The Good
Smaller bite-size lessons make course very flexible
Great analytics and progress tracker
Unlimited course access, it never expires
More than 10,000 practice questions, more than any other CPA review course
Final Review included at no additional cost
Offered in both online and offline formats via USB
The Bad
No audio CPA review course available
Video lectures are a bit dry
Wiley CPAexcel ranks as one of the best CPA review courses if you are very busy and don’t have the luxury of having ample time to study.
Their review course helped me pass all four CPA exam sections on the first try while I was working the usual 48-hour weekly shift. The secret to success is CPAexcel’s presentation and their bite-sized lectures, which was designed for you to absorb information at an optimal rate.
This review course is best if you work part-time, lead a very busy life, or want to study on your own for the CPA exams. The main topics are sub-divided into smaller, more manageable sections that take around 30 to 45 minutes to complete, and it is flexible enough to be fit and learned anytime during the day.
Comparison of Wiley CPAexcel’s Review Courses
| Course Features | Platinum CPA Review Course | Gold CPA Review Course | Silver CPA Review Course |
| Cost | $2,450 ($825 per part) |
$1,850 ($625 per part) |
$1,700 ($575 per part) |
| Partner Until You Pass Guarantee with free online content & courseware updates until you pass |  |
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| Online Course Study Materials with text, 7,500 exam questions, 110+ hours video instruction, 450 task-based simulations, 4,000+ digital flashcards and more | |
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| Efficient Learning System with bite-sized lessons, exam planner, discussions, unlimited practice exams and more | |
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| Study Guides map perfectly to the lessons in the courseware (print and ebook included) | |
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| Companion Mobile App with 7,500+ exam questions, available in iOS and Android | |
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| Professor Mentoring with online support from subject-expert professors | |
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| Virtual Classroom Series with live, online instruction and support | |
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| Online Test Bank with additional 4,400 exam questions and 160 task-based simulations | |
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| Focus Notes with acronyms and mnemonics (print and ebook included) | |
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| Flashcards to reinforce and improve retention (print) | |
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| Link to Course | Get Started | Get Started | Get Started |
CPAexcel Course Format
The course format of Wiley CPAexcel is as follows:
Study Text
Your reading assignment, usually around 2 to 5 or 6 pages long.
Proficiency Questions
A basic quiz-like format that tests your comprehension of the subject matter you’ve just read. Primarily a True-False format.
Practice Questions
You get your money’s worth with Wiley CPAexcel’s substantial 12,000 CPA questions gleaned from previous exams. The multiple choice format is the exact same computer format as what CPA uses. The test is timed and you will have to keep pace with answering an exam question in the span of 2 minutes. This will let you get a feel for the actual CPA exam- a great boon to alleviate the nervousness of wondering how the test is really like. The simulated quiz is done after time runs out or once you’ve answered all the questions. You will then get to see your mistakes and the correct answer, and why that answer should have been chosen.
Digital CPA Flashcards
Helpful digital flashcards that show key topics and the most important definitions. 4,200 in total.
Task-Based Simulations
Buy the platinum course for the task-based simulations, 600 in total. The actual number may be different, as the review course has the same questions scattered around the program, but overall it is still more robust than any other CPA review courses out in the market.
Each section has a different amount of multiple choice and true/false questions depending on the course length, with the smallest numbering around 5 and the largest in the 30’s. Each topic also features a Diagnostic Exam to test your comprehension on the given course materials. The main subjects are included, and it highlights a couple of the most important things you need to know for each sub-section.
Complete all the course work and you’ll be treated to a Simulated CPA Exam, modeled after the real deal. The entire simulation is divided into 3 multiple choice parts, and the prerequisite task-based simulation, which are timed the same way as the real CPA exams are. Wiley CPAexcel will check your responses after the test and will provide you a result-based breakdown of where you did well and which parts you need to focus on for improvement.
This review course guides you on which particular mistakes were made, and it also gives a helpful response on how the right answer is calculated. You can take advantage of the simulation by repetition of trial-and-error: take the exam and see where you got the answers wrong, then take the CPA simulation again until you get a consistent score of 90%. Wiley CPAexcel provides new questions each time you take the test to give you the practice and repetition you need to pass.
PROS
Bite-Sized Topics
As mentioned before, each course is designed to take only 30 to 45 minutes of your time. This makes the overall daunting task of preparing for the actual CPA exam easier and more manageable. If you don’t have a lot of time because of responsibilities, you will find the Wiley CPAexcel better than most review courses.
Full Accessibility
This review software program can be downloaded and installed on any computer without any limits. It can also be accessed on your mobile phone or tablet, whether it be an iOS-based or Android device. This includes the iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy. The written course materials and videos, quizzes and CPA simulation exams are unlimited and they never expire.
Multiple-Choice Questions
Utilize the multiple-choice exam to repeat and learn from your mistakes, which is one way to pass the CPA exams. You get the whole 12,000 exam questions gleaned from previous CPA exams, which is more robust than most other review courses out in the market.
Identical Exam Program
Wiley CPAexcel has the same computerized format as the actual CPA exam. The simulations and practical exams, rules, break policies, and time limits are a faithful rendition of the original course exam you will go through on test day. This will prep you up for the CPA in the best way possible, including learning about the flagging system and using the built-in calculator.
Exclusive Wiley CPAexcel Discounts
- 20% Off Student Discount: If you are currently enrolled as a full-time or part-time college student, or have graduated within the last 90 days, then you are eligible for the Student Discount.
- Weekly Special Offers: To find out what CPA discounts and CPA promo codes Wiley is offering this week, click here!
- Wiley CPAexcel Discount Code: Save $500 on the Wiley CPA Platinum Course today: SHOW COUPON CODE
CONS
Self-Study Option
You won’t have access to live discussions or an instructor throughout the review course. If you are more susceptible to retain knowledge under actual supervision and live assistance, then you may have to look somewhere else.
Video Lectures
Though Wiley CPAexcel makes use of different lecturers in the video review course, they weren’t able to keep the topics interesting or engaging enough to be excellent teaching tools. Auditory and visual learners may be able to learn more from taking the CPA simulated exams, then watching the videos for supplemental knowledge.
My Suggestion
Overall, Wiley CPAexcel is an excellent review course if you have unavoidable time constraints. Meaning, if you have a spouse, are working full-time, kids to take care of, or are pregnant, then CPAexcel is the one you should get. Also younger students who are fine with learning on a computer will find themselves at home.
Passing all 4 sections of the CPA exam on a 48-hour weekly work shift in nine months may not have been possible with any other CPA review course. Wiley CPAexcel is simply your go-to review program if you need to learn the ins and outs of passing the CPA exam under a tremendous time constraint.
I want to get my CPA. However, my employer won’t cover the fees. I can’t afford a prep course that is $1500 or more. I was thinking I should buy the CPAexcel study guid, along with the test bank, and pass each part. Would you recommend doing this?
Suzanne,
Roger, Becker, and Surgent CPA Review all offer great financing plans. With their plans, you can pay a monthly fee somewhere around $150-$200. This allows you to avoid paying it all up front. The time and effort you put into preparing for the CPA exam should not be underestimated, so make sure you equip yourself with the best study materials. These plans allow you to gain access to great study preparation on a budget. Hope this helps!
Jason
Hey Jason, I believe I’m going to go with Wiley… With regards to the video lectures, is the “interesting” factor the only difference between the Roger and Wiley videos? Does Wiley explain the material well in their video lectures? Thanks for your help!
Hi Casey,
Both videos explain the material very well. Wiley’s video lectures are more similar to traditional accounting classes compared to Roger’s videos. Hope this helps, and best of luck!
Jason