Updated: December 28, 2022
Use one of the following best SAT prep courses to earn a top score on the SAT.
Not only will a high score help your chances of getting into your dream school, it will also help you earn additional scholarship opportunities.
We went into these SAT prep courses ourselves. We provided our honest reviews below. Use the screenshots from the courses to get a better understanding of each course.
Summary: Find a SAT prep option that fits your needs and budget. Use the screenshots to get a look inside the courses.
Best SAT Prep Course Reviews (2023)
scroll right on mobile to see entire table
| SAT Prep | Princeton Review | Prep Expert | Magoosh | PrepScholar | Kaplan | ePrep |
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| Rating | 94 |
92 |
90 |
86 |
73 |
68 |
| Best For | Best Bundle | Best for In-Depth Learning | Best Value | - | - | - |
| One of Our Picks | T-G Recommended | T-G Recommended | T-G Recommended | - | - | - |
| Pricing | $599 $499 | $699$399 Get Exclusive Discount |
$1200$116 Get Exclusive Discount |
$397 | $199 | $299 |
| Subscription Length | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 12 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Free Trial | ||||||
| Guarantee | Higher score guaranteed | Higher score guaranteed | +100 points | +160 points | Higher score guaranteed | +250 points |
| Practice Questions | 3200+ | 1650+ | 1750+ | 7100+ | 1000 | 1100+ |
| Practice Exams | 15 (SAT) 10 (ACT) | 11 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| Delivery Options | Self-Paced or Live Online Classes | Self-Paced or Live Online Classes | Self-Paced or Live Online Classes | Self-Paced or Live Online Classes | Self-Paced or Live Online Classes | Self-Paced or Live Online Classes |
| Videos | ||||||
| Study Plan | ||||||
| Essay Feedback | - additional $59 | - via email | ||||
| Score Predictor | ||||||
| Support Options | Email, Phone | Email, Chat, Phone | Email, Chat | |||
| Summary | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review | Review |
| Learn More | GO! | GO! | GO! | GO! | GO! | GO! |
Our Picks for Best SAT Prep Courses
- Best Bundle - Princeton Review
- Best for In-Depth Learning - Prep Expert
- Best Value -Magoosh
Best SAT Course Video Review
Princeton Review: Best Bundle
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Best For
- Students looking for both ACT and SAT prep
- Students looking for high number of practice questions
- Students looking for high number of practice exams
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Not Recommended For
- Students looking for a cheap option
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- $299 for 12 months of access to the SAT course. $499 for the ACT/SAT bundle.
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Guarantee
- Higher score guaranteed when using this prep course.
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Content
- 280+ video lessons. SAT and ACT bundle option for those interested in both courses.
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Questions
- 3200+ practice questions. 15 SAT specific practice exams.
Pros and Cons
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Pros
- SAT and ACT bundle
- Number of practice questions
- Number of practice exams
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Cons
- Costs extra for essay feedback
- No free trial
- -
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthrough
Self-Paced Bundle Option
The Princeton Review offers one of the best bundles on the market. For $499, students not only get access to the SAT prep course, but also the ACT prep course. Once signed up for the course, students get access to over 280 online videos and lessons.
The course is 100% online and is available to students for 12 months. The course is self-paced but study plans are offered to help students stay on track. The course offers 15 SAT practice tests, 10 ACT practice tests, and 5 PSAT practice tests.
This is the perfect course for students who are not sure whether they want to take the SAT or ACT. Students have access to the course for 12 months, so if they do not do well on the ACT and want to try the SAT, they have the resources to begin studying.
Students will learn all important concepts via the "Coursework" tab. Princeton Review does a great job of categorizing the lessons and topics to create a very efficient study process.
Each lesson has 3 steps:
- Refresh - A chance to refresh your knowledge on the topics you will be learning in your SAT classes. You can choose to skip watching the videos if you already know the concept.
- Learn - Interactive lessons to build on your skills. You will be asked to answer questions as you go through this step of the SAT prep course.
- Practice - Questions and practice drills to ensure you understand the concepts you just learned.
One unique thing about this course is how Princeton Review filters lessons. They have a color coded system to help you see which lessons you should be focusing on.
For example, there are certain lessons categorized as "Quick Wins." This means that you have answered 75% of these questions correctly, and with a little more review, you should get a quick win! All of these topic filters change and update as you progress through the SAT prep course.
Students will also be given detailed score reports after taking practice exams. These reports will break down the questions by specific categories to help you better understand what concepts you should be studying.
While there is no free trial, Princeton Review does offer a higher score guarantee. If you do not receive a higher score than before, you can either take the course again for free or get your money back. Students can also purchase 10 hours of on-demand tutoring for an additional $200.
Other Options
In addition to the self-paced bundled option that Princeton Review offers, they also have some other options. Those options are:
- SAT Essentials
- SAT 1400+
- SAT 1500+ Tutoring
The biggest difference you will find in those options is that there are additional features and LiveOnline or In-Person hours available. The programs are more tailored to you individually. Each of the above programs builds on the previous one.
Additional Screenshots
Click on the images to enlarge them
Key Features
- 3200+ practice questions
- 15 SAT specific practice exams
- 280+ video lessons
- SAT and ACT bundled together
Key Differences from Other SAT Prep Courses
- Princeton Review offers a SAT and ACT bundle for those who are considering taking both exams
Differences from Previous Versions
- Practice question review sessions added
- AP online video lessons added
Other Useful Resources
- Princeton Review SAT Review - Our team dives into Princeton Review and some of their other SAT offerings.
Score: 94
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Why Choose Princeton Review SAT
- Very comprehensive
- Great SAT and ACT bundle
- # of practice questions and exams
Prep Expert: Best for In-Depth Learning
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Best For
- Students looking for something comprehensive
- Students looking to learn from the best instructors
- Students looking for a great guarantee
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Not Recommended For
- Students looking for a top-of-the-line user interface
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- Great price point for the amount of content and learning students will receive.
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Guarantee
- Score improvement guarantee on all self-paced courses and 200+ guarantee on live online classes.
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Content
- The best of the best in terms of instructors, all of whom have scored in the top 1% on the SAT.
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Questions
- 1650+ practice questions and 11 practice tests put Prep Expert in the upper echelon.
Pros and Cons
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Pros
- Top instructors
- Number of different prep options
- Video answer explanations
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Cons
- Interface a bit confusing
- -
- -
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthrough
Prep Expert is our choice for most comprehensive SAT prep course. Every instructor teaching a SAT prep course with Prep Expert has scored in the top 1% of the SAT – you know you are getting the best of the best in terms of instructors.
Prep Expert has a couple of different learning options. They offer self-paced, live online classroom, and private tutoring options. We have listed some of the SAT prep options they offer below:
- SAT 8-Week Capstone (Live Online Classroom Setting)
- SAT 6-Week Flagship (Live Online Classroom Setting)
- SAT Weekend Review (Live Online Classroom Setting)
- SAT Self-Paced Course (Online Self-Paced Course)
The prices vary but all Test-Guide users will receive a $300 off coupon for any of the above courses by using TESTGUIDE300 when checking out.
Students will learn primarily through the video lectures (live SAT prep online classes if enrolled in those). For students enrolled in a self-paced course, lectures are broken down by chapter. Each chapter has specific topics that are reviewed - the lectures are laid out in a logical and easy-to-follow order.
For the self-paced lecture videos, students will be learning from Prep Expert founder Shaan Patel. He will be pictured on the right-side of the videos and will be talking over various slides. He will be reviewing things like strategies, tips, and how to solve certain problems. He annotates and draws over the slides to help explain complex concepts or questions.
For students who decide to take a live online course, they will have more of an actual classroom feel. The instructors do a great job of interacting with the class via the live chat function on the right-hand side. The instructor will ask questions and students will respond. This gives the instructor a better feel for the class and what adjustments need to be made.
Prep Expert students will learn the “Perfect Score Strategies” when taking one of the SAT prep courses. These are strategies that Prep Expert founder Shaan Patel used to take his SAT score from average to perfect.
Prep Expert also includes books with their prep courses. The books can be located under the "books" tab within your course. The books are all in downloadable PDF format and written by Shaan Patel himself. These are a great option for students who want some supplementary information or just prefer to learn by reading.
In terms of practicing, there are two methods students can use in the course:
- Homework Assignments - These can be found under the "homework" tab. Students will find various homework assignments they can work on to practice what they have learned.
- Practice Tests - These can be found under the "practice tests" tab. These consist of full-length practice exams and should be completed in a timed environment to help simulate the actual exam.
After completing a practice exam, students can review their answers and even view answer explanations for every question. The answer explanations are in video format and are VERY helpful - this is one of our favorite features of the course.
Prep Expert is a great choice for those looking to increase their SAT score – Prep Expert even guarantees you will increase your score, or you get you money back. For students who are looking to get a top SAT score, Prep Expert should be your choice. The combination of resources and instructors cannot be beat.
If you do not believe us, take it from billionaire and Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban:
“If you want to get scholarships, if you want to get financial aid, if you want to reduce your cost of college, Prep Expert is the only way to go! Take classes online.”
Additional Screenshots
Click on the images to enlarge them
Key Features
- 1650+ practice questions
- 11 practice exams
- Videos from instructors who scored in the top 1%
- Great course guarantee
Key Differences from Other SAT Courses
- Top instructors
- Video answer explanations (very in-depth)
Differences from Previous Versions
- Addition of more instructors
Other Useful Resources
- Prep Expert SAT and ACT Review - Our team dives into Prep Expert and some of their other offerings.
Score: 92
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Why Choose Prep Expert SAT
- Very comprehensive
- Expert instructors
- Great course guarantee
Magoosh: Best Value
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Best For
- Someone shopping on a budget
- Someone who wants a score predictor
- Someone looking for essay feedback
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Not Recommended For
- Someone looking for a lot of practice questions or exams
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- Best Value. One of the cheapest courses we reviewed. Students get access for 1 year.
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Guarantee
- +100-point improvement guarantee. Fairly good guarantee.
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Content
- Data-driven score predictor is a nice feature. Customizable study schedules.
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Questions
- 1750 practice questions. 3 practice tests. Good combo.
Pros and Cons
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Pros
- Price - best value on market
- Essay feedback
- Course layout and feel
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Cons
- Little light on the number of practice exams
- -
- -
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthough
Magoosh offers one of the most affordable SAT prep courses available on the market. Their courses range from $100-$129 with the biggest difference being the amount of time student get access to the course.
All of the courses offer more than 1750 SAT practice questions, 200 video lessons, video explanations for every question, and 3 SAT practice tests. Magoosh SAT is compatible with all computers, tablets, and smartphones.
The Magoosh SAT self-paced course is completely online. Magoosh offers study plans to their students so the course being self-paced should not worry students. The study plans are customized for each student and consider which areas students want/need to improve in.
Magoosh uses a data-driven score predictor to give students an indicator for what they will score on their SAT based on their current knowledge.
Magoosh SAT offers a free 7-day trial (with a no questions asked refund policy) and a course that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. There are a couple of different options for students looking for SAT test prep courses – the best offer is the 12-month course for $129.
Magoosh also offers a 3-month course for $119 and a 1-month course for $100. All of the courses come with the same features with the time frame being the only difference.
Additional Screenshots
Click on the images to enlarge them
Key Features
- 1750+ practice questions
- 3 practice exams
- 200 video lessons
- Video answer explanations
- Score predictor
Key Differences from Other SAT Courses
- Video answer explanations are in-depth
- Score predictor is a cool features
- Nice and easy user interface
Differences from Previous Versions
- Improved technology like score predictor
Other Useful Resources
- Magoosh SAT Review - Our team took an in-depth look at Magoosh and their different SAT prep options.
Score: 90
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Why Choose Magoosh SAT
- Very affordable
- User interface
- Video answer explanations
PrepScholar Review
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Best For
- Someone looking for practice questions
- Someone looking for a lot of video content
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Not Recommended For
- Someone looking for added features
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- A little pricey, but reasonable compared to others.
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Guarantee
- +160-point score improvement. One of the better ones out there.
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Content
- 210+ hours of content. Covers all sections of the SAT.
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Questions
- Most practice questions offered with 7100+. 10 practice exams.
Pros and Cons
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Pros
- Number of practice questions
- Diagnostic quizzes
- +160-point improvement
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Cons
- No score predictor
- Price
- -
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthough
Complete SAT Online Prep Option
PrepScholar offers their SAT prep course for $397. Students have access to the course for 12 months. The course includes 210+ hours of content, over 7100 practice questions, over 700 problem-solving videos, and 10 real SAT practice tests.
PrepScholar’s SAT prep course covers all sections – math, reading, writing and essay. In addition to covering all sections on the SAT, PrepScholar takes it a step further. PrepScholar offers 98 skill lessons with strategy videos to help students learn important concepts that will be tested on the SAT.
If the skill lesson videos are not enough for you, PrepScholar takes it even further with their 49 fine-grained skills. These are additional important skills that students should master if they want a top score on the SAT.
Every question offers a detailed answer explanation so students can learn from their mistakes. On top of that, PrepScholar has created custom diagnostic quizzes to help students test their knowledge of various SAT topics. Students have the option of trying out the course, risk-free, for 5 days before purchasing the course.
PrepScholar has a 160+ score improvement guarantee on their course.
Other PrepScholar Options
The complete SAT online prep option is their most popular option, but they do offer a couple of different options. Those other options include:
- PrepScholar Classes
- Complete + Tutoring
- Dual SAT + ACT
The classes option includes everything in the self-paced complete prep option as well as live online classes. The complete + tutoring option includes everything in the self-paced complete prep option as well as expert tutoring. The dual SAT + ACT includes materials for both exams.
Key Features
- 7100+ practice questions
- 10 practice exams
- 210+ hours of video content
- Focus on specific skills to get a top score
Key Differences from Other SAT Prep Courses
- Number of practice questions
- Amount and variety of video content
Differences from Previous Versions
- Addition of diagnostic quizzes
Other Useful Resources
Score: 86
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Why Choose PrepScholar SAT
- High number of practice questions
- Tons of video content
Kaplan Review
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Best For
- Someone shopping on a budget
- Someone who likes shorter videos
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Not Recommended For
- Someone wanting a comprehensive learning option
- Someone wanting a lot of practice questions or exams
Key Decision Making Factors
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Price
- $199 for the course and students get access for 6 months.
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Guarantee
- Higher score guaranteed when using this prep course.
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Content
- 50 instructional videos on various topics. Lessons are shorter to keep the student’s attention.
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Questions
- On the lower end of number of practice questions offered. No practice exams offered.
Pros and Cons
-
Pros
- Price
- Higher score guaranteed
- -
-
Cons
- No practice exams
- No study plan
- No essay feedback
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthrough
The Kaplan SAT prep course is 100% online and self-paced. The course includes over 1000 SAT practice questions, 50 instructional videos on test content and strategies, and quizzes to make sure students are on track and learning the material. All videos are on-demand so students can watch anytime they want. The lessons are shorter so students can come and go in 30-minute increments if they want to.
The course includes a 7-day free trial so students can test out the course before purchasing it. If students do decide to purchase the course, they will pay $199 and have access to the course for 6 months. All video lessons were prepared and taught by SAT experts who provide different strategies that students can implement to increase their SAT scores.
While this course does not include any practice tests or essay feedback, it is a solid course. The course is designed very well and is easy to use. Students will learn from the video lessons and be able to apply certain strategies to the SAT when they take the test.
The course is very comparable to Magoosh, except Magoosh is a little cheaper and offers practice exams.
Key Features
- 1000 practice questions
- No full-length practice exams, just quizzes
- 50 instructional videos
Key Differences from Other SAT Prep Courses
- Quizzes sprinkled in throughout the lessons to track progress
Differences from Previous Versions
- Addition of more instructional videos
Score: 73
ePrep Review
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Best For
- Someone looking for a solid, all-around course
- Someone wanting to focus on vocab
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Not Recommended For
- Someone looking for a high-end course
Key Decision Making Factors
-
Price
- $249 for 4 months of access. Not super outrageous, but there are better deals out there.
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Guarantee
- Anywhere between +100 and +250, depending on which option you choose.
-
Content
- Different prep options available to students. Some unique features like vocab builder.
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Questions
- 28 quizzes and 6 practice exams
Pros and Cons
-
Pros
- Score improvement guarantee
- Unique features like vocab builder
-
Cons
- No study plan
- No essay feedback
What to Expect - Hands on Walkthough
ePrep is an online test prep company. ePrep offers different options of SAT prep to their students – express, standard, and premium. We will focus on the premium option. Premium comes with 6 full-length practice tests, 28 practice quizzes, 112 video lessons, WordSmith vocab builder, and a 250-point improvement guarantee.
Students get access to the premium course for 6 months for $299. The 250-point improvement guarantee is one of the best guarantees we have seen.
ePrep offers a free trial so students can run through the course and get a feel for how the course is set up. The suggested time to complete the premium course is 6-24 weeks. ePrep also offers annual passes so students can have access to the course for 12 months and can study at their own pace.
While ePrep may not have the most practice questions or full-length practice tests, they make up for it with their video answer explanations. ePrep offers more than 1100 total video answer explanations, which make it a lot easier to understand difficult questions and concepts.
Key Features
- 1100+ questions
- 6 full-length exams
- 1100 video answer explanations
- Vocab builder
Key Differences from Other SAT Courses
- Nothing too special about this course. All other SAT courses include the features of ePrep
Differences from Previous Versions
- Unknown
Score: 68
How to Choose a SAT Course
Selecting the right SAT prep course can be the difference between getting into you top choice college or not. There are a wide range of options available. Our goal is to help you understand your options and choose the best SAT prep course based on your needs.
What to Consider When Purchasing a SAT Prep Course
There are many important things to consider when purchasing SAT prep. However, the most important thing to consider is your specific needs. Are you someone that has trouble focusing and lacks motivation sometimes? If that is the case, you may want to consider a LiveOnline option or an option that is more like a classroom setting.
Price
Price is the first thing many students consider when purchasing SAT prep. While this is an important factor, it should not be the only factor. Students should look at SAT prep as an investment in their future. Choosing a course that works for you will be more important than the price in the long-run.
Content
Content is another thing many students think about when preparing to make a purchase. Most SAT prep courses will include plenty of content. The key is finding the provider/product that offers content that fits your needs and learning style. If you enjoy reading books, pick an option that includes physical textbooks.
Other Factors to Consider
Some other factors to consider include:
- Study discipline - if you routinely have trouble maintaining a study schedule, you'll find that a prep course could be worth it.
- Need for encouragement -if you need encouragement, feedback and motivation, a prep course with an instructor (either in-person or online) is a good option.
- Learning style -match one of the above best SAT prep courses to your learning style.
Alternatives: Do I Need a SAT Prep Course?
SAT prep may not be for everyone. It can be very expensive with some options costing more than $800. Some students prefer to learn in an in-person setting, if this is the case, you may not excel with an online SAT prep course. Some students just do not have the time or prefer to study themselves, both of which are completely fine.
Here are some alternatives to consider:
- SAT Prep Books - See our rankings of the best SAT prep books.
- Free Practice Tests - Use our SAT practice test to start your studies.
- Self-Study - Check out our guide on how to study for the SAT for more help.
Methodology: How We Tested SAT Prep Courses
We looked at 10+ different SAT prep options before narrowing it down to 6 of the best SAT prep options. Our team then went into these courses and worked their way through the courses as if they were a student. We looked for things that students would actually find useful.
After spending ample time actually inside these courses, we gave the courses different ratings for 5 different criteria. Each of those criteria are assigned a weight which helps us arrive at a final weighted score.
For more details, read about our independent review process.
FAQS About SAT Prep
How can I improve my SAT score by 200 points?
Are SAT prep courses worth it?
Is Princeton Review a good SAT prep course?
What is the best test prep for SAT?
What SAT prep course should I take?
The most important thing when picking a SAT prep course is choosing the proper course for YOU.
If you are someone who can only learn in a classroom setting, you should look at courses that offer a live-online option.
Our team investigated these courses and provided a summary of their features, offerings, and content. Use our reviews to find the course that best fits your needs.
