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View PrepScholar's and Princeton Review's SAT and ACT prep courses side-by-side
princeton reviewLong the go-to test prep option for students preparing to take the SAT and ACT. However, in recent years,Preliminary ScholarsAlready strong enough for Princeton Review to compete with their money in test prep effectiveness and affordability. In this detailed comparison, we've taken a closer look at the key features of the two programs, provided our team's thoughts, and finally picked a winner.
- price
- video teaching
- Live Class Hours
- practice questions
- practice test
- books
- money back guarantee
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- $949
- More than 135 courses
- 18
- 2,000+
- 26
- hard copy
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- $397
- More than 98 lessons
- not any
- 7,100+
- 10
- not any
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outline: Princeton Review vs PrepScholar
- Why Princeton Review is better than PrepScholar
- Why PrepScholar is better than Princeton Review
- Verdict: Princeton Review or PrepScholar?
Since this is a lengthy comparison, we have includedUseful Jump Links AboveEasy to navigate.
video review: PrepScholar or The Princeton Review?
In the video above, Test Prep Insight team member John directly compares the key strengths and weaknesses of Princeton Review's and PrepScholar's SAT prep courses. For more details, read the full comparison below.
princeton review
- Various course options
- high score guarantee
- Various course options
- high score guarantee
our score
9.5
View our full review process
advantage
- Comprehensive SAT and ACT courses covering content review and strategy
- Great video lessons provide engaging instruction (better than PrepScholar's)
- The best live online courses in this category
- Over 25 practice questions that simulate real exams
- Access live webinars led by SAT/ACT experts
shortcoming
- Princeton Review is much more expensive than PrepScholar
- Princeton's curriculum is more rigorous than PrepScholar's adaptive study program
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Why Princeton Review SAT/ACT Prep is better than PrepScholar
for real comparisoncollege entrance examinationand ACT Prepprinceton reviewandPreliminary Scholars, you need to understand the learning materials, characteristics and categories that each company excels in. So with that in mind, let's talk about the main reasons why The Princeton Review is the way to go.
course quality
PrepScholar and The Princeton ReviewOffers two of the industry's best courses for SAT/ACT prep.In fact, these two courses are ranked #1 and #2 on our websiteBest SATandBest ACT Courseslist, based primarily on the intensity of high-quality coursework for each course.
That said, each company takes a slightly different approach to their learning programs.
On the one hand, PrepScholar takes a very classical approach, with courses following a "learn, do, review" learning science support model. In this mode, you'll work step-by-step through a concept-specific lesson plan built around text and video lectures, followed by quizzes to test your knowledge.
You then refine each module with retrospective sessions to learn from your mistakes. This is aClassic learning formula backed by years of research, which we found to be very effective.
The Princeton Review, on the other hand, takes a similar approach but focuses more on their video courses and hard copy prep books. They have grouped lessons by subtopic so that you can follow the material methodically and delve into questions as you go. our team foundThe courses offered in each course are highly effective, but in the end, we give Princeton Review a nod for offering a better all-round coursework.
video course
There is no doubt about itPrinceton Review Offers Higher Quality Video Lessons.While we really like the content and short, easy-to-follow structure of the PrepScholar video courses, the Princeton video lectures are just too good (Kaplan'sThe video lessons are also excellent).
It starts with the production quality of these videos, which show your tutor on-screen, solving practice problems and taking notes on an invisible glass screen between you and your teacher.
It is a very engaging form of learning, andFar superior to the traditional slide-based approach used by PrepScholar.
Additionally, the content of the Princeton courses is rock solid, and our team has found the instructors to be very strong communicators.
SAT/ACT Test Prep Books
This category is aPrinceton Review slam dunk contest wins, because they provide hard copy prep books, while PrepScholar does not. PrepScholar offers some very effective written lesson plans (which you can print out), but Princeton's SAT and ACT books are much stronger.
They cover test-taking strategies, content reviews, and sample questions, and come in beautiful print copies that you can take with you.
➡ Related:Kaplan vs Princeton Review SAT/ACT Comparison
live class
Unlike the book category above, this is a pretty close call.PrepScholar and Princeton Review both offer packages with on-site classes, and the price is about the same.
For less than $900 per prep company, you can up the ante and get live classes that meet regularly, which can really help students who need the commitment and responsibility of a live classroom.
Regarding the quality of each set of live lessons, we givevery slightNod to The Princeton Review. We love PrepScholar live classes and find their online class format to be very effective.
However, for our team,Princeton Review live lecturer makes all the difference.Every instructor we approach is a SAT and ACT guru and an excellent communicator.
It just feels like Princeton Review has refined its live classes and structure more carefully. The lessons flow naturally and seem to build on the hardest concepts well.
Digital Platforms and User Experience
While neither course blew our minds when it came to user interface, we foundBoth companies' digital platforms are available.Each platform is easy to use and intuitive, but nothing special in terms of "cool factor".
If forced to give the edge somehow here, we'd give it to The Princeton Review for their slightly more modern look.
additional resources
Supplemental resources are always a picky category for students. Some students immerse themselves completely in their prep courses, utilizing all last-minute resources, while others stick to the core lessons and practice problems rather than delving into the extra content.
it is justdepends on the student.But for those preppers who like to grind their teeth, we give aPrinceton Review has a slight edge.Both companies provide very useful information about colleges that you may be interested in, as well as email support and detailed performance reports.
butThe difference-maker here is the Princeton Review's "Advantages" conference.These are supplemental lectures on individual SAT and ACT topics that delve into a niche area and are designed to really help students understand these advanced topics.
They are excellent resources if you are weak in one area. For this, Princeton gained an advantage.
Prep Scholar SAT/ACT
- Various course options
- +160/+4 Score Guaranteed
- Various course options
- +160/+4 Score Guaranteed
our score
9.4
View our full review process
advantage
- Impressive curriculum and effective "study, practice, review" model
- Adaptive algorithm optimizes study plan for most efficient study and score growth
- Extensive study material with thousands of realistic practice questions
- Quiz builder is great for short study sessions
shortcoming
- Some learning modules don't have video lessons, making these a bit boring
- Video courses aren't as good as Princeton's
- Fewer practice tests than the Princeton Review
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Why PrepScholar is better than Princeton Review
Now that you have a better understanding of what Princeton Review brings to your SAT and ACT prep, let's flip the script and talk about the top reasons you might want to choose Prepscholar to help you with your test prep.
PrepScholar is more affordable
For many students (and their parents), one of the most important categories is cost. Nobody wants to overpay for bells and whistles that you don't need, but you don't want cheap courses either.
in other words,Most people go for value pricing, balance quality and cost. While both PrepScholar and Princeton Review offer affordable price points, ultimately
Winning PrepScholar in this category.Their flagship self-paced course is priced at just under $400 and they offer one of the following coursesmost attractive price pointAbout.
And, if you take both the ACT and the SAT, they offer a double prep package for under $600. By comparison, Princeton's most popular option costs nearly $1,000.
PrepScholar also offers very reasonableSAT Tutoring PackIt also starts at less than $1,000.
For cheaper foundation courses you may want to check out ourMagoosh's SAT CourseandACT courses.
practice material
This is the category we havePrepScholar Absolutely Shocks The Princeton Review. PrepScholar beats Princeton not only in the quantity of practice material, but also in quality.
we foundThe content, difficulty and length of PrepScholar practice questions are the closest to the real questions.
Plus, we're big fans of PrepScholar's in-depth question explanations, which go deep into the weeds to explain why each answer choice is correct or incorrect.
That's not to say that the Princeton Review's practice questions and accompanying text are poorly explained—because they're not.
In fact, we are likely to haveprinceton reviewSecond only to PrepScholar when comparing all SAT and ACT test prep providers.
But at the end of the day,PrepScholar is way ahead of the competitionin this category.
➡ Related:
score guarantee
Score guarantee is always a key factor in deciding which course to choose. We place great emphasis on this category as it both reflects the confidence companies have in their preparation material and provides a great safety net for students.
here,PrepScholar Promises SAT 160+ Bonus Guaranteed, ACT 4+ Score Boost.These are the best score guarantees in the field.
Princeton Review does offer some unique minimum score guarantees through its ACT 31+ and SAT 1400+ packages, but these are more expensive options and often have stricter terms and conditions.
However, the PrepScholar score guarantee applies to all of their course options (even their flagship $400 course), and the fine print is not as strict.
Content Access Period
How long students study for the SAT and ACT is comprehensive and depends on a variety of factors, such as expected scores, study habits, and availability. under any circumstances,Both courses offer generous year-long access to preparatory material, so it's an obvious tie.
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verdict: Princeton Review or PrepScholar for SAT/ACT Prep?
It was an extremely difficult head-to-head match for our team.PrepScholar and Princeton Review both offer two of the best SAT and ACT prep programs.Each course offers a robust curriculum that includes video-based lectures, detailed lesson plans, and numerous high-quality exercises.
In terms of differentiation, we think Princeton Review offers better video courses, prep books, and live classes than PrepScholar.
However, we like PrepScholar's top-notch course structure and lesson plans, highly realistic practice assignments, adaptive software, and generous score guarantees.
It was a close call, but in the end, we gave the Princeton Review a slight edgeHave a better all-around SAT and ACT prep course.
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FAQ
Which prep program is better, PrepScholar or Princeton Review?
We rate PrepScholar and Princeton Review's prep courses highly, but in the end, we think Princeton Review has the better overall SAT and ACT prep courses.
What is the difference between PrepScholar and Princeton Review?
The main difference between PrepScholar and Princeton Review seems to be the nature of their courses. PrepScholar offers more in-depth written and text courses, while Princeton Review offers more engaging video courses to keep your attention.
Are both Princeton Review and PrepScholar bonus points guaranteed?
Yes. Both companies offer a guarantee of improved scores, while PrepScholar often offers a more generous promise.
FAQs
PrepScholar vs Princeton Review SAT & ACT? ›
The primary difference between PrepScholar and Princeton Review seems to be the nature of their lessons. Whereas PrepScholar offers combined written and text lessons that go deeper, Princeton Review offers more engaging video-based lessons that hold your attention.
Is PrepScholar for SAT reliable? ›PrepScholar SAT Prep is top-notch. They have everything that students need between their expert instructors, an adaptive online system, and an extensive library. Their wide variety of course options will cover most study plans and budgets.
Is Princeton Review SAT prep worth it? ›The Princeton Review is undoubtedly one of the best SAT prep courses available. If you're looking for customizable, comprehensive courses with personalized support and bold score improvement guarantees, this is a great option for you.
Is Princeton Review SAT accurate? ›1) Princeton Review tests are NOT REAL SATs. The only real SATs are made by the College Board. Princeton Review problems tend to exaggerate certain elements of the test, and some are simply flawed. Test scoring and scaling is notoriously inaccurate.
Is Princeton Review SAT harder than actual SAT? ›Generally, yes, they are harder. Also, sometimes there are two correct answers to Princeton Review SAT tests. So, yes, in some cases, it's harder. Sometimes there are mistakes in questions.
Is PrepScholar or Princeton Review better? ›The primary difference between PrepScholar and Princeton Review seems to be the nature of their lessons. Whereas PrepScholar offers combined written and text lessons that go deeper, Princeton Review offers more engaging video-based lessons that hold your attention.
Is PrepScholar admissions good? ›This firm's bread and butter are expert and thorough college entrance exam prep courses. That being said, PrepScholar does excel at college admissions consulting as they've helped thousands of students earn acceptances at one of their top 3 schools.
Which is better Kaplan or Princeton Review SAT? ›Kaplan vs The Princeton Review SAT: Pricing
If you're looking to save a couple of hundred dollars, however, Kaplan might be the better choice. For a lower price, Kaplan also provides quality instruction and materials. It just doesn't have the 1400+ or 1500+ score guarantee that Princeton Review has.
Princeton Review offers two pricing options for SAT: SAT 1400+ and SAT 1500+. In these plans, they guarantee that your score will increase by a minimum of 150 points compared to your previous year's score; if not, then you will get a refund on your tuition fees.
Is The Princeton Review actually good? ›The Princeton Review is an excellent choice for students who want to take full-length practice tests similar to the actual SAT, get individualized feedback, and put in the hard work required for standardized tests.
What SAT score does Princeton look for? ›
Princeton University is extremely selective with an acceptance rate of 6%. Students that get into Princeton University have an SAT score between 1470–1560 or an ACT score of 33–35. Regular applications are due January 1.
How much does Princeton Review SAT cost? ›| Princeton Review | Kaplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of pre-recorded video SAT prep course | $299 SAT only $499 SAT and ACT | $199 |
| Practice tests | 15 practice tests | 8 practice tests (of which 4 are real SAT tests) |
| Access to materials | 1 year | 6 months |
Which SAT® is the easiest? Myth: The March SAT is the easiest SAT test date. Fact: There's no such thing as “the easiest SAT test date.” While it's true that some versions of the SAT are easier than others, it's false that some test dates are predictably easier than others.
What is the best SAT reviewer? ›Summary: The Best SAT Books Of 2023
Barron's SAT Study Guide. College Board's Official SAT Study Guide. Princeton Review SAT Premium Prep.
The best SAT practice tests one should take are those from the College Board, the maker of the SAT itself. They are the most similar to the actual test, allowing a test-taker to learn to pace and realize strengths and weaknesses. Another good and free source of SAT practice tests is Khan Academy.
What is the hardest college board practice SAT? ›It depends on the student, but a consensus claims that Practice Test #3 could be the most difficult for a first-time SAT taker. It would help if you went over each practice test and ranked which one is hardest, so you can spend more time dealing with those before heading to the easier ones.
Which schools have the unhappiest students Princeton Review? ›The liberal arts college in New Orleans, which describes itself as the only historically black and Catholic college in the United States, came top of the Princeton University Rankings 'Least Happy Students' table for 2020.
Who are PrepScholar competitors? ›PrepScholar's competitors include PhysicsWallah, Vedantu, Varsity Tutors, Numerade. PrepScholar ranks 56th among 286 competitors.
What is the #1 party school in the US Princeton Review? ›1. Penn State University, State College, Pa. 2. University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
Who runs PrepScholar? ›Peter Bencivenga joined PrepScholar as CEO in 2022, bringing his extensive experience and passion for education to further our mission of providing personalized and effective online test preparation programs.
How many colleges should I apply to PrepScholar? ›
If you don't have very specific needs that are limiting your college options, and if selectivity is a factor in your college decision, I recommend applying to at least 6 schools. Explore your options. Some students only apply to their local state school because that's what's expected of them.
Does PrepScholar cost money? ›PrepScholar also helps guide remote students with detailed lesson plans, including video and text lessons, practice questions and quizzes, and answer reviews. Students who enroll in the Complete SAT Online Prep course have access to the program for an entire year for $397, which is approximately $33 per month.
Are Princeton Review exams harder? ›The Princeton Review exams are unbelievably hard, and you can expect your score to easily be 8-10 points higher on the real deal.
Is Barron's or Princeton better for SAT? ›Barron's SAT vs Princeton Review SAT
After thoroughly reviewing each company's seminal SAT prep book, including reading their subject reviews, working practice problems and playing with their online extras, our verdict is that we like Barron's for SAT prep.
Which MCAT prep course is better, Kaplan or Princeton Review? It is very close to call and we give both courses high ratings, but overall, we prefer Kaplan's MCAT prep course to Princeton Review's. Kaplan has superior video lessons, a better live class format, and their practice tests are more realistic.
Should I send all SAT scores to Princeton? ›Princeton will consider the highest individual section results across all sittings of the SAT Reasoning and the highest composite score for the ACT*. We encourage applicants to submit all official test scores as soon as they are available.
What is 75% SAT for Princeton? ›| Test/Section | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| SAT Total | 1460 | 1580 |
| SAT Reading | 710 | 770 |
| SAT Math | 730 | 780 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 35 |
For every 50 points you want to raise your score, you will need to pick up four extra questions (more or less) on a given section. In the official SAT statistics published by ETS, the average combined improvement of test-takers is 60 to 70 points. That makes a 150-point improvement pretty darn good.
Which is more prestigious Harvard or Princeton? ›Most know Harvard as the most famous of the Ivy League schools, but by many metrics, its New Jersey-based sister Princeton deserves equal acclaim. Princeton began life in 1746 as the College of New Jersey and has only grown in esteem in the following centuries.
Is Princeton as good as Yale? ›Both Yale and Princeton are highly competitive academic universities, and candidates must meet minimum GPA requirements. While grades and accolades are important at these top universities, both universities consider each applicant holistically, beyond academics.
What are the cons about Princeton University? ›
The school can be very challenging, with many students feeling the pressure to maintain high grades while also engaging in extracurricular activities and community service. This can lead to stress and burnout for some students.
What SAT score is good enough for Ivy? ›| School | SAT Middle 50% Scores | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Princeton University | 1450-1570 | 4.4% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 1490-1560 | 5.9% |
| Yale University | 1460-1580* | 4.6% |
| Average of All Ivies | 1468-1564 | 5.5% |
Average SAT Score
As you can see, a score of 1550 or above will put you in a good position for admittance into an Ivy League school, and you want to avoid scoring below 1480 so that you can have a score that is above average.
| Princeton University Class Year | Number of Students Waitlisted to Princeton | Number of Students Who Chose to Join Princeton Waitlist |
|---|---|---|
| Princeton Class of 2021 | 1,237 | 840 |
| Princeton Class of 2020 | 1,206 | 857 |
| Princeton Class of 2019 | 1,138 | 818 |
| Princeton Class of 2018 | 1,395 | 906 |
The Princeton Review is headquartered in New York, NY. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. For more information, visit PrincetonReview.com and the company's Media Center .
Is Khan Academy SAT prep good? ›Is the Khan Academy a Good Way to Study for the SAT? Yes! Khan Academy offers personalized and interactive tools and resources for SAT study and prep. The site gives students a tailored practice plan based on their practice scores or previous scores.
Does Princeton Review help with SAT? ›Highly recommend! I signed up for the Ultimate SAT Prep course. I was able to see my scores significantly improve while I was taking the course. Princeton Review has an AMAZING online student portal where the student can enter in their homework, look at score reports, and access extra practice problems.
Is SAT easier now than 30 years ago? ›In many ways, the new SAT is much easier than the older version. However, this doesn't mean you shouldn't study and be prepared! While the format may be better for some students, the questions are still designed to test your ability and skills in each particular subject.
What month is best for SAT? ›It's generally best to take the SAT in the fall or spring of your junior year and then again in the fall of your senior year. The specific month you choose depends on your outside commitments and how much time you want to prepare for the exam.
Which month is the easiest SAT test? ›As with all college prep, the earlier the better! Try to take the SAT in August, October, or November. These three test dates should have little trouble getting your scores to colleges in time, assuming your earliest deadline is somewhere around January 1.
Which SAT section is hardest to improve? ›
The hardest part to improve upon is probably the Critical Reading section, only because it involves more deeply ingrained, long-term bad habits that need to be broken before you can excel. But no portion of the test is “hard” or “easy,” objectively. Any student can achieve incredible SAT scores.
What part of SAT is easiest to improve? ›If you're trying to boost your SAT Reading/Writing and Language score, the Writing and Language section is the easiest to tackle. With a few SAT Writing and Language strategies, you'll be on your way to a much higher score.
Which best prepares you for the SAT? ›- Diagnose your skills early on. ...
- Take at least two full practice tests. ...
- Familiarize yourself with the instructions for each test section. ...
- Study outside the box. ...
- Take a break the night before the test. ...
- Set yourself up for success on Test Day.
Both ACT and SAT scores are used for college admissions decisions and awarding merit-based scholarships. Most colleges do not prefer one test over the other. Neither the SAT nor the ACT is harder than the other. Different students tend to do better on one test over the other.
Where are the best SAT practice tests? ›The College Board, which administers the SAT, offers eight official practice tests on its website. Because these are official practice tests created by the test-makers themselves, these resources arguably provide the most realistic practice you can get.
What is the most common choice on the SAT? ›Just make sure you stick with it for each and every guess. C isn't any better or worse than any other letter, or any more likely to be the correct answer, but if you decide to stick with it for every blind guess you make, you'll have a better chance of success than if you try your best to be "random."
Are the Princeton Review SAT practice tests harder? ›Generally, yes, they are harder. Also, sometimes there are two correct answers to Princeton Review SAT tests. So, yes, in some cases, it's harder. Sometimes there are mistakes in questions.
Is the Khan Academy SAT harder than the actual SAT? ›Are the practice full-length SAT's on Khan Academy like the real SAT in difficulty? All of the full practice tests on Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy are official tests released by the College Board and of the same difficulty as the SAT you will take.
Is PrepScholar a reliable website? ›PrepScholar Score Guarantees
Basically, we want to make sure these test prep companies are putting their money where their mouth is. And luckily for PrepScholar, they provide one of the most generous score guarantees for both their SAT and ACT prep programs.
As the chart above shows, you need a composite SAT score of at least 1350 to make the top 10%, or 90th percentile, of test takers. That means you can do away with the idea that you need to score a perfect 1600 for your SAT score to be considered good. A 1350 still puts you far ahead of the majority of students.
Is 1600 a good SAT score PrepScholar? ›
1600 SAT Score Standings
Out of the 2.13 million test-takers, 1048 scored the same or higher than you. You can apply to 1498 colleges and have a good shot at getting admitted.
PrepScholar is a newer test prep company that provides courses and tutoring for the SAT, ACT, and other important tests.
What is the best college rating website? ›The U.S. News college rankings are viewed as the gold standard of college ranking lists. Its list is the most well-known and referenced.
What was Mark Zuckerberg's SAT score? ›Mark Zuckerberg.
The founder of Facebook scored the perfect 1600 on the SAT and attended Harvard University.
Elon Musk reacts to GPT-4 scoring 93% on SAT exams.
What is the average SAT score for Harvard Prepscholar? ›Average SAT: 1520
The average SAT score composite at Harvard is a 1520.
Will Smith: According to his Biography channel profile, the actor also earned 1600 on his SATs.
What is the average SAT score for Yale Prepscholar? ›| Section | Average | 25th Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Math | 770 | 740 |
| Reading + Writing | 745 | 720 |
| Composite | 1515 | 1470 |
If you get a composite SAT score of 1083 or more, you are above average. The 75th percentile composite SAT test score is 1215, the 90th percentile is 1340, and the 95th percentile is 1410. This table, which is based on College Board data, lists the percentile ranking for various composite SAT scores.
How long does it take to complete PrepScholar? ›Our Complete prep program has a baseline time of 40-hours total. For example, if you plan to take the test in two months (60 days) then the student is encouraged to spend about an hour a day on the program. Students in the past have studied well with our program in as few as 3 weeks, or as long as years.
Where is PrepScholar based? ›
PrepScholar is located in Boston, United States.
How long does PrepScholar last? ›Package Extensions, or the allowance of students to access the package for longer than the one-year period, may be granted. Students who have a Package Extension must accept any ongoing changes to the package that PrepScholar make to the package.