Friday, January 17th
2025 GRE Test Prep Company Reviews
Prep Scholar
- 7-day free trial
- 1 year of access for $38
- Lifetime access for $345
- 150+ hours interactive strategies and lessons
Prep Scholar is a budget service that cuts some educational support and quantity of materials in order to offer a lower price for GRE test prep. At $38 for a year of access, PrepScholar is one of the lowest-cost services on our list.
Low cost... and surprisingly broad
At that price, you'll get all of the following:
- 150+ hours of study materials
- A diagnostic test that will help customize your study plan
- 2,300 GRE questions
- Two full length GRE practice exams
- A progress-tracker for GRE skills
- 300 question vocab course and math cheat-sheet
- A grad school admissions guide
- and a 7+ score improvement guarantee
We suppose you could pay $345 for lifetime access to Prep Scholar's materials, although the prospect of a lifetime's worth of GRE testing sounds more like a punishment than a plus.
Less materials than competitors
Prep Scholar's biggest drawback is that it only provides two GRE practice exams, where other companies' offer more study materials and practice tests. In addition, Prep Scholar does not have any kind of teacher or instructor support, even through email or chat, which helps explain the lower price.
Guarantee caveat
On top of that, the caveat on their 7+ point guarantee is even stricter than other companies: instead of simply having to complete all homework and quizzes, you have to "achieve mastery” in the skills they define. As Prep Scholar is the one defining mastery here, and many customers have complained about the difficulty of meeting their goalposts, we would imagine there is some incentive to set the bar unfairly high.
Frequent (but addressed) customer complaints
When searching for reviews, customers frequently complain that they are charged for their product even after they attempt to cancel the free trial period. They appear to be responsive when customers complain, as evidenced by their participation on the Better Business Bureau website and their subsequent "A” rating. However, it would also appear that structurally customers are auto-charged after the free trial ends, which is certainly not ideal. In addition, Prep Scholar receives poor feedback from users on GRE-dedicated study forums, specifically citing unhelpful verbal assessment material.
Good for a budget, but not the best
If you are on a tight budget, and are choosing between GRE test prep options, then Prep Scholar is definitely a good way to access a wide range of pretty good materials. However, if you are able to afford test prep in the $100-$200 range, you would likely be better served with a more highly-rated service on our list that includes teacher/tutor support, more practice tests, or even more high-tech offerings.
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What's the Best GRE Prep Service Online?
It's a critical question, because if you're headed to graduate school, then the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is an infamous hurdle that you'll have to deal with one way or another. The GRE test plays a significant role in the admissions process for many graduate programs. It serves as a standardized measure that allows universities to assess applicants' academic readiness and potential to succeed in advanced studies.
For institutions, the GRE provides an objective tool to differentiate among applicants, especially when faced with a large pool of candidates. It helps in predicting how well students might perform in their initial year of graduate school, offering insight into their cognitive abilities and analytical thinking. Moreover, the GRE can assist in awarding merit-based scholarships, helping to allocate financial aid to deserving students.
GRE Test Prep Company FAQ
Continued from above...
The GRE consists of three key components: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. These components collectively evaluate an applicant's cognitive abilities, communication skills, and analytical prowess. Such a comprehensive assessment is crucial in identifying candidates who possess the skills necessary for advanced academic work. By incorporating both quantitative and qualitative aspects, the GRE offers a well-rounded perspective on an applicant's intellectual capabilities, and offers a common benchmark for comparing candidates from various academic backgrounds and cultures.
Many institutions allocate scholarships to outstanding students as a way to incentivize excellence and attract top talent. GRE scores can play a pivotal role in awarding these scholarships, as they offer a quantifiable measure of an applicant's potential contribution to the academic community. High GRE scores can bolster an applicant's eligibility for financial assistance, making higher education more accessible to deserving individuals.
As it stands, the GRE continues to play a pivotal role in many graduate school admissions. With that in mind, the following factors can help you evaluate GRE preparation plans to achieve the highest score possible:
- Cost: Paying for GRE test prep services can range from affordable to very expensive. Personalized instruction and tutoring can focus on specific problem areas that you've identified, but this tailored approach may cost more than you want to spend. Self-paced learning systems are more affordable, but are more generalized and rely on your dedication to study on your own.
- Score guarantees: Many GRE test prep companies offer score guarantees but place significant caveats around actually getting a refund through that guarantee. Usually it will include restrictions around setting a baseline score (you have to have already taken an official GRE or a proctored facsimile), and completion of all course materials (which is sometimes made artificially difficult). In short, be sure to read the fine print.
- Time: Be honest with yourself about how much time you have to study. Many students start out by purchasing pricey test-prep packages, and then find themselves overwhelmed with the amount of work. Take stock of your schedule, and choose a mixture of free resources, self-lead test-prep, or time-intensive live-online/tutored classes accordingly.
Top Consumer Reviews has done the preliminary research for you, so if you're going to be taking the GRE, and are overwhelmed by the high price and bold claims of most test-prep options, don't worry. We've found the best, most highly rated, and most economical GRE test prep options for your consideration. Before you begin studying, take a moment to browse our curated list, and find the GRE prep that best suits your budget and your needs.
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