[nepcpa]

Hi guys, I am new in this forum..planning to start CPA exam; I am sure this question was asked before too.. I saw mixed reactions about review course. Is Becker worth paying that much money? What are the other best options..its been 5 years out of school..so kinda worried. Please suggest me..

[Anonymous]

@nepcpa

Sure it is. Lots and lots of people pass with it. If you pay $3,000+, it is probably more likely that you will use it–all of it. The amount of MCQ is extremely handy. Becker is also very useful to those with limited exposure to accounting because it is so in depth.

But, if you have the discipline to actually study effectively, you can do the exact same things with the Wiley books and the Wiley Test Bank for about $2.5k less. The only reason I went with Becker is because my firm paid for it. Otherwise, I would've gone the Wiley route until I decided it didn't work for me.

My $0.02.

[Anonymous]

Well Becker has changed a LOT since I first took it in the mid 90's. I had the 3 ring binder system. I did not like my experience but then again, my dedication level was low and I was hoping for a miracle. I gave it effort but did not deem it to myself that I WOULD PASS. Had I, well……who knows.

Now they actually have textbooks and use previous CPA exam questions.

I think it is at least 50% overpriced and there are better options out there.

Thus far I bought CPAExcel and all of the Wiley books. I used the Wiley books for everything except business law on REG. Aud 87, BEC 88, and REG (well we will see, I just don't know). I am a Wiley person myself.

JMHO others love Becker.

CPAPending

[sarah210]

This might not be super helpful, but the answer is that it depends on you and your study method and what works best for you.

For me, though:

I tried to study on my own with Bisk books for the first two sections. Clearly that did not go well for me. Three weeks ago I decided to plop down the $$ for the becker online class for the following reasons:

1. I need the discipline built into a course schedule like the becker class. I need assignments and due dates.

2. I retain information from seeing, watching, listening, and practicing.

3. I retain very little information from reading.

4. I felt so clueless going into this that I wanted someone to tell me “do this, on this schedule, and it will work.” You don't get that with just some books.

I can't say for sure, since I haven't taken a section of the CPA exam since I started becker, but I am almost positive that if I do not pass REG in July, I will at least take my score up significantly.

For *me* Becker is absolutely worth the money.

The books are set up in a logical way with charts, summaries, and diagrams that boil information down and help me see connections where before I had no clue. The lectures repeat and hammer in information that is important and use funny examples to help you remember things. The homework questions all come from old CPA exams (which is the same with Bisk, I believe. I know I've seen some questions in becker I had with bisk).

Now, I can't compare Becker to other comprehensive (lectures+books+whatever) systems, since Becker is all I have used, but I have to say that overall I am very pleased with it so far.

REG- 53, 91
BEC- 88
FAR- 62, 85
AUD- 85

Ethics- 93

[sarah210]

Oh, and @BDO-Baby is right

The fact that I had to shell out $3k from my own pocket means I'm a whole lot more dedicated to studying and making it “worth it.”

REG- 53, 91
BEC- 88
FAR- 62, 85
AUD- 85

Ethics- 93

[Anonymous]

If you are committed to putting in the time and the effort, its well worth it. I'm like some of the others, as my firm is paying for it, but I have not been disappointed. I have been using the Wiley test bank to supplement Becker, and it has been helpful as well. Like BDO said, if you want to spend less money, I would suggest Wiley as the most comparable review course. Best of luck in your studies!

[mena je twa]

Becker is good, no doubt… but the question is, is it worth 3.5k? Or 995 per part?

In my opinion no review course is worth this ridiculous amount of money. I have used Yaeger/Roger etc a very decent price, 450-500 per part, i like the pricing and the review materials are good.

So, till date i dont know why Becker is worth 3500, and also it expires in 9 months.

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

[ppierce]

Nah use Yaeger. Its more than half the cost. I am 1 section away from being finished and even though have an MBA in Accounting, knew very little when i started. i literally taught myself FAR with the help of Yaeger.

FAR 80
REG 76
AUD 85
BEC 85
Ethics 98
DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

My take on any review course is that I don't want someone telling me what they THINK is going to be on the exam. Give me the information and I will learn it….don't put me in a spot where I get to the exam and run across something that wasn't covered at all.

So I believe that everyone should use multiple sources including Wiley with whatever you decide to use as a primary course.

[lateralus ag]

“So, till date i dont know why Becker is worth 3500, and also it expires in 9 months.” from mena je twa

Becker doesn't expire in 9 months. It expires 18 months after you purchase it and if you do all the homework and get a score of 90% or better on the homework (work as many times as you want, as long as you answer 90% of the questions correctly it's a 90%) they guarantee you will pass. If you don't pass, you get to use the course again for free.

Everyone has their favorites, but I am a believer in Becker. One of the reasons I am so dedicated to studying is 100% because I shelled out so much scratch for it. Out of my own pocket, etc.

It's a hell of a lot of money, but if you don't think you will earn an extra 3500 once you are a CPA, then you probably don't want to purchase Becker, or any other course.

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[lateralus ag]

“don't put me in a spot where I get to the exam and run across something that wasn't covered at all”

This will be the case no matter what course you use. There will be information on the test that you haven't seen. It just happens.

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[Anonymous]

I've used Wiley and it hasn't happened except once relating to a court decision on REG that was referenced. But the meat of the problem was covered and I had the information to answer it.

I've heard a lot of people here asking about things they had never heard about, none I can think of using Wiley.

[lateralus ag]

So what you're saying is, it's never happened except that one time where it happened?

Got it. 😉

FAR 88
REG 89
AUD 89
BEC 86
DONE!!!
Using Becker Review and Becker Final Review, and Ninja Audio for BEC

[heatherbee28]

I agree that you should choose the study materials based on your study habits and motivation. I am currently using Gleim, which “only” cost about $1,000 but is so much cheaper than Becker. It works great for those who are good at learning on their own and are able to stick to a study schedule. I've passed AUD and FAR on my first tries. Just took REG last week and am not so sure, but that's only because I didn't put as much time as I should have into studying. Gleim covered everything on the REG test, I just needed to put in more hours. For the price, I would have to go with Gleim.

AUD- 77
BEC- 83
FAR- 83
REG- 71, 91

[Anonymous]

No I said that the specific tax case refrenced wasn't mentioned by NAME in the review materials (Wiley or CPA excel). The meat of the question was though.

We'll see.

[mena je twa]

Thanks for the correction on beckers 9 month vs 18 months rule …….

People are free to decide which review course they want to take, i did receive a 5k bonus right away after passing the exam( more then 3.5k) but i was not ready to shell out that much money for Becker, thats just me.

Licensed CPA, Texas - 2012

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