if you are sure you will pass the exam on the first try.

The Yaeger review course takes a traditional approach and it’s easy to get bored along the way but the fact that they include step by step instructions makes it easy to grasp the subject material.

Pros

In terms of advantages, the course involves a simple teaching approach that makes it easy to grasp all content, there are also multiple-choice questions, and friendly support anytime and not to mention the course is also very flexible.

Cons

When it comes to disadvantages, the course involves old school lectures that are no different from being in an accounting class in college hence you may get bored along the way.


Yaeger CPA FAQ

Does Yaeger CPA Review have a mobile app?

Yes, Yaeger CPA offers a mobile app where students can use over 5,000 MCQs and simulations to study for the CPA exam. The Yaeger CPA app is built for phones and tablets, so you can use the test bank and watch video lectures anywhere you go.

Does Yaeger CPA have student support and CPA exam candidate mentorship?

Yes, Yaeger has partnered with Bryan Kesler of the Ultimate CPA Exam Guide Mentorship Program to offer full student support and CPA exam mentorship. The Yaeger CPA and Kesler partnership gives students the added support and motivation that some CPA candidates need to pass the exam.


Who is the Yaeger CPA Prep Course Best for?

Yaeger CPA review is best suited for anyone who is looking for customized studies without paying for the most expensive yet comprehensive options.

The additional support that is offered when you purchase the course makes it easy to get more out of the review. The review course is also ideal for those who prefer a classroom setting when studying for the CPA exam since the lectures take a traditional- class like approach.


Becker CPA Review

becker-cpa-reviewBecker CPA review is the oldest and most popular CPA review course in the test prep industry. Since 1957, Becker CPA has helped tens of thousands of candidates pass the CPA exam. Also, they are highly endorsed by every big CPA firm as well as major universities in the country.

For a long time, however, their CPA test prep course was not as great until they were endorsed by the Big 4 and made changes to become a highly rated course. Becker offers three tire courses that include Advantage that goes for $2,399, Premium that costs $2,999, and Pro that goes for $3,499.

Courses tend to be self-paced and consist of either live online lectures or recorded videos. There are over 8,000 multiple choice questions, 580 task-based simulations, and over 400 SkillMaster videos that take CPA candidates step-by-step through complex practice problems and solutions.

Pros

The advantage with this course is that they have a smartphone app as well as video games hence you can access practice questions anywhere and not to mention the live class option makes it feel like you are attending a real class.

Cons

On the downside, the lectures tend to be long and hence boring at times, the course is expensive and the lack of audio classes isn’t appealing to anyone.


Becker CPA FAQ

What is the CPA pass rate with Becker CPA Review?

Becker CPA has the highest CPA exam pass rate of any CPA prep courses provider. According to the Becker CPA Exam Day Ready student survey, the Becker CPA Review CPA exam pass rate is 94%. This is well above the national average pass rate of 50% reported by the AICPA.

Does Becker CPA Review expire?

Becker CPA exam study materials offer unlimited access with the Becker CPA Pro and Premium prep course packages. The Becker Advantage package gives students access for 24 months and expires after that if it is not renewed.

Does Becker CPA Review have a mobile app?

Yes, Becker CPA has a mobile app that brings the entire Becker CPA study guide to your phone or tablet. It includes all of the study features of the desktop study guide like MCQs, TBS, video lectures, and explanations. Becker CPA review is one of the best CPA review courses for mobile apps.

Does Becker CPA Review have live classes?

Yes, Becker CPA review offers live classes, on-demand live online courses, and 1-on-1 CPA exam coaching for students who want a CPA exam expert to mentor them through their CPA journey. Becker offers some of the best live class experiences for students who want interaction with their professors and lecturers.


Who is the Becker CPA Course Ideal for?

Becker CPA review is the best-known CPA review course among the Big Four Accounting Firms. With its expansive test bank of practice questions and easy-to-follow lectures, it’s no wonder why so many accounting firms and universities choose to partner with Becker CPA. It’s the gold standard.

This course is great for anyone who wants personal lessons taught by industry expert instructors. Becker is the only company that offers in-person lectures with the flexibility of a self-paced course.

If you are looking to become a certified accountant and want to train with the best, then this course is highly recommended if your budget allows it. The review course has a solid curriculum, instructors, and course materials that will come in handy in getting your certification.


Wiley CPA Review

wiley-cpaexcel-cpa-reviewWiley CPA review, formally called Wiley CPAexcel, was launched in 2013 on efficientlearning.com offering a destination for Wiley’s accounting, finance, and business exam review courses. This launchpad providing students with a standardized one of a kind experience across several disciplines. Wiley Efficient learning combines high-quality content with proven learning methodology.

The courses are built around 30-minute bite-sized frameworks with lessons containing multimedia elements and text, and assessments. In addition, the content is tracked and reported back to students on a regular basis for self-assessments, which builds confidence as well as motivation which is key to passing the CPA exam.

Pros

In terms of advantages, the course makes use of bite-sized content that features Adaptive Review to build your CPA exam prep based on your way of study. Additionally, the course is available from any device and there are also live online lessons that provide feedback from both peers and industry experts.

Cons

On the downside, compared to other similar review courses Wiley Efficient Learning doesn’t have the highest pass rate which is something that you need to consider when choosing a CPA course.


Wiley CPA FAQ

Is Wiley CPA better than Becker CPA?

Many CPA candidates prefer Wiley CPA vs Becker CPA because of Wiley’s short bite-sized lessons. This more focused approach to studying helps students memorize facts quickly and not get distracted. Plus, Wiley CPA review is much more affordable than Becker CPA review.

Does Wiley CPA Review expire?

No, Wiley CPA review does not have an expiration on their CPA study materials. Students have access to all of the video lectures, lessons, and test bank questions until they pass the CPA exam. There’s no need to renew or update your Wiley CPA study materials.

Does Wiley CPA offer CPA Exam Mentorship?

Yes, Wiley CPA review includes the Ultimate CPA Exam Guide (UCEG) study method and CPA exam mentorship program by Bryan Kesler. You will be able to learn from a CPA exam expert on the key tips to pass the CPA exam and ways to stay motivated during your study sessions.


Who is the Wiley CPA (CPAexcel) Course Best for?

There’s a reason Wiley CPA is on our top 7 list of best CPA review courses: they make an awesome prep course that has every feature you need to pass the CPA exam on your first try.

Wiley CPA is ideal for anyone who is looking to learn at their own pace and with feedback from instructors and experts as the course progresses. The bite-sized content makes it easy to grasp content. It is also ideal for anyone who is looking for a refresher course since it allows you to focus on areas that you are weak in rather than everything.


Fast Forward Academy CPA Review

fast-forward-academy-cpa-reviewFast Forward Academy is relatively new when it comes to CPA test prep. The company has pioneered individual learning ideas through an adaptive learning study course. As you advance, the course changes to focus on topics that you are weak in.

The idea is to target your weaker topics rather than concentrating on your strength ones time and time again. This concept makes it easy to grasp content faster and reduce your study time materially. The course includes over a hundred video lecture hours that explain every complicated topic.

They have redesigned the interface as well as software functionality such that all the features can be accessed directly in the study modules. As a result, you don’t need to leave the lesson to get back to the dashboard.

Pros

Some of the advantages of the Fast Forward Academy CPA review course include unlimited course access, affordable study materials, email support, and a focus on individual learning needs.

Cons

On the downside, there is no final review that is offered, no audio lectures or flashcards available. Additionally, the course can only be studied online since there is no offline option that is available, there is no mobile app and you only have 30 days to claim a refund if the course doesn’t meet your expectations which is not enough time to decide on whether a course is worth what you are paying for.


Fast Forward Academy CPA FAQ

Does Fast Forward Academy CPA have a mobile app?

Yes, Fast Forward Academy CPA review offers a mobile version of their review course, so you can use their adaptive technology to practice test questions and study solutions on the go. The Fast Forward Academy CPA app can be downloaded on your phone or other mobile device.

How can Fast Forward Academy CPA help me pass the CPA exam quickly?

The Fast Forward Academy CPA program uses adaptive technology speed up your study process by pinpointing the exam topics you need to study the most. By focusing on your weakest CPA exam concepts, you will be able to pass the exam faster than with other prep courses.

What is Fast Focus in Fast Forward Academy?

The Fast Forward Academy CPA review Fast Focus feature is an adaptive study program that shows you which questions and content you need to focus on in order to pass the CPA exam the fastest. The Fast Focus feature guides you through each course chapter by illustrating your weak areas and focusing your study efforts on what matters most.


Who is Fast Forward Academy CPA Prep Best for?

Fast Foward Academy CPA review is ideal for anyone who is looking to cut through the whole process and make it as efficient since the course has great tools that can make this possible.

If you also prefer to focus on topics that you are weak in, rather than learning everything, then this course will work for you. It will also work for those who are on a budget and can do without the other perks that other CPA exam review companies offer.


Ninja CPA Review

ninja-cpa-reviewNinja CPA Review is a great supplementary course developed by Jeff Elliot to be an affordable last minute cram course to accompany your full CPA exam study guide. Packed full of additional CPA exam study materials, it delivers on that goal.

The course includes study notes, an MCQ test bank of practice exam questions, flashcards, and a few other review materials. This course is constantly growing to include more features, but as it sits now, it doesn’t include quite enough to be considered a full course in and of itself. It does make a great supplement to get along side a real course however.

Pros

Ninja is a perfect last minute cram course that includes a ton of features that are helpful to push your score over the finish line.

Cons

It doesn’t have nearly the resources as a full course, so we wouldn’t advise using this as your primary course. The video lessons and audio lectures are not very detailed and are pretty sparse. The study book doesn’t cover all the topics that you’ll need study and many of the features already come standard in bigger courses.

Who is the Ninja CPA Course Best for?

Ninja is great for students who want an additional resource or study guide. It’s a perfect complement for a bigger course. So if you want some additional practice questions or flashcards, it’s a great deal. On the other hand, if you get the right full-length course, you won’t need any additional materials.


Universal CPA Review

universal-cpa-reviewUniversal CPA Review is one of the newest prep courses started by Joey Reeve and Matt Reinhold in 2018. After years of CPA tutoring in New York through MyGuru CPA Tutoring, Joey saw there was a better way to study for the CPA exam. He partnered with Matt, a PwC veteran, to start developing their vision of the perfect CPA exam review process.

The full course offers more than 3,000 practice questions, 100 hours of video lessons, and 115 task-based simulations. Plus, they’ve developed a unique take on CPA tutoring called “Ask Joey” where CPA candidates have unlimited access to Joey for any question they have about the exam or accounting topics they are struggling with.

Pros

Universal is a great low cost course that includes a ton of study materials for the price. They also have more direct access to tutoring than other courses that cost more.

Cons

The software and course layout is a bit outdated. The larger test prep companies have more sophisticated study planners, adaptive learning technology, and cross referenced study guides. The videos included in the course are helpful, but they aren’t interconnected to the other study resources like other courses.

Who is the Universal CPA Course Best for?

Universal CPA is a good option for candidates who are on a budget but still want access to lots of practice questions, helpful video lessons, and one-on-one CPA tutoring.


Lambers CPA Review

lambers-cpa-reviewLambers CPA Review is one of the oldest and most reputable test prep companies in existence. Started in 1966, Lambers has over 50 years of experience helping more than 250,000 CPA candidates navigate the CPA exam. Lambers prides itself creating courses that are “born in the classroom” while working with some of the most respected accounting educators and professionals.

The Lambers course offers a unique approach to studying. Instead of offering the biggest test bank, they focus on giving candidates only the questions that actually matter. After all, there’s no point in practicing 10,000 questions if you can pass the exam by reviewing only 4,000. This philosophy rings true in every aspect of their study guide.

Pros

Lambers is a time tested company that has helped tons of candidates pass the exam. They know what they are doing when it comes to exam prep. Also, their new adaptive testing mode software is extremely useful to build your custom course from.

Cons

Lambers doesn’t offer as many study materials as other course providers. They say it’s to not waste your time working superfluous problems, but some candidates need extra materials to really let the concepts sink in. It’d be nice to see more video lectures and practice problems.

Who is the Lambers CPA Course Best for?

Lambers CPA is ideal for candidates who want to use a tested model. Lambers has been doing this forever and they do a good job. If you trust them and don’t need extra study materials, this might be a good course for you.


Other CPA Exam Review Courses

Here are several other great prep courses that many CPA candidates have used to successfully prepare for the CPA exam.


Best CPA Review Course for Visual Learners

The best CPA review for visual learners is UWorld Roger CPA review because of Roger Philip’s lively lecture style and energetic presentation. Roger has a way of grabbing your attention with visual examples and diagrams that really helps you understand the topics and remember the tough concepts.

Roger also does a great job of keeping you focused and entertained. Too many of the other CPA review courses has accounting lectures that are similar to a boring college classroom. Roger takes the opposite approach by getting you involved in the learning process with visual cues, mnemonics, and other memory devices.

A close second to UWorld Roger CPA is Becker CPA review. The Becker CPA review video lectures are excellent for students who want to rely on their visual learning style. They explain the concepts in a short and easy-to-understand method that doesn’t waste your time. Their interactive approach of following the lectures along in your study textbook is also helpful for taking notes and making reminders to review topics at a later date.


Best CPA Review Courses for Auditory Learners

One of the best CPA prep courses for auditory learners is UWorld Roger CPA review. Roger is one of the only CPA review courses that offers a stand alone set of audio lectures. These are extremely convenient for CPA candidates who have a long commute to work or who need something to listen to in the gym.

The UWorld Roger CPA review course video lectures are also great to listen to. Roger’s animated presentation style helps you stay focused and not fall asleep while you are trying to listen to an accounting lecture.

The Roger CPA prep course includes both audio and video lectures in their Elite Course Bundle.


Which CPA Prep Course has the Best Video Lessons?

One of the most beneficial ways to study for the CPA exam is by watching video lectures. Video lessons, much like live or in-person lectures, engage several different study personalities. They are great for auditory learners, visual learners, and tactile learners who need to follow along with example problems to better understand them.

Plus, let’s face it. Watching a video is way more entertaining than reading a textbook. Depending on the lecturer, they might even be fun to watch. Video lessons help you understand the tough concepts on the CPA exam better because they actually explain them in detail with examples.

Videos also help you retain more of these concepts for your exam date because the explanations are more memorable. They are also handy because you can watch them any time you want. If you get stuck in the middle of an example, you can hit pause and rewind. It’s super helpful for the difficult topics. I know it helped me. Studying with video lectures was one of main strategies I used to pass the CPA exam on my first try.

CPA Review CoursesTotal Video Lecture Hours
Surgent CPA Review350+ lessons
Wiley CPA Review140+
Becker CPA Review250 per exam section
Yaeger CPA Review120+
UWorld Roger CPA Review100+
Gleim CPA Review100+

With every CPA review course program offering their own style of video lectures, it can be tough to figure out which one is best for you. Here’s a breakdown on which CPA exam video lectures I would recommend.


UWorld Roger CPA Review

roger-cpa-review-video-lecturesThe UWorld Roger CPA review course video lectures are legendary. Roger has been putting his spin on teaching people how to pass the CPA exam for 30+ years and he knows how to get you engaged and motivated.

Roger’s lecture style is energetic, entertaining, and (dare I say) sometimes pretty funny. He does an awesome job explanting topics while throwing some humor and unique memory aids that techniques.

If want video lessons that will keep you focused and entertained at the same time, UWorld Roger CPA review is the best course for video lectures.


Becker CPA Review

becker-cpa-review-video-lecturesBecker CPA review developed their industry standard video lesson approach over a long history of teaching CPA candidates how to pass the exam in the classroom setting. Becker CPA takes the aspects of their live CPA classroom lectures that work and makes them available for you to watch at any time.

The Becker videos walk you through their study textbook allowing you to follow along with their examples, highlight key topics, and use their trademarked mnemonic tips to memorize the main exam concepts.

The Becker CPA videos aren’t as entertaining as Roger’s videos, but they are very extensive and do a great job explaining the concepts to you.


Yaeger CPA Review

yaeger-cpa-review-video-lectures-lessonsYaeger CPA review is known for its detailed explanations of practice problems and expansive list of examples. The Yaeger video lectures are no exception. Phil Yaeger personally walks you through the study text in each video lesson, so you can follow along.

At the end of each lesson, he explains multiple example problems and exam solutions, so you can get a better understanding of not only what concepts are on the exam but also how the problems are asked.

Yaeger CPA exam video lectures are best for students who want more detailed explanations of topics and more in-depth understanding of hotly tested CPA exam concepts.


Best CPA Review Practice Exam Questions & Test Banks

MCQ test banks are one of the most important components and study aids in any exam review course. According to the latest AICPA CPA exam blueprint, 50% of your overall score on each section is based on your MCQ performance. That means understanding how to read, interpret, and answer multiple-choice questions is one of the most important parts of passing the CPA exam.

Remember, CPA exam MCQs aren’t normal multiple-choice questions. They are tough. The test writers purposely word the questions difficultly to test your true understanding of the topics and skill in those areas.

The best way to prepare for the MCQs on the CPA exam is simply to practice them over and over again. Never stop practicing MCQs until you pass the exam. That’s the key.

But in order to do that, you will need to have a CPA exam test bank that has great answer explanations and is big enough that you won’t see repeated questions. Here are the CPA exam test banks that I would recommend.


Which CPA Review Course has the Most CPA Exam Multiple-Choice Questions?

Here’s a breakdown of how many multiple-choice questions are in each CPA exam prep course.

CPA Review Course Test BanksTotal CPA Exam Multiple-Choice Questions
Surgent CPA Review8,600+
Wiley CPA Review12,000
Becker CPA Review8,100+
Yaeger CPA Review4,000+
UWorld Roger CPA Review6,000+
Gleim CPA Review10,000+

Gleim CPA Review

gleim-cpa-test-bankThe Gleim CPA Mega Test Bank is the industry standard CPA exam study supplement. With over 2,000 MCQs per CPA exam section and 560+ task-based simulations, the Gleim test bank is one of the largest CPA exam test banks of any study prep company.

It’s a super helpful resource for any student studying for the exam. The questions cover every possible topic tested on the exam with detailed explanations of the answers.

One of the best things about the Gleim test bank is that you can buy it separately from the complete CPA study course. That means you can get the Gleim Mega Test bank even if you decide to go with a different course as your main study guide.


Wiley CPA Review

wiley-cpa-test-bankThe Wiley CPA review test bank is the largest CPA exam test bank with over 12,000 past exam and practice questions. That’s HUGE! Needless to say, you will not have to worry about seeing the same questions multiple times if you decide to go with the Wiley CPAexcel test bank.

One thing to keep in mind with Wiley is that some of the practice questions aren’t exam style questions. For example, they have a large bank of true and false questions that are helpful to quickly understand a concept, but they aren’t multiple-choice questions.

Wiley does an excellent job of providing detailed explanations of both the correct and incorrect answers for each question. This really gives you a better understanding what the question is asking and why you picked the right or wrong answer.

Like Gleim, Wiley CPA offers a CPA exam test bank as a stand alone study supplement, so you don’t have to purchase their entire course in order to use their test bank. That’s a huge plus in my book!


Surgent CPA Review

surgent-cpa-test-bankThe Surgent CPA exam test bank uses their patented adaptive technology to help you focus on the questions that you need to study more. Their software helps track your progress through the test bank to accurately pin-point the topics that you struggle with the most.

Surgent gives you the option to use the test bank in adaptive mode or in traditional mode where you can make your own quizzes based on chapters and topics. With over 8,000 MCQs and 400 simulations, the Surgent test bank gives you plenty of options for studying.

The adaptive approach is pretty helpful because it removes questions you should already know the answer to from your quizzes. This way you won’t waste your time working through the “easy questions” and you will be able to focus on the areas you need to improve.

Surgent CPA only offers their CPA exam test bank as part of their full review course.


Best CPA Exam Review Courses for Task-Based Simulations?

With the new AICPA CPA exam blueprint, studying task-based simulations is even more important than before. The CPA exam evolution increases the prominence of TBS by weighting them 50% or your overall score for each CPA exam section, including the BEC writing simulation. Needless to say, practicing simulations is a critical part to passing the CPA exam.

The AICPA writes the task-based simulations like real-life problems that you need to solve. They involve researching topics, using spreadsheets, reviewing documents, and performing calculations in a variety of different formats. CPA exam TBS are designed to test your real-life accounting skills. That’s why they can be so challenging.

Practicing as many task-based simulations is a critical part of preparing for the CPA exam because they come in so many different formats. That’s why its important to find a CPA review course that has as many sims as possible.

Which CPA Exam Prep Course has the Most Task-Based Simulations?

Here’s a breakdown of how many CPA exam task-based simulations each CPA review course provider includes in their CPA exam prep course.

CPA Review Course Task-based SimulationsTotal CPA Exam Task-based Simulations
Gleim CPA Review1,300+
Surgent CPA Review400+
Wiley CPA Review500+
Becker CPA Review500+
UWorld Roger CPA Review400+
Yaeger CPA ReviewNot published

I would recommend using either the Gleim or Becker CPA TBS to study for the CPA exam.


Gleim CPA Review

Gleim CPA offers the most task-based simulations in their CPA exam test bank out of any test prep company. With over 1,000 TBS to practice, you will be sure to see almost every question style and format that is likely to show up on the exam.

That’s really important because the simulations can be a wild card on your CPA exam day. You never know what you are going to get. A few simulations with unfamiliar formats can really throw you off your game. That’s why it’s important to practice as many as possible.

Gleim CPA also does a great job providing detailed explanations of the answers, calculation solutions, and research code sections. This is a huge help when you are trying to figure out where you went wrong in your thought process. Gleim is an awesome resource and using their simulation test bank will definitely help you prep for the exam.


Becker CPA Review

Even though Becker CPA doesn’t have as many CPA exam simulations as Gleim does, they do offer a few study aids that are extremely helpful. The Becker CPA exam simulations test bank uses their proprietary  SkillMaster software to help guide you through the different simulations.

As you answer the questions, a Becker CPA instructor will explain the exam topics and give you helpful tips to remember the key concepts. This extra study aid really helps you understand the simulations and what to look for in future ones.

The Becker CPA TBSs are great for anyone who has a difficult time with this part of the exam. Let’s face it. If you’ve practice simulations before, you could use a CPA tutor helping you through it. This feature of Becker CPA really makes the course worth it.


Best CPA Exam Cram Courses

A CPA exam cram course or final review is a great way to wrap up your study process and memorize a few last facts before your exam date. You can think of a cram course a summary of all the most important topics, formulas, facts, and concepts that you need to memorize the week before you exam day.

Most CPA exam candidates take 2-3 months to study for a single section. Over the course of those 3 months, you’re likely to forget some of the things you studied at the beginning. That’s where a CPA final review course comes into play. It helps you review all of the most important things you need to remember. You can think of it like a mini refresher course before you exam day.

CPA cram courses are not only really helpful, but they are proven to increase CPA exam candidates’ scores by as much as 5 points! That’s right. Using a CPA exam final review could make the difference of passing the CPA exam.

Here are the CPA cram courses that I would recommend.


Becker CPA Review

becker-cpa-review-cram-course

The Becker CPA final review is the industry standard CPA exam cram course. Becker CPA designed this course to only focus on the challenging topics you need to remember.

With their patented shorter modules to optimize your study time, you’ll get access to 35+ hours of video lectures, over 1,000 MCQs, 100 TBS, and a full CPA exam simulation.

As a bonus, you also get printed and digitally annotated textbooks. Needless to say, Becker included everything in here that you need to do a final review during the week leading up to your exam day.


UWorld Roger CPA Review

roger-cpa-review-cram-courseThe UWorld Roger CPA review cram course is a perfect final review that will help you increase your CPA exam score by 5-10 points.

The Roger CPA exam cram course uses Roger’s CPA video lectures (10-20 minute focused lessons) to go over all of the last minute facts and formulas that you need to remember on your exam day.

You also get access to more practice questions on key topics and detailed explanations. The main thing that makes this cram course helpful is the combination of video lessons and study materials.

You get to watch the videos side-by-side with the study materials, so you can really drill the important concepts into your memory.

The Roger CPA final review course is only available in the UWorld Roger CPA Elite package, so you if think you’ll need a final review with Roger, you’ll have to get that package.


Gleim CPA Review

gleim-cpa-review-cram-courseThe Gleim CPA Finish Line final review is a great CPA exam cram course that can be used with any review course, not just Gliem CPA.

Unlike Roger CPA, Gleim offers their final review as a stand alone course that anyone can take advantage of no matter which full CPA exam review course they decide to choose.

The main advantages of the Gleim CPA cram course is access to more than 1,200 practice questions, 80 TBS, and two fully-simulated mock CPA exams to practice with.

This course is proved to help you retain the important info you need on your exam day. It’s definitely worth it no matter which course you go with for you main study guide.


CPA Exam Printed Flashcards

One of the best ways to memorize facts and concepts tested on the CPA exam is to use flashcards. It’s one of the most effective study tools that has been invented in the last few hundred years and it works great for studying for the CPA exam.

A few different CPA prep courses offer flashcards. Some only offer digital cards while others still give you a printed option. There are pros and cons to both digital and printed flashcards for studying. Digital flashcards are convenient because they will always be on your phone or computer, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting them somewhere. Digital flash cards also give you the ability to take advantage of adaptive study software.

Printed CPA exam flashcards, on the other hand, provide a much more tactile experience and give you the option of writing notes for clarification and memorization strategies. They are great for memorizing formulas and key facts that you need to know off the top of you head on exam day. Both Roger and Wiley CPA offer great CPA exam study flashcard sets that will help you prepare for the exam.


uworld-roger-cpa-review-flashcards

UWorld Roger CPA Review

Every UWorld Roger CPA review course comes standard with their digital flashcards. These decks use their adaptive technology to help show you the terms and concepts you need to memorize before your exam day.

The course also allows you to build your own deck of flashcards by transferring information from the course lessons into your flashcard deck for future review.

This feature is pretty awesome because it gives you the ability to create your own custom deck of study flashcards. Most review courses don’t let you create flashcards. You are stuck using theirs.

It’s always nice to customize something to your learning style and current knowledge set.

Only the Roger CPA Elite course comes with a printed deck of flashcards, however. So if you want a physical deck, you’ll have to get the Elite package.


Wiley CPA Review

wiley-cpa-review-flashcardsWiley CPA review (CPAExcel) is one of the only companies that offers a printed deck of flashcards that can be purchased separately from their course. Yes, this stand alone CPA exam study supplement can be used with any CPA exam study guide.

Wiley CPA follows the latest CPA exam Blueprint published by the AICPA to create their deck of CPA study flashcards. The concepts and memory tips included on Wiley flashcards a extremely comprehensive.

With over 250 printed flashcards included for CPA exam section, the Wiley CPA review flashcard deck is a great study aid. You can also get access to over 4,000 digital flashcards in the Wiley CPA platinum course.


Becker CPA Review

becker-cpa-review-printed-flashcardsBecker CPA review is one of only a few CPA study guide providers that offer printed flashcards for each CPA exam section. Becker CPA designed their deck of flashcards to focus on memory drills on the most important principles that you need to not only understand but keep on the forefront of your mind while taking the exam.

The Becker CPA flashcard deck comes with over 1,300 flashcards of key concepts that span each CPA exam section. These flashcards are only available for Becker students, however. They don’t come with the standard Becker CPA review course, but you can request them as long as you are a current Becker CPA student.


Best Audio CPA Review Courses

Audio lectures are great for auditory learners who study best by listening to lessons and explanations rather than reading a textbook. Sometimes it’s just easier to listen to someone explain a topic rather than trying to re-read a boring explanation of it in your textbook.

CPA exam audio courses help condense the topics tested on the CPA exam into bite-sized pieces that you can listen to in shorter settings anywhere you are. They are particularly great for active CPA candidates who are always moving.

If you have a long commute to work, like to go to the gym, or simply need something to listen to on your bike ride every day, CPA audio courses will definitely help you study for the CPA exam.

Roger CPA and Gleim CPA both offered different styles of Audio CPA exam study courses.


UWorld Roger CPA Review

roger-cpa-review-audio-lecturesThe Roger CPA audio review course is probably the best CPA exam study guide for auditory learners.

It combines Roger’s enthusiastic lecturing style with the mobility of an audio course.

This audio course is basically the audio version of Roger’s video lectures. Even without the video presentation, they are just as entertaining.

Listening to Roger in the car on your commute to work is about as good as it gets. 🙂

This is a great resource for students who need an audio study guide to go along with their full review course. It’s included in all Roger CPA review courses, but is not available as a stand alone CPA study supplement.

If you want to listen to Roger CPA on the go, you’ll have to pick up Roger’s full course.


Gleim CPA Review

gleim-cpa-review-audio-lecturesGleim CPA audio lectures are trimmed down versions of their video lectures. They aren’t quite as engaging as Roger’s audio lectures, but they are very detailed and help explain the main concepts on the exam.

Gleim CPA gives you the option to stream or download the audio courses to your phone or mobile app, so you can take them anywhere with or without internet.

This is a good bonus that comes along with the Gleim CPA review course. If you want the ability to study in your car or at the gym, the Gleim audio course is great option.


Best CPA Exam Course Student Support

Student support is one of the important factors in a good CPA review course. It doesn’t matter how many practice questions the course has or which type of adaptive software it boasts, if the customer service and student support isn’t there, you can often feel on your own.

Luckily, many of the CPA prep courses have great student support that allows you to ask questions about exam topics, request more information about a problem solution, or even just get some encouragement when you need some motivation to study.

Let’s face it. Studying for the CPA exam is a battle that you need to wake up a fight each day until you can conquer the exam. It’s nice to be able to count on a CPA exam mentor and student support team to help answer your questions and get you through the tough materials.

Both Wiley CPA and Yaeger CPA review offer great support and allow you to contact their CPA exam experts at any time during your CPA journey with your CPA exam study questions.


Wiley CPA Review

Wiley CPA offers CPA exam candidates awesome student support with two main options: CPA exam expert forums and CPA exam mentorship. First, you contact CPA exam experts through their forum and portal system. Typically, you will get an answer to your CPA exam question within 24-48 hours. This is a great resource for students who need help on specific topic or want more explanations about a specific answer.

Second, Wiley CPA is one of the only CPA study material providers that offer a full CPA exam mentorship program. They partnered with Bryan Kesler, CPA to offer the Ultimate CPA Exam Guide Mentorship (UCEG) program where CPA exam candidates and student can get help from Bryan with their studies and exam prep.


Yaeger CPA Review

Yaeger CPA review offers one of the best CPA student support programs out of any course provider. Yaeger gives students the ability to contact the course authors personally! That’s right, you heard that correctly. You can email Phil Yaeger, CPA yourself and ask him a question about the materials. AND he will reply.

No other CPA exam study guide offers you access to the course authors and CPA exam experts like Yaeger does. If you want unparalleled access to experts, Yaeger CPA is a good choice for your review course.


Frequently Asked Questions about the CPA Exam

Here are the most common CPA exam review questions that candidates ask along with some helpful exam tips.

Do I need a CPA review course?

Most likely yes, you will need a review course to pass the CPA exam. According to NASBA, the CPA exam pass rate is around 50 percent. This means it’s a tough exam. Almost half of people fail it even if they use a prep course. If you want to pass on your first try, you will need a proper study guide.


Which CPA exam review course fits my learning style?

Here is a chart that matches CPA prep courses with learning styles and study personalities.

  • Becker CPA Review: best for visual/auditory learners
  • UWorld Roger CPA Review: best for visual learners
  • Wiley CPA Review: best for auditory learners
  • Gleim CPA Review: best for read & write learners
  • Surgent CPA Review: best for kinesthetic learners

The best way to find the right CPA prep course is to understand your learning style. Everyone learns slightly differently. Some students prefer listening to lectures while others prefer working practice problems. The important thing is to find the CPA exam study guide that matches your learning style.

The best way to find your learning style is to take a CPA study personality quiz. Think about how you learn the best and find the CPA course that emphasizes your learning style. That’s which study guide you should use to prepare for the CPA exam.


How much does a CPA review course cost?

The average CPA review course costs between $1,000 and $2,500. This price depends greatly on the features you select and the level of support you choose. The average CPA candidates typically spends $1,500 on their CPA study materials.


Will a CPA review course help me pass?

Without a doubt, a CPA study guide will help you pass the exam. Most CPA exam review providers publish pass rates of 88 percent, well above the national average AICPA reports each testing window.


Which CPA course has the highest pass rate?

Becker CPA review has the highest CPA exam pass rate of 94% according students who have reported their CPA exam scores. While UWorld Roger CPA publishes a 91% pass rate, Wiley CPA review states 9 out of 10 students pass the exam. Most other CPA prep companies’ published CPA pass rates are between 88%-92% pass rates.


Which CPA review course is the best Reddit?

The best CPA prep course rated by Reddit users in the CPA Review Course subReddit is Becker CPA review. Most students prefer Becker because of its professional study materials and expansive practice test questions. Becker is also backed by the Big Four Accounting Firms.


Is Ninja CPA Review Good?

Ninja CPA review is not good for a full-length CPA exam study guide. It offers few study aids, but many students have complained about its study materials being outdated for the new CPA exam evolution redesign. If you need additional CPA exam practice questions for a study aid, you might try the Gleim Mega Test Bank.


What to consider before buying a CPA study guide?

Before you purchase a CPA exam study guide, you should consider which study materials are included in the full CPA prep course. Here are a list of the 5 most important CPA exam study materials to evaluate before you buy a CPA prep course:

  • Video lectures
  • Practice question test bank
  • Task-based simulation bank
  • Flashcards
  • Cram course/ final review

Think about your learning style and evaluate whether the course you are considering has the right amount of each study features in the course materials before you purchase the course.

It’s also nice to test out the prep course before you purchase it. Most CPA review courses offer a free trial option that you can test out the full review course materials before you actually pay for it. That way you will know what you are getting and won’t have any surprises once you make the commitment.


What’s the best course for beginners?

The Becker CPA review course is the best course for beginners and experienced professionals alike because it makes it easy to study at your own pace. The course also has high quality and easy exam material that will make it easy to pass your CPA exam.

On the other hand, Roger CPA Review is also perfect since the course has an 88 percent pass rate which is among the highest in the industry.


Which CPA exam section should I take first?

Your first CPA exam section should be the subject that you feel most confident with and have the more experience with.

Many people disagree with this thought, but they are wrong. 🙂

It’s important to take the CPA exam section that you find easiest first because it accomplishes two main goals.

First, you will have an easier time passing your first section. Let’s face it. Your first CPA exam section is nerve racking. You are going to be nervous no matter what, so it’s probably a good idea to take subject that is familiar to you. Passing your first section on your first try will give you a confidence boost and help you through the next sections.

Second, if the worst thing possible happens and you are unable to pass all four CPA exam sections in the 18-month window, your first passed exam section will expire forcing you to take it again. If this happens, wouldn’t you rather retake your easiest CPA exam section that you feel confident with rather than the hardest CPA exam section that you struggle with? I know I would.

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