UWorld CPA Review (2025): The New King of Content?

The Verdict: Is UWorld Better Than Becker?

For years, the CPA prep market was “Becker vs. Everyone Else.” But when UWorld acquired Roger CPA Review, the landscape shifted permanently. By combining Roger Philipp’s legendary, high-energy lectures with UWorld’s medical-grade question bank technology, they created a monster.

Then, in a move that shocked the industry, they hired Peter Olinto (formerly of Becker). Now, UWorld boasts the two most famous instructors in CPA history on a single platform.

The Bottom Line: If you learn best by understanding the “why” rather than memorizing the “what,” UWorld is superior to Becker. And it costs about $1,000 less.

The “Dream Team”: Roger Philipp & Peter Olinto

Let’s be honest: accounting can be boring. Most CPA review courses feature instructors reading off a teleprompter in a monotone voice.

UWorld is different.

• Roger Philipp: He is the “Tony Robbins of Accounting.” He jumps, he shouts, he uses puns and mnemonics. He keeps you awake. If you have ADHD or struggle to focus, Roger is a godsend.
• Peter Olinto: “Sugar Bear” is back. Olinto is famous for making complex financial concepts (like derivatives and bonds) incredibly simple. His teaching style is smoother and more structured, providing a perfect counterbalance to Roger’s energy.

Together, they cover the entire 2025 CPA Evolution curriculum. You aren’t just watching a lecture; you are being entertained.

The Secret Weapon: UWorld’s Explanations

This is where UWorld truly beats Becker. UWorld started in medical board prep (USMLE), where deep understanding is life-or-death. They brought that same philosophy to accounting.

When you get a question wrong in UWorld, you don’t just get a sentence saying “B is incorrect.” You get:

1. A Visual Breakdown: Custom illustrations, flowcharts, and tables that visualize the concept.
2. The “Why”: A detailed explanation of why the correct answer is right.
3. The “Why Not”: An equally detailed explanation of why every other option is wrong.

This allows you to learn directly from the questions. Many students report they spend 70% of their time in the Question Bank and only 30% on lectures because the explanations are so good.

SmartPath: Data-Driven Studying

Becker has Adapt2U; UWorld has SmartPath. SmartPath is a predictive tool that compares your performance to thousands of students who have successfully passed the CPA exam.

It doesn’t just tell you “study more.” It gives you specific targets:

• Target: “Successful candidates average 85% on Leases.”
• You: “You are currently at 72%.”
• Action: “Complete 15 more questions on this topic to reach the target.”

This gamifies your study process. You aren’t guessing if you’re ready; you’re just trying to hit the green targets in the dashboard. When all targets are met, you are statistically likely to pass.

Spaced Repetition & Flashcards

Memory decay is the enemy. You study Audit in Week 1, but by Week 6, you’ve forgotten it. UWorld combats this with Spaced Repetition.

• Integrated Flashcards: As you do questions, you can instantly create a flashcard from any chart or text snippet.
• The Algorithm: The system tracks how well you know each card. It will show you the difficult cards frequently (every day) and the easy cards rarely (every 2 weeks).
• The Result: You retain information for the long haul without having to manually schedule review sessions.

The “Cram Course”

Included in the Elite-Unlimited package is the Cram Course. This is designed for the final 2 weeks before your exam.

• It strips away all the fluff.
• It focuses solely on the most heavily tested topics.
• It serves as a high-speed refresher to ensure the core concepts are fresh in your mind on exam day.

Mobile App & Offline Study

The UWorld mobile app is robust. Unlike some competitors that require an internet connection, UWorld allows you to download content.

• Download a block of 50 questions.
• Do them on the subway/plane.
• Sync your results when you get back online.

This is a huge feature for professionals who travel or have spotty internet access.

Final Thoughts

UWorld is the “Student’s Choice.” It feels modern, the tech is snappy, and the instructors genuinely care about keeping you engaged.

Choose UWorld if:

• You are a visual learner (the diagrams are unmatched).
• You get bored easily (Roger will keep you awake).
• You want the best value (Elite-Unlimited is often cheaper than Becker’s mid-tier).

Choose Becker if:

• You need the absolute security of the “Big 4” brand.
• You need LiveOnline classes.
• Money is no object.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Is UWorld enough to pass the 2025 CPA Exam? A: Absolutely. UWorld’s question bank is often considered harder than the real exam, and their pass rates are among the highest in the industry.

Q: Do I get physical textbooks? A: Yes, with the Elite-Unlimited package, you get printed textbooks. The lower tiers are digital-only. However, the digital textbooks are excellent and fully integrated with the lectures.

Q: Who teaches the classes? A: The primary instructors are Roger Philipp (CPA, CGMA) and Peter Olinto (CPA, JD). They are widely considered the two best instructors in the industry.

Q: Does the course expire? A: The Elite-Unlimited package does not expire until you pass. The lower tiers have set expiration dates (e.g., 18 months). We highly recommend the Elite-Unlimited to avoid stress.

Q: Can I switch from Becker to UWorld? A: Yes. UWorld offers a “Grandfather” discount for students who have failed with other providers. You can often get a significant discount by showing proof of purchase from a competitor.

The Verdict: A Powerhouse Merger

For years, the CPA prep market was fragmented. You had Roger CPA Review (great lectures, smaller bank) and Wiley CPA (massive bank, dry lectures).

UWorld bought them both.

The result is UWorld CPA Review, a course that combines the high-energy, engaging instruction of Roger Philipp with the massive question bank and technology of Wiley/UWorld. It is, frankly, a beast of a course.

If you are a visual learner, or if you find traditional accounting textbooks to be a cure for insomnia, UWorld is not just a good choice-it is the only choice.

The “Dream Team” Instructors

The biggest selling point of UWorld is the talent.

Roger Philipp, CPA

Roger is legendary in the industry. He is high-energy, funny, and uses mnemonics that are impossible to forget.

• Style: He jumps around, cracks jokes, and uses a whiteboard. It feels like a performance, not a lecture.
• Effectiveness: He keeps you awake. When you are studying for the FAR section after an 8-hour workday, Roger’s energy is a lifeline.

Peter Olinto, CFA, CPA (Inactive), JD

Peter Olinto is the other half of this dynamic duo. Formerly the face of Becker, his move to UWorld was a major industry shakeup.

• Style: Peter is the “National Instructor.” He is incredibly polished, clear, and excellent at breaking down complex financial concepts.
• The Combo: Having both Roger and Peter in one course is like having the Avengers of accounting instruction.

SmartPath Technology: Data-Driven Studying

UWorld’s SmartPath is a predictive analytics tool that answers the most common question candidates have: “Am I ready to take the test?”

It doesn’t just track your percentage. It compares your performance to the data of thousands of students who have actually passed the CPA exam.

• Targeted Metrics: For every topic (e.g., “Leases”), SmartPath gives you a target score (e.g., 85%) and a target number of questions attempted (e.g., 30).
• The Green Light: When you hit the targets for all topics in a section, you are statistically likely to pass.
• Efficiency: Once you hit the target, stop studying that topic. Move on. This prevents the common trap of “over-studying” areas you already know.

The Visual Learning Difference

UWorld made its name in the medical field (USMLE prep) by having the best diagrams in the business. They have brought that same philosophy to accounting.

The Explanations: Most courses give you a text explanation for why answer A is correct. UWorld gives you:

• A custom illustration showing the flow of the transaction.
• A chart comparing the rule to similar rules.
• A detailed breakdown of why B, C, and D are incorrect.

This is crucial. You learn more from reading one UWorld explanation than you do from answering 10 questions on other platforms.

The Question Bank (QBank)

By acquiring Wiley, UWorld inherited one of the largest question banks in the industry.

• Volume: You will not run out of questions.
• Difficulty: UWorld questions are known for being hard. They often test the nuances and exceptions to the rules.
• Interface: The practice interface mimics the actual CPA exam Prometric environment down to the calculator and color scheme.

Elite-Unlimited: The Package to Get

UWorld offers a few tiers, but the Elite-Unlimited is the standard recommendation.

• Unlimited Access: It never expires. This is critical because life happens. If you get promoted, have a baby, or get sick, you don’t want your $3,000 course to vanish.
• Free Updates: When the AICPA changes the exam (which they do every year), your content updates automatically for free.
• Printed Books: Some people need to highlight physical paper. This tier includes the full set of textbooks.

Is It Better Than Becker?

It depends on how you learn.

• Choose UWorld if: You need engagement. If you are a visual learner who needs diagrams and energetic teachers to stay focused, UWorld wins hands down.
• Choose Becker if: You want the “safe” corporate choice or need the specific 1-on-1 tutoring of the Concierge tier.

The Bottom Line: UWorld has successfully merged the best parts of its acquisitions. It is no longer just the “alternative” to Becker; for many students, it is the superior product.