[jchris]

I am just about ready to purchase a CPA review set and am going back and forth debating on which one i should buy. It is SO hard! Becker is very expensive but if it is truly a superior review i do not mind spending the money. If anyone can give their input as to the pros/cons of both becker and yaeger and maybe those of you that have used both which one you prefer and why. Thank you.

 

 

[NJCPA2B]

I would go with Yaeger Home Study! It's more of an “old school” approach where the professor lectures wth a white board explaining many MCQs. (FAR has 14 DVDs; REG has 10 DVDs' BEC has 6 DVDs and AUD 4 DVDs).

The course also comes with four Wiley review books and the Wiley 14.00 CD for more MCQs.

I'm 44 and been out of school for 20 years…and passed BEC and FAR on the first try, and finally passed REG on the 3rd try

I don't think Yaeger Homestudy is as strong enough (still very good) for AUD though…failed 2x 70,69….but I think you just need to do thousands of MCQs to pass AUD….

BEC=77, FAR=78, REG=73,74,80, AUD=70,69, 84 DONE!

[Anonymous]

I used Becker, I am more of a audio learner, so I liked the highlighting and note taking in the book along with the CD so that I can listen to the lectures over and over if need be. I also like the software with the simulated exams, progress test, simulations and the practice Final Exams which are like the real thing just much harder in my experience. I passed 3 of 4 first time but my failure of AUD was not the material but my ad hoc study schedule while also trying to finish my masters degree at the same time. I just did not put in the time on my first exam, it was a costly lesson. I also believe no matter what material you use, if you put in the quality study time necessary you can pass this exam. Just remember, Becker trys to teach you what is most likely to be on the exam not everything. Becker really fit my learning style. Good Luck on your Choice.

[Anonymous]

I've used Becker for all of my stuff without supplementing with anything else. I've been out of school for 10 years almost and don't do much pure accounting work in my job. So far I've passed the three I've taken with scores in the 90s. It was very expensive, but worth it so far. I take FAR in 8 days as my last section.

[jchris]

I think i am still undecided, but thank you all for your insight! Dale, good luck on your exam that is coming up soon.

[financeguy]

I have yaeger and I passed aud on the first try, failed BEC by 1 point, but then just retook it the other day and will be shocked if I didn't pass.

No complaints about yaeger, they do a good job. I wasn't any problem of the review course on why I did not pass BEC on the first try.

I think too many people place emphasis on the differences between review courses. I think it more depends on the effort you put forth and how efficient you are at studying.

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

[Anonymous]

My impression (as I have no actual experience with Yaegar):

Becker – presents the topics and has one, maybe two examples of everything. organized extremely well and topics flow from one to the next in a logical progression. You have to work through examples on your own for areas you need extra attention on. I've taken the live classes and the instructors there have been very helpful with any topics I had additional questions with.

Yaegar – more college class style learning. They walk you through the problems step by step for the most common areas. I get the impression they they don't cover all the topics that Becker does but go into more detail and practice than what Becker presents.

[Anonymous]

It would be interesting to see how Yaegar works and does it though. Everything I've heard about Phil has been great. The Becker materials were bought and paid for well before I found this site. I can't say I'll ever spend money to find out (specially since I think I'll be completely done next week), but it would be interesting.

The Becker way has clicked with me and worked so I've not felt the need to change mid-stream. I am a big fan of Becker as I've felt its program is well organized and has prepared me for each section so far. I certainly would recommend it to anyone looking to take the exam that has a similar background as to what I had.

Does Phil do any CPE type of courses? I know Tim from Becker has a couple, although I haven't looked into cost yet. I would love to see what Phil is like in a CPE type of setting since I'll be doing those in the near future.

I'm convinced that each study program is capable of passing people. People like me pass all the time with Becker while others struggle with it. Others pass great with Yaegar and the other programs as well. I've heard some people in the Becker class that tried other materials first and failed. Different methods for different folks. At least we have the different options out there.

As always, this community is fairly well rounded and all work well with each other and our variety of materials. Sadly, I've used this forum currently as an excuse not to study, so back to the slave pens with me.

[75 CPA]

I have both Becker and Yaeger. Yaeger is better than Becker for FAR, REG and BEC. Becker is better for AUD. I passed FAR, REG and BEC on my first try with Yaeger.

I was impressed with Dr. Yaeger's helpful attitude when I called him a month before my FAR exam last year. He spent over an hour with me over the phone explaining pensions. Do one else does that!

Becker has the best professional presentation. Their book is also very well organized. However, I hate paying top dollar to rent Becker for only 18 months. I have spent a small fortune with Becker.

The major advantage of Yaeger is that they drill down to hundreds of multiple choice questions. Becker does not do that.

Cindy at Yaeger spends almost 3 hours on cost accounting alone. After trying to do Becker's Passmaster multiple choice questions for cost accounting, I had to use Yaeger's lectures in order to answer Becker's questions. Additionally, Becker made the formula for the FIFO approach to equivalent units more complicated and confusing than it has to be. Cindy at Yaeger made it so simple!

Becker and Yaeger are like night and day for BEC. Yaeger is far better for BEC than Becker. BEC hits you with so many subjects, unlike AUD, for example. Becker and Yaeger do not always cover the same material for BEC because of the great diversity of subjects tested. There was one sick question on my BEC exam that only Cindy (Yaeger) covered.

Most CPA candidates have trouble with Becker's chapter 3 (FAR) and chapter 5 (cost accounting, etc.). Both chapters are a piece of cake after you finish Yaeger!

I used Yaeger as my teaching course and Becker as my quick review course AFTER I finished Yaeger. Becker always makes more sense after I finish Yaeger. I just do not learn very well when Becker's teachers read from Power Point.

Yaeger gives you the biggest bang for the buck ($345 per course with the discount). Yaeger uses the best book, Wiley, which is included in Yaeger's course. You will also get Wiley's Exam Review Software on a CD with the Yaeger program. Additionally, Yaeger goes over hundreds of multiple choice questions. The great flexibility of the Yaeger course over all other review courses is a great plus.

Give Dr. Phil Yaeger a call. You cannot beat the combination of the Wiley book and Yaeger. Yaeger’s strength is going over the multiple choice questions in the Wiley textbook.

[Anonymous]

i am yet to take the exam but yaeger teaches and becker reviews. it as simple as that!!!!!!!!!!

[75 CPA]

“i am yet to take the exam but yaeger teaches and becker reviews. it as simple as that!!!!!!!!!!”

Yes, it is as simple as that.

There is no such thing as a perfect review program, including the Mecca of review programs, Becker. Most CPA candidates only use one review program and either pass or fail using that one program. Additionally, we all learn differently.

I think of Becker as very expensive Cliff Notes. If you have the money, Becker has the most professional lectures and books. I love the mnemonics, for example. The lectures are fast paced and entertaining. Becker is high speed and low drag! However, Becker is too much and too fast for me. I need a teaching course like Yaeger. A review course, like Becker, comes after I understand the material.

Yaeger combines the best of Becker (lectures) and Gleim (organized multiple choice questions). Yaeger gives a short lecture and then reviews the multiple choice questions in the Wiley book.

Dr. Phil Yaeger spent 1½ hours over the phone with me explaining pensions. No other review course gives you that type of personal service! Becker, for instance, gives no personal service at all. Gleim has personal counselors who know nothing about accounting.

You will not find out how great the people at Yaeger are until you order one of their review programs. I am 100% sold on this company. Yaeger has done everything in their power to help me pass these exams. Additionally, Yaeger is the least expensive of the review programs.

The CPA exams are just a game. It is a serious game, but it is still a game. Learn to play the game! How can I become more efficient and effective in my study methodology? That is the question.

Pick your review materials carefully. You will not pass the CPA exams without good review materials! If I had to pick the best review course, I would pick Yaeger. No one matches his personal help. If it were not for Yeager, I would have failed FAR again just using Becker and Gleim.

[FL_CPA2010]

It's really a matter of trial and error and how you learn. I need to sit in a classroom with designated times to watch the lectures or actual live classes…I don't do well with self-study. If you do well with self-study then you can get the Wiley books and just start reading. A co-worker of mine did that and got 94+ on all 4 parts on the first try. Becker helped me pass REG, there were NO surprises on the MCQ's. Becker did fairly well with AUD, there were minimal surprises on the MCQ's, and I had a few repeats on my actual exam. The same for the sims. Not quite sure why I didn't pass, but I still maintain that they mixed up my test with someone else's. Becker is awful for BEC. I just started Yaeger and and 2/3 of the way through the 2nd module and I am very impressed so far. Cindy is amazing, and I've only listened to her I.T. lecture…I am actually excited about watching her cost lectures from all the good things I heard about her on here. When I took BEC after using Becker, most of the Q's seemed like they were Greek to me…could not even figure out what the Q's were asking. But…there are plently of people who pass on the first try with Becker; however, many of those same people said that they got “lucky” (i.e. lots of questions in an area they were already familiar with, good guesses). I don't think Becker really knows how the BEC exam is laid out, but I love the way their materials are structured…very easy to follow. I have noticed just from the first 2 Wiley modules using Yaeger that there are numerous items that Becker did not cover. But I won't know until Aug 20th whether it's useful. I can't speak for FAR as my Becker class does not start until September. However, I did purchase Yaeger for that section as well. I'm going to do 2 complete review courses for that one before I sit bc I want to make sure I pass that beast before IFRS is added!

In short, pick your poison…self study or guided lectures? Intense review or “going back to college”…different strokes for different folks.

Good luck 🙂

REG 79 (Becker); BEC 63 (Becker) 70 (Yaeger); AUD 66 (Becker; 11/30 - Becker); FAR 11/24 (Yaeger/Wiley)

[Anonymous]

Here is my take, now I been fortunate to get a generous discount for Becker through my employer so I have all 4 parts but after failing miserably FAR and not being confident for BEC, i decided to try Yager and I am all the way Yager. LIke Phil and Cindy say, Yaeger explains the concepts behind the problems and by them doing the multiple choice, that helps me out Tremendously! With Becker I was like forcing myself to Memorize formulas and mneomics not knowing the reason why. With Yaeger I felt the lights turned on every topic. Theres a reason why Yaeger's lecture are 2x as long as Becker (more/less). I love Yaeger's humor in their lectures, makes it fun. I still refer to Becker once in a while but I am Yaeger all the way. Things I hate about Becker they expire ONE year (in 2009, for 2010 its 18 mos now). and i really really really hate when the national instructors say “read this for homework, read this for homework, we dont have time to go over this” Why in the Flippin world would a normal person spend $3000 if you arent even going to lecture it!? Also the separate supplemental section makes me mad. Thats just me. Go Yaeger! Team Yager.

[herbert7890]

FAR 88 - BEC 86 - AUD 90 - REG 85

[Author]

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