- ✎ Updated
- ➫ by Bryan Kesler, CPA
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bryan Kesler, CPA is a CPA Practice Advisor Top 20 Under 40, Licensed Certified Public Accountant, and founder of Kesler CPA Review, Community and Mentorship Platform.
- CPA Review Courses
There are several types of CPA exam study supplements.
CPA Review Course startup companies that try to copy what the biggest test prep companies are doing but on a smaller budget.
OR
Study Supplement startups that look for gaps in what the big companies aren't doing well and try to capitalize on those weaknesses by outperforming them (hint, this is why I founded Kesler CPA Review - to be the first to creating something new and improved).
In this article, I want to discuss both types of companies and which one I believe will be more effective for you.
Help you determine if it's worth investing in a CPA exam study supplement.
Reveal which CPA exam study supplement currently available is the best.
OR, you can use my shortcut links below based on the CPA review course you are currently using for my recommendation:
If you use Wiley CPA, here's what I recommend
If you use Becker CPA, here's what I recommend
If you use UWorld Roger CPA, here's what I recommend
Let's dig in!
Link Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links are affiliate links or links to my Kesler CPA study supplement, and at no additional cost to you, assume I will earn a referral fee if you decide to invest in a course listed below. Please only use my links if you feel that I have helped you in your review course decision.
Are CPA Exam Study Supplements Worth It?
Even though the top CPA review courses claim a 90%+ pass rate, the fact remains that every quarter the CPA exam pass rates are released and show the average chance of passing a CPA sections floats around 50-60%.
Why is it that accountants fail the CPA exam?
After mentoring 2000+ CPA candidates since 2015 there is one thing that is very clear to me.
CPA Review Courses are lacking something.
What Are CPA Review Courses Missing?
CPA Review Courses are GREAT at overwhelming candidates with thousands of practice questions...
...hundreds of hours of video lectures...
...and complex learning systems and platforms.
And if you use them the right way, they can get you great results fast.
But clearly 50% of candidates are NOT every time they sit for an exam...
So what are CPA review courses BAD at?
1) Teaching you HOW to study
2) Teaching you HOW to manage your time.
3) Teaching you HOW to use their software to cater to your learning strengths?! (This one is crazy to me).
What's the solution then if these core steps to passing the CPA exam are missing from your CPA Review Course?
Find A CPA Exam Study Supplement That Fills The Gaps
The obvious solution is to find someone to...
1) Teach you HOW to study for the CPA exam
2) Find someone to assist you with managing your time.
3) Find someone with experience using your CPA Review Course to help you.
4) Find a learning platform with NEW questions and adaptive learning technology
5) Find a tutor to help when you get stuck!
What CPA Exam Study Supplements Can Help Me With This?
The first recommendation I have is to find someone who has passed the CPA exam and spend several hours with them learning what they did.
It's what I did.
Unfortunately, CPAs are super busy and typically aren't able to dedicate this time to you and I ultimately still spend a TON of time with trial and error figuring things out on my own.
The next best, and less intrusive, solution is to invest in a CPA exam mentorship and study supplement support system.
If you are struggling to pass or nervous about failing, it's by far the fastest way to hit the ground running with the CPA exam.
What Should You Look For In A CPA Exam Study Supplement?
The key to a good study supplement is to ensure that it's not more of the same.
If you buy a 2nd CPA Review Course it's going to complicate your life for two reasons.
First Complication
It's doubling up on the same questions with just slightly different explanations.
FYI - the AICPA releases retired questions and almost ALL CPA review course companies use these questions.
Which means, yes, unless your study supplement creates there own questions you are buying the same thing twice.
Second Complication
Each course organizes things differently and has variations in study technology.
A better solution would be to find a study supplement that has fresh questions no one else is using.
Then teaches you HOW to use your primary course in conjunction with these fresh questions.
And has advanced Adaptive Learning Technology built into the platform to ensure you pinpoint your weakest areas in real time.
Let's dig into the comparison of the MOST popular CPA exam supplements and see...
...which of these study supplements are just more of the same and which ones will actually help you pass.
CPA Study Supplement |
Kesler CPA Review |
vs Ninja CPA Review |
vs i75 CPA Review |
vs Superfast CPA |
vs Universal CPA Review |
Pricing & Discounts | $297/month |
$67/month |
$899 |
$997 |
$649 |
Combo Of Personalized CPA Exam Mentorship, Mobile + Desktop Ready Study Materials? | |||||
Access to Kesler CPA Mentorship? | |||||
Course Specific Study Tutorials For Becker, Wiley CPA, Roger CPA, Surgent and more |
|||||
The Same AICPA Practice Questions Used By Becker, Wiley & UWorld Roger CPA |
|||||
CPA Practice Questions NOT Used By Big Box CPA Review Courses |
|||||
Learn 'N Go Lectures For Most Difficult Practice Questions | |||||
Video Lectures Similar To Becker/Wiley/UWorld Roger |
|||||
Textbook Similar To Becker/Wiley/UWorld Roger |
|||||
Customers Only & Moderated Study Group |
Unknown |
Public Study Groups Only |
|||
iOS/Android Mobile App that syncs with Desktop Study Platform for true studying on the go. |
|||||
Flashcard Generator (Create Your Own Study Materials In Real Time) |
What Should Your Next Steps Be?
Well, Kesler CPA Review (in my biased opinion) is the clear choice.
If you feel you need a CPA exam supplement to boost your scores you really have two choices.
Just buy more of the same as your primary course...
...or invest in Kesler CPA Review and get something new and better than the support available anywhere else.
If you aren't sure if Kesler CPA Review is right for you, you can fill out this quick application to see if we would be a good fit here:
Kesler CPA Review Success Stories
Now question of the day...
Does Kesler CPA Review live up to hype?
Well if you are skeptical, I've got BAD news for you!
You can see ALL of our success stories HERE
Just for fun, here's a small sample of some of our most recent testimonials from folks who weren't getting the support they needed from Becker, Wiley CPA and UWorld Roger and decided to supplement with Kesler CPA Review.
Enjoy!
Where Can I Subscribe To Kesler CPA Review?
Subscribing to Kesler CPA Review is super easy, barely an inconvenience!
Use the button below to grab the BEST possible deal currently available to become a member of Kesler CPA Review today.
Best Kesler CPA Review Promos And Discounts
FLASHSALE: Check Out The Kesler CPA Cyber-Monday Deal - Deal Expires Soon!