Preparing for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is pivotal for students aiming for graduate studies. A strong GRE score significantly enhances prospects for admission into top-tier programs. However, with a plethora of test prep options available, selecting the right course tailored to individual needs can be daunting.
The GRE, a standardized test for graduate school admissions in the USA and Canada, comprises two types: the GRE Subject Test and the GRE General Test. The latter evaluates proficiency in Mathematics and English, encompassing Analytical Writing, Quantitative, and Verbal sections. Each test attempt costs $205.
Kaplan offers comprehensive GRE prep courses catering to various learning styles. The exam can be taken either in a paper-based or computer-delivered format, adding to the flexibility of scheduling. With a total score of 340 points (170 each for Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative sections), navigating through multiple prep platforms can be overwhelming for test-takers.
Magoosh vs. Kaplan GRE: Overall Comparison
| Test Prep Site | Kaplan | Magoosh |
| Establishment and Reputation | Over 80 years of experience, long-standing reputation for comprehensive and structured courses. | Newer in the market, known for innovative and flexible online platform. |
| Course Offering | Multiple self-paced programs, live instructions, customized quizzes, proctored exam day. | Self-paced programs, extensive YouTube videos, private tutor option, email assistance. |
| Material Availability | Offers both online and offline (physical books) materials. | All services and materials are online. |
| Pricing | Price starts from $99. Offers various packages up to $1099. | Price starts from $129 with options up to $149 for different access periods. |
| Unique Features | “Test Day Experience”, live instructions, Rapid Review Live, score predictor. | Large number of videos, score predictor, email assistance. |
| Guarantees | Higher Score Guarantee with conditions for free reactivation or refund. | Money-Back guarantee policy if score does not increase by 5 points with conditions. |
| Policies | Allows cancellation within 3 days for a full refund. Has restrictions on enrollment for under 13s. | Does not encourage account sharing, assistance only for questions within the program’s offering. |
| Accessibility | Availability of materials both online and offline, platform not specified as mobile-friendly. | Primarily an online platform, resources available through blogs and mobile apps. |
| Additional Services | Option to choose between online and offline services, more resources and materials. | Primarily online services, including video lessons and practice questions. |
| Duration of Access (for self-paced) | 6-month access for self-paced courses. | 1-month and 6-month access options available. |
Kaplan and Magoosh are two companies that make unique and fun approaches to pave the journey to a perfect score.
Along with the comparison between Magoosh vs Kaplan Self-paced courses, we will look into more detail of what else they have to offer.
We already made a comparison between Manhattan Prep vs Kaplan and GRE prep course here, so if you are interested, check it out.
The Kaplan GRE course offers multiple self-paced programs at different prices. The students have the freedom to either choose online courses or offline services based on their liking.
They are known for their Rapid Review Live and Math Foundations along with an Advanced Math course too.
The Kaplan GRE program also offers its users the “Test Day Experience” which lets them take an exam in a feel-real setting.
Magoosh. GRE prep program has the self-paced Prep program at different prices too. You can also hire a private tutor.
They have extensive YouTube videos with strategies to help students get the test score that they aim for.
Unlike Kaplan, Magoosh does not offer any physical books, and hence all their services are online.
Their different packages take students through a list of lectures, topics, and practice questions to get the most out of their experience.
Before we go further, take a look at the Prep Scholar GRE review, see which features it offers.
Kaplan
- Live instructions;
- Customized quizzes;
- Keep track of the areas you need help with;
- Proctored exam day - a mock exam.
- More expensive than Magoosh.
Some of the GRE Channels provide live instructions and customized quizzes. It has more resources as compared to Magoosh GRE test prep industry.
You've probably heard of Princeton Review too. If you have, don't forget to read our Kaplan vs Princeton Review: GRE score comparison and find many interesting points.
Why Kaplan For GRE Prep in Better?
They also provide a score predictor to help personalize your scores and keep track of the areas you need help with.
Kaplan GRE Prep Courses
When it comes to GRE preparation, many students turn to Kaplan GRE prep courses for comprehensive guidance. Kaplan's offerings cover a range of requirements and budgets, providing an ideal solution for aspiring graduate students.
Kaplan Offers
Kaplan offers a range of GRE prep materials including prep packages with different levels of support. Here's what you can expect:
- Both Kaplan's live and self-paced options: These options cater to students with varying schedules and learning styles.
- GRE Prep Courses: Including both economical GRE prep and more intensive options.
- GRE Advanced Math: For those looking to master the quantitative section.
- Practice Material: Including Kaplan's practice tests and tailored kaplan material.
- Analytical Writing Assessment: Guidance on crafting compelling essays.
Test Prep for Success
The right test prep can make a significant difference in your final GRE score. Kaplan courses offer practice tests that closely mirror the actual GRE, aiding in a better understanding of where you stand in comparison to your previous GRE score.
Kaplan GRE Customizable Options
Kaplan has a program for you whether you want GRE prep books or a self-paced option. Your deficiencies, notably in the verbal and quantitative areas, are addressed by these options.
Unique Features
Kaplan's offerings also include video explanations that bring clarity to complex topics. This multimedia approach enhances the learning experience, taking you one step closer to the success in the official exam.
Kaplan's diverse prep packages and unique offerings make it a leading choice for GRE test preparation. From economical options to specialized support in areas like advanced math and analytical writing, Kaplan provides resources tailored to each student's needs. With their detailed practice material, self-paced options, and focus on both the verbal and quantitative sections, Kaplan's approach offers a holistic path to achieving your desired GRE score.
Kaplan Complete In-person Course
21 hours of live instructions, 7 full-length computer-based practice tests each, 5000+ practice test questions, an official test mock exam, 180 hours of online instructions, and 2 prep books.
Kaplan Self-paced Course
This could be a more economical option of the two. They have Rapid Review Live, Math Foundations, and Advanced Math Courses.
They also have a proctored exam actual a real test day known as “The Official Test Day” to experience the exam in a mock setting.
Magoosh
- Email assistance;
- Score predictor;
- large number of videos;
- Lots of practice questions.
- Less material than Kaplan has.
Why Magoosh For GRE Prep in Better?
The Magoosh GRE program, on the other hand, has lesser services and course materials compared to the Kaplan GRE program. Their courses are all online and can be either accessed from their website or their app.
From the two self-paced options, they have a total of 250 video lessons, 1200 practice math questions, and 3 practice tests. Each of video lessons can be as long as 4-5 minutes which totals 21 hours of exercise.
Their videos provide alternative solutions and short-cut to answer the problems better. You can get a real-time experience of the scores as well.
As a user, you can also get email assistance and a score predictor.
In this way, based on the comparative analysis of Magoosh GRE vs Kaplan GRE features, Kaplan seems to give a more rigorous practice program for students who need high-end program assistance.
Despite the lesser materials, Magoosh covers that up with a large number of videos and practice questions.
This shows that if you have enough time to prepare for GRE, you can choose the Magoosh course, but Kaplan might be a better option in need of a high-end program.
Magoosh GRE Courses Pricing
Costs and monetary investment is a huge requirement to consider when enrolling into one of the services. Both companies charge different amounts for their services.
When comparing GRE Kaplan vs Magoosh, Magoosh seems to have more limited options since everything is only available online.
Their self-paced full course material covers the GRE Math Section, the Verbal Reasoning Section, and the Analytical Writing section.
Unlike Kaplan, they do not have a physical book. They also have a 7-day free trial where you can access 20 lesson videos and 20 practice problems.
You will also get access to a year-old demonstrative exam and 20 questions.
Prices of self-paced services
- 1-month access = $129. This covers Math, Analytical Writing, and Verbal in more than 250 video lessons, 1200 practice questions, and 3 practice sets.
- 6-month access = $149. This covers the same video access, practice questions, and tests over 6 months instead of 1.
Magoosh GRE: Guarantees
The guarantee of a company plays a big role in understanding its services. Only companies that fully trust their services can confidently place guarantees for their users.
Although ultimately, it depends on us to make the most out of the resources available, we should first choose a service that will provide us with the best resources.
We will now look at individual guarantee plans to make a proper comparison between GRE Magoosh vs Kaplan.
Option 1
If you were to give a test after completing the program and do not see an improvement from previous score, you can either reactivate your program for free for 12 more weeks or ask for the money back.
Option 2
If you were to give a test after completing the program and get a higher score but are still not satisfied, you could then apply for a free 12 weeks of reactivation service.
With this option, you cannot get a refund.
The program offered by Magoosh also has a similar score guarantee.
They have a Money-Back guarantee policy that ensures your money will be refunded if your score does not increase by 5 points.
This service can only be of use if you were to take a real GRE test before enrollment.
If you see no change in your score after the course, you can send an email with your before and after scores to get your money back.
This guarantee rightfully evaluates the quality of their service.
Since both Magoosh and Kaplan GRE Prep offer money-back guarantees, it is necessary to look into more detail when and how this service can be applied by a user.
If you want to compare Magoosh with one more service, then check our Manhattan Prep vs Magoosh GRE complete comparison.
Magoosh GRE Policies
The Kaplan GRE Program does not allow children under 13 to enroll in the program unless under consent. You can select the Higher Score Guarantee option when enrolling to qualify for the reactivation or refund policy.
You can then cancel your enrollment within 3 days to get a full 100% refund on your money.
Similarly, the Magoosh GRE program does not encourage sharing the same account between multiple people, as they cannot keep track of your progress.
Hence, they will not be able to give the support they claim to offer.
The program does not answer or assist with any questions other than what the program offers.
The policies of Magoosh vs Kaplan for GRE seem to be similar, including the refund policy as well.
Magoosh GRE: Additional Services
Accessibility
Both platforms are fairly easy to work on. Since Magoosh uses an online platform, they have more portable resources available through blogs and mobile apps to make your experience credible wherever you are.
Students can also get easy access to instructors and services through phone, email, or contact forms.
On the other hand, Kaplan uses a live chat option to help people get in touch.
Private Tutor
Magoosh offers a tutoring service to students ranging in different price options from $100 to $900.
The starter pack is $100 per hour, and the Just Verbal and Just Math sessions cost $350 each for the four hours.
The premium option for 8 hours is $800. Learn more in the Magoosh review on our blog.
Kaplan, too, has a tutoring service available.
Once you request a tutor, you will directly get one with whom you can work out a time that is convenient for both.
The tutoring packages can be either online or in-person.
Online tutoring costs $2299 for 10 hours, $3199 for 20 hours, $3999 for 30 hours, and $4899 for 40 hours.
Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE flashcards
Kaplan has an online app that comes with free access to flashcards that have clues, and synonyms too.
You have the freedom to customize your deck too.
Magoosh, on the other hand, offers an online collection of words that range from Basics, Common words to Advanced levels of words.
You can get access to these through an app to get better practice anywhere you want.
Thus, since both companies have similar services, it is hard to choose one when considering Magoosh vs Kaplan GRE flashcards.
Essays
The Kaplan self-paced GRE prep course has a complete set of practice essays along with a certified group of experienced instructors.
You can submit two essays at one time that will be given back with a grade or score within a week.
Magoosh, however, does not have an essay feature.
Although they have a grading and review service with their premium package, they don’t have an essay service.
So, Who Wins Magoosh or Kaplan?
Along with the Kaplan vs Magoosh GRE test Prep reviews, comparing all the above aspects with each other must have made things a little easier.
Using Magoosh is for someone who is price-conscious, and who wants flexibility in the course along with a dashboard to track your progress, good customer service, and a refund policy.
On the other hand, Kaplan can be the best option if you want the most practice tests, essay support, a book during the study, and live or in-person help from an instructor.
Therefore, when choosing between Kaplan and Magoosh, you need to consider the time you have left to prepare, your budget, and the personal choice between an online or physical book service.
FAQs
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Is Magoosh or Kaplan better?
The answer depends on individual preferences and study needs. Kaplan offers comprehensive resources and structured courses, while Magoosh provides a flexible online platform and cost-effective options. Consider factors such as budget, learning style, and desired features to determine which option is better suited for you.
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Is Kaplan the best for GRE?
Kaplan is a well-established and reputable test prep company with decades of experience. Many students have found success with Kaplan’s comprehensive courses and extensive resources. However, whether Kaplan is the best choice for GRE depends on your specific requirements and preferences.
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Is Magoosh harder than the actual GRE?
Magoosh aims to provide realistic GRE practice questions and materials to prepare students effectively for the exam. While some users may find Magoosh’s practice questions challenging, others may consider them to be on par with or slightly easier than the actual GRE. Ultimately, Magoosh’s adaptive learning platform tailors the difficulty level based on individual performance, ensuring adequate preparation for the exam.
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Is Kaplan harder than GRE?
Kaplan’s practice materials and courses are designed to simulate the difficulty level of the actual GRE exam. While some students may find Kaplan’s practice tests and questions challenging, this is intentional to ensure thorough preparation and readiness for the exam. As with any test prep, the level of difficulty may vary for individual students based on their strengths, weaknesses, and prior preparation.
