The Princeton Review GRE
Rating: 4.1
Research shows that around 20% of students suffer from test anxiety. Even if you’re usually laidback about most exams, the GRE is big enough to incite a few nerves. Why?
This isn’t just any test. The scores you receive on the GRE can influence and help chart your post-college path. If test day is the first time you lay eyes on any portion of the verbal, quantitative, or writing portion, you might feel more than a little overwhelmed.
Thankfully, there are review programs that can help you feel as prepared as possible. One of those is The Princeton Review GRE prep course.
This program offers both online and in-person courses, all designed with one goal in mind: to help you score higher on the GRE. In fact, the company guarantees, “You’ll score higher, or we’ll refund your tuition.”
That’s a hefty promise, but is it a solid offer?
Today, we’re taking a detailed look at the Princeton GRE Review to share all of the details you need to know.
| Students looking for live online classes | |
| Busy students and professionals who don't have time for an in-person review course | |
| Students who have taken the GRE in the past and want to earn a more competitive score | |
| Students who prefer to study at their own pace | |
| Students who need the one-on-one attention of a private tutor | |
| Students who enjoy the online learning environment |
| Students who are not comfortable learning online | |
| Students who require consistent reminders to stay on task | |
| Students who learn best through peer-based discussions and group projects |
What we like
Versatile course options
One of the best parts of The Princeton Review GRE Prep is that there are three different course options designed to fit any budget and preference. Compare this to some GRE prep courses like Magoosh where they only offer an online self-paced course.
Looking for a program that allows you to study fully on your own? If so, the Self-Paced course is ideal.
One step up is the Ultimate course. Under this option, you’ll have access to all of the resources provided in the Self-Paced online course, but with a personal touch. An expert instructor will help you develop an effective test prep strategy and offer additional support.
Then, there’s the GRE Quant 162+ Course. This course comes with an interesting and unique guarantee: a score of at least 162 on the quantitative portion of the GRE. While the average score for this section is 152, The Princeton Review explains that a score of 162 or higher is considered most competitive.
The Quant 162+ includes both LiveOnline and self-paced sections for both the verbal and math portions of the test.
Private tutoring available
Looking for a study approach that is as personalized as possible?
The Princeton Review GRE Prep also offers a private tutoring option that sets it apart. This top-level learning environment offers expert tutors matched to your individual goals, who are available both online and in-person as needed.
We love the custom-built apps that allow instant, seamless communication between students and tutors. With a few clicks, you can schedule meetings, manage progress, and ask questions with ease.
Free content
Want to dip your toes in the water, but not quite ready to shell out hundreds or thousands of dollars for the Princeton Review GRE Prep courses? That’s fine!
The program offers tons of free content to casual browsers looking to brush up on their skills. This content is divided into three categories:
- Practice tests
- LiveOnline strategy sessions
- Free classes
You can choose to take a free practice test in person under realistic conditions, or you can take one online. If you enroll in a strategy session, you can choose the day and time that’s most convenient for you. During each session or free class, you’ll learn helpful tips on how to navigate the test and increase your score in each section.
Robust online resources
The Princeton Review publishes comprehensive guides to the GRE, with new editions released every year.
While these are jam-packed with helpful information and relevant reviews, you can access the same material in digital format via the online courses. From video-based lessons and adaptive drills to practice tests and interactive score reports, the tool makes excellent use of innovative, user-friendly technology.
Adaptive drills
Does the idea of staring at the same practice questions over and over again make your head spin? Princeton GRE’s adaptive drills make sure that never happens.
As you progress in your course, the questions consistently and automatically adjust in difficulty to match your needs. This is a great way to make sure that you’re only studying material that’s matched to your progress level.
Essay grading
The Princeton Review offers essay grading in all their plans (yes, including the self-paced course!). As far as I know, TPR is the only GRE prep course on the market that offers this. Just submit your GRE essays and one of their tutors will grade them.
Your essays will be graded on a score of 1 to 6 and you will receive personalized feedback on each of your essays.
What we didn’t like
Limited access to course materials (for some people)
When you pay for the online course materials available through the Princeton Review GRE Prep, you’ll have access to them for 120 days. If you’re taking the test in the next four months and don’t plan to re-do it, that timeline should work.
However, if your test date is further out, or if you need to retake it down the road, you’ll lose that coveted access when the time is up. Compared to other GRE test prep resources like Kaplan, Magoosh, and Manhattan Prep which offer their material for up to 6 months, this duration is a little short.
Yet, even this drawback has a silver lining. Per their satisfaction guarantee, if you’re dissatisfied for any reason with your score after completing a course, you can access the material for up to one year for free.
No mobile app
One major element missing from the Princeton Review GRE Prep is a mobile app. If you need to access flashcards on your lunch break or squeeze in a study session on your bus commute, you’ll be unable to do so.
While the app does offer a mobile flashcard app for the GMAT, along with several other mobile resources including a Parent Portal, there are no GRE-specific modules. However, if you select the Private Tutoring option, you will have limited access to certain custom-built apps for performance management and tutor communication.
If a mobile app is important for you in a prep course, I would suggest looking at Magoosh. They have one of the best GRE prep apps. Last time I checked, their app was rated 4.8 stars out of 5.
How much does it cost
Next, let’s take a look at the different plans and pricing options provided under the Princeton Review GRE Prep.
GRE Self-Paced
Available completely online, this course is marketed as the most flexible one in the program.
Price: $399
Includes: Eight practice tests; more than 61 online drills and interactive lessons; more than 2,570 practice questions; subject-specific online tools; LiveOnline sessions for math and verbal fundamentals; adaptive drills
Who should get this: Suitable for self-paced learners with busy lifestyles who need instant access to basic GRE prep resources.
GRE Ultimate
This course includes all of the materials provided in the GRE Self-Paced Course. In addition, you’ll also work with an expert instructor (online or in-person) to develop a strategic GRE study approach.
Price: $799
Includes: Four hours of expert-led live instruction, more than 180 hours of total instruction and practice; more than 470 online drills; more than 3,500 practice questions; eight online adaptive-by-section practice exams; interactive score reports
Who should get this: Suitable for those who are adept at online learning platforms but need the accountability of a one-on-one mentor. This course would be ideal for students who have taken the GRE in the past and need someone to help them develop a smarter study strategy moving forward.
GRE Quant 162+
As mentioned, this is the course that guarantees a score of at least 162 on the quantitative portion of the GRE.
Price: $1,099
Includes: 25 hours of instruction from a GRE expert; more than 3,600 hours of exam-style questions; one-on-one support from a personal study manager; 4.5 hours of LiveOnline sessions for verbal practice; more than 50 hours of self-guided verbal instruction; more than 470 online drills (including hard math and routing topics)
Who should get this: Suitable for students who are not as confident about self-studying and require a personal guide. It’s designed for those who specifically want to increase their GRE quantitative score.
Private Tutoring
The most personalized approach, this plan offers both online and in-person study resources. You can choose between an 18-hour Comprehensive Tutoring plan or a 10-hour Targeted Plan.
Price: $3,000 for Comprehensive Tutoring; $1,800 for Targeted Tutoring
Includes: Hours of one-on-one work with expert tutors who can guide you in every facet of GRE study prep; custom-built apps that help you manage your progress, communicate with your tutor and schedule study sessions; Princeton Review printed study materials
Who should get this: Suitable for students who require direct, focused study instruction with a guided course of action. This would be best for students who have not taken the test before and are not sure what to expect or how to proceed.
Rating criteria
| Criteria | Rating | What we think |
|---|---|---|
| Supplemental materials |
|
Princeton Review makes it easy to sign up for practice tests, strategy sessions, and other free classes with a few clicks. You can find and register for classes that work best for your schedule. In addition, The Princeton Review publishes a new GRE Prep guide every year. |
| Instructors |
|
Their instructors are able to teach even the most complex topics in simple ways that are easy to understand. |
| Practice tests |
|
Their practice tests replicate the real GRE’s adaptive-by-section algorithm. When you finish each test, you will receive a report to see exactly what you scored, your strengths, and areas where you need to improve. |
| Video instructions |
|
All of the courses offered under The Princeton Review GRE prep include some aspect of online learning. This is made possible via LiveOnline sessions that cover both math and verbal fundamentals. Each live session is led by expert instructors that carefully review foundational GRE concepts and test-taking strategies. Their LiveOnline sessions are only available with their Quant 162+ course, Ultimate course, and Private Tutoring course. Their GRE Ultimate course includes 24 hours of expert-led live instruction and more than 180 hours of total practice which we think offers very good value! |
| Practice questions |
|
One of our favorite aspects of this course is that it includes adaptive drills. As you complete questions and work through the course, these drills automatically adjust your practice questions to align with your current pace. This way, you’re not stuck working on problems that are too advanced or too simple for you to handle. You will take an initial practice drill when you first begin. Then, based on your results, you’ll get a personalized set of questions for the next round. |
FAQ
Is there a free trial?
Yes, there is a free trial.
Conclusion
Overall, the Princeton GRE Review offers an array of helpful study tools for anyone looking to improve their score and better understand the test material.
We give it high marks for the flexibility and adaptability of its online resources, as well as the impressive in-person tutoring options available. Whether you’re interested in a fully-online, self-paced program or you need an expert to guide you every step of the way, you’ll find it here.
Go to The Princeton Review nowClaim discount
