Course Comparison - Kaplan™

To help you compare alternative review courses, we offer data comparing CPAexcel with the review courses listed below. Because CPAexcel offers different courses to fit different needs, our data compares the prices and features of the CPAexcel course that most closely matches the course offered by each competitor. Our data is taken from each competitor's website. We strive to be accurate but suggest you check the data for yourself. Please contact CPAexcel if you think any of our data is incorrect so that we may remedy any error.

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BECKER™   Bisk™   ExamMatrix™   Kaplan™   Roger Philipp™   Yaeger™   Gleim™

 
CPAexcel VIDEO
GOLD MEDAL COURSE
Kaplan™
ONLINE REVIEW
Standard Price
$1,740
$1,399
College Student Discount
20% off
?
  
Printed CPA Flash cards
$135
 
Included
Are course choices provided?
Professor-Guided, Self-Study, with or without Video Lectures
Self-Study with or without Weekly Webcasts
 
Published Student Pass Rate
(National Average 2004 - 2008: 45%)
87%
No
 
Pass rate explained on website?
Yes
N/A
 
For how long is the course accessible?
Until you pass
24 months online access
 
Course Retakes
Compare Guarantees
Free until you pass - no conditions
Extra charge of 50% of current retail price
 
Updates to electronic course materials
Free until you pass
Free for 24 months
  
Updated Study Manual
Extra charge
 
1 free during 24 months
Free pre-purchase demo provided
Take sample lessons using
the actual product
Automated illustration
on website
  
Return Policy
10 days, 87% refund
 
30 days, full refund
 
Course Materials
CPAexcel VIDEO
GOLD MEDAL COURSE
Kaplan™
ONLINE REVIEW
Video Lectures delivered by
Leading professors at
top universities
Kaplan U. Professors +
  
Printable materials related to the
Video Lectures
PowerPoint slides
Slides in pdf format
Textbooks for each exam part
Updated semi-annually
Updated annually ?
  
Past exam questions, with self-scoring software
5,100
1,400
  
True/False Questions, with self-scoring software
5,400
600
  
Digital CPA Flash cards
3,400
None
  
Printed CPA Flash cards
1,000
  
2,100
Audio CDs
No
  
Yes
Professor-Guided Student Discussions
In Professor Mentoring
In Weekly Webcasts
Simulation problems & answers
(software based)
50 simulations using
exam-identical software
Yes. Exam-identical?
Simulated CPA Exams (Practice Exams)
Unlimited Use
None
  
Final Review, Past Exam Questions, Simulations
Exam-identical software
None
  
 
Course Structure and Learning Tools:
CPAexcel VIDEO
GOLD MEDAL COURSE
Kaplan™
ONLINE REVIEW
Structured assignments provided by
Professor Mentoring
Printed Activity Planner
  
Structured for delivery to
One student at a time
One student at a time
Instructional design approach
500 Bite-Sized LessonsSM (Integrated study components)
Separate Study Components
  
Average video lecture/longest video lecture
7 minutes/35 minutes
?
  
Emphasis of the Video Lectures
Content presentation
?
  
Duration of a 1 part course
Choice: 15, 30, 40, or 60 days
40 or 70 days (FAR more)
  
Scheduled assignments with due dates
Yes
Yes
Prompt answers to students' questions
Daily, in personal replies
Weekly, in group Webexs
  
Mentoring provided by
Subject-expert professors
Subject-expert professors
Software-based Efficient Learning System™
Yes
No
  
Diagnostic Exams, to help focus study time
Yes
No
  
How detailed are the progress measurements?
500 bite-sized topics & higher
?
  
 
Electronic Course Delivery Methods:
CPAexcel VIDEO
GOLD MEDAL COURSE
Kaplan™
ONLINE REVIEW
Online
Yes
Yes
CD-ROM
Yes
No
  
External USB Drive
16 GB Flash Drive
No
  
Synchronized scores across delivery methods
Fully-integrated delivery system
No
  


Data current as of December 2008. The information listed above was obtained directly from each course's web site.

Prices and Guarantees:
With CPAexcel, content updates and course repeats are free until the student passes the CPA Exam. No conditions need to be met in order to receive these free services. All other courses charge for updates and course repeats or have restrictive conditions that must be met in order to receive these services free or at reduced cost. The prices and terms for these services can be as much as 87% of the initial price of the course. Because these extra charges vary greatly among the courses, they are not shown above. Refer to "Compare Guarantees" for further information.

Pass Rates:
CPAexcel's pass rate data is for exams taken in 2004 through 2008. Pass rates are for students who completed the CPAexcel course.


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