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Best GRE Prep Courses
Our comprehensive guide to the best GRE prep courses online, comparing and contrasting the top programs side-by-side
Achieving a top tier score on the GRE is critical to getting accepted into your dream graduate school program. And to get that top score, you will very likely require the assistance of a prep course – but which one is right for you? In this guide, we rank the best GRE prep programs available on the market based on a thorough review and evaluation by our team of test prep experts.
In the video above, Lara from the Test Prep Insight team shares our picks for the best GRE prep courses. She covers pricing, course formats, practice tests and qbanks, analytics, live classes, and who each GRE course suits best. For more detail, be sure to continue reading our full written guide below.
Manhattan Prep gets our editor’s choice pick for best overall GRE prep program because of their perfect combination of value pricing (starting at about $300), highly engaging video lessons, and mountains of realistic practice work. Let’s take a look in closer detail why we love their course.
Amazing Video Lessons
One of Manhattan Prep’s signature marketing claims is that they make studying for the GRE fun. Their video instruction is sprinkled with skits, jokes and playful little cartoons. And while they are mostly corny, they do help to lighten the tension and make studying for a standardized graduate school exam like the GRE less ominous.
Manhattan Prep GRE lecture
But it’s not just the dad jokes and cartoons. Manhattan’s online video lessons are well designed and keep your attention from beginning to end with interactive features and quizzes.
Plus, beyond the video instruction, they offer a ton of practice problems, drills, study tools, and a good number of full-length practice tests. All of this serves to make Manhattan Prep’s GRE courseone of the most well-rounded packages on the market.
Systematic Approach to Learning
One of the most effective tools in the Manhattan Prep study toolbox is their course structure. They employ an extremely effective approach to learning through their repeated sequence of lessons, drills, and quizzes.
Manhattan labels this as their “Learn It, Drill It, Prove It” approach, and it definitely works. In the “Learn It” portion of each module, you’re given an interactive video lesson that delivers all of the content you need to know for that particular topic.
A look inside the Manhattan Prep GRE course
Then, in the “Drill It” section, you are given sets of flashcard-like problems to work through, helping the material you just learned to sink in. Finally, in the “Prove It” portion of the module, you are quizzed on the subject matter and must get a passing score to move on.
This effective structure ensures you are not only getting delivered the material that you need, but that you are also learning and retaining it.
Plus, you can access everything via the Manhattan Prep GRE mobile app, which lets you work through adaptive GRE questions, in-depth problem explanations, and customizable quizzes from anywhere.
Robust Amount of Study Material
Manhattan Prep has a clear edge when it comes to practice problems. Since Kaplan owns Manhattan Prep, students get access to both companies’ question banks — over 7,500 practice problems total. That’s more than almost any other GRE prep company out there.
Basically, if you’re the type of student that likes to learn by doing, Manhattan Prep is likely your course. With thousands of practice problems, you’ll never run out of study material. And that’s before you even get to the lessons, practice tests, and personalized assessment reports that are helpful for guiding your next steps.
Plus, their practice material is extremely high-quality. We found all of their practice tests and individual questions to closely match the real GRE.
Special MBA Course
Manhattan Prep is unique in that if you’re looking to take the GRE to attend business school and get your MBA, the company offers a special course just for MBA hopefuls.
Even though a lot of people don’t know it, about 90% of business schools today accept both GRE scores and GMAT scores for MBA applications, and it’s getting a lot more popular among MBA applicants to take the GRE.
Today, the GRE accounts for over a third of MBA applications at top business schools – a dramatic increase from less than 10% a decade ago. The GRE continues to gain in popularity for business school applications.
Example of quiz question from Manhattan Prep
If you’re one of these people whose made the decision to take the GRE instead of the GMAT, Manhattan Prep is a great choice. Their main focus was always GMAT, because it was the business school exam. And now they’re actually offering a course that focuses on GRE, but for business school specifically.
This program comes with 9 live class sessions that place extra emphasis on advanced math, the hardest part of the GRE, and the most important component of business school applications.
If you’re aiming for a top business school score or just need serious help with the math section for any grad program, the GRE for MBA course is a solid choice. The advanced math focus makes it ideal for students who either want to excel or need extra support in quantitative reasoning.
There was never a doubt from the moment we reviewed the Kaplan GRE prep program that they’d be near the top of our best GRE courses list.
Kaplan is one of the most recognizable names in test prep and they have a tried and tested formula for preparing students for most any standardized exam, but their GRE package is particularly outstanding.
Their core online curriculum is led by a collection of extremely high-quality video instruction, where your instructor works through problems onscreen in illuminated ink as notes roll across a digital whiteboard behind them.
These videos are immediately followed by well-designed quizzes that reinforce the material from the lesson, and each has an accompanying detailed text explanation breaking down the problem with great clarity.
Kaplan also impressed us by providing over 2,500 practice questions, 13 full-length practice tests, and a host of drills and other coursework in their review books.
Question explanations written by Kaplan test experts
In short, the Kaplan package is an all-around home run of a package in terms of both quality of coursework and level of resources.
Live Classes Are Worth The Money
Although the Kaplan live classes do cost a bit extra, if you’re in need of live instruction for one reason or another (the interaction, accountability, etc.), we highly recommend Kaplan.
Their live class lesson plans flow very naturally, building up from simpler topics in early classes to the more advanced subject matter later on. Moreover, their instructors are crazy good.
One of Kaplan’s engaging video lectures
We found them all to be highly knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and just plain down to Earth. They are our pick for live classes, no doubt.
Official Test Day Experience
One feature that sets Kaplan apart from Princeton Review and Manhattan Prep is their Official Test Day Experience. The idea is that you’re not just taking an online simulated practice exam – you’re actually going to a real Prometric center, where you can walk through each step of test day to get a feel for what it’s like. If you struggle with test anxiety, I have to say, this is a huge confidence booster.
Kaplan GRE Channel
This is easily one of Kaplan’s biggest selling points. In addition to their core GRE lessons and coursework, students also get access to on-demand video lessons through the GRE Channel, available in optional “Dig Deeper” modules.
Led by top-tier Kaplan instructors, these sessions provide in-depth explanations of specific question types, concepts, and test strategies, with accompanying readings for further practice. Because the modules are optional, they enhance learning without overwhelming students who are already comfortable with a topic.
Dig Deeper module with extra videos and readings
Overall, the GRE Channel is a highly valuable resource, especially for students who need extra help in targeted areas and want more focused instruction.
Practice Problem Qbank
One of our team’s favorite features is their QBank. The Kaplan QBank is a tool that allows you to create customized quizzes based on problem type, difficulty, timing and a bunch of other factors.
This allows students the chance to zero in on their weaknesses and work through extra problems to improve in those areas.
Kaplan test interface is just like the real GRE
The QBank also draws from Kaplan’s library of over 2,500 practice questions, so you have tons of fresh problems to work.
In addition, the QBank is super easy to use, and you can be jumping into a highly personalized practice problem set within seconds of logging in.
Awesome Hardcopy Prep Book
As many companies continue to move entirely online, Kaplan still includes a high-quality printed GRE prep book, and that choice really stands out. Along with the online and live instruction, you receive a hardcopy textbook that closely tracks the core curriculum with clear lessons, proven strategies, and plenty of practice problems.
The book is shipped after enrollment, though digital PDF versions are also available for those who prefer e-books. Kaplan’s GRE book is exceptionally well written, relevant, and comprehensive, making it a strong companion to the online content.
For students who like learning from a physical book (I know I do) – taking notes in the margins, highlighting key ideas, and marking important sections – this added resource enhances the overall study experience and makes Kaplan an especially appealing option.
Best GRE Score Increases & Guarantee: Princeton Review
When it comes to GRE instruction, Princeton Review is similar to Kaplan. This is especially true with respect to on demand video lessons.
Others come close, but our team agrees that the video instruction offered by Princeton Review is some of the best in the GRE category and lands Princeton a top spot on our best list.
Inside the Princeton Review GRE course
Their videos are engaging, thorough, and achieve an excellent balance of lecture and interaction. In addition to their first-rate video instruction, Princeton also has a good amount of full-length practice tests (more on that below).
GRE Score Guarantees
Princeton Review offers some killer score guarantees. More specifically, we are referring to the company’s 10 Points+, 162+ and 165+ Tutoring courses, which guarantee that you will improve your score by at least 10 points, or score at least 162 or 165 on the GRE, respectively, or you get your money back.
For the record, Kaplan only offers a “higher score guarantee,” so keep that in mind if you are aiming for a top tier GRE score.
Very Good Video Lessons
As noted, it is Princeton Review’s video lessons that really shine. They are thoughtfully designed and written, and are incredibly well executed. The instructor appears onscreen and works through their lesson in front of a really sharp digital whiteboard that is constantly updating with text, notes and graphics.
Often throughout the lesson, the instructor will pull out their marker and start working a problem or making notes on an invisible plate of glass that is between the viewer and instructor (so the text appears before them). It is a very cool delivery.
A typical Princeton Review GRE video lesson
The combo of digital whiteboard and transparent marker board make for an incredibly engaging video that keeps your attention. Beyond the delivery, the content of the lessons is also exceptional.
All in all, between the first-rate production quality and spot on substantive material, Princeton Review’s lessons propel it onto the best list.
GRE Practice Tests
In addition to some superb video instruction, Princeton provides 8 full-length practice exams. While this is less than some competitors, these tests are extremely realistic and offered through their proprietary platform.
This is great for the type of student who prefers to learn by doing. For some, there is no better means of prepping than to take practice tests under exam-like conditions, which Princeton Review shines at.
Princeton Review GRE practice question
Additionally, Princeton employs some adaptive technology that replicates the official GRE. When taking the real GRE, the sections get progressively harder or easier depending on your performance on earlier sections.
Princeton Review’s practice test technology does a fantastic job mirroring this function. Their practice test platform looks and feels just like the real thing. Plus, their Drill Smart technology harnesses AI to adapt to your skill level as you work through practice problems, making sure you’re always being appropriately challenged to help you grow.
When it comes to affordability, Magoosh is the clear winner.
At a fraction of the cost of other GRE prep courses, Magoosh provides significant value. But while the cost may be a fraction of other’s offerings, the study material definitely is not.
One of the Magoosh GRE video lessons
Magoosh delivers a very respectable amount of quality study material with over 1,600 practice problems, 6 full-length practice tests and 290+ short video lessons, all with months of user access.
It’s true that Magoosh doesn’t offer a comprehensive curriculum or crazy levels of study material – but that isn’t their game. You know what you’re getting with Magoosh – value, flexibility and a generous slate of high quality materials provided through a sleek digital platform.
If you’re working on a budget and want top-notch practice questions and explanations, Magoosh would be a top recommendation.
Custom Practice Sessions
For many students, working practice problems is at the heart of their go-to GRE prep plan. And while Magoosh doesn’t offer as many practice problems as other companies, they do offer superb practice question quality (real GRE questions from past exams), and a great means of working practice problems.
Magoosh is the only GRE prep company that leverages official questions from past GRE exams, which they license directly from the makers of the test. This gives them a definite advantage and makes them a great option for anyone who places a lot of value on working through highly realistic test questions.
Through their custom practice function, you can customize practice problem sets and filter questions however you’d like. You can narrow the scope of questions by type, difficulty, number, timing and much more.
This feature is not unique to Magoosh, but to me, it’s worth pointing out, because I consider this one of the most helpful aspects of studying, and it’s something Magoosh does very well. In addition, each practice problem is followed by a thorough video and text explanation.
A look at the Magoosh GRE quiz generator
These explanations, particularly the video versions, do a great job of breaking down each problem and clearly articulating why an answer choice is correct or incorrect. This custom practice tool in combination with the quality video explanations really boosts Magoosh’s value.
Finally, I really appreciate the adaptive tool for grading practice essays – it’s really nice for getting a little feedback on your writing skills.
Incredible Value
As discussed above, Magoosh is always going to be known for their value. They won’t give you heaps of resources like other companies, but with their most expensive GRE prep package running for around $180, you can’t really expect them to.
Some comparable budget self-paced options from competitors like Kaplan can run up close to $500, so Magoosh is a dominant force in the price game. However, while it is not surprising they are a great value, the quality and level of their resources is eye opening for that price point.
If the high price tags of the big, old school prep companies don’t appeal to you, and you’re looking for an affordable, modern approach to studying, there is a strong chance Achievable is going to be your ticket.
Relatively new to the GRE prep space (though not new to exam prep), Achievable positions itself as the intelligent and efficient course to getting your target GRE score.
Relying on adaptive algorithms to allocate study material, AI to grade essays, and proven memory science principles to maximize gains, Achievable just feels like the smartest course in the room.
More on this below, but know that our team loved this dedication to not wasting your time, and is in large part why Achievable skyrocketed up our rankings chart.
Achievable offers some of the best practice material in GRE prep
In terms of the hard content, Achievable delivers a comprehensive digital textbook, hundreds of verbal practice problems, an infinite number of quantitative practice questions, and narrowly focused review sessions.
While the features aren’t as robust as what you get with Kaplan or Princeton Review (lacking on demand video lessons and live classes), for the price of about $200, we can’t really complain. Bottom line, if pricing is one of your biggest priorities, we find Achievable to be an awesome option.
Excellent Bite-Sized Lessons
One of the highlights of Achievable is its wise decision to break down its lessons into bite-sized chunks. As mentioned above, Achievable doesn’t provide video lessons.
Instead, it makes its digital textbook the centerpiece of its curriculum. Though that might sound unappealing, we actually found it to be a major positive.
Their review book has 89 chapters, which essentially act as short learning modules. Each chapter takes just a few minutes to read (probably 15 minutes on average), and is written in about the plainest English we’ve seen for a GRE prep book. The language is conversational, using layman’s terms to describe concepts.
Achievable GRE dashboard
We also loved how they litter their chapters with simple, easy to understand sample problems. The text walks you through a concept in plain English, then demonstrates the point with an example problem that helps tie theory to practice.
Then following each chapter, you are assigned a review session, which basically quizzes you on the material you just learned while also circling back to earlier content for review.
It is a highly effective means of learning material, and you can rip off an entire lesson on a topic (including text and review problems) in less than a half hour.
Smart Science & Tech
As mentioned, one of the biggest selling points of Achievable is the science baked into their curriculum, as well as the smart, adaptive tech.
The efficiency gains mentioned in this synopsis are primarily accomplished through their adaptive algorithm, which constantly monitors your progress on practice work to optimize your study plan.
Our team loves how theyfocus your studies on weak spots, which is where you generally get the biggest point increases in GRE scores. The other way in which Achievable differentiates itself is through spaced reviews, which is a learning concept backed by memory science.
Essentially, rather than covering a topic one time and continuing on with other material until you hit the end of your course content, Achievable periodically pulls old material back into your review quizzes, to keep the material fresh in your mind.
When this smart tech and solid curriculum structure is combined with some top shelf texts and practice problems, we couldn’t help but give this program high marks.
Somewhat of a newcomer to the GRE review space, Target Test Prep brings the same effective playbook that they have used with great success in the GMAT prep space to the GRE. Offering a 100% online, complete review package, Target Test Prep should get your attention for a few reasons.
The primary reason Target Test Prep makes our best list, and why we really like their course, is due to their algorithm that optimizes your study plan. More on this below in greater detail, but their smart tech makes the most of your precious study time.
Additionally, Target Test Prep offers one of the most robust packages of lesson work available, especially when it comes to math. Now, much of their instructional material is mostly text-based (and digital text at that), so you have to be the type of student that doesn’t mind a little reading.
Target Test Prep GRE video lesson
But assuming you’re okay reading for a portion of each lesson, their detailed and well-crafted lessons offer some of the best insights and test taking strategies in the game.
In addition, you get access to 4,000+ practice questions and 5 full-length practice exams. While these numbers aren’t quite as good as other courses like Manhattan Prep, we still really like the quality of their practice material and accompanying explanations.
Quant Focus
Because Target Test Prep’s expertise has historically been in the GMAT prep space, which is a quant-centric exam, this is still their specialty in the GRE prep world.
If you are (or suspect you will be) weak in math going into the GRE, give Target Test Prep a good long look. We found their quant lessons to be very on point, with smart strategies, well-explained demonstrations, and nice tips.
It’s honestly a close call between them and Manhattan Prep for which company offers the best GRE quant study materials.
Maximum Efficiency in Your Studies
As mentioned, one of the biggest selling points of Target Test Prep is their ability to design a totally personalized and efficient study plan. If you have limited time to study, or just want to get in and knock out your preparation as quickly and efficiently as possible, Target Test Prep may be a great fit for you.
It starts with their diagnostic exam at the beginning of the course. The results of this diagnostic are evaluated through their algorithm, and the output is a study plan tailored to your needs.
Their lessons are mostly text-based
Their smart software pinpoints your weaknesses and strengths, and designs your studies to maximize gains around them.
In other words, if you are already doing really well in a subject, they don’t waste your time trying to get small, incremental improvements. They go for the big gains where you are currently weakest.
This is how you make the significant point jumps on the GRE. And as you progress through your studies, the study plan constantly updates and changes to account for your ever evolving GRE knowledge base and skills. It is a really cool feature that our team absolutely loved.
Massive Score Increase Guarantee
One other feature that cannot go without mention is Target Test Prep’s score increase guarantee. Essentially, Target Test Prep promises that if you complete all of your lessons and do all your practice work, and your score does not increase by at least 15 points, they will give you your money back. No questions asked.
Target Test Prep GRE practice drill
There is some fine print to qualify, but the bottom line is that this guarantee will apply to most students and is an incredible insurance policy to protect your investment.
+15 points guaranteed is nearly unheard of in the GRE prep space, so Target Test Prep clearly believes in the prowess of their materials. For us, this was the icing on top of an already sweet cake.
The GRE stands for “Graduate Record Examinations.” In short, it is an exam administered by the Educational Testing Service to assess a candidate’s readiness for graduate or professional school. The GRE is often required by graduate programs as one main component of a candidate’s application.
GRE Exam Structure
The GRE is a computer-based, standardized exam that consists mainly of multiple-choice questions. The overarching goal of the exam is to measure an individual’s ability to evaluate data, think critically and solve problems.
The GRE exam is split into three main sections. Technically, there are five total sections, but there are three primary scored sections (two of which you take twice).
Analytical Writing
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
The total testing time is approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes with no breaks between sections.
The Analytical Writing portion of the exam consists of one thirty-minute task in which you analyze an issue. The analytical writing section is scored on a 0 to 6 scale, with the average score equaling 4.
The Verbal portion of the exam is composed of two sections, with a total of 27 questions. Individuals will receive 41 minutes to complete both sections. The verbal reasoning portion of the exam is scored on a 130 to 170 scale, with the average score equaling 151.
The Quant portion consists of two sections as well, with a total of 27 questions. Test takers will receive 47 minutes total to complete both sections. The average score for this section is 153.
GRE Study Plan
Most people take anywhere between one to three months studying several hours per week to prepare for the GRE. Therefore, on average, we’d say expect to set aside 50 to 100 hours in total to ensure you’re ready for the exam.
Increase that figure if you are attempting to get a score in the 85th or higher percentile. Naturally, the next question is how you should spend those allotted hours studying. Below is our five-point plan to ensure you’re preparing efficiently.
Take a practice exam. This should be the first thing individuals do so they can get a feel for the test and discover what areas they need to improve upon.
Review the results from the practice exam. Take an hour or two and closely examine what types of questions you missed, what types of questions you rushed through, and what types of questions you nailed.
Set a study plan. After analyzing the results of your practice exam, you’ll be able to identify the exact areas where you need additional assistance and allocate study hours accordingly.
Imitate actual GRE test conditions. It’s important that you study under the same conditions that the test is administered. This will help calm your nerves and make your more focused come test day. Studying with a review course can help simulate these conditions.
Take another practice test & repeat. You should take practice tests regularly so that you can measure the effectiveness of your studying. After each test, repeat the steps above so you can continually improve upon your weak areas.
FAQ
Do I need a GRE prep course?
For the vast majority of students, a prep course will be required to get a solid score on the GRE. A review course will provide you with the study materials and relevant content that you need in order to excel on the exam.
How much does a GRE prep course cost?
GRE prep courses can cost anywhere from $150 up to $2,500 – it all depends on what type of format you prefer to learn in, and how many resources you need. For most students though, the average course will cost around $400 to $800.
Will a GRE prep course raise my score?
In the context of using a prep course to study versus not using one, you will almost always score better on the exam having studied with a dedicated course. And if you don’t score better, most review companies will give you your money back through their score increase guarantee program.
Editor's Choice 
Value Pick 
