Princeton Review GRE Prep Review

Preparing for the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and weighing up different study programs? If so, then this Princeton Review GRE prep review is for you.

As a tutor with years of experience helping students prepare for standardized tests, I’ve seen the difference a good GRE prep course can make. That’s why I decided to put Princeton Review’s Self-Paced GRE prep course to the test. 

The GRE was established nearly 90 years ago. Since then, it has become a crucial milestone for aspiring graduate students, attracting more than 300,000 test-takers last year alone. A strong GRE score can distinguish you during the application process for competitive, career-launching grad programs. 

Finding the right GRE prep course for you can be a game changer. But the test is challenging, and students often sink hundreds of hours into preparing for it. A good prep program should help you study more strategically, improve your odds of getting a high score, and put your best foot forward when applying to grad schools. 

There are tons of GRE prep options out there. Princeton Review stands out as one of the best. Its thorough curriculum, engaging video lessons, robust study materials, and realistic practice tests should give you all you need come test day. And fret not, those of you who prefer interactive learning! Princeton Review’s wealth of live, interactive study plans have got you covered. While I’ll be reviewing the Self-Paced course, I’ll touch on all of their offerings throughout this review. 

Here’s what’s in this Princeton Review GRE prep course review:

• About Princeton Review
• How does Princeton Review’s GRE prep course work?
• How I reviewed Princeton Review’s GRE prep course
• Pros, cons, and who it’s for
• Cost and refund policy
• Key features
• Other GRE prep course options
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Let’s get started!

About Princeton Review prep

Since its founding more than 40 years ago, Princeton Review has become a top choice for millions of students looking to prepare for standardized tests. Its strong focus on holistic study plans, flexible learning, expert-crafted material, and learning reinforcement have contributed to its multi-decade track record of success. Today, Princeton Review stands out as one of the largest test-prep providers, a testament to the effectiveness of its programs.

Princeton Review’s GRE prep course has a well-rounded, thorough curriculum spread across dozens of hours of video lessons, thousands of practice questions, eight realistic practice tests, and a flexible study plan. All of that is backed by a score increase guarantee or your money back.

So what’s to lose?

How does Princeton Review GRE prep work?

Princeton Review’s Self-Paced GRE prep course is both flexible and comprehensive, empowering you to prepare for the GRE at your own pace. 

The program covers the three sections you’ll face on the GRE –– quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing –– in addition to test-taking strategies. Princeton Review takes care to test and reinforce your learning along the way. With their interactive score reports, you’ll always know where you stand in the study process and what you can improve on. 

Key features:

• Comprehensive curriculum
• 2,500+ practice questions
• 8 practice tests
• Engaging video lessons
• Score guarantee 
• Diverse offerings
• Interactive score report
• Free trial period 

How I reviewed Princeton Review

Thanks to Princeton Review’s generous free trial period, I spent two weeks going through their self-paced GRE prep course, watching video lessons, taking practice tests, answering questions, and reviewing my interactive score reports as I got to know their program.

I was immediately struck by the user interface, which makes it easy to navigate Princeton Review’s online modules. From there, the video lessons captured my attention. I’ve reviewed a number of services. Princeton Review’s videos are among the most engaging that I’ve seen. Their interactive score reports also stood out to me. Clear and robust progress tracking is key to any good study program, and Princeton Review definitely has that on lock.

Pros of Princeton Review prep courses

Engaging video lessons

Princeton Review’s Self-Paced GRE prep course includes dozens of hours of engaging, on demand video lessons. The videos, which are carefully designed to cater to a variety of learning styles, comprehensively cover the GRE’s three main sections as well as all of the strategies you’ll need to know to beat the test. With the flexibility to pause, rewind, and revisit content as needed, you’ll be able to tailor your study session to your individual pace and needs. And peppered throughout Princeton Review’s videos are quizzes to help you reinforce your learning in real time.

Realistic (and numerous) practice tests

Princeton Review offers one of the most extensive sets of practice tests among the major test prep providers. With eight realistic practice tests, you’ll benefit from frequent opportunities to test your knowledge, familiarize yourself with the GRE exam content and format, and get comfortable applying your learning under timed conditions. Their tests mirror the actual GRE, making them fantastic opportunities to sharpen your test-taking skills and build your confidence and poise for when it comes time to take the real thing. 

Emphasis on progress tracking

As you complete practice questions and tests, Princeton Review gives you detailed score reports. This progress tracking feature, one of the best I’ve seen, shows you exactly where you stand on key components of the GRE’s three sections. Tracking things like pace and difficulty level, the interactive score reports give you a holistic picture of where you stand in the test-prep process and what you need to improve on, equipping you to study more efficiently. 

Robust curriculum

Princeton Review’s comprehensive course syllabus thoroughly covers everything that you’ll encounter on the GRE. In Princeton Review’s GRE prep courses, you’ll review all of the material that you’ll come across on the exam’s quantitative reasoning, verbal reasoning, and analytical writing sections. What’s more, you’ll learn the ins and outs of the strategies needed to master the underlying logic of the GRE. That, ultimately, is what separates a good score from a great one. 

Cons of Princeton Review GRE prep courses

Cost (but good value)

Priced at $449, the Self-Paced course is Princeton Review’s cheapest GRE prep program. That price is comparable to similar services, like Kaplan’s GRE prep program. While this may seem like a sizable investment, it pales in comparison to the financial and personal rewards that come with advancing your professional goals. And with Princeton Review’s money-back guarantee, there's not much to lose.

Time investment, but that’s to be expected

You’ll likely spend upwards of 100 hours on Princeton Review’s prep program ahead of the GRE. But if you’re serious about getting a top score on the exam, you’ll be studying that much, if not more, regardless of the prep program you ultimately go with. 

Who Princeton Review GRE prep is for

Princeton Review’s Self-Paced GRE prep course is for you if you’re:

• Driven to get a competitive score on the GRE
• Eager to improve your test taking strategies
• Determined to master the GRE’s material
• A motivated, independent learner 

How much does Princeton Review GRE prep cost?

Course	Price	Features
Self-Paced	$499	As reviewed in this article
GRE 10+ Points	$899	Similar to Self-Paced course plus LiveOnline math classes and 10+ point increase guarantee (depending on your baseline).
Fundamentals	$1,124	24 hours of live learning, Drill Smart program, math fundamentals, score increase guarantee.
GRE 162+	$2,149	45 hours of live instruction plus 20 hours of recorded sessions, 500+ online drills, score guarantee of at least 162 (terms apply)
GRE 165+ Tutoring	$156/hr	Private tutoring from an expert tutor. They guarantee you’ll get at least a 165 (terms apply)

Princeton Review Refund

Princeton Review offers a free (albeit partial), two-week trial period, letting you get to know their program before you buy. If you enroll only to decide that Princeton Review isn’t for you, they’ll give you a full refund within two days of purchasing. And the program is covered by their score guarantee. If your GRE score doesn’t increase relative to your baseline, Princeton Review will give you your money back. 

Features of Princeton Review GRE Prep

Princeton Review’s Self-Paced GRE course has tons of great features. Some of my favorites are:

• Engaging video lessons
• Comprehensive curriculum
• 2,500+ practice questions
• 8 practice tests
• Score guarantee 
• Interactive score report

Engaging videos

Princeton Review's Self-Paced GRE prep course offers dozens of hours of engaging, on-demand video lessons. These videos, meticulously crafted to accommodate a variety of learning styles, are some of the best I’ve seen from any of the major providers. Providing comprehensive coverage of the GRE's core sections and essential test-beating strategies, Princeton Review’s video lessons allow you to customize your study experience to your preferred pace of learning. Interspersed throughout the videos are quizzes that will help you to immediately reinforce your understanding of the material during your study sessions.

Comprehensive curriculum

Some programs overly focus on content. While knowledge of the information you’ll face on the GRE is a must-have, it alone is not enough to get a top score. You’ve got to have a solid understanding of the test’s underlying logic (and the strategies needed to beat it) in order to get a truly stand-out score. Princeton Review’s curriculum does a great job of toeing this line, providing an ideal balance of content and strategy in its well-rounded curriculum.

2,500+ practice questions

Princeton Review’s bank of more than 2,500 practice questions will thoroughly test your knowledge as you study. Covering all of the material that you’ll face on the GRE, these practice questions will help you reinforce your learning. Each question comes with an explainer that walks you step-by-step through the answer. It also notes the specific concepts covered in the question, so you can review any tricky concepts.

8 practice tests

Princeton Review knows that there’s no better way to learn than by doing. Their practice tests are among the most realistic of any I’ve seen. After taking eight timed practice tests that accurately reflect the questions you’ll face on the GRE, you’ll be more than ready to sit for the real thing. And once you finish taking the tests, Princeton Review’s thorough score reports will show you exactly what you've mastered and what you need to reinforce. 

Score guarantee

It doesn’t matter which Princeton Review GRE program you choose – you’ll always be covered by their score improvement guarantee. If Princeton Review can’t help you improve your score relative to your baseline, they promise you your money back. And if your score improves but you aren’t totally satisfied with it, Princeton Review will extend your access to the program, free of charge, so you can take another stab at the GRE. With such a solid pledge, what’s to lose?

Interactive score reports

After taking a practice test, Princeton Review’s interactive, in-depth score reports show you exactly what you need to focus on moving forward and what you’ve got down pat. This is helpful for two reasons. First, it affirms your strengths, which can be important for confidence building. Second, it gives you room to grow, providing you with specific study recommendations to maximize the impact of your prep.

Princeton Review Alternatives

While Princeton Review is one of the best GRE prep services out there, some others include:

• Magoosh
• Kaplan
• Varsity Tutors
• Manhattan Prep
• Prep Scholar

Kaplan, Princeton Review, Magoosh, Varsity Tutors, and Prep Scholar all have similar offerings. Varsity Tutors and Magoosh are similar in price, costing roughly $150 each. Those cheaper offerings are solid, but offer fewer resources than Prep Scholar, Kaplan, and Princeton Review, which cost $398, $449, and $499, respectively. Varsity Tutors offers lots of free resources, including practice tests, as well as private one-on-one tutoring. Manhattan Prep sports both live classes and one-on-one tutoring.

Explore Princeton Review's other prep programs: MCAT, GRE, SAT, ACT, LSAT, GMAT

Conclusion: Is Princeton Review GRE prep worth it?

Princeton Review’s GRE prep course offers tons of study tools that cater to diverse learning styles. Its holistic curriculum, focus on learning reinforcement, flexibility, and record of success make it a great GRE prep option.  

Though the course is a bit more expensive than other options, such as Magoosh’s, the invaluable preparation that you’ll gain from taking eight practice tests, accessing such engaging videos, and tracking your progress in-detail can be worth the cost, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve taken a standardized test. 

And if your score doesn’t improve, you’ll get your money back. So why not give Princeton Review a try?

If you’re for real about getting a high GRE score and putting your best foot forward when applying to grad programs, consider prepping with Princeton Review. Good luck and happy studying!

Princeton Review FAQs