1. 

   Nick
   

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   Member

   Hey,

   I am new to another71 and am currently saving to buy the review course/exam. I plan to have enough money in April to pay cash for Becker and all of my exam parts at once. I have not yet attempted any exam sections.

   With that said, I have read a few of the threads in here and see that Becker and Yaeger are mentioned. I am sure that there is a topic somewhere around here where people talk about which review course to take (this looks like it would start a pretty subjective discussion, and I apologize in advance).

   Questions:
   1) Every course claims extremely high pass rate, this looks like a marketing ploy to me. How can we tell who (if anyone) is telling the truth?
   2) Every course claims to be the "Best" or that you will be "better prepared than your peers."...I just want to pass and not waste several thousand dollars if there is no significant difference between courses. But how do you know which prep will be sufficient?
   3) What is the difference in a $3,000 course(Becker) and a $1,000 one(Gleim)?
   4) Finally, what are the key elements of a course that are actually integral to passing and which elements are simply frills?

   These questions may look inflammatory, but I just want to pass and not lose my shirt in the process. Everyone in my area says you will fail if you do not use Becker (give me a break...people took the test all at once with no reviews back in the day), I am hesitant to believe the hype. However, when I go to a janky-looking website for someone else...it doesn't put my mind at ease either.

   It would be nice to hear from real people and not Course reps and marketing exploits.

   Thanks,

   Nick

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   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   Jeff - another71.com
   

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   admin

   Good questions Nick!

   I recommend the course that I personally used to pass the Exam and had success with. I've probably seen hundreds of comments on here and in e-mail from people thanking me for recommending Yaeger and hardly any complaints - if at all.

   Put the cost factor aside...

   1. Does the course match your learning style?

   2. If you have questions while you're studying - can you get answers?

   Those are two biggies to consider.

   -Jeff

   Become a NINJA:
   NINJA Notes
   NINJA Audio
   Wiley Test Bank

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   Nick
   

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   Member

   Well,
   I am saving for the most expensive of the review courses (as far as I know), so I have put the cost aside in one sense. However, if there is no notable difference between courses, then why throw your money away?

   Jeff, thanks for the insight, my only issue with your criteria is my inability to see if a course will offer those two traits (in a comparatively better way than another course) before purchasing it. You have me pretty sold on Yaeger.

   My wife (also a candidate) is convinced that Becker is the only path to victory as a result of several Big 4 firms offering to pay for it (and other people from class).

   Posted 2 years ago #
4. 

   financeguy
   

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   Member

   I am using yaeger and it is working for me. In my opinion the difference in review courses is mostly going to be the cost. The ultimate outcome is how much YOU, YOURSELF, put into preparing. As you stated yourself, people used to pass the whole exam all at once w/o any review course.

   I mean, technically, you could go on ebay and buy a dozen different accounting books for very cheap and teach yourself all of the material. Saying that using Becker is the only way to pass the exam is an unbelievably false statement.

   AUD - 81, BEC - 74, 80, FAR - 82, REG - 81
   Done!

   Posted 2 years ago #
5. 

   Dale
   

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   Member

   I am currently going through the Becker classes. I passed AUD with a 94 and am feeling good about my current section studying (REG). Others in my class have told me the FAR and BEC cover those sections well.

   I imagine both are good. I knew the Becker name from years and years ago when I was still in college and didn't know anything about the others. So far I'm in good hands, although it is a big sticker price. I have no regrets with Becker so far, but if you can get the job done for significantly cheaper go for it.

   RTCDQ!!.......Read the Cocka-Doody Question!
   AUD-94; REG-97; BEC-93; FAR-94
   see how I did it day by day: http://cpa-exam.dalesines.com
   contact info on blog

   Posted 2 years ago #
6. 

   ThisExamisaLifeRuiner
   

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   Any reason no one uses Bisk? It is cheap and I have felt more than prepared going in to the tests. Everyone who posts on this website seems to be using Becker which costs an arm and a leg. I passed audit on the first try and felt good about BEC.

   AUD-84
   BEC-1/5
   REG-2/13
   FAR-apr

   Posted 2 years ago #
7. 

   NJTProadwarrior
   

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   Member

   I'm using Yeager, I am happy with it though I had some trouble with BEC, but passed AUD and REG on my first try...

   AUD: 79 - BEC: 74, 74, 76 - REG: 80 - FAR: 81 = DONE!
   THANK YOU JEFF!!!!!!
   Support NJ's ONLY Bear Orphange - http://www.woodlandswildlife.org

   Posted 2 years ago #
8. 

   Q2Conquer
   

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   Member

   Nick,

   I thought the same thing you did and bought becker because it was the most expensive. Problem was, I bought it twice and I'm sitting here discussing it with you. Problem with Becker is that time will lapse if you get caught up doing other things, which was my fault. When I really got down to studying, becker's lecture and book has an awesome structure and the software for the homework kicks butt. However, a lot of the MC questions will give you a solution you can follow if you get it wrong, but you'll have to teach the concept yourself by referring to the book (unless you have previous experience/knowledge) so you don't get caught just memorizing. I have a problem with taking too long in answering questions on the actual CPA exam. I'll be able to figure it out, but I seem to go all over place when considering the concepts. Now I have Yaeger and a lot of the questions are similar. For some reason, the lectures are going over ALL of the MC questions I struggled with in Becker realizing the concepts are easier than i made it to be. Just like in the real world, most expensive, could only mean more marketable! It all depends on how you learn, not how much it costs. Yaegar all the way!

   Posted 2 years ago #
9. 

   CPA2B
   

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   NIck

   I have attended a live bisk class and also bought yeagar. Here is my take on it.

   For BEC and FAR - Yeagar is actually better. They explain items in easy to understand terms and if you do not catch it the first time - you can rewind. They covered all the material on the test. My scores were BEC (80) and FAR (87).

   REG - both BISK and Yeagar were equal. They both covered the material adequately. I felt comfortable with majority of the test questions. REG (85) with Bisk (4 years ago - has health issues and did not take the other test) and Yeagar (82).

   AUD - Did not like Yeager. The presentation was not smooth and following like the other sections. I know the teacher know the subject but did not explain it in a smooth manner for me. Bisk was better. I had questions and sims that wre not covered in the lectures. Made a (71) with Yeagar. When I studied again, I just used Wiley book without any instructions. Read each chapter and made notes and did all the questions and sims in the book. Retook last week and felt comfortable with all the questions and sims. BIG importand point with AUD - KNOW THE THREE REPORTS BY MEMORY WORD FOR WORD. This is the same as most instructor will say and most people will agree with. Audit is much more memorize all the information.

   I made hand note for all four sections. I ended up with over 70 pages for both REG and FAR, about 50 for BEC (never had GOVT/NonProfit so this section was longer) and only 30 pages for AUD. The big difference in AUD was that there was less to study but you had to know it without question. In the other three sections, you could skip one thing you did not understand and still be ok - with audit you have to know it all.

   Hope this helped!

   Posted 2 years ago #
10. 

    bbrowning911
    

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    EASY QUESTION, BAM! Whatever you do, don't go with Becker, it's like cheating (which I hear they can fail you for), it's like they tell you exactly what they are going to test you on, spoon feed you the answers, and try to organize it in the best way possible so that it's the easiest for you to learn. Like I said, I bet they will suspect you of cheating if you use Becker because your score will be that high.

    Go check the other forum topic about Becker test scores to actual exam scores. I walked into FAR thinking I might have failed as it was my first test. I didn't even get through all of the study material but it was helpful in the Becker material when they would say "the exam will try to trick you like this."

    Now, I've never used ANY of the other ones, but I have read these forums and read stories about people doing their final review exams, getting in the 90's and then failing so miserably that they didn't even want to post their scores. I just don't think that is even possible with Becker.

    But if you want the real-deal-no-bull-down-n-dirty truth, the best study prep, is playing rockband right before a test (Specifically Paramore). See my other posts which corroborate this fact.

    FAR: 97 AUD: 97 BEC: 88 REG: 97

    Posted 2 years ago #
11. 

    PursuitCPA
    

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    bbrowning911 its possible and I switched to Yeager, I am a Yeaeger Convert

    CPA EXAM - Passed

    Posted 2 years ago #
12. 

    75 CPA
    

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    Member

    My main concern is a review course that teaches, since I attended a college that did a poor job of preparing me for the CPA exams. Unlike most of you, I use 4 review courses for each CPA exam. Yes, I know that is overkill, but I want to pass all four parts on the first try.

    I know that the CPA candidate that reviews the most material has the advantage. I can assure you, that with the exception of audit, all the review courses cover different aspects of the topics tested. I had one question on the BEC exam that only Cindy at Yaeger explained. The other three CPA courses that I used did not mention it. Additionally, I had a communication simulation in FAR that only Bob Monette with Bisk Hot Spots explained.

    Here is my opinion on the CPA review courses that did the best job of teaching:

    #1 Yaeger Link:
    Yaeger CPA Review
    #2 Bob Monette (Bisk Hot Spots)
    #3 Becker
    #4 Roger Link: Roger CPA Review
    #5 Gleim Test Prep
    #6 Kaplan
    #7 Bisk

    Posted 2 years ago #
13. 

    Anna
    

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    Member

    I think it very much depends on your own knowledge level of a subject.

    Becker was great for AUD and BEC. This course mostly uses memorization/ mnemonics techniques. So since BEC and AUD is theory stuff mostly, - Becker worked great. For me at least. Also, coverage of actual exam information was pretty good.

    I started to have problems with FARE and REG, because Becker is more of a review course (even though an amazing one), but I had troubles with understanding basic accounting and taxation concepts. So I barely passed FARE and switched to Yaeger.
    Yaeger is designed like your college course. They explain theory and work m/c questions and simulations together with you. I am studying with Yaeger for REG now - and for the first time I am actually understanding basic concepts and techniques.
    No matter what you choose - I'd highly recommend getting one of Final Review products - Becker, Yaeger CRAM or whatever else is good out there. They help to settle and organize info in your head.

    Also, whichever course you choose - even if you go with Wiley book and software only - make sure you do tonns of mcq and understand why you're getting correct or incorrect answers.
    Sorry if my response is all scattered - it's end of Friday, I want to go home already!!!

    BEC (82), AUD (86), FARE (75) => Becker 2009
    REG (74),(74),(83) => Yaeger HS & Audio

    Posted 2 years ago #
14. 

    calisteph6
    

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    I agree with the other posters. I've used Yaeger for AUD and REG and it's *great* for REG and just ok for AUD. One big CON for Becker is their expiration date because many CPA canidates do not pass in a year...so keep that in mind. I've seen everyone recommend Yaeger for REG, FAR, and BEC so I will take Yaeger for those parts...if I don't pass AUD I may switch to Roger or someone else (but I hear Roger has bad customer service).

    BTW Yaeger has GREAT customer service @
    http://www.yaegercpareview.com/

    Posted 2 years ago #

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