[gomu]

Hi, this is my first post but I’ve been reading some very imformative posts here.

I am researching to find a good yet affordable review course and Wiley CPAexcel seems highly recommended by many people.

I’ve seen people here mention about CPAexcel. Does that refer to the self study pack or the Video Gold Medal Course? I am considering purchasing the Gold Medal Course but I also heard that videos are not very necessary.

My question is, since the self study pack has textbooks and test bank, is it good enough for the CPA exam? I plan to get the Ninja 10 point combo to supplement as well. Or should I go with the Gold Medal Course?

Thanks!!

[sunlessC]

I think the videos are kind of a waste of time. I watched about half of FAR's videos, my first exam, and then dropped them entirely. I've watched about 3 or 4 AUD videos so far and I am 90% done with it.

BUT, from what I can see, the self study pack is NOT CPAexcel without videos. from what I can see, the self study pack is a waste of money.

the books are different. they're the Wiley books, which I don't have, but I've read that they're dense and difficult to read and get through.

the test bank it comes with looks like wiley test bank. it's 1 year of access only, unlike CPAexcel's unlimited until you pass. also, WTB costs $575, ninja MCQ costs a fraction of that, and based on reviews from here, is better than WTB.

it also comes with “focus notes” and admittedly I don't know and haven't heard much about these. if I had to hazard a guess I'd say they probably weren't that great…just a hunch, though.

so for the $925 asking price you get wiley test bank, wiley books, and wiley focus notes. it doesn't seem worth it to me.

what DON'T you get? well, pretty much everything you've heard about CPAexcel is what you don't get. reviews about CPAexcel are not applicable to the self study pack. CPAexcel is a comprehensive guided package that'll tell you what to do and when to do it and organize all your lessons and sections to read and MCQs/sims for you, all in one place. when people refer to CPAexcel, they're referring to the “video gold medal course” not because of the “video” part, but because that's the CPAexcel course. the self study package they offer is not CPAexcel.

the self study pack is some books and a test bank and nothing more. if you're okay with that – well, buy the wiley books off of amazon or something and buy ninja MCQ and you'll save even more money.

[fjabay]

I would suggest to get the CPAexcel silver course atleast. This does not come with the course mentoring but still comes with the the materials (books, video lectures) .The CPA study pack book is very extensive in discussing each topic whereas the CPAexcel focuses on the most important part of each topic and what usually are heavily tested on.

AUD - 07/14/14 - 88

[gomu]

Thank you so much sunlessC and fjabay. That helps a lot for me to make my final decision for the Gold Course.

[Anonymous]

If you haven't purchased it already…I want agree completely what the folks before me said. I haven't watched a video since my first test, and it wasn't as helpful as MCQ's even then. The instructors for CPAExcel are good, so no disrespect to them, but honestly it's easy to zone out of a video…at least for me. Reading and working problems forces me to think, as I can imagine is the case with many others too since the content is not exactly a top rate action movie!

[Jaane]

Hey Gomu.

I'm sort of new around here (I lurked for months before joining a few weeks ago), but if you do decide to get the video gold review, I know a code you can use to get the online wiley test bank access added on for free (for a year). If you combine that with the student discount (20%) and the other discount they're running ($150-200 off price for a full course), you could come out paying way less overall.

I just didn't want to post the code on the board, but I did the same thing a few weeks ago. 🙂

[gomu]

Thanks DHO. I don't think I'll watch many of those videos. I zoned out a lot when watching lectures..

Hi Jaane, I have that code as well. But thanks so much. I am no longer a student, no 20% off for me. But the promotion discount and the TB code still comes out to be a better price comparing to the other courses since it's unlimited time till passing. How do you like the review course so far?

[Crunchtime]

I would stay away from CPA Excel, I purchased it back in april took two tests FAR and Aud, I thought they questions were very basic and didn't prepare me for the test. I got 88% in my final practice tests and pulled a 66 on the test. I felt very unprepared. I emailed them and put up questions on the board, my board question was deleted right away and my email was responded with a broken record saying go through all the steps over and over. No real answers, I felt they are very unprofessional and I purchased becker hoping I will farewell better this time. I would never get CPA Excel or recommend them to anyone.

AUD-77
BEC-70,73,68,74 SH##!!!!!, 80
REG-73,76
FAR -74,82

Ethics here I come!!

[Excel14]

@Crunch:

Could you be referring to the famous/infamous Professor B with FAR? lol If so, I can feel your pain. I posted questions and asked things of him, only to be told to go get an Intermediate textbook and read it. Hell, if I wanted to study for this thing that way, I wouldn't have bought their review course!

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[Crunchtime]

@Excel14, exactly yes it was him, my gosh, what a joke.

AUD-77
BEC-70,73,68,74 SH##!!!!!, 80
REG-73,76
FAR -74,82

Ethics here I come!!

[Excel14]

When I complained about him to the Support Team (and I had heard the same from many other students), their solution to the problem was that I quit complaining, and then they offered to give me back the $300 portion related to mentoring. I responded by saying….”rather than view me as the problem, and only recommend reimbursement as the sole solution, maybe you should “eliminate” the real problem”. I heard nothing further! lol

BEC (2/28/16) ----- 78
FAR (09/10/16)-----
AUD
REG

CIA, CGAP, CFE

[Jaane]

That's good to hear, Gomu. I only just started studying last week (BEC). I like it so far. My plan is to use CPAexcel as it is (videos, read text, MCQs) and push through that as quickly as I can. After that, I can just focus on WTB and review all the questions, taking notes on any I miss. I didn't purchase any flashcards but I have been making them as they go (some from the online flashcards, others from the text or old exam questions).

I have not scheduled my exams yet (waiting on NTS) because taking the exam parts is sort of built into this fall semester. I'm just getting used to the program and making notes I can study later. We'll see how things go!

[gomu]

@Jaane ,
For me, I think I'll skip the video part and just read the text and do the assignments, after that, WTB. I'll see how it goes and later think about if I need to buy the Ninja combo.

Link: Current CPAexcel Discount Codes

[Author]

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