Future_CPA
offlineMember
Hello. I am new to this site. I'm trying to figure out which study materials are best for me. Here's a little bit about myself. I am not a good test taker. I am not smart on my own. I have had to work very hard to get where I am at. Accounting didn't come easy to me. I am not afraid to study hard. Which study materials do you suggest I use? Thank you in advance.
Becks
offlineMember
Everyone is going to tell you different things based on what worked for them. This is what I suggest you do, visit multiple websites (Becker, Yaeger, Bisk, Kaplan, Wiley, etc.) and take a look at their samples they have. I think they may have a sample tutorial or a few pages from one of their books online to you to take a look at. I've used two different companies (Gleim and Becker) and tend to like Becker more simply because of how the book is structured and how easy it is for me to keep things straight.
Like yourself, I am not a good exam taker and my study habits are definitely not up to par so I really have to work at it. I think the best advise for you is just to try to take a look at as many different books/sample tutorials as you can. You may even want to look at Amazon and Barns & Noble to see if you could see a few pages of the wiley books (if I remember correctly those were available on both of those sites but I may be mistaken). Explore as many options as you can and then pick the one that seems like it would work for you.
Best of luck to you!
WI_11
offlineMember
I agree with becks, you should check out the web pages and look at the samples. I used becker and I think they did a really good job. Some people think becker is a really good "review" course, while others on the site like Yeager because it is a "teaching" course. Just do a little homework and you will do fine, there are people on here who pass and fail using all the programs, putting the time in is the key.
Swati
offlineMember
I agree with the above posts. I used Becker but it didn't really work for me then I switched to Yaeger and so far it works for me to understand the material. I think Becker is good if you need a review that's what I think personally and Yaeger is good if you need more of a teaching course and need someone who works out problems on the board.
Hope this helps.
Future_CPA
offlineMember
Thanks everyone for your input. zooyuka...why were you unsuccessful with Becker. Can you give more detail about why you didn't do as good with it, and why you feel more confident with Yaeger? Thanks.
zooyuka
offlineMember
Sure. With Becker, I was having trouble with the information sticking. I am a horrible test taker and have to truly understand a concept to do well on a test. Becker just really wasn't conducive to my style of learning. As mentioned before it is more of a review course. I have been out of college for a while and really need to be taught the material. That is where I think Yaeger excels. Yaeger is not as flashy as Becker, but its simple straight ahead teaching style makes it really easy for me to learn. Every concept is explained in detail and multiple choice questions are answered on every topic before moving on. I think the use of the marker board makes it very easy for the instructor to illustrate the topics. Again, it is not as pretty as the power point slides that Becker uses, but I feel it is a more effective method.
Future_CPA
offlineMember
That's great. I think that's definitely what I need. I hate to say it, but I need someone to lead me slowly through the material. I definitely would appreciate a program that helps me learn the concepts in detail, rather than just expecting me to know certain things and then rush through the material. Additionally, does Yaeger have a large test bank? I heard that Becker has thousands of questions to practice with.
75 CPA
offlineMember
I spent $15,000 on CPA Review courses, including Becker, and NTS schedules. This is what worked for me: Yaeger for BEC, FAR and REG. Lambers for AUD. Additionally, I found that Bob Monette with Bisk Hot Spots to be very helpful for FAR and REG.
Yaeger uses the Wiley book which has a very large test bank.
PLCagle
offlineMember
Thank you everyone for this thread. I am starting my Exam journey very soon and despite the mild panic attack from just the review material (choice, price, etc) I am leaning towards Bisk Classic which includes Books, Software, Lectures, & Workbooks. Can anyone give me some advice??? I have been out of school for 2 years so im a little rusty!
Thanks
NJCPA2B
offlineMember
PL Cagle, don't buy Bisk, the software is awful! I purcased it for AUD and used it for 3 hours then went for Gleim. Among other things, their test taking software is really awful! Why, it's a very slow learning process with their software, first the software is slow, then as you take their tests, you can not find out what an answer is until you get it correct. When you get a MCQ wrong, they give you a database of literature to read to see if you can find the answer for the next time you retake the incorrect MCQs. You won't have that problem with Wiley or Gleim!!.....stay away from Bisk!
suzzette1
offlineMember
@PLCagle based on my experience, Yaeger HS or Cram with Becker materials to supplement you is the best combination. I passed all 4 parts in 2010 using these materials on first try. If you have the luxury of time, I suggest that you take one section at a time per window. Two years out of school is nothing, I graduated from college 26 years ago so you are going to be fine.
pankitp
offlineMember
my opinion hands down for you is roger.
great instructor, fun classes, and he provides you with his own books for notes, + Wiley books with software.
I passed using only his notes and Wiley practice software, did not even touch the Wiley book.
he's on rogercpareview.com
Jan_in_WI
offlineMember
I used Becker and found it to be very efficient in covering the material. I have a really busy life, and it truly streamlined the study process so that I was able to pass all parts on the first try within 6 months. I used their program and the flashcards. I paid out-of-pocket, so I bit the bullet financially, but it worked for me. In the past, I purchased Wiley, Gleim, and Bisk. I felt so overwhelmed with the volume of information at the time that I never even scheduled to sit for the exam. I wish I had used Becker from the start.
75orbust
offlineMember
I used Kaplan and can't complain with the results. Reasonably priced at under a $1,000 for all 4 parts with a discount, I feel its underappreciated on these message boards. I wouldn't over look it. Has everything you need- Online classes, live-classes, large online test bank, textbooks, Mp3 files, flashcards, etc.
bcox
offlineMember
I have used Yaeger for BEC and FAR. I passed both on the first try and didn't see any material on the exam that wasn't covered on their DVD's. I like Yaeger because they truly do teach you everything instead of just telling you that you need to know this and that. Topics I have had trouble with throughout college actually began to make sense after watching their videos.
I have to say that I did switch to Lambers for AUD because I wasn't crazy about Gary who teaches Gov't and NFP. It's not that he didn't teach the material well (nothing on the exam he didn't go over) but he is very dry and I think he does most of the AUD section if not all. I will definitely switch back to Yaeger for REG however.
I was just truly pleased with every aspect of their BEC and FAR reviews and can't recommend them enough.
dhuffman
offlineMember
I'm not an acounting major and had a really crappy instructor for the classes I had to take so I have had to basically teach myself what I need to know + I've only been doing govt auditing and that for only 3 years as I came from telecom. That being said I found Lambers and Yaeger the best for teaching me the basics of what I needed to know and Becker good as an overall review of the material. Only thing I didn't like about either Yaeger or Lambers is some of their instructors are less than optimal for me (can't stand to hear them speak). For BEC Cindy at Yaeger is the best I've found. For FAR Bill Grubbs with Lambers is fantastic. Both methods will work problems to help you understand the concepts AND how to identify the parts of the questions you need to solve.
Anushka730
offlineMember
Yaegar has helped me out with REG, FAR and BEC. For BEC , though I used Gleim as well for a couple of modules. But, most of it was Yaegar.
I have been out of college for about 15 years and it was a challenge studying for this test. Phil Yaegar and Cindy Simpson are really great at explaining concepts, and their teaching style is very good.
With AUD though, I am struggling still, will be taking it for the 4th time in Feb, and this time will be using lambers. After, using Wiley test bank cd and the Wiley book, I somehow do not feel confident enough with the lambers software. I just hope it helps me pass this time. It would help to know that the lambers software helped someone as well ...
Goodluck!
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