Most successful accountants who take the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam have had the benefit of using a CPA review course to aid their preparation. The ideal review course virtually eliminates the risk of failing to pass the CPA exam and significantly reduces the time required to take in the key concepts. The hardest decision to make with a review course is which one increases the likelihood of success the most. 1) Course Materials
Although all courses cover similar accounting concepts, every teacher describes things in their own way. The best courses use qualified tutors who are able to teach difficult ideas while making sure students grasp them. The better CPA review courses include free lecture samples that you can examine before deciding to buy. Another way to examine the quality of a review course is by checking out CPA exam preparation discussion boards and product review sites to see what other people are saying about the lecture quality of individual courses.
The portability of how the media and course materials are delivered should be taken into consideration when evaluating a review course.
Keep in mind, access to course materials can expire and you must make a note of the expiration date before buying. Valuable simulation software may become unusable when access expires and this can reduce your chances of success in the exam. 2) Practice Questions
Having revised the materials, the student normally receives practice questions to help absorb the knowledge into their memory and apply the key ideas they have learned to actual case studies.
Each of the CPA review courses take different approaches with practice questions. This method is time intensive, but makes sure all areas are covered. This can also result in students not having adequate preparation. The best CPA review course will contain relevant practice questions. It is possible to narrow down options through careful analysis of previous papers and to concentrate on questions appearing more frequently. This method ensures students use their time effectively and have a high probability of revising questions most likely to show up in an exam.
All CPA review courses offer some form of student support. If ask questions and prefer speaking to teachers over the phone, then choose a review course with that service. Some courses offer limited student support while other courses provide email support. Obviously, you need to check whichever course you decide to buy offers the right type of support suitable for your requirements.
4) Frequency of Updates
As accounting procedures change, CPA exam study materials need updated to reflect the changes on a regular basis. However, price is only an issue if you fail the exam. This because CPA certified accountants can expect substantial pay rises. Bear in mind it is likely that one or more of the sections results in failure if the 2008 Uniform pass rate is considered - the average pass rate was between 47.49% and 49.10%. The cost of failure the first time is normally due to choosing a lower quality review course or lack of effort from the student.
Passing the CPA exam does not need to be difficult. Visit David Bryant's CPA Exam Blog for tips on passing the cpa exam.
Posted by gregtownsend0506
at 2:51 AM EST
