Choosing the right CPA exam review course can make the difference between passing on your first or second try and spending countless frustrating hours studying the same material over and over again for parts of the exam you have to re-take. Self-knowledge about the way you learn best and clearly understanding what each review course offers are key to making a good decision.
The first thing do to is decide which course delivery method suits you best. Video, live classes, online materials, online classes, and various combinations of those are the common ways study materials are delivered. Video and self-study courses have the advantage of learning at your own pace and a bit lower cost, but require discipline to stick to. Live classes provided a structured schedule and in-person access to instructors, but are a bit higher cost and often include classroom disruptions by those who may be a little bit slower in grasping the material.
Second, determine the quality of the practice tests. The closer to simulating the actual exam, the better. There are practice tests out there that do not do a very good job of simulating the look, feel, and mechanics of the actual exam. You are doing yourself a disservice if you go with a course that has a sub-par practice test. When you take the actual exam, it will feel new and different and could very well disrupt your ability to answer the questions correctly.
After that, spend some time thinking about how you best absorb study material. Some CPA review courses focus quite a bit on memorization, while others focus more on in-depth learning and understanding. If you are a "memorizer," the learning courses may just slow you down. If you need to understand the material in order to test well, a memorization focused course will likely frustrate you.
Fourth, determine what is included in each review course. Some courses are very confusing when it comes to what you get when you buy. For many courses, you have to pay extra for things like flash cards or books. In addition, some may come with options for practice tests and questions. You can choose to have them either on CD, DVD or USB drive.
Finally, decide on your budget for review materials. This is an important decision, because while many of us who take the exam have limited financial means since we are still in college or are just graduated. Unfortunately, there are no review courses I would consider "cheap" and there are several that are very expensive. These costs and short-term financial concerns must also be weighed against the long-term gains of passing the exam on your first or second try. Consider the fees you will incur if you have to retake parts of the exam several times and the time you will spend studying over and over for the same parts. It may be painful to spend a bit more on the course that is right for you, but in the long run it is the best financial and time saving decision you can make.
This site helps you compare CPA review courses and choose the course that best fits your needs.
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