For high school students, the SAT test is an extremely important aspect of college board admissions and scholarships. Consequently, every student looking to enroll in college will take the test (or one of its equivalents). As a result, preparing for test day can be extremely stressful and it may be difficult to decide where to start.
Luckily for you, there are plenty of options to choose from. But whatâs the best SAT prep class currently available?
Because of the testâs importance, there are a whole slew of courses on offer. Each have their own specific prices and benefits, so you should easily be able to find one thatâs perfect for you.
Some classes may have a focus on video content, or some may focus on self study and personal responsibility. Everyone can excel based on their personal preferences so itâs important to find a course thatâs perfect for you.
Check out our list of the best SAT prep courses below:
These Are The Top SAT Prep Courses in December 2024:
- The Princeton Review SAT Prep Course
- Prep Expert SAT Prep Course
- Kaplan SAT Prep
- Magoosh SAT Prep Class
- Higher Scores Test Prep
- Prep Expert SAT Review
COURSE RANK | #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
COURSE NAME | |||||
PRICE | $2,199 | Check Price | Check Price | $399 | $647 |
DISCOUNT | No Discount | No Discount | |||
STUDY TIME | 36+ Hours | 60 hours | 40-80 hours | 20+ hours | 4+ hours |
STUDY RESOURCES | Online | Online Physical | Online Physical | Online Physical | Online Physical |
ACCESS PERIOD | 1 Year | 3-6 Weeks | 1-3 Months or Unlimited | 1-12 Months | 18 Months |
GUARANTEE? | Score Increase | Score increase | Score Increase | Score increase and 7-day satisfaction guarantee | 30-day satisfaction guarantee |
FINANCIAL AID? | Payment Plan, Installment | Payment Plan | Installment Billing | No | Payment Plan |
VIDEO CONTENT? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
LIVE INSTRUCTION? | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
SUPPORT | Phone, Social Media | Chat, Phone | Chat, Phone, Email, Social Media | Phone, Email, Social Media | Phone, Email |
GET STARTED | Full Course | Full Course | Full Course | Full Course | Full Course |
#1 The Princeton Review SAT Prep Course
Princeton Reviewâs SAT courses focus heavily on quality video instruction at a great low price. This is the safest option on this list due to its focus on more standard study content.
Princeton Review makes their name through extremely high-quality video lectures. Each lecture breaks down important and difficult topics into easy to understand language and concepts. This allows all students to prepare for their upcoming SAT regardless of learning style or skill level.
But quality of materials isnât all theyâre known for. Check it out:
The instructors in each SAT prep video are all highly qualified professionals. Each teacher is vetted for their knowledge and teaching expertise before theyâre allowed to work for Princeton Review. In addition, they all go through specialized training to ensure they can tutor you and other SAT students at the highest possible level.
Princeton Review is even pretty fair in terms of price. Despite not having a solid financial aid option, this online course is still fairly affordable and is frequently discounted. As a result, there isnât a high monetary bar for entry when working with one of the most famous names in the business.
On top of everything else, Princeton Review even offers a score increase guarantee to unsatisfied customers. If your score doesnât improve after finishing their course, you can either retake it or get a full refund.
As I said before, Princeton Review is a safe bet. Their effective video content combined with their price point makes this a no-brainer for anyone looking for a simple option to studying for the SAT.
#2 Prep Expert Live and Online SAT Course
Prep Expert is a service with a wide range of options for students. On top of that, their instructors and materials are guaranteed to be top notch.
You have three choices when picking a class from Prep Expert: a live in-person class, a live online SAT prep class, or an on-demand course. While each of these options are viable for studying, Prep Expertâs focus is clearly on their live online content.
Live classes can be taken over a period of either three or six weeks. Each one is taught by someone in the 99th percentile of SAT scorers to ensure that you only learn from the most qualified individuals.
On top of that, the companyâs founder earned a perfect test score on the SAT using the course learning techniques. Thanks to these facts, you can be assured that Prep Expertâs learning style is effective.
And how is this learning style conveyed?
Live courses offer about sixty hours of classroom time in total. This allows teachers to dive into important SAT concepts in much more detail. Furthermore, students can ask specific questions and receive greater clarification during live sessions. As a result, these online sessions truly emulate a classroom setting.
Basically, Prep Expert is a solid option for anyone not interested in self-study. It can be a bit pricey, but students who can afford it will gain access to an unmatched classroom experience.
#3 Kaplan In-Person and Online SAT Prep Courses
Kaplan is a big name in the test prep field and is well known for their experience and quality of materials. Theyâve been around for a long time and their SAT program comes highly rated.
One of Kaplanâs biggest claims to fame is the wide breadth of material that they offer. Any student can take either a self guided or instructor led course of their choice. Each has its own focus, such as the self guided courseâs emphasis on online work you can do in the comfort of your own home.
By contrast, instructor-led courses can be taken either in person or live-streamed. As a result your experience can be highly customized. Though their live courses are fantastic, they arenât the only option on offer:
In addition to their classrooms, Kaplan SAT prep also offers one on one private tutoring. This option is expensive but effective, ultimately serving as your best bet if youâre looking to increase your SAT score. Tutors can be met online or in person; also, each tutor comes up with a custom study plan based on each studentâs individual needs.
Much like the other prep classes, Kaplan also offers a score increase guarantee. If you donât score higher than your baseline after completing a Kaplan SAT course, youâll receive a full refund. This almost completely eliminates the risk in paying for their service.
Thanks to the high quality of both materials and instructors, Kaplan is hard to pass up. Their courses can be a little pricey, but if youâre willing to pay, youâll find a service thatâs unmatched in quality.
#4 Magoosh SAT Prep Course
Magoosh is a fantastic value option with a strong results guarantee. They focus on self study over a twelve month access period.
Magoosh is the simple go-to option when it comes to preparing for the SAT. Courses come with a wide range of practice tests and video lessons to prepare you for the exam. In addition, each practice question comes with in depth video explanations for the answer as well as shortcuts and ways to avoid common pitfalls.
As you work on your SAT study materials, Magoosh tracks your progress with detailed performance analysis. At any time you can see a summary of all of your past question responses filtered by difficulty, subject, type, and more.
However the biggest selling point for Magoosh is their price. Magoosh is easily the cheapest option on this list, costing $129 for a year of access. No features are hidden behind additional costs and the only difference in plans is the access period.
On top of that, Magoosh comes with two different guarantees. First is their seven day guarantee, where the first week is treated as a free trial that can be canceled at any time. That means that if youâre dissatisfied during the first week for any reason you can get a full refund.
The second guarantee is their score guarantee. If you donât see an increase of at least a hundred points, youâll get your money back.
Magoosh is an excellent for all of these reasons and more. If youâre on a budget when preparing itâs hard to find a better option than this. Make sure to check out the free trial before deciding.
#5 Higher Scores Online SAT Prep Course
Higher Scores is a good budget option for students looking to make one last study push before the SAT test. This is because itâs designed to be a crash course rather than a complete and in-depth classroom experience.
Higher Scoreâs Quick Prep course is designed to be completed in around two to five weeks. It consists of four hours of video tutorials and a ten day study guide. At the end of the course is a practice SAT exam designed to show you your readiness. All course materials are downloadable and accessible on the go for people who need to work offline.
However, the best materials come from the other course option:
In addition to the Quick Prep course is the Complete Package course, which is designed to be completed in eight to twelve weeks. It roughly doubles the amount of materials the quick course has while including several physical materials and adding extra SAT practice tests.
A great addition to this course is the instructor feedback included with both course options. Students who have any concerns about the course or the SAT can submit questions and receive custom video responses from instructors. This ensures that the needs of every student are met.
When comparing the two options, the quick prep course seems like a much better deal. It only costs $187 in contrast to the Complete Packageâs price tag of $647. Consequently, if you can afford it, I would recommend taking one of these courses as a supplement to one of the other options on this list. Otherwise, choose something else.
#6 College Prep Genius SAT Prep Course
College Prep Genius is one of the lesser known SAT review course companies. Nonetheless, they provide quality instruction for a low price. Students who enroll in College Prep Genius are given a wide range of materials to ensure a great score on the SAT.
Included with each College Prep Genius class are a wide range of extra materials such as ebooks and vocabulary guides. These are designed to supplement your learning so you donât forget key concepts as you move on with what youâre learning. As a result, youâll find yourself with a better overall knowledge base when itâs time for you to take the SAT test.
In addition to these extra materials are several other course options. Hereâs some more information on these:
There are two course options included with College Prep Genius: the comprehensive course and the fundamental course. The fundamental course focuses on all of the basic materials you need to get a good score on the SAT. It comes with twelve online lessons as well as a homework plan and motivation test.
However the real value option is the comprehensive course. It comes included with a slew of bonus material for an extra $50. Included with this option are additional ebooks and vocabulary readers.
Regardless as to which package you choose, one of the most promising aspects of these classes are their price. Each is inexpensive, with the fundamental course priced at $139 and the comprehensive course at $189. In comparison to some other companies in this article, these prices are an absolute steal.
Ultimately, College Prep Genius is well worth its price despite not being as big of a name as others on this list. They provide quality materials for an extremely affordable price tag.
SAT FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Based on the quality, quantity, and variety of their study materials, The Princeton Reviewâs SAT prep course is currently the best option for students at the moment. They offer a robust online experience with both live tutoring and video content guaranteed to increase your SAT score.
Depending on what type of review course youâre looking for, there are a wide range of prices you can expect to pay for your SAT test prep. On the low end, courses like Magoosh and College Prep Genius offer packages around $100, while premium courses can charge upwards of $500.
Although Khan Academy can provide SAT prep students with personalized practice quizzes for free, we donât recommend relying on them as your sole source of SAT study materials. Instead, itâs a better idea to supplement your use of another prep course with Khanâs practice quizzes.
Yes! SAT prep courses are a fantastic way to familiarize yourself with the exam structure and understand the testâs contents. Furthermore, many of the top SAT review courses like The Princeton Review offer a guarantee that your score will increase if you use their program.