The CMA exam pass rate is notoriously low, hovering around 45% for both exam parts on average. To give you some perspective, that’s lower than the Bar Exam for lawyers (60%) and significantly less than the USMLE for doctors (70-90%). It’s no joke. As a result, CMA candidates who are serious about getting that coveted certification have to make a big (and often expensive) choice:
“Do I try to do this on my own, or do I spend a lot of money and hopefully pass the CMA exam?”
I’m here to make that choice a little easier. Today, I’m going to show you the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to the Gleim CMA course catalog and help you make the best choice for your accounting career.
Key Takeaways
- Extensive Test Bank: Gleim’s biggest advantage is its extensive test bank, which offers thousands of exam-like questions. It’s a top choice for students who thrive on “practice makes perfect” preparation.
- Multiple Course Options: Gleim provides three course options: Premium, Traditional, and the Mega Test Bank. Each tier offers progressively more comprehensive features, catering to different study needs and budgets.
- Adaptive Learning Technology: The SmartAdapt feature is a standout in the Gleim system, offering personalized study plans and feedback to help candidates focus on their weak areas and improve exam readiness.
- Support and Resources: All Gleim courses include technical and content assistance, with higher tiers offering access to personal coaches and performance reports to guide study efforts.
- Money-Back Guarantee: Gleim offers an Access Until You Pass Guarantee®, as well as a money-back guarantee with some stipulations. This is a great monetary benefit, but it can also improve focus and reduce anxiety during your study sessions.
Gleim CMA Review Course: Options and Information
Gleim offers three different CMA exam prep courses, including:
Gleim Premium CMA Review System
As you can probably tell by the name, the Gleim Premium CMA Review course is the premium package where you get everything Gleim has to offer. That includes 70+ hours of video lectures, the best test bank of both practice questions and case-based questions, downloadable audio lectures, digital textbooks, digital flashcards, mock exams, a final review, and printed textbooks. All of these are amplified with Gleim’s approach, featuring adaptive technology and a format that emulates the actual exam. And of course, the premium tier comes with unlimited access to the study materials. Come exam day, you’ll be ready and then some.
Gleim Traditional CMA Review System
In the Traditional package, you lose access to the video lectures, multiple-choice question walkthroughs, case-based question walkthroughs, and digital flashcards. Further, your unlimited access gets shortened to 18 months. However, it’s extremely typical in CMA exam review courses to save video content for the higher tiers.
And don’t worry—just because you’re getting fewer video lectures doesn’t mean you’re not getting a whole lot of value.
Gleim CMA Mega Test Bank
Gleim is renowned for their large, high-quality test banks, packed full of exam-quality practice questions and unlimited practice exams to get you as prepared as possible to pass the exam. If you’re comfortable with the content and just need the self-study materials, their test bank is a great bet to make sure you pass, so long as you have an effective study plan, that is.
CMA Review Course Standard Features
Gleim has some of the best standard features for its packages in the industry. Though its test bank of several thousand practice questions is highly sought after, there are numerous high-quality self-study materials, video lectures, and technology aspects to discuss.
CMA Exam Study Materials
- Digital Textbooks: Gleim offers digital books that explain the CMA Exam “hot topics” in every package. These textbooks are obviously more portable thanks to their digital nature, but it also makes it easier to find sections, save and highlight important passages, and streamline your study time.
- The Best Test Bank: From thousands of practice questions, both multiple choice and case-based questions, to unlimited practice exams that simulate the parameters of the actual exam, Gleim is known for having the best test bank in the CMA exam prep space. Students also appreciate the ability to customize their mock exams with Gleim’s unique technology:
“I’m very satisfied with Gleim. I prefer reading/learning on my own vs tutorial videos (context: I already have a heavy finance and accounting background). The books are crisp/concise and the question bank very thorough. There are customization options (in creating a practice test) that I appreciate a lot.”
Support and Technology
- Support for Students: Every Gleim offering includes support by email and phone for the courses, as well as technical assistance.
- Mobile-Friendly Technology: One thing I love about Gleim is their website. It’s optimized for mobile, so it actually fits your phone screen as opposed to looking ridiculous and having the world’s smallest font. So, regardless of how much study time you need, you can always squeeze in a quick 5-minute session.
- Exam Day Environment: Gleim prides itself on creating questions that closely resemble the ones you’ll find in the CMA exam, so your study plan will be all the more rewarding come test day.
CMA Review Course Traditional Features
Like most three-tiered CMA review course packages, it works like Russian nesting dolls: the features you get in the lower tier are included in the tier immediately above it. Here are the features you get with the Traditional CMA Review System:
CMA Exam Study Materials
- SmartAdapt Adaptive Course: One of the major highlights of Gleim’s premium features is their SmartAdapt course, which takes your exam prep to another level. SmartAdapt’s features help students to identify areas of improvement, provide personalized feedback, and let them know when they’re truly ready to take the CMA exam.
- Study Planner and Printed Materials: With the Premium and Traditional CMA Review Systems, you’ll receive a guide for developing a top-notch study plan as well as on-demand access to printed books.
- Audio Lectures: You’ll also have access to downloadable audio lectures so you can learn on the go. Studying takes a lot of time, but there are so many parts of our day when we are essentially doing nothing—commuting, waiting for appointments or classes, and so on. These audio lectures allow you to make the most of every minute leading up to test day. Plus, they’re perfect for candidates with an auditory learning style!
CMA Prep Mock Exams
- Mock Exams: Maybe you’re thinking to yourself, “Hey, didn’t we already cover this?” When purchasing the course, I thought the same thing. However, the difference between practice exams and mock exams is that practice exams are self-proctored, whereas mock exams are tools that evaluate your financial planning knowledge in real-time. It’s the next best thing to taking the CMA exam itself in look, feel, timing, and content.
- Final Review Mode: Once you’ve completed mock exams, Final Review Mode will become available to you. Originally developed for the Gleim CPA Review Course, it helps you evaluate your coursework and exam performance to help students identify the best course of action and which concepts and details to focus on leading up to the test.
Support and Technology
- Detailed Performance Reports: You know those tests you take where you just get X’s for wrong answers, learn whether you passed or not, and… that’s it? Gleim tossed that to the side. You’ll get comprehensive personalized reports throughout the course detailing your management accounting course progress, knowledge gaps for the key concepts, and a comparison of where you’re currently at versus where you need to be to pass the CMA exam.
- Personal Coaching: Whether you’re from an accounting background or a non accounting background, personal coaching is a great addition for candidates looking to build their confidence for the exam. Personal coaches help you with budgeting your time, planning study times where you can actually focus and get stuff done, and ensure you’re understanding the key concepts of the CMA course.
- Closed Captioning: Before you say, “Closed captioning is a premium feature? Seriously?” Don’t worry! I had the same reaction, but they just mean that they have closed captioning for video lectures and content, which the Mega Test Bank doesn’t have. So, if you have a hearing impairment, Gleim has you covered.
CMA Review Course Premium Features
Finally, let’s take a look at the features exclusive to the highest-tier package, the Gleim Premium CMA Review System:
CMA Exam Study Materials
- Gleim Instruct Video Lectures: For even more guided learning, Gleim has some of the best video instruction you’ll find online for CMA exam prep. You’ll learn the comprehensive principles of strategic financial management from true experts who have passed the CMA exam themselves. Many candidates appreciate the in-depth approach to the concepts, as well as specific walkthroughs for answering the practice questions, both CBQ and multiple choice.
The most crucial aspect of these videos is something that we don’t talk about enough in the test prep world: memorization versus knowledge. Truly understanding the course concepts, both in meaning and format, is necessary to pass the exam, especially when it comes to case-based questions. Students deserve to have confidence not just in the CMA exam room, but in their future careers, and these video lectures are here to ensure just that. - Digital Flashcards: I’m of the belief that sometimes, the best studying goes back to basics, and that is exactly the case you’ll be able to experience with digital flashcards from Gleim. These further add to Gleim’s mission to make learning more accessible and mobile-friendly.
Support and Technology
- Accounting Experts: Ever wished you could have someone in one of the accounting careers help you study? Now you can. Gleim has an award-winning team of accounting professionals at your beck and call whenever you need clarification on some exam concepts or some 1-on-1 support to strengthen your knowledge. Imagine the confidence you’ll have with the world’s best study buddy to help you pass the CMA exam!
- Pass Guarantee: When you purchase the Premium CMA Review System, you’ll have access to all materials until you pass. Even if printed materials are updated, you’ll be able to request the new versions at no additional cost to you.
Gleim CMA Review Pros and Cons
Pros
- The BEST Test Bank: The single biggest point of comparison between Gleim and its competitors is also the reason why so many CMA exam candidates choose it: the enormous, high-quality test bank–with customizable options to boot. One accounting professional who passed the exam says:
“The fact that you can customize the MCQ’s by unit or even subunit is HUGE. I personally would just slam out all MCQ’s per subunit after reading that part in the book until I was getting reasonable scores, then move on. Once I did that for all subunits I did a few MCQ’s of the whole chapter, making sure I am still getting reasonable scores. This allowed me to learn it in small, bite sized pieces that I could actually retain.”
Another student says Gleim helped them pass the CPA exam on the first try, for all 4 components (the CPA exam is similar to the CMA exam, and Gleim offers courses for both):
“I recently passed my 4th test and I passed them all on my first try using only Gleim. Pros: HUGE test bank. I was able to answer 2k-3k questions per test and have different questions all the time. 97% of answer explanations were well laid out.” - Adaptive Learning Technology: Gleim’s SmartAdapt course helps you build their knowledge AND confidence with exam readiness indicators, comprehensive study plans and pass likelihood, and assistance in choosing which accounting concepts to dig deeper into. Though the test bank is one of the best CMA tools online, Gleim’s SmartAdapt is nothing to scoff at.
- The Gleim Company Itself: Let’s face it: reputation is everything when you’re spending up to four figures on an online course, and you should be able to purchase in confidence. Gleim aims to help you do exactly that with their strategic partner, the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA). Further, Gleim’s instructors teach accounting courses at universities endorsed by the IMA. When they say strategic partner, they MEAN strategic partner; it’s not just a link on a page! And of course, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the pass guarantee is nothing less than a reflection of Gleim’s trust in their CMA review tools.
- A Fan-Favorite Instructor: If you’ve ever had a bad teacher, you know it makes learning infinitely more difficult. Enter Amy Ford (CMA, CPA), ICMA award winner and former Gleim student who now serves as the lead instructor for the CMA Review instruction videos. Not only is she an excellent instructor, but she’s also a fan-favorite among students.
“I really enjoyed using Gleim for the CMA. Amy does a great job teaching and there’s lot of extra materials to help with some of the more difficult topics.”
And one more,
“I had Gleim premium. Amy does a great job in the videos explaining formulas, lease recognition rules, and so much. Amy has little tricks that help you remember rules and formulas you won’t find in the books.”
Cons
- Difficult Practice Questions: Quite a few people have discussed the difficulty of Gleim’s practice questions. Being honest, it’s easy to get frustrated when studying becomes hard. However, several of Gleim’s students have also said that the difficulty of the questions made them well-prepared for the test. Because they’d succeeded at the difficult questions, the easier ones were a breeze. If you’re easily frustrated and want something closer to the CMA exam’s difficulty level, Gleim may not be for you. However, if you don’t mind a challenge and want a great score, this could be a benefit for you.
- No Money-Back Guarantee: Whereas many online CMA courses offer a money-back guarantee to help students recoup money spent on an exam if they don’t pass, Gleim does not. And while the “access until you pass” promise is still great, it’s just not as good as you might get from somewhere else.
Gleim CMA vs Competitors
Gleim vs Becker
Gleim and Becker are comparable in many ways. They have similar price ranges (though Becker’s Premium offer is more expensive) and customers of both have been successful in their goals. That being said, Becker is generally my choice for the best online CMA review products.
However, that doesn’t mean that Gleim isn’t a worthy competitor, because it’s their extensive question bank where they surpass Becker in a big way. It really depends on what’s more important to you: more questions, or better 1-on-1 support.
Gleim vs Surgent
When it comes to value and proven effectiveness, Gleim stands out. While Surgent offers competitive pricing and adaptive technology like ReadySCORE™, Gleim’s comprehensive packages, including the Mega Test Bank, provide unparalleled depth and preparation.
Gleim’s SmartAdapt™ learning platform, combined with its extensive question bank and detailed answer explanations, ensures a more thorough learning experience. For candidates seeking trusted materials and long-standing success in CMA exam prep, Gleim remains the top choice.
Gleim vs Hock
Hock is honestly worse than Gleim in every way (sorry, Hock) except for one: the price.
Hock charges candidates in a monthly subscription format, whereas with Gleim, you can either pay in full or use a payment plan.
As a result, Hock can be cheaper, but the quality simply doesn’t match Gleim’s, and when you’re spending the kind of time and money it takes to pass this exam, sometimes spending money can save you money in the long run.
Gleim vs UWorld
Gleim and UWorld CMA Review are both well-respected options, and candidates can find success with either. UWorld tends to appeal more to self-paced learners thanks to its clean platform and clear, detailed answer explanations, which make independent study easier to manage.
That said, Gleim’s biggest strength is still its depth. With a larger question bank and a more content-heavy approach, it can feel more comprehensive overall. Choosing between them often comes down to whether you value streamlined explanations and usability, or maximum depth and volume of practice.
Final Verdict
Bottom line: Gleim’s special sauce is its comprehensive test banks, which are jam-packed with questions designed to resemble those on the actual exam.
In fact, that’s why they offer the Mega Test Bank as a standalone offer, purely because of its popularity. Many exam takers have even bought the test bank in conjunction with a different course to be used together. It’s that good!
Ultimately, Gleim is an excellent choice for the CMA prospect who values the phrase “practice makes perfect.”
FAQS
Gleim is renowned for its large, high-quality test bank, which simulates real CMA exam questions, offers hundreds of high-quality question walkthrough videos, and helps prospective management accountants study effectively.
Gleim does offer a money-back guarantee, though terms and conditions apply.
The Premium package includes video lectures, audio lectures, PDF textbooks, flashcards, unlimited practice exams, and access to all study materials until you pass.
SmartAdapt™ is an adaptive learning tool that tracks your progress, provides personalized feedback, and helps you prioritize weak areas for better exam preparation.
All Gleim courses offer technical support and content assistance, with premium tiers also including personal coaching, access to accounting experts, and detailed performance reports.
