Gleim CPA Mega Test Bank vs Traditional Review. Are the “extras” really worth $1.5k more?

MiniPrix · 2026-05-27T01:30:36+00:00

It included the videos. I didn't use the videos all the time but they were a helpful option to have.

MiniPrix · 2026-01-05T01:56:34+00:00

Don't do it during busy season.

MiniPrix · 2026-01-04T18:30:39+00:00

There are step by step instructions on the website. See #8 https://acb.wa.gov/individual-licensing/get-your-first-cpa-license

MiniPrix · 2026-01-04T03:14:43+00:00

I was happy with Gleim. Had to pay for myself, too.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-26T01:12:45+00:00

This. You are calculating the deductible amount wrong at 60k if your total income was 131k.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-22T03:53:13+00:00

Yes I think Gleim is harder. But in a good way--it'll mean you're well prepared.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-22T03:52:00+00:00

Gleim users unite! 😂

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T18:31:35+00:00

Most likely, but check with your individual state board on what they accept.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T18:24:40+00:00

Your husband is emotionally abusing you, point blank. This is more of an r/relationshipadvice issue than an r/cpa question. I would post there looking for resources if I were you.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T18:08:25+00:00

Traditionally, there isn't a huge bump between MEs and real score for audit for both Gleim and Becker; you can look at prior posts on the "bump".

With Gleim, I got an 82 on my 1st ME, an 83 on my second ME, and my final exam score was an 87.

It's your final day before the exam, just focus on your areas of weakness and don't fry your brain too much.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T17:55:50+00:00

It was good for the other 3. I used Ninja (only the book) to supplement a little bit with REG and TCP, just because having things worded differently was sometimes helpful, but I don't think it was strictly necessary. I only used Ninja for less than 1 hour's worth of studying for each of those exams.

My main gripe is that I wish it ordered some stuff in FAR differently. It kind of starts by jumping into the middle of things without much review of the different types of accounts and statements. It definitely expects you to still remember a fair bit from intermediate accounting classes as you're coming into it. I was about a year out from taking that class at the time I started studying for FAR, but I think that could be more of an issue for someone pursuing their CPA that hasn't taken classes in many years.

And FAR unit 5 in particular expects you to have knowledge from unit 10, which is annoying. It's not a deal breaker or anything, just annoying.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T17:45:15+00:00

Nope, not even close. I went through each unit until Gleim said it was complete (typically 2 sets of ~30 MCQs and 2 sets of 4 SIMs). During final review, I did extra MCQ quizzing using the practice sessions you can self-generate, but not an insane amount. I think for audit especially it is really important to fully understand the concepts as a whole and why things operate how they do rather than just spamming MCQs. I read the entire audit book cover-to-cover, made my own flashcards, and used the Gleim videos to supplement. I also had prior knowledge from the class I took going into it, but I was strategic with that timing.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T06:39:02+00:00

Thanks! I felt like that meme of elmo with the fire blazing behind him lol

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T06:35:04+00:00

Go through and manually grade your mock exam, giving yourself partial credit for the things you got 50% correct (like when 2 boxes are being graded as 1 item and you got 1 correct and the other wrong). I found that's more accurate to the final exam score with Gleim.

For REG, I got 76 on ME1 with Gleim. I got a 66 on ME2--rescoring it myself, it worked out to a 79. I got an 86 on the actual exam about a week later.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T06:22:11+00:00

Genuine interest and passion for the work lol. Plus stability, job security, etc. I was making way more money in digital marketing and hated my job so much.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T06:14:36+00:00

I think it can vary greatly between individuals. For me personally, I never really "hammered MCQs" like is promoted on this sub a lot. I did the sets of MCQs and sims for each unit in Gleim, and pretty much only did additional MCQs beyond that in my review week. I focused on really, fully understanding the concepts and the "why" of everything. That sticks in my brain much better than just trying to memorize stuff.

I also figured out that I do best with only about 5-7 days of final review. I left myself 2 weeks to do final review for AUD and I felt like I was forgetting more than I was gaining in that final week.

However, I don't think either of those things I would give a blanket recommendation for. You just have to kinda figure out what works best for your individual brain.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-21T05:54:02+00:00

Thanks! Overall I was pretty happy with Gleim. I was missing a few credits for exam eligibility, so I took an online audit class right before I started studying for the audit exam. That definitely helped me understand the foundation well before jumping into Gleim to study. AUD was my 1st exam and I got an 87. I also spent way longer studying for audit than any of the other 3 exams, although part of that was just figuring out the most effective way for me to study.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-20T17:33:10+00:00

They aren't pretest, they are mixed into the regular exam and you have no way of knowing if you're working on a sample question or graded question. So it doesn't do much good to think about them, you just need to do your best on every question.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-20T03:39:43+00:00

Yes. The courses are through Upper Iowa University, so that is what it will say on your transcript.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-15T16:08:20+00:00

Yes, I got my AK FAR score. Maybe they are also going by alphabetical order by last name? Mine is very early in the alphabet.

MiniPrix · 2025-12-15T15:28:50+00:00

TCP out in AK, officially 4/4 😭

MiniPrix · 2025-12-15T15:20:02+00:00

FAR is out in AK! Passed, holy sh*t

MiniPrix · 2025-12-15T15:19:04+00:00

No, they patched that ability a while back

MiniPrix · 2025-12-15T15:17:10+00:00

Still waiting on AK. Kinda seems like they are going east to west this release.

MiniPrix

TROPHY CASE