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Wiley CPAexcel 2024: Exclusive Info + HUGE Wiley CPA Discount!
Wiley CPA Review is a CPA review course that has been on the market for a long time and has lots of practice questions and plenty of video lectures. It’s also a good value.
Number of MCQs: 12,000+ | Number of TBSs: 500+ | Access Length: Unlimited/Until You Pass | Cost: Full-course options range from $2,199 to $2,999 before our exclusive discounts.
Overview of Wiley CPA Review
I’m here to provide you with an unbiased review of Wiley CPAexcel so that you can make a well-informed decision about this course’s worthiness for your studies. In addition to reviewing Wiley’s CPA study materials, I’ll also cover the Wiley CPA pass rate vs. other big companies, like the Becker pass rate.
And because Becker is another very popular course, I recommend that you read my Becker CPA vs. Wiley CPAexcel analysis, too. It gives a good look at the course differences, including the pass rate for the CPA Exam with Becker compared to Wiley.
Disclosure
Disclosure: The I Pass Team may earn a small amount of compensation if you purchase CPA review courses from our links; however, our team uses these revenues to maintain the site and produce awesome free content just for you!
Background of Wiley CPA
Wiley’s Founders
Wiley began as a publishing house over 200 years ago. Today, Wiley partners with the research community to publish dozens of academic journals that report the most cutting-edge research available.
In addition to their academic publications, they also develop digital learning and assessment tools for the accounting, scientific, technical, and medical fields. Wiley has developed a strong reputation for innovative CPA, CMA, CFA, and CIA test prep. Plus, Wiley also makes study material for the SIE exam and is on the best SIE courses list. And in 2012, Wiley bought Efficient Learning Systems, Inc. and CPAexcel to provide its customers with the best possible learning tools.
Wiley CPA Courses
Wiley creates and delivers exam prep materials for nine different disciplines in the finance and business fields. Furthermore, the company offers a range of study materials to fit your learning style and your budget. Three levels of full courses—CPA Platinum + Ultimate Mentorship, Platinum, and Pro CPA Courses—means that you can pick the depth of study you need.
You can also purchase single components like the Wiley CPA Test Bank 2024 to supplement your current studies.
Wiley’s CPA 2024 courses give you plenty of content to review! In addition to the Wiley CPA books (hard-copy and/or eBooks, depending on your package), you’ll also get access to:
- 2,200+ pages of online study text
- 140+ hours of instructional videos plus 60+ deep dive video lectures on specific topics
- 12,000+ MCQs
- Over 500 sample task-based simulations (about 150 include video explanations)
- 4,000 digital flashcards and 1,000 printed ones
- 5,000 “knowledge checks” to keep you on your toes.
I think the CPA Platinum Course 2024 is the most comprehensive. In addition to all of the products I just mentioned, this package also features professional mentoring with actual professors who are experts in their fields.
However, the Platinum course is a good value. The Virtual Classroom Series delivers live instruction via an online platform and makes you feel like you are actually sitting in a classroom. You can even ask the course professor questions in real-time. Plus, you can take the 11th Hour Final Review Course (a last-minute cram).
Background of Wiley CPA
Let’s take a few minutes to review some of my favorite parts of the Wiley CPAexcel Review. If you’ve read my book, you already know how much I value efficient study tools, and Wiley offers some decent ones. They have broken down difficult content into “Bite-Sized Lessons,” which are 30-minute sessions that combine text, video, and multimedia elements to teach you specific information. These short modules break down complicated concepts and teach you the most important topics that you need to understand for the exam and your career. Each lesson ends with a mini-quiz that pinpoints your weak areas.
Wiley’s Efficient Learning Platform makes studying for the CPA Exam less painful. This innovative content delivery method has proven itself in the exam prep market. The system helps you track your progress and suggests study materials to get you caught up where needed. Thanks to Wiley’s system, you won’t have to spend hours and hours studying content you already know.
Wiley also offers a no-gimmick “Partner Until You Pass Guarantee.” So no worries: Wiley will be there for you until you pass all sections of the CPA Exam. Even when the AICPA updates the exam (they usually tweak the content about twice a year), Wiley gives you free access to the updated content.
Overview of Wiley CPA Review
1. 140+ Video Lecture Hours
Wiley CPAexcel has included 140+ video lecture hours in its top course. Plus, the videos are bite-sized, so you can watch them in short bursts (most are 30 minutes or less). You don’t have to firmly plant yourself in one spot for hours simply to watch CPA lectures.
In addition to these 140+ hours of lectures, you also get 60+ deep dive video lessons that focus on specific topics. In essence, these videos are especially helpful for international CPA candidates or those without a particularly strong accounting background. Basically, you’ll be fully immersed in topics at the granular level. If you have weak content areas, you’ll be able to improve your level of understanding by watching both the regular video lectures and deep dive videos.
Furthermore, Wiley CPA’s video instructors are leading educators in their own right from major academic institutions like Arizona University, the University of Kentucky, Northern Illinois University, and Middle Tennessee State University. You no longer have to sit in a university classroom to gain a high-quality education.
2. 12,000+ Practice Multiple-Choice Questions and Task-Based Simulations
With over 6,000+ MCQs in the Wiley CPA Test Bank and another 6,000+ MCQs and 500+ TBSs in the course itself, you won’t find more practice questions available anywhere. The only other review course to come close to this is Gleim CPA Review (<—the Gleim course is also more affordable, in case budget is a concern). The MCQs are from previous exams, so you know they are relevant.
And while the size of a test bank is important (you need several thousand to study properly), remember that the quality matters, too. For example, I personally like to study with questions that are a little harder than the “real” exam questions. That way, I’m super calm on exam day because I’m 100% sure that I’m prepared to pass. And the tough questions don’t throw me off my game. Therefore, I actually prefer some of the other test banks out there. (Take a look at my Becker vs Wiley comparison to see how Becker’s questions are harder and why that matters.)
3. No Time Frame Restrictions/Access Until You Pass
You can access your Wiley CPAexcel course for as long as it takes you to pass the CPA Exam. So, if it takes you 3 years to pass all 4 parts, you won’t have to pay again during that time period.
Even better, you’ll also receive free updates during that time. The AICPA usually makes changes to the CPA Exam twice a year, and Wiley provides you with course updates to stay up-to-date with those changes.
4. Virtual Classroom Videos
Wiley’s videos have a mix of pre-recorded and live formats. Professors cover the most difficult concepts in real classroom environments.
You can ask the professors questions, in real-time, when viewing the live format videos. The professors will cover practice problems in-depth so you can see each individual step to find the solution.
Also, the professors will teach you how to avoid incorrect answers on the exam just by navigating away from distractors (incorrect answer options that appear correct).
5. CPA Study Guides, Flashcards, and Focus Notes
Your course will also include digital and/or hard-copy CPA books—you can choose to receive just the eBook or get both for a little more. Moreover, you’ll receive printed CPA flashcards (250 per section) and 4,000 digital flashcards, which you can use online or via the Wiley CPA app.
Lastly, you’ll be supplied with Wiley CPA Focus Notes, which are like more detailed flashcards. These printed spiral-bound note cards drill down key concepts. They also include mnemonic devices and other memory tricks to focus your learning. Wherever you are, you can use these easy-to-carry notes to master strategies on the go.
6. Mobile App
Not only has Wiley created excellent study materials, but they’ve also made it mobile! Through Wiley’s app, you can access content with your Android or iOS device. Plus, their bite-sized lessons mean that you can take a short study break anywhere at any time.
Wiley CPA Review Course Options
Wiley CPAexcel has a few review courses. However, the Wiley CPAexcel Platinum Course 2024 provides the most support. (And if you’re looking for a value, don’t forget to check out the other best CPA review courses, too.)
You can also purchase individual sections for the following CPA Exam sections:
- Auditing & Attestation (AUD)
- Financial Accounting & Reporting (FAR)
- Regulation (REG)
- CPA Discipline Sections (ISC: Information Systems & Controls, TCP: Tax Compliance & Planning, and BAR: Business Analysis & Reporting)
Note that you’ll generally receive the best discounts if you purchase the four sections together rather than separately, though.
Wiley CPA Cost
How much does the Wiley CPA Review cost? Well, Wiley CPAexcel offers different course packages at the following prices (and these prices include the option to get both the eBooks and the printed Wiley CPA books):
Platinum
- Includes the 11thHour Final Review Session
- $2,999
- Or, you can also purchase individual sections for $699
Pro
- Doesn’t include the 11thHour Final Review or access to expert mentors
- $2,199
- Also available per section for $599
Best Parts of Wiley CPA Review
1. Decent Overall Value
Although it doesn’t include some extras like tutoring, Wiley’s Platinum course is a decent value. The price point comes in lower than some of the other CPA review courses out there.
But if you’re budget-conscience, remember that some companies give such deep discounts that their courses are comparable to Wiley in terms of price. Take Becker, for example. With my Becker discounts, you could score a comprehensive course with many personalized learning tools for a great price.
2. With Wiley 9 out of 10 pass the CPA Exam
According to its website, the Wiley CPAexcel pass rates for its users who take the CPA Exam is roughly 90%. And when you think about it, 9 out of 10 is pretty encouraging. Most review providers don’t even publish their pass rates, by the way. So the fact that Wiley makes their pass rates public demonstrates that they have confidence in their products.
Still, does Wiley CPA have a higher pass rate than some other companies like Becker? No—although the number of Wiley users passing the CPA Exam is good, the Becker passing rate is stronger. (Keep reading for more info on the Wiley vs. Becker CPA Exam pass rates.)
3. No-Gimmick Unlimited Access Until You Pass Guarantee
Most of the major CPA Exam providers offer a variety of “promises” to those who may not be able to pass the CPA Exam on their first attempt. Some offer a discount if you reach a certain attendance rate, while others may offer you continued access within a limited time frame.
Additionally, some of the other CPA review courses charge extra for updates after a specified date. When you realize that more than 50% of candidates fail to pass the CPA Exam each year, this is a crucial point to consider. In case you fail the CPA Exam, you’re going to need a course that will be available to you, without any additional fees, for as long as you need it.
4. More Digestible with Effective Bite-Sized Lessons
Wiley CPAexcel’s online capability allows candidates to study at their own pace with bite-sized lessons.
Wiley’s lessons typically take 30 minutes to complete, which many of us can do during lunchtime — and assuming you have a one-hour break, you’ll still have another half hour to digest the materials and work on a few multiple-choice questions.
And frankly, even if you have the time, accounting isn’t too much fun, and I would much rather learn from short online videos vs. a 4-hour long lecture. Also, accomplishing a little at a time is more motivating.
5. 11th Hour Final Review
If you pick the Ultimate or Platinum course, you’ll also get access to Wiley’s 11th Hour Final Review. This cram session is meant to be taken about a week before your CPA Exam date. It includes a full-length mock exam with new questions that you’ve never seen before. Plus, the review also has short videos covering the topics most likely to appear on the exam.
Worst Parts of Wiley CPA Review
1. It’s Great for the Digital Learner, But…
Wiley CPAexcel uses a technology-based approach. I understand that students learn best in different mediums. If you are NOT someone who can live in front of a monitor or mobile device and stare at a screen for a long time, this may not be the best course for you.
Plus, I think the online platform is a little clunky to use.
I also understand that many students are accustomed to underlining, highlighting, and taking notes on actual books to facilitate their learning. CPAexcel does include textbooks, but if you are a textbook learner, you aren’t taking full advantage of what Wiley CPAexcel is offering.
2. Some Find the Lectures Too Summarized
One of my readers had this to say about the Wiley CPAexcel lectures:
Their lectures, although short and sweet, are very general and usually do not touch upon the specifics of the topics at hand. For example, I had to get my old intermediate accounting book and do research on how accruals and deferrals work, and now I am having to go back to that same intermediate book in order to refresh my memory on the single and multiple-step statement because the lecture just touched upon their purpose but no exercises were shown.
Anyway, I am committed, but it seems to me I will have to put in a lot more time than the ½ hour they advertise. ~ Maria
In short, if you are a fresh grad, then this might not be a problem at all. But if you need more guidance because you are a non-accounting major or have been out of school for years, then take note of this.
For example, a course like Becker gives you video walk-throughs of every task-based simulation and many of the multiple-choice questions in the test bank. When you see how to solve complicated problems, especially like the simulations, you learn better. (That might be one of the reasons why the Becker pass rates are so high.)
3. We don’t know how the Wiley CPAexcel pass rate is calculated
Let’s talk for a few moments about CPA Exam pass rates. First, when you take the exam, the AICPA doesn’t collect information about how you studied. Therefore, it’s up to each individual review company to collect data regarding how many of their users passed the CPA Exam and how many failed.
For example, Becker CPA Review has a rigorous pass rate creation process and publishes its annual rates every year. (The Becker CPA pass rate is 94%, by the way.) Here’s how it works, in short. Becker maintains records of users who are “Exam Day Ready.” Basically, Becker has realized (from 60 years of experience helping 1 million CPAs!) that successful CPA candidates have a few things in common. That is, they watch about 80% of the videos in their Becker course, successfully answer about 80% of the MCQs, and score at least a 50% on practice exams. These candidates are Exam Day Ready. So among these candidates, Becker flat out asks them if they passed the CPA Exam or not, and calculates the Becker CPA pass rates from that information.
Then, Becker had an outside company—actually, a top-10 public accounting firm—to examine the process they use to calculate their pass rates. And do you know what that top-tier firm found? They said that Becker’s approach is “fairly stated in all material respects.”
When a company is so open about how they calculate their pass rates, it makes me feel confident that the information is valid and reliable. But in comparing the CPA Exam passing rate between Becker and Wiley, when a company hasn’t ensured that any third-party assurance has happened, then their pass rates are a weaker claim. And frankly, I haven’t seen any sort of assurance from Wiley.
4. Many users have reported errors and typos
Several I Pass readers have told me that they found errors and typos in the Wiley materials. Although a few typos can be overlooked, such errors need to be corrected in the Wiley courses.
5. Personalized tutoring is limited and expensive
Wiley gives CPA candidates the option of purchasing an add-on tutoring and mentorship package via the Ultimate course bundle. However, Wiley’s personalized tutoring and mentorship are actually provided by an outside CPA instructor. Plus, the “tutoring” offered isn’t anything like the traditional tutoring you’re used to. Instead, you simply receive personalized videos that answer your questions, and that just isn’t the same experience as sitting down (even virtually) with a real expert face-to-face in real-time. And what’s more, you have to pay extra for it after you’ve already put down a few thousand dollars for your Wiley Platinum package.
So if personalized tutoring is important to you, check out my review of Becker, a company that offers a lot more one-on-one support.
Wiley CPA Review FAQs
How does the Wiley CPA course work?
Once you sign up, you’ll receive your hard-copy textbooks or eBooks plus access to the online multimedia tools I’ve already mentioned. In the Efficient Learning Platform, each topic has its own learning module that includes video lectures and practice questions. As you work through the material, the platform figures out what topics trip you up and directs your studies to help you fill those content gaps.
Which Wiley CPA course is best?
If you go with Wiley, then the CPA Platinum Review Course is definitely the best package they offer. It gives you the most CPA study materials for the best value. (But honestly, the Becker Pro course has a similar price point and includes much more for the cost.)
How much is Wiley CPA Review?
The full courses range from $2,199 to $2,999. Plus, financing is available.
Are there Wiley CPA discounts?
If a Wiley CPA discount code is available, you can find it here!
Does Wiley CPA expire?
Your access to Wiley’s online and mobile study materials does not expire until you pass your CPA Exam section.
What is the Wiley CPA guarantee?
Unlike other review providers who might take away your access after a certain time period, Wiley’s Partner Until You Pass Guarantee lets you review the materials as often as needed until you pass the CPA Exam.
How do I study for the CPA Exam using Wiley?
Wiley gives you plenty of materials to help you study. Follow your personalized study planner, put in the study time, and trust that Wiley’s Efficient Learning Platform is taking you in the right direction. Use the app and the Wiley CPA Focus Notes to review topics whenever you have a few moments to spare.
Once you feel like you’ve studied as much as you can handle, you can take a practice exam. The Wiley CPAexcel exam simulator is laid out just like the real exam. You can even take an entire practice exam with questions and task-based simulations. By sitting through a few practice exams, you’ll have a better understanding of the pace and time of the “real exam.”
Can I pass only using Wiley?
Is Wiley enough to pass the CPA Exam? That is, can you pass the CPA Exam with just Wiley? If you don’t need a lot of personalized support and you can look past the errors in the text, then yes—Wiley CPAexcel provides all of the study materials you may need to pass the CPA Exam.
Still, although a good percentage of CPAs pass after Wiley, some other companies seem to have stronger results. For example, the Becker CPA passing rate is higher than Wiley’s. Plus, Becker’s platform is better and the company is just an all-around better brand. Besides, I have some great Becker discounts, too. Check out my comparison of the CPA Exam pass rate between Becker and Wiley and overall course quality.
What is the Wiley CPA Review pass rate?
9 out of 10 Wiley users pass the CPA Exam, according to the company. And just why do 9 out of 10 pass with Wiley? I really think their pass rate is due to the Efficient Learning Platform and the Partner Until You Pass Guarantee.
Not all review providers publish their pass rate, but I wish Wiley would explain how their pass rate is calculated. (Becker, on the other hand, outlines the pass rate for Becker CPA users on its website.)
CPA Exam passing rate between Becker and Wiley
What are the Wiley vs. Becker CPA pass rate statistics? Well, since so many CPA candidates ask me about the Becker vs. Wiley pass rates, I’ll leave a few notes. (And if you’re interested, check out this entire article about Becker vs. Wiley.)
According to Wiley’s website, 9 out of 10 users pass the CPA Exam. Still, that isn’t very specific, and the company doesn’t explain how the Wiley pass rate is calculated.
The Becker CPA Review pass rate, however, is higher. About 94% of Becker’s Exam Day Ready users pass the CPA Exam. Not only that, but the list of Becker CPA Elijah Watt Sells Award past winners is quite long. This award goes to the top exam performers, and there are more Becker CPA EWS winners than any other review provider on the market. Therefore, based on user performance, Becker is the better choice. In addition to the high CPA pass rate with Becker, Becker has a better platform with fewer errors and is an overall better brand.
Summary of What Wiley CPAexcel Offers
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My Wiley CPA Conclusion: For Busy Professionals on the Go
So what’s the bottom line? Consider Wiley CPAexcel if:
- You need a lot of lectures and appreciate a variety of learning materials.
- You appreciate a highly customized course that tracks your progress and weaker areas.
- Getting no-gimmick, free trials, and unlimited access until you pass the exam appeals to you.
About the Author Stephanie Ng
I am the author of How to Pass The CPA Exam (published by Wiley), and I also passed all 4 sections of the CPA Exam on my first try. Additionally, I have led webinars, such as for the Institute of Management Accountants, authored featured articles on websites like Going Concern and AccountingWeb, and I'm also the CFO for the charity New Sight. Finally, I have created other accounting certification websites to help mentor non-CPA candidates. I have already mentored thousands of CPA, CMA, CIA, EA, and CFA candidates, and I can help you too!
