There are many different CPA exam review books on the market today. Some are better than others and some are just different. Therefore, how are you supposed to know which ones are right for you?
First, you need to look at your learning style to understand what type of CPA study book you should be looking for. For instance, some people don’t learn that much from reading because they are visual or auditory learners who learn from video lectures or audio lectures. Hence, if you are one of these learners, you probably should look for a review book with limited information because an in-depth, detailed book will probably just bore you.
That being said, picking out a CPA study book is one of the most important decisions you can make in your CPA journey. Furthermore, the right CPA materials can cut your study time in half or add hundreds of hours to it.
Let’s review the best CPA exam review books and discuss the pros and cons of each course.
Top 3 CPA Exam Review Books
Gleim CPA Review Books
The Gleim CPA books are full of information. This is a course designed to teach all the subjects on the exam. Furthermore, the books go into great detail about accounting transactions, examples, and other topics. Ultimately, these are the most detailed textbooks on the market today. Plus, they come with the Gleim CPA Test Bank. That’s a huge bonus because it’s the largest practice question test bank in the industry! Here are some pros and cons.
Pros
- Tons of Information and Details
- Available Separately from the Main Course
- Includes Gleim Test Bank
- Physical and Digital Copies Available
Cons
- Sometimes Too Much Information
- Higher Price than Other Stand-Alone Books
Best For:
The Gleim books are great for self-studiers who want more information about their studies. For example, some candidates don’t want to simply memorize a list of facts; they want to understand all the concepts behind the facts. Thankfully, Gleim does a good job of this, but they also do a good job of including way too many details. Hence, some candidates complain that their materials are too detailed and focus on topics that don’t show up on the exam. That being said, this could be used as a complete study course for the exam.
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Yaeger CPA Review Books
Yaeger CPA books are fairly detailed textbooks that accompany the lectures. Thus, they include all of the details that the Yaeger instructors go through during their presentations. This includes practice exam questions and solutions. I would put the level of detail between Roger and Gleim. They aren’t as detailed as Gleim but more than Roger. Additionally, the books are also integrated into the myYaeger portal and are synchronized in real-time with the video lectures. Consequently, this allows you to take notes and reference the materials while listening to the lectures.
Pros
- Detailed Explanations of all Topics Covered in Lectures
- Includes Practice Question Solutions
- Integrates with Course Lectures and Student Portal
- Physical and Digital Copies Available
Cons
- Only Available With Full Course
- Digital Copies Have an Expiration Date
Best For:
Since Yaeger books can’t be purchased separately from their main course, you will have to shell out about $1,200 for them. That being said, it’s a really good deal as far as full-length premium CPA review courses go. Also, the digital Yaeger books are very impressive because they integrate with their lectures allowing candidates to make notes and bookmark the textbook during lectures. Thus, these are the best CPA exam review books for candidates who want detailed textbooks and value the interactive experience of the myYaeger portal.
UWorld Roger CPA Review Text Books
UWorld Roger’s CPA books follow his patented teaching style called the Roger method. They’re much more detailed than notebooks, and the digital version integrates seamlessly with their video content and flashcards.
Pros
- Uses the Roger Method
- Contains Tons of Memorization Techniques
- Integrates with the Full Course
- Physical and Digital Copies Available
Cons
- Digital Copies Have Expiration Date
- Roger Method Doesn’t Appeal To All Candidates
Best For:
UWorld Roger offers the best CPA exam review books for candidates who are a fan of the Roger method and his lectures. Furthermore, they’re great books and accompany his lectures very well!
Here’s the CPA Exam Course Books You Should Buy
The real question isn’t which books are the best, it’s which course is the best. Since Wiley and Gleim are the only companies that offer stand-alone books, you are kind of stuck with either of these two choices. Out of these two, Gleim is ultimately the better pick.
Therefore, instead of looking at the best CPA exam review books for FAR, BEC, REG, and AUD, you should probably broaden your study guide search and look at the full courses. Here’s our review of the top CPA review courses. Check it out. I’m sure you’ll find the right one on here.
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Topics Typically Covered In Each CPA Exam Book
Auditing and Attestation (AUD) Books
Roles of auditing, generally accepted auditing standards, errors, irregularities, illegal acts, compilation and review, attestation, prospective statements, engagement letters, pro forma, proficiency, independence, due care, planning, supervision, engagement letters, audit committees, internal control evaluation, evidence standards, procedures, types of reports, disclaimers, special reports, information technology, audit sampling, comprehensive examinations.
Business Environment and Concepts (BEC) Books
Corporate governance, economics, finance, operations management, information technology, two comprehensive exams.
Financial Accounting and Reporting (FAR) Books
Financial reporting objectives and concepts, receivables, inventory, investments, fixed assets, constructed assets, land, intangible assets, asset impairment, short-term liabilities, long-term liabilities, contingencies, debt and equity issued together, pensions, post-retirement benefits, compensated absences, leases, partnership and corporate equity, income statement, cash flow statement, disclosures, business combinations, special topics, comprehensive problems.
Regulation (REG) Books
Individual income tax, corporate income tax, partnership tax, fiduciary taxes (gifts, estates, trusts), business law, with several comprehensive problems. Review of present value concepts tested on the examination, including present value and future amount, annuities, presentation of notes payable and notes receivable, discounting of notes, bonds, extinguishment of debt, troubled debt restructuring, present value concepts in leases and in managerial accounting.
