[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]

About the review course not covering something on the exam. I can say that Becker does an excellent job covering what is MOST likely to be on the exam. I skipped most of the ancillary materials and did well. Additionally, their presentation on the core of the material beats any other. WIthout some of their mnemonics, and rewording of the stodgy text, I don't think I would have understood some topics EVER, especially business combos.

Pass master in my opinion, is where the money is at. The explanations they give for incorrect answers is wonderful

With that said, I wish I got Rogers for less money. ahahaha. Heard he does a good job with Audit, and right now I am dying there.

If you pass on the first attempt with Becker, then you have higher returns, right?

[misanthrope87]

Becker does a great job with AUD too imo. I think Becker was lacking for REG but other subjects were spot on.

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[Anonymous]

You are right misanthrope. Becker does do a good job with auditing. I just need someone to water down transactions cycles for me. and assumed roger would do a better job.

Also, I changed my approach for Auditing which I regret. I don't think I will ever take notes again.

[jeff]

The question is: would you pay $3,000+ if you had to foot the bill yourself?

Or – would you pursue other options like Wiley that cost a fraction of that amount?

People who had it handed to them for free can say “sure – worth every penny” all day – but they didn't have to enter the own CC info…gulp…pause…gulp…say a prayer…hit “order”.

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[misanthrope87]

@Jeff

Yes I paid for Becker all out of pocket because my company is cheap and they don't really want us to get our license since we'll leave. It was painful. Lol. But if I get my last passing score on June 8/9 (CA), I will say it was worth every penny, to pass everything on the first try.

@Homestretch

The transaction cycles are definitely difficult to deal with, but I read that chapter and did the MCQ 3 times and I was good with that subject after that.

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[Anonymous]

When I was working in public accounting, they reimbursed me but I didn't was to waste my time studying so I just got the gleim test bank and pretended to study. After 3 years of wasting their money and my time I decided to move to corporate and not get the CPA because I just didn't care about it.

After taking a year off I decided to go back and go back for real. My company at the time said they would reimburse me for the tests once I passed all parts.

Even though was having to pay for it, I decided to go with Becker. Sure it is expensive but I wanted the whole package that they offer. I did the payment plan.

AUD I passed with just Becker.

BEC I passed with Becker and Ninja Notes.

REG I passed with Becker, Ninja Notes and Wiley Test bank –> I found that I was starting to memorize the Becker questions and needed to mix it up.

FAR I am currently using the same method I did for REG. I found Becker to be a great motivation because I don't want to waste that 3.5k that I have already spent. I also think that the lectures are really good.

I really don't think one review course is better than the other. It is what you put into it and how you learn. I say Becker is absolutely worth every penny but I also know I wouldn't have passed REG if it wasn't for Wiley and especially the Ninja Notes. I would recommend Becker and Ninja Notes to any one. The Wiley Testbank as a supplement is useful for those that need a lot more practice, like me.

[Justinnnn]

The boost in salary and career opportunities in the grand scheme makes $100 vs. $3000 immaterial. Go Becker.

Even if their BEC section is a little sloppy.

REG 80 2/7/11
FAR 91 10/8/11
AUD 97 11/22/11
BEC 96 2/4/12

CPA 3/15/13

[Anonymous]

I've taken FAR, AUD and REG, and I passed both FAR (86) and AUD (99) on the first try. I'm still waiting to hear about REG. Since I've been passing, I think it's definitely worth it. It gives you all the materials to pass – it's just whether or not you utilize it.

Good luck!

[momto5]

@ Home Stretch “Also, I changed my approach for Auditing which I regret. I don't think I will ever take notes again.'

Please explain……I am studying for AUD now using Becker. I took lots of notes for FAR and decided to do the same for AUD, but I am finding that it is taking me so very long and wondering if it is helping me any. What would you do differently?

FAR - 92 (4/27/12)
AUD - 96 (7/17/12)
BEC - 92 (8/30/12)
REG - 91 (11/12/12)

[ppierce]

Its all about doing MCQ anyway imo and i like that Yaegar provides minimun MCQ to do and you don't have to waste your time doing every mcq in the book. Its worked so far for me but i have my doubts with BEC to be honest. I think i would of beneftied by reading the book and doing all mcq

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

[kmwgrace]

I also had to shell out the $ out of pocket for Becker. I didn't have much of a choice since it was the last class I needed for my Master's degree at my school. (Well I could have taken a different elective but I wanted a CPA review course anyway). I agree with what others have said – it's not necessarily the program you purchase that will make or break you on the exam, it's the effort you put in. Someone on this forum, I forget who, has passed 2 or 3 sections using only Wiley MCQ's and Ninja materials – a fraction of the price of Becker. That person is obviously self-motivated and was willing and able to put in the time to learn stuff on his own. Some of us need more structure and more in-depth explanations of the materials, both of which Becker provides.

I also have Ninja notes which are a good condensed supplement but honestly, I don't think I could pass with *just* those.

~ Kate... MTX!
CPA exam on hold while I homeschool my 6 year old!

[Anonymous]

Using yaeger right now and I like it more than the becker course materials. I tried out becker around four years ago so I don't know how it has changed, but I like the structure of yaeger more. Plus, they throw in things like ‘free' ipads/kindle fires if you purchase the entire review course which is still cheaper than Becker.

[jeff]

Yep the NINJA notes are more of a review/cram. The “full” course is coming (Lord Willing) 😉

Jeff Elliott, CPA (KS) | Another71 | NINJA CPA | NINJA CMA | NINJA CPE

[Anonymous]

Becker was good on AUD, BEC, and maybe FAR, but REG? …Maybe … I would suggest to add Wiley Test Bank for REG. The questions are tough and would be discouraging but help you alot in understanding the concepts well better than the questions from Becker. I didn't like Wiley Test Bank questions for AUD, but REG test bank is definitely very helpful.

[RedRage00]

Becker is way overpriced.

I spent barely anything on Wiley textbooks, online test bank, and Ninja notes. I passed all 4 on the first try. If you're dedicated and you put in the QUALITY review time you will pass no matter what review course you use. But the key is STUDYING and putting in QUALITY study time. Don't half ass it. I had no life for 6 months. You can do it!

There was no way I was spending $3,500+ on Becker lol

Texas CPA
Licensed, March 2012

[Author]

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