Surgent vs Becker CPA Review Definition
Both Surgent and Becker are online prep course providers for Certified Public Accountant (CPA) exam applicants. However, the primary difference between Surgent vs Becker CPA Review lies in their approach to exam preparation.
Surgent utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled software to target only the weak study areas. In contrast, Becker leverages the Adapt2U technology to ensure that students learn everything in the curriculum.
Becker has years of industry experience serving the “Big 4” and top accounting firms. Besides, it offers several additional features like a mobile app, study planner, digital flashcards, final review cram course, etc.
On the other hand, Surgent is a relatively new program. However, its unique features like ReadySCORE, MyMCQ, and A.S.A.P (Adaptive Study, Accelerated Performance) methodology are second-to-none.
Precisely put, the final choice depends upon your preferred learning style, budget, and timing of the CPA exam. First, let’s discuss different aspects of the Surgent and Becker review courses and compare them.
Surgent vs Becker CPA Review Features
Comparative Table – Surgent vs Becker CPA Review
Surgent vs Becker: Which One to Pick & Why?
Surgent vs Becker CPA Review Features
#1 – Review Packages
Surgent
Surgent offers three affordable CPA exam prep packages: Essentials Pass, Premier Pass, and Ultimate Pass. Here are the attributes of each package.
Becker
Becker offers three highly-priced but value-for-money review packages: Advantage, Premium, and Pro. Take a look at their features.
#2 – Pricing
Surgent
| Features | Individual Course Parts | Essentials Pass | Premier Pass | Ultimate Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Market price – $599 | Market price – $1599 Discounted price – $899 (with code ESS700) | Market price – $2399 Discounted price – $1399 (with code PREM1000) | Market price – $2999 Discounted price – $1899 (with code ULT1100) |
| Flexible payment option | $55/month | $145/month | $217/month | $271/month |
Becker
| Features | Individual Course Parts | Essentials Pass | Premier Pass | Ultimate Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Market price – $799 | Market price – $2399 | Market price – $2999 Discounted price – $2099 | Market price – $3499 Discounted price – $2299 |
| Flexible payment option | $66.58/month | $99.95/month | 249.91/month | $291.58/month |
#3 – Course Highlight: A.S.A.P vs Adapt2U Technology
Surgent
Surgent’s A.S.A.P technology is a boon for CPA candidates. It works in four phases: Assessment, Study, Study and Simulation, and finally, Practice and Pass. First, the software evaluates your initial knowledge in the assessment phase (10 quizzes with a total of 350 questions).
Then, it generates a baseline ReadySCORE identifying your weak areas. After analyzing it, the software produces a custom-tailored study plan. This directs your focus on only the areas requiring improvement.
Hence, you dedicate your time, energy, and effort in the right direction. Surgent prepares you not for what you already know but for what you find difficult to understand. As you progress further, it eliminates the topics you have mastered and targets the ones you struggle with.
Surgent uses its unique tool, ReadySCORE, for your CPA exam score prediction. It estimates your score (with 99% accuracy) at any given time. This keeps you on your toes and encourages you to do better. While comparing Surgent vs Becker, this feature of the Surgent CPA Review tips the scale in its favor.
Becker
The Adapt2U technology by Becker aims at consistent performance tracking with easy-to-understand graphics. Please note that it is powered by the Swedish award-winning Sana Labs’ AI machinery.
Its learning analytics engine gathers and assesses your activities throughout the course. In addition, it tracks your performance in every module through the proficiency badge.
Besides, Becker provides the students with an engaging and customized study planner. This helps ensure on-time review completion with personalized sims.
#4 – Study & Prep Material
Surgent
Surgent offers you over 350 bite-sized video lectures. These are highly informative, easy to understand, short, and to the point. Each video is of 10-20 minutes. Additionally, it provides you with a set of textbooks (digital and hardcopy) for quicker comprehension.
Each section is divided into areas. Each area consists of videos effectively covering all its contents. Besides, area-specific study questions for practice are also featured there.
The “2019 Silver Stevie Award winner” also contains more than 7700 MCQs, a flashcard app, and 400 simulations (sims). Though not as voluminous as Becker, Surgent never compromises on the quality of the questions. Each MCQ has text explanations to eliminate any doubts.
Moreover, its practice exam mirrors the actual CPA exam layout, functionality, and format. This helps you effectively handle exam-day stress without affecting your performance.
Becker
Unlike Surgent, Becker’s study material is highly comprehensive. Thus, it ensures complete exam preparedness. Furthermore, Becker has over 7000 MCQs, 400 TBSs (with SkillMaster videos), and 190 hours of mini-video lectures in the store.
Each exam section is bifurcated into modules. Each module presents lectures, MCQs, and sims. You can listen to the lecture and attempt MCQs or sims as per your preference. Lectures consist of video sessions along with digital document.
Students can pause the video and take notes wherever necessary. They can also search for and go through a specific concept. Moreover, they can see the SkillMaster video tutorial and read the answer explanation for each sim.
Becker provides students access to the complete SkillMaster video library to help with simulations.
Needlessly, Becker students have the upper hand in terms of attending the live lectures. Besides, there are detailed textbooks (digital and print) to supplement the learning process. This ensures a comprehensive understanding of the content.
While comparing Surgent vs Becker, Becker CPA Review prepares candidates beyond the CPA exams. On the other hand, Surgent takes a myopic view of just passing the exam.
#5 – Learning Approach
Surgent
If you don’t have much time left for the exam, the Surgent Review course is the right option. It helps you target only the topics you find challenging to handle. This way, you can attain guaranteed results in no time.
Moreover, it keeps tracking your performance and adapting your study plan accordingly as you proceed with the course. Precisely put, Surgent paves an optimized learning path for CPA applicants.
Becker
Becker incorporates an all-inclusive learning approach for CPA exam applicants. It offers more detailed books, LiveOnline classes, and hundreds of high-quality practice questions. Besides, it also has an MCQ bonus bank and more than 1250 flashcards for effective preparation. In a nutshell, the Becker review course is worth every penny of yours.
#6 – Pass Rates
Surgent
Surgent claims an 88% CPA exam pass rate for students with a ReadySCORE of 75 or beyond. In addition, it dedicates around 144 hours less average study time per section than Becker.
Furthermore, the Surgent review course is four times faster than other courses while saving over 400 hours of learning time. Hence, they achieve a 40% higher pass rate than the National Average.
Becker
In 2020, Becker Exam Day Ready students passed 94% of the attempted CPA exam sections. It amounts to over 33,000 sections, that is, more than 1/3rd of all sections passed in the year.
More than one million students have chosen Becker for their exam prep over the years. Also, 90% of the Watt Sells Award winners (2005-2019) were Becker students. On comparing Surgent vs Becker pass rates, Becker CPA Review clearly emerges as the winner.
#7 – Access Period
Surgent
All of the Surgent review packages offer unlimited access to candidates. Also, it provides a money-back guarantee to unsuccessful CPA exam applicants. However, they must satisfy the required terms and conditions.
Becker
Becker’s Advantage package comes with 24-month access. However, the Pro and Premier package allows unlimited access to students.
Moreover, the “Becker Promise” allows unsuccessful CPA exam candidates to retake the course for free. However, they must fulfill the eligibility requirements to qualify for the same.
#8 – Discounts & Offers
Surgent
As specified above, Surgent is currently offering discounts on its course packages. Each customer can avail discount by clicking here – Surgent CPA Review discounts
You can also switch to Surgent from any other prep course provider and save up to $1200. However, you must fulfill the eligibility requirements.
Furthermore, you can also receive a special discount code by attending a free live webinar (30-45 minutes). This offers some significant savings on your review purchase.
Becker
Now, you can check for discounts on Becker review packages here – Becker’s Premium and Pro Discount packages. Also, Becker students planning to restart their studies after inactivity may get special discounts.
Students may also check their eligibility for Newt. D Becker Scholarship program. They can contact the Customer Support team at 877-272-3926 for details.
Comparative Table – Surgent vs Becker CPA Review
| Particulars | Surgent | Becker |
|---|---|---|
| Founded in | 1985 | 1957 |
| Content access period | Unlimited | Unlimited (except the Advantage Package) |
| Course price range | $1599-$2999 | $2399-$3499 |
| Free trial period | 5-day free trial period | 15-day Free trial period |
| Video lectures | Over 350 | Over 200 |
| Flashcards | Printed (with Premium and Ultimate Pass) | Printed (with Pro package only) Digital (with all packages) |
| MCQs | 7700 (all packages) | Advantage – 7000+ Premium & Pro – 7400+ |
| TBSs | 400+ TBSs | 400+ TBSs |
| Financing options | Flex Pay (3,6 or 12 months with 0% interest) | Flex Pay (3,6 or 12 months with 0%-30% interest) |
| Customer Service | 24×7 student support & response within 1 Business Day (For Ultimate pass holders) | 24×7 student support & response within 2 business days |
| Course Formats | Online | Live, LiveOnline, and On-demand |
| Mobile App | For flashcards only | For overall CPA Exam Prep |
| Money-back guarantee | Money-back guarantee option is available (conditions apply) | Complete tuition refund within 10 days of initial purchase/first log-in (conditions apply) |
| Free course updates | Free updates | Online content – Free Printed text with content upgrades – $25 |
| Average study hours | 46 hours per section | 190 hours per section |
| Study Planner | Continuously updated with suggested study time | Static calendar with no suggested study time |
Surgent or Becker: Which One to Pick & Why?
Surgent and Becker approach the idea of CPA exam prep with two different strategies. So, it entirely depends upon your preferred learning style and budget to pick the most suitable one.
Both companies have a well-established reputation in the online CPA exam prep industry. Surgent emphasizes your weaker areas to obtain quick results. In comparison, Becker takes the entire curriculum into account for assured success.
The Surgent Review course is a clear winner regarding price, accurate score prediction, and supplemental resources. However, Becker CPA Review takes the cake in terms of coursework, books, and simulated exams.
Both offer an impressive user interface, impeccable teaching, and quality content. Hence, you can choose either to ensure a stellar CPA exam result.
Looking for a trusted CPA or CMA prep provider? Becker is a leading name in exam preparation, known for its comprehensive study materials, adaptive learning tools, and proven results.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you sign up through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Recommended Articles
This has been a Guide to Surgent vs Becker CPA Review. Here we compare the features of the Surgent CPA Review and Becker CPA Review with a comparative table. You can learn more about the CPA Review packages here –