At the risk of sounding like a pessimist: You have four long, notoriously difficult exams ahead of you, with a pass rate of just 53% across all six sections (core + disciplines). Choosing the right prep course isn’t just a matter of passing or not; it can save you hundreds, and maybe even thousands of dollars in retake fees.
But how do you choose the right one with so many options, every single one claiming they’re the best option?
Gleim is one of the most popular CPA prep courses on the market. As someone who’s passed the CPA exams myself, I went through Gleim’s practice questions and exams, video lectures, digital flashcards, textbooks, and even Gleim’s personal counseling and accounting experts with a fresh eye. Here’s what you need to know.
Is Gleim CPA Right For You?
- If you want to overprepare and master every topic, then Gleim’s massive test bank and in-depth materials are a perfect match.
- If you like clear structure, Gleim’s step-by-step course design makes it easy to follow a proven study path.
- If you learn best through doing, Gleim’s focus on practice questions and adaptive quizzes will help reinforce key concepts.
- If you value accountability, access to personal counselors and accounting experts will help you stay on track.
- If you’re looking for highly engaging videos in a personable tone, Gleim’s lecture style may not fully keep your attention.
- If you want a minimalist study plan with just the essentials, Gleim’s depth and volume may feel overwhelming.
Gleim CPA Review Course Offerings
Gleim offers three distinct CPA review packages, all built around their structured learning system and SmartAdapt™ technology. Each is designed to meet different budgets, learning styles, and levels of support:
Premium CPA Review
Their most popular option, the Premium course, includes everything you need to pass, with full accountability and unlimited access. It features:
- SmartAdapt™ AI Technology
- Access Until You Pass® Guarantee
- Digital & Physical Textbooks
- Audio Lectures + Flashcards
- Full Test Bank with 13,000+ MCQs and 1,600+ TBS
- Mock Exams, Performance Tracking, and Study Planner
- Personal Counselors + Accounting Expert Access
Premium Pro CPA Review
This is Gleim’s package, designed for candidates who want maximum support. It includes everything in the Premium plan plus:
- 5 one-on-one sessions with a CPA Exam Mentor
- Gleim Instruct Live: Exclusive live, instructor-led sessions for each exam section
- Additional personalized support to refine your study strategy
Traditional CPA Review
This budget-friendly option includes the core materials but excludes live support and physical resources:
- SmartAdapt™ Guided Study Platform
- Full Digital Test Bank and Study Units
- Digital Textbooks, Audio Lectures & Flashcards
- No personal counselors, live sessions, or Access Until You Pass® guarantee
Gleim CPA Overview
11,500+ multiple choice questions and 1,600+ task-based simulations: that’s Gleim CPA review’s main selling point.
If you want practice questions, Gleim has thousands more than any other CPA review course out there, and it’s not even close.
Top competitors like Becker, Surgent, and UWorld all have roughly between 8,000 and 9,000 practice questions compared to Gleim’s 13,000+, a difference of at least 4,000 questions.
So naturally, practice-focused students often choose Gleim for their prep. But there’s so much more to Gleim than just having an unimaginable number of practice questions. Most notably, students discuss how Gleim’s practice questions are difficult on purpose, leading to an “overpreparation” effect that makes the actual CPA exam a breeze:
“I’ve passed three out of four so far with Gleim, my lowest score so far being an 86. […] Read the chapters and do the work from the learning modules, and you will pass with Gleim. It does a great job of preparing you. I have always gotten at least a 10 to 15 point score bump from the mock exams to the actual test.”
u/Comprehensive-End139
“Love it. Questions were a lot harder on Gleim vs. the real test, the wordings and formats were exactly the same, etc. Take it worth a grain of salt because I have yet to pass any and just took FAR this weekend, but I honestly felt overprepared using Gleim.”
u/suppresser2774 (now a CPA!)
Gleim CPA Review
Pros
- The most practice questions of any provider by 4,000+ questions
- Focuses on in-depth materials and tough practice sessions to overprepare students
- Focused on proven learning strategies like spiral review/spaced repetition
- Use Gleim’s Access Until You Pass® Guarantee and keep the course until you’re done
- Lots of support from private study groups, personal counselors, and accounting experts
Cons
- Can be a bit overwhelming if you’d prefer a straightforward, minimalist study plan
- Due to its comprehensive approach, it may take a little longer to finish (but with a high expectation of passing)
Gleim CPA Discount Codes
Save 40% on Gleim CPA Review, known for its massive question bank, detailed textbooks, and guided learning system, Gleim is ideal for students who want a thorough, step-by-step approach with unlimited access until you pass.
Enjoy $1,050 Off Gleim CPA Premium Pro Course
Gleim’s CPA Review Course Details
Gleim just gets structure.
They recently celebrated their 50th anniversary, so it’s pretty clear they’re doing something right, but I was pleasantly surprised by Gleim’s format nevertheless. Each CPA exam section is broken up into study stages: onboarding, first pass, mock exam 1, final review, and mock exam 2. All you have to do is click through the lessons and activities, complete them, and you’re good to go. No guesswork, no stress: just follow the steps and you’re golden.
And the structure goes deeper, particularly in the “first pass” section. Gleim’s Auditing and Attestation course’s first pass consists of 20 study units. Here’s what you can expect:
Introduction: Kickstart your learning
- Preface: Written overview of the study unit
- Diagnostic Quiz: Determine your knowledge before you begin to target weaknesses better
Learn the Topics: 4-10 topic sessions to cover the study unit’s subject
- Video Lectures: 1-2 lectures (2-15 minutes long each) and two practice question walkthrough videos
- Topic Outline: Written outlines with an estimated reading time between 2 and 10 minutes
- Focus Questions: Usually around five practice questions to reinforce your newfound knowledge
Measure Your Proficiency: Test yourself on the topic and measure your progress
- Adaptive Quiz: A 20-question quiz focused on strengthening your weak areas
- Adaptive Simulation: A ~30-50 question timed sim with matching and TBSs
Study Tools: Master the material with extra practice and bonus resources
- Audio Lectures: Listen to the key concepts from the unit
- Flashcards: Study definitions, rules, and concepts
- Notes: View your study notes, bring them together, and print them
- Performance Dashboard: Get a detailed analysis of your performance in the section
- Rapid Review: Read a summary of the most essential unit takeaways (great notes!)
- Test Bank: Keep practicing with additional questions
SmartAdapt™ Technology
One of my favorite features of Gleim’s CPA Review is their SmartAdapt™ technology. When I first started studying, it gave me a baseline quiz to figure out what I already knew—and more importantly, what I didn’t—so I didn’t waste time reviewing stuff I had down cold.
As I moved through the course, SmartAdapt kept adjusting my study plan based on my quiz performance, guiding me toward the areas I needed to work on most. It recommended videos, readings, flashcards—you name it—all tailored to my progress.
I especially liked the Mastery Questions, which snuck old material into new quizzes to reinforce what I’d already learned. It felt like having a super organized tutor who was constantly checking in and helping me stay on track without being overbearing. Honestly, it made my study process a lot less stressful and way more strategic.
Here’s what another student (now CPA) had to say about Gleim’s questions:
“I prepped with Gleim and found the Gleim questions to be tougher than the real exam, both for the MCQs and the SIMs. There were a couple of Gleim SIMs, where…they were so weird and/complicated, but I never had that feeling on the actual exam. Vis-a-vis MCQs, I felt Gleim always threw an additional kicker in there, whereas the MCQs on the exam were more straightforward. I felt well prepared by Gleim.”
u/Fortynslow
Gleim recently added a powerful new feature to its platform: AIPal, an AI-powered study assistant. It’s like having an on-demand tutor built right into the course. While trying out their AUD course, I hit a wall trying to understand a concept. I used AIPal, which immediately gave me a clear, plain-English definition and followed up with an example showing how auditors apply this in real-world scenarios. It broke the concept down in seconds, when I could have been stuck on it for an hour.
Video Lectures
Gleim’s video lectures are a tricky subject for me to cover, because I simultaneously love them and… well, don’t.
Let’s talk about the good: they are genuinely bite-sized, with most of them between 2 and 15 minutes long. They lay out the notes you should write down on the screen for you, which was a huge relief, as I’ve watched too many lectures in my life where each slide was a whole novel. This time, you’re just getting what you need.
I also really appreciated the practice question walkthrough videos. The lecturer not only tells you how to find the correct answer, but also general tips and tricks you can use for all questions, like how to properly read a question, look for key phrases, and eliminate wrong answers.
However, maybe this is just a personal gripe, I don’t understand why accounting experts want to sound like literature professors. Most aspiring accountants are in their twenties, and let’s be clear: it’s not that they’re stupid and don’t know the high-level vocab. It’s that they’re overworked, underpaid, exhausted, juggling a million things at once, and now you want them to think about what sentences like this mean: “The accountant provides limited assurance as to whether a material modification is needed for the statements to be in accordance with the reporting framework.”
There is no way this person talks like that, and it drives me up the wall. In fairness, it’s been a while since I passed my exams, but I can’t imagine today’s students would prefer this verbose language over a clean, clear, personable explanation. The best teachers connect with their students and can break down wordy nonsense into understandable sentences that make a topic easier to understand, not more complex (for no reason, mind you).
Luckily, at ~5-10 minutes long on average, newbies may need to listen to the videos a few times to “get” it, but it’s much less brutal than if these were hour-long lectures. Two CPAs echoed a similar sentiment:
“Gleim is more than enough, but the videos are just dry compared to Roger or Becker.”
u/Reesespeanuts
“I find it hard to listen to the videos (I still play them on repeat and hear their voices in my head when reading some questions), the real self learning is from reading and MCQs.”
u/HeedLynn
Value
Gleim is on the higher end of the CPA review course price range: they’re more expensive than UWorld (by a little) and Surgent (by a lot), but still less than some of Becker’s premium packages (by a lot).
We know they have a massive library of exam-quality practice questions, and we’re about to talk about their superb support options. So, where does that leave them in the grand scheme of value?
Ultimately, though I feel Becker has an edge, I truly believe Gleim is one of the most valuable courses out there, particularly if you value a guided, step-by-step approach to studying for exams. You’ll never have to guess where you should focus next or what you should be doing; Gleim figures it all out for you, saving precious time and energy.
Further, having unlimited access until you pass and a money-back pass guarantee (the latter only available for the Gleim Premium CPA Review System) are significant value-adds as well, giving you confidence and an added safety net for your investment.
“It has a lot going for it, however – way cheaper than Becker, adaptive (which for me is vital), and the calendar feature keeps me on track. I’ve used it to pass three tests on the first try, and I’m hoping to go 4/4 with REG in a little over a week 🙏🤞”
u/sunnyx3
Student Support
Now, let’s talk about an area where Gleim really shines: how they support their students.
First and foremost, Gleim’s interactive study planner is comparable to planners from competitors like Becker, but it’s still a game-changer if you’ve never used one before. I got to walk through questions asking me when my exam date was, how many hours I could study each day, which days I could and couldn’t study, and so on.
Obviously, I’m not retaking the exams, so I put in some random numbers and scratched off some random dates. It was not only able to tell me what to study when, but it also gave me hypothetical due dates for each study unit. Plus, it monitors your progress, letting you know whether you’re ahead, behind, or right on track.
As for personalized, 1-on-1 support with other human beings, students gain access to private virtual study groups, personal counselors, and an accounting expert hotline. The personal counselors serve as your cheerleader and accountability partner, helping you create an effective study plan and ensuring you stay on the right path.
Meanwhile, the accounting experts range from CPAs to professors to award-winning industry experts, ready to answer your questions within 48 hours. In my experience, the personal counselors and accounting experts were both quick to reply (<24 hours, usually under 2-3) and eager to help. I deliberately tried to ask some objectively dumb questions to see how they replied. They were incredibly patient with me in both cases, really wanting to walk me through the topic (whether it was “how to remember things” or “what auditors do”—I told you, dumb questions!) until it “clicked.”
How Gleim CPA Compares to Other Top Courses
Gleim vs. Becker
Becker is known for its polished platform, well-produced video content, and strong reputation in the CPA prep space. It offers live classes and a more visually engaging experience. Gleim, in contrast, provides a deeper question bank, adaptive tools, and a more practice-heavy, structured path that appeals to students who prefer to study through repetition and self-guided review.
See my more detailed comparison of Becker and Gleim CPA courses.
Gleim vs. Surgent
Surgent is all about speed—its AI-driven platform helps reduce study time by focusing only on your weak areas. Gleim takes the long-game approach: overprepare with thousands of practice questions, layered reinforcement, and a structured study plan. If you want to move quickly, Surgent delivers. If you want to master the material inside and out, Gleim is a better fit.
Learn more in my comparison of Gleim and Surgent CPA review courses.
Gleim vs. UWorld
UWorld offers visually rich explanations and bite-sized learning that suits students who enjoy a clean, modern interface. Gleim focuses more on structured repetition and sheer practice volume, making it ideal for those who want a traditional, test-focused experience with tons of exposure to multiple-choice questions and simulations.
What Makes Gleim CPA Unique
- Largest CPA Test Bank Available
With over 10,000 multiple-choice questions and 1,300+ task-based simulations, Gleim offers more practice content than any other CPA course on the market. - Most Practice-Driven, Academically Structured Course
Gleim focuses on repetition, rigor, and structure, making it an excellent fit for students who learn best through doing and want a highly organized, exam-focused study path. - Hyper-Focused on Mastery Through Repetition
Where other courses aim to minimize study time, Gleim’s goal is overpreparation. You’ll get exposed to every possible variation of a topic—again and again. - Ideal for Independent, Detail-Oriented Learners
Gleim doesn’t rely on flashy tech or motivational gimmicks. If you’re the type who likes to study solo and dig deep into content, this course is designed for you.
Bottom Line
If you want to never run out of practice questions, dig deep until you’re overprepared, and follow a detailed, step-by-step guide on your way to exam day, Gleim is a great fit. Want to win the Elijah Watts Sells award and get a lot of support on the way? Try Becker. Want to cut your study time in half? Give Surgent a try.
FAQs
Yes, Gleim is a complete course with all the materials needed to pass—many students use it without supplementing.
It depends—Gleim is best for deep practice and structure, while Becker excels in polished delivery and live class options.
Currently, Gleim costs $2,499–$3,499, depending on the package. It’s worth it for students who want thorough, self-paced prep with long-term access.
FAR is generally considered the most difficult, with a 39.59% pass rate—but in 2024, BAR came in even lower at 38.08%. So, it may depend on the year, as exam content changes regularly.
Yes—review courses provide structure, accountability, and the tools you need to pass efficiently and confidently.
