Comparison of Top CPA Review Courses
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Becker,
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UWorld CPA  |
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Exceptional Instruction with Peter and RogerPeter Olinto, CFA, JD, CPA (inactive), and Roger Phillip, CPA, CGMA, are masterful instructors who connect with CPA candidates. Their dynamic energy, clever mnemonics, and signature way of bringing concepts to life continue to be one of our students' favorite aspects of the course. |
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Highest-Quality Practice Questions and ExplanationsOur experts developed quality questions and paired them with in-depth answer explanations that include illustrations, breakdowns of why each answer is correct or incorrect, and "things to remember" for each concept. |
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Active Learning MethodologyOur learn-by-doing methodology, known as active learning, enables students to achieve a higher retention rate across various learning styles and plays a key role in exam preparation. |
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SmartPath Predictive Technology™Our proprietary online learning software guides students to complete a certain number of questions to ensure they are prepared for the most highly tested CPA Exam content. Students who achieve their SmartPath targets have a historic CPA Exam pass rate of 94%. |
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Evidence-Based Learning ToolsWe offer several evidence-based study tools that no other CPA review course provides: dynamic study planners with 3 customizable options, flashcards with spaced-repetition technology, and the My Notebook feature. |
“I started off with a different software. I used that for about five and a half years and didn’t have the success I was looking for. I started using UWorld, and my success story came after that. I passed three on my first try with UWorld. That was really all it took. It was that match made in heaven that I was looking for.”
Matt D, CPAUWorld CPA Student
Becker CPA Review
Becker remains one of the most recognized names in CPA prep, used by firms and candidates alike. However, students often point to critical gaps between the price and the learning experience, especially regarding instruction style and the depth of question explanations.
Pros:
- CPA firms sponsor frequently through corporate partnerships.
- Live online and in-person classes are available for learners who prefer instructor interaction.
- An integrated artificial intelligence (AI) assistant allows users to ask questions directly within the platform.
Limitations:
- Multiple-choice question (MCQ) explanations don’t go into detail or clarify incorrect answer choices.
- Instructors rely heavily on slides, leading to a less engaging experience.
- AI-assistant occasionally hallucinates.
Gleim CPA Review
Gleim is a respected name in CPA Exam prep, known for its no-frills, content-heavy approach. Its question bank and simulations help many candidates feel over-prepared on exam day. However, the course’s dated platform, dry video lectures, and overwhelming detail make it best suited for highly motivated, independent learners.
Pros:
- MCQs and simulations are often more challenging than the actual exam.
- The review includes more than 11,500 MCQs and 1,600 simulations.
- Questions and simulations closely match the style and complexity of the CPA Exam.
Limitations:
- Textbooks contain excessive detail, making it challenging to identify key focus areas.
- Lecturers primarily read from slides with minimal engagement or elaboration.
- A mobile app is not available, and offline functionality is limited.
Surgent CPA Review
Surgent aims to reduce study time through adaptive technology. Its review course is designed to help students pass the CPA Exam in fewer study hours.
Pros:
- Short, 10- to 30-minute lectures concentrate on high-yield topics.
- Personalized ReadySCORE analytics help users identify and target weak areas.
- Surgent’s review is more affordable than competitors’ reviews.
Limitations:
- Lecturers primarily read from slides, resulting in monotonous, robotic delivery.
- An outdated platform with navigation issues and buggy question navigation frustrates users.
- Topics are presented in a non-sequential order and require extra effort from learners.
Why UWorld Is the Best CPA Review Course
Exceptional Instruction with Peter and Roger
Research demonstrates that students who are more actively engaged while learning experience better focus and comprehension. There is an element of artistry in how effective teachers connect with students in an online environment that fosters increased understanding. Peter Olinto, CFA, JD, CPA (inactive), and Roger Phillip, CPA, CGMA, are 2 of those masterful instructors who can connect with CPA candidates. Their dynamic energy, clever mnemonics, and signature way of bringing concepts to life continue to be one of our students' favorite aspects of our CPA review program and a standout feature when comparing us to other providers.
Every UWorld CPA course features 1,400+ on-demand video lectures from our world-class instructors.
Instructors from other review courses read the textbooks aloud while dictating what to circle, highlight, and take notes on. As one frustrated student said to us, "When you highlight everything, you highlight nothing." This lecture style is ineffective and leaves CPA students without critical context and knowledge of exam material.
Highest-Quality Practice Questions and Explanations
We believe the quality of practice questions and answer rationales is the most critical aspect of the best CPA review courses. If you do not understand the why behind your correct or incorrect answers, you could do thousands of questions and still not pass the CPA Exam.
Our course provides more than 9,000 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and 500 task-based simulations (TBSs), ensuring you have more than enough practice material to cover key topics without overwhelming yourself. Our experts write content at or above exam-level difficulty, so students practice challenging questions repeatedly, boosting their readiness and confidence on exam day. Our dedicated team of experts invests thousands of hours in developing statistically valid, high-quality questions that mimic what students will see on exam day.
Questions are paired with in-depth yet concise answer explanations that include educational illustrations, breakdowns of why each answer option is correct or incorrect, and “things to remember” summaries of each concept. They ensure the what, why, and how behind each question are directly aligned to something you will need to know on the CPA Exam.
Active Learning Methodology
Our active learning methodology makes us different. This intentional principle ensures that using any of our materials will help you master key concepts you will utilize on exam day and throughout your career.
Learn by Doing
Active learning centers on the principle that students learn by doing. Practice and repetition enable students to master the concepts tested and retain information. That’s why UWorld's CPA Review features a large volume of questions from which students can create unlimited online practice tests that mimic the real exam.
Focused Learning
Focused learning is another characteristic of the active learning method. Many students struggle with staying organized or keeping up with a study plan over several months. This conflict occurs because they have a hard time deciphering which subjects to focus on and find themselves deliberating how much studying is enough. The problem compounds when students attempt to use too many materials or prep courses.
Simplified Learning
The merits of our active learning method aren’t complete without simplified learning. The CPA Exam is sophisticated and rigorous, requiring hundreds of hours of study time. That’s why our CPA review course simplifies the learning experience. Our in-depth yet concise answer explanations and vivid illustrations make difficult concepts easy to understand.
SmartPath Predictive Technology™
Our proprietary SmartPath Predictive Technology™ helps candidates focus on their studies where it matters most — what is tested on the CPA Exam. Based on actual exam topic weightage, SmartPath guides you to complete a certain number of questions to ensure you are prepared for the most highly tested CPA Exam content. For example, if a topic is rarely tested on the CPA Exam, SmartPath will suggest that you complete fewer questions to save time. For more frequently tested subjects, SmartPath guides you toward completing more questions so you can reach a point of mastery.
SmartPath was built in-house and uses exam patterns and pass rate data that we have collected from actual students. We adjust our data-supported targets every time exam content changes. If you achieve SmartPath targets, there is a 94% probability that you will pass the CPA Exam. These targets are realistic and not difficult to achieve.
UWorld Is an Award-Winning Leader in Education Technology
EY Entrepreneur of the Year® - Southwest
UWorld CEO recognized for leading a high-growth company that excels in innovation and performance
GSV Global EdTech 50 Member
The 50 most transformational high-growth companies in education technology
Entrepreneur Magazine’s Entrepreneur 360™
Top 10% of the Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America
19th Annual American Business Awards®
Stevie Award winner for "Achievement in Product Innovation"
Evidence-Based Learning Tools
UWorld’s CPA Review Course offers evidence-based study tools with features that are not available in other CPA review courses:
- Dynamic study planners with 3 customizable options
- Flashcards with spaced-repetition technology
- My Notebook feature
Dynamic Study Planners with 3 Customizable Options
Preparing for the CPA Exam requires structure, but no 2 schedules look the same. Our newly enhanced Study Planner gives candidates 3 flexible ways to stay on track: Follow an expert-designed Set Schedule, adapt with a limited-time Flex Schedule, or build your own path with a fully customizable Custom Schedule.
Each option adjusts to your timeline, workload, and preferred study approach, helping you balance structure with control. Integrated with your course and mobile app, the planner evolves with you, keeping exam-day readiness always in view.
Flashcards with Spaced-Repetition Technology
Most CPA review courses have pre-built flashcards within their course, including UWorld. However, in reality, students generally already know at least 30% to 40% of the information presented on the flashcards. Passively reviewing flashcards does not always help students retain complex concepts. Therefore, we provide students the ability to create customized flashcards directly from our software while working through lectures, textbooks, or questions. This act supports our learn-by-doing methodology, as the very act of creating flashcards ignites learning and retention.
Spaced-repetition technology is proven to enhance information retention and recall. You rate how well you understand the concept behind each flashcard, and our algorithm adjusts the frequency of topics presented based on your proficiency.
My Notebook
The CPA Exam tests an abundance of accounting, audit, and tax content, requiring CPA candidates to memorize a hefty amount of information. In the final days before the exam, it is critical to have a high-level overview of essential topics, calculations, and formulas to review in one convenient area. With UWorld CPA Review, CPA candidates can intuitively create their notes directly from question explanations, textbooks, and videos. Their notes are then easily accessible within the My Notebook feature. Pair this feature with the spaced-repetition technology embedded in our flashcard applications to amplify retention on exam day.
What Students Say About UWorld CPA Review
UWorld, you are rockstars! Thank you for helping me achieve this dream! I passed all exams on my first attempt. Yes, I did put in a lot of effort and hard work, but UWorld prepared me to handle the exam with confidence. I have been telling people about the program and to trust the process. I really hope this program helps other people just like it helped me. Thank you!
Excellent questions and explanations. The UWorld CPA team did a fantastic job providing thorough explanations on why answers are correct or incorrect within each of the test bank questions. It saves me a tremendous amount of time while studying, by not having to spend additional time researching incorrect questions through the books/online. Additionally, it reinforces my understanding of concepts that I already know.
Roger ended up being my savior as I went 4/4 with his material. He provides great lectures, has great humor, and keeps you engaged.
In my opinion, Smartpath puts UWorld study material way above others and is a tool every candidate should use.
Cheers to Roger for helping me pass the exam!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which CPA review course has the highest pass rate?
UWorld CPA Review students have a historical pass rate of 94%. Our students achieve significantly higher pass rates than the overall national CPA Exam average.
What is the best CPA review course for international students?
UWorld CPA Review believes the U.S. CPA Exam should be accessible to all. That’s why we provide the best experience for international students, backed by an exceptional customer service team that understands the unique challenges faced by global candidates. Additionally, study tools such as closed captioning and visual learning aids are ideal for students whose first language is not English.
UWorld also partners with leading international training providers in most regions to offer localized support, guidance, and access to our CPA Review materials. If you’re studying outside the United States, we recommend checking with your local training provider to see if they offer UWorld CPA Review as part of their program.
What is the best CPA review course for slow learners?
As a self-paced program, UWorld CPA is ideal for slow learners who want to study at their own pace. The instructions and materials break down even the most difficult CPA Exam concepts so that everyone can understand.
What is the best CPA review course for visual, audio, video, and digital materials?
UWorld CPA Review features the most innovative study tools. Exceptional video content allows learners to grasp even the most complex exam topics. Tables and graphics in all answer explanations help. Digital materials sync across devices so students can study efficiently.
What is the best CPA review course for full-time workers?
When you are working full time, you have limited time and must be efficient with your study plan. UWorld’s proprietary study planner and SmartPath Predictive Technology™ guides you to optimally plan your studies and focus on what matters most.
Is UWorld CPA better than Becker?
While students consider both Becker and UWorld to be top-rated CPA courses, students are turning to UWorld CPA as a more engaging option and alternative to the status quo. UWorld’s CPA course provides top-quality materials, unparalleled instruction, and innovative learning tools.
Resources
Award-Winning CPA Review Courses
See why 94% pass! Our world-class CPA review provides you with everything you need to succeed in your exams.
Read stories of how other CPA review students have achieved their career goals with the help of industry-leading CPA courses.
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Our CPA Exam Resource Center provides CPA Exam candidates with all the resources needed to prepare and pass the CPA Exam.
