by erinrcollins » Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:22 pm
I used Whole Enchalada ("AEP") for CDS/PPP/SPD in 4.0, liked the audio files, because I have a long commute to work. Basically, AEP is a mega study outline that brushes over the main topics in each exam, BUT it is not a stand-alone study source by any means. I probably would not recommend it for PPD/Pdd, even though I used it for both, and passed both, with the addition of other sources of information. If you commute to work, consider it. AEP's biggest strength is that it is an audio review guide, organized to make sure that you hit all of the topics in the NCARB outline---- when I did not have the time to study the programming and estimating sections according the the NCARB outline for PPD, listening to AEP brought me through. That said, it is a re-hash of their 4.0 materials. I also complained to AEP--I felt that the $99/per study guide was a bit steep, considering that it was the same materials from their 4.0 PPD/SPD/SS/BDCS/SD guides, AND a lot of the material overlapped between PPD and PDD. Their response was something to the effect of "oh, well, NCARB told us we could use 4.0 materials".
I did not use the Amber book videos, but did have a copy of the $20 Amber Book, which I highly recommend.
I took a look at Black Spectacles when I started studying for CDS, but was not impressed. The content was not very thorough, similar to AEP, but you had to watch videos, and audio files were better for me.
Overall, none of the 5.0 materials are going to be good, yet, as they are all a re-organization of their previously released 4.0 materials. Stick to a handful of study sources directly from the NCARB references, and maybe get one of the above as a supplemental resource.