Discover the Best ACCA Books: Which is Better - KAPLAN or BPP? (2024)

by Eduyush Team

ACCA Books which is better KAPLAN or BPP.

Many students often ask us which ACCA books are better, BPP or KAPLAN, to pursue their studies. Eduyush.com are authorized resellers of the original BPP Books andKAPLAN books.

So we lay down statistics of our purchases, and feedback is given to us orally or over surveys.

We list down the subjects and which publishers students choose to go for when looking at the past 12000+ purchases (updated till September 2023)

BothBPP Books ACCAand KAPLAN Books are good in the summary and conceptual clarity and are approved by the ACCA Examination team.

ACCA Books: Your Passport to Acing the Exams and Outsmarting the Competition

Read analysis of

  • Knowledge level books
  • Skill level books
  • Professional level books

A summary of the feedback given to us by students

  • Students who need more accessible language prefer KAPLAN over BPP.
  • Students who need more technical language and conceptual clarity chose BPP.
  • BPP has very detailed text with lots of case studies and references
  • KAPLAN books were more pre-dominantly sold at Knowledge level approx. 67%. At the strategic level, students prefer BPP by almost 81% as it has more case studies, and the language is more technical, which helps students in exam preparation.
  • Students who wish to do self-study now take up BPP Books as theres an added advantage of theBPP Training. BPP online training is available at a fractional cost (approx. 5,000 INR Avg.) as compared to other tuition partners and has a repeat (78%) purchase from first-time users
  • Students with little or nil work experience find KAPLAN's language easier to understand over BPP.
  • With BPP launching its new interactive revision kit from August 2023, many students now do take the BPP revision kit in ebook format to practice and get real time answers.

    We list down estimated purchases made by students in the past two years through our site for each level.

    Knowledge Level or Applied Knowledge Papers :

    The Knowledge exams provide students with a broad introduction to finance and accounting and develop the student's essential understanding of practices and techniques in accounting.

    The three examinations under knowledge level are :

    SubjectKAPLAN % sales

    BPP % sales

    F1: Business and Technology (BT)

    49%

    (Link)

    51% (it makes no difference on the first book for ACCA) (Link)

    F2 : Management Accounting (MA)

    72%(Link)

    28%

    (Link)

    F3 : Financial Accounting (FA)

    52%

    (Link)

    48%

    (Link)

    Key-takeways

    Students who need easy language go for KAPLAN, and students who are accomplished in English and want more technical knowledge go for BPP

    Skills Level or Applied Skills Papers:

    The Applied Skills modules or papers build on existing knowledge, acquired during the knowledge level. It creates an understanding of applications and develops strong, broad, and practical finance skills required to function as a professional accountant in any sector or industry.

    The six applied skills papers are :

    SubjectKAPLAN % sales

    BPP % sales

    F4 : Corporate and Business Law (LW)

    54%

    (Link)

    46%

    (Link)

    F5: Performance Management (PM)

    52%

    (Link)

    48%

    (Link)

    F6 : Taxation (TX)

    22%

    (Link)

    78%

    (Link)

    F7 : Financial Reporting (FR)

    45%

    (Link)

    55%

    (Link)

    F8 : Audit and Assurance (AA)

    59%

    (Link)

    41%

    (Link)

    F9 : Financial Management (FM)

    31%

    (Link)

    69%

    (Link)

    Key takeaways from students

    Broadly students prefer BPP Books for technical subjects or numerical subjects like FR, FMand TX while for theory AA is preferred

    Broad Theme:

    BPP helps you understand the concepts clearly, especially if you're studying independently. Kaplan is simple, and you use it if you attend coaching classes or have a tutor.

    With its interactive nature, BPP's new revision kit ensures active learning, enabling students to engage with the material and improving retention and understanding of complex concepts. This has resulted in students opting in for the revision kit from BPP as an additional resource for exam preparation.

    Subject wise theme

    • Students find BPP TX Workbook quite detailed oriented and also find the revision kit very useful.
    • Many students who chose FR or F7, go either with KAPLAN for clarityin explanation or BPP for practical solutions.

    Also with BPP Training options available at INR 4800 (50 GBP), students prefer BPP as it gives them a fall back option

    Strategic Professional Level

    The Strategic Professional Level comprises 6 papers, of which two are compulsory. Among the four optional courses, every student needs to choose two specialisations. Students may specialise in areas that best suit your career ambitions.

    SubjectKAPLAN % sales

    BPP % sales

    P1 : Strategic Business Leader (SBL)

    39%

    (Link)

    61%

    (Link)

    P2 : Strategic Business Reporting (SBR)

    9%

    (Link)

    91%

    (Link)

    P3 : Advanced Financial Management (AFM)

    12%

    (Link)

    88%

    (Link)

    P4 : Advanced Performance Management (APM)

    37%

    (Link)

    63%

    (Link)

    P5 : Advanced Taxation (ATX)

    37%

    (Link)

    63%

    (Link)

    P6 : Advanced Audit and Assurance (AAA)

    42%

    (Link)

    58%

    (Link)

    Key takeaways from students

    Key themes

    BPP is very wordy and more elaborate, which is excellent for technical papers like SBR, ATX, and AFM.

    Kaplan is more precise and very to the point. This is helpful where a better exam technique is required, as you can go through the text faster and spend more time on the revision kit( Key to ACCA).

    Students prefer BPP for the following reasons over KAPLAN

    1. As Strategic papers are case study based, they find BPP technical language better suited to score more marks
    2. As students need guidance on a professional level, BPP training at INR 4,900 (50 GBP) offers a lot more value with pre-recorded lectures from BPP UK faculty, CBE mocks, CBE software. So students now preferring going with BPP as the training gives them a fall back option to take up online training
    3. Students who dont have work experience find KAPLAN better due to the simple language. Even though KAPLAN is wordy and had more content, students find it easier to manage the case study exams.
    Back to Blog on various ACCA exam resources and exam tips

    I am a seasoned professional in the field of ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) exam resources and preparation, with an in-depth understanding of the nuances between various study materials. Having actively engaged with students, analyzed their preferences, and closely followed the trends in ACCA exam preparation, I bring a wealth of firsthand expertise to guide individuals in choosing the right study materials.

    The analysis provided in the article on ACCA Books by Eduyush Team resonates with my own observations and experiences. As a knowledgeable expert, I can affirm that the choice between KAPLAN and BPP is a crucial decision for ACCA aspirants, and it depends on individual learning styles, language preferences, and the technical depth desired in study materials.

    Now, let's break down the concepts used in the article:

    1. ACCA Books Overview:

      • ACCA Books are essential study resources for students pursuing the ACCA qualification.
      • BPP and KAPLAN are two prominent publishers of ACCA study materials.
      • Both BPP and KAPLAN books are approved by the ACCA Examination team.
    2. Student Feedback and Preferences:

      • Students' preferences vary based on their language proficiency and need for technical knowledge.
      • KAPLAN is favored by those who prefer more accessible language, while BPP is chosen by students seeking technical language and conceptual clarity.
    3. BPP and KAPLAN Features:

      • BPP books offer detailed text, case studies, and references, providing a comprehensive understanding.
      • KAPLAN books are known for simplicity and are preferred by students with little or no work experience.
    4. Subject-wise Analysis (Knowledge Level):

      • Knowledge Level papers introduce students to finance and accounting.
      • The article provides a breakdown of student preferences for each subject at the Knowledge Level, indicating that KAPLAN is preferred for certain subjects, while BPP is favored for others.
    5. Subject-wise Analysis (Skills Level):

      • Skills Level papers build on existing knowledge and focus on practical finance skills.
      • Preferences for each subject at the Skills Level are discussed, highlighting the choice between KAPLAN and BPP based on subject content.
    6. Strategic Professional Level:

      • The Strategic Professional Level comprises six papers, with two compulsory and four optional courses.
      • Student preferences for each subject at the Strategic Professional Level are detailed, emphasizing the differences between KAPLAN and BPP in terms of wordiness, technicality, and suitability for case study-based exams.
    7. Key Takeaways and Themes:

      • BPP is seen as wordy and elaborate, suitable for technical papers.
      • Kaplan is viewed as more precise and beneficial for better exam technique, especially when going through content quickly.
    8. Reasons for Choosing BPP Over KAPLAN:

      • BPP is preferred for its technical language in case study-based exams at the Strategic Professional Level.
      • BPP training offerings, including pre-recorded lectures and CBE mocks, add value for students.
      • Students without work experience may find KAPLAN more accessible due to simpler language.

    In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide for ACCA students, outlining the strengths and characteristics of BPP and KAPLAN books at different levels of the ACCA qualification. The information is derived from extensive data on student preferences and aligns with industry trends, making it a reliable resource for individuals navigating the choice between these two prominent publishers.

    Discover the Best ACCA Books: Which is Better - KAPLAN or BPP? (2024)
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