Kaplan is among the top commercial GRE prep course options and provides a wide variety of course deliveries including Live Online, In Person (Lecture and Small Class Options), On Demand, and Tutoring.
If you are deciding whether or not to study for the GRE with Kaplan’s Live Courses (In Person or Live Online), please read further to decide if this is a good fit for you.
Pros
- Simulated GRE practice test in a real testing center
- Complimentary lessons on the GRE Channel
- Higher Score Guarantee allows for full refund of course
- Plus add-on includes 1-on-1 tutoring & 2 self-paced math courses
Cons
- Full-length practice tests are not real GRE practice questions
- No disclosed vetting on GRE teachers
- Course options are expensive, even for on-demand classes
- Complaints about tutors or teachers not usually taken seriously by company
About Kaplan GRE
Kaplan offers a suite of GRE prep options that include on-demand, live online, in person, as well as various tutoring packages.
With the largest network on classroom network on classroom sites nationwide (currently located in 43 states), many students actually have the option to take this course in-person. All of these courses are backed with a higher score or your money back guarantee.
New to the GRE? Start here.
Course Pricing Options
GRE Self-Paced
Price: $399
Summary: 6-month access to 180+ hours of online instruction & practice, 7 full-length computer-based practice tests, official test day experience in testing center, 5,000+ Qbank, archived GRE Channel, & GRE prep books
GRE Self-Paced PLUS
Price: $649
Summary: Includes all features of GRE Self-Paced, PLUS 35 hours of elective live lessons on the GRE Channel, GRE Math Foundations Self-Paced Course ($299 value), & GRE Advanced Math Self-Paced Course ($200 value)
GRE Live Online – Lecture
Price: $799
Summary: 21 hours of live online instruction, 35 hours of elective live instruction on the GRE Channel, access to 180+ hours of online instruction & practice, 7 full-length computer-based practice tests, official test day experience in testing center, 5,000+ Qbank, archived GRE Channel, & GRE prep books
GRE Live Online PLUS – Lecture
Price: $1,099
Summary: Includes all features of GRE Live Online – Lecture, PLUS 3 hours of 1-on-1 tutoring ($375 value), GRE Math Foundations Self-Paced Course ($299 value), & GRE Advanced Math Self-Paced Course ($200 value)
GRE Live Online – Small Class
Price: $799
Summary: Small Zoom class environment with 21 hours of live online instruction, 35 hours of elective live instruction on the GRE Channel, access to 180+ hours of online instruction & practice, 7 full-length computer-based practice tests, official test day experience in testing center, 5,000+ Qbank, archived GRE Channel, & GRE prep books
GRE Live Online PLUS – Small Class
Price: $1,099
Summary: Includes all features of GRE Live Online – Small Class, PLUS 3 hours of 1-on-1 tutoring ($375 value), GRE Math Foundations Self-Paced Course ($299 value), & GRE Advanced Math Self-Paced Course ($200 value)
GRE In Person
Price: $799
Summary: 21 hours of face-to-face in person instruction, 35 hours of elective live instruction on the GRE Channel, access to 180+ hours of online instruction & practice, 7 full-length computer-based practice tests, official test day experience in testing center, 5,000+ Qbank, archived GRE Channel, & GRE prep books
GRE In Person PLUS
Price: $1,399
Summary: Includes all features of GRE In Person, PLUS 3 hours of 1-on-1 tutoring ($375 value), GRE Math Foundations Self-Paced Course ($299 value), & GRE Advanced Math Self-Paced Course ($200 value)
GRE Tutoring
Price: starting at $2,099
Summary: Live Online or In-person tutoring options starting at packages of 10 hours
Curriculum Review
The 21 hours of live instruction for the GRE breaks down into Quant and Verbal in the following sessions:
- Quant 1: Quantitative Methods and Strategies
- Quant 2: Arithmetic, Number Properties, and Algebra
- Quant 3: Functions, Ratios, Statistics, Probability, and Counting Methods
- Quant 4: Math Formulas and Geometry
- Verbal 1: Short Verbal Methods and Strategies; Structural Reading
- Verbal 2: Reading Comprehension and the Argument Essay
- Verbal 3: Advanced Short Verbal, Advanced Short Reading Comprehension, and Issue Essay
Classes are held either once or twice a week, meaning you can opt for a course that is completed in as little as 1 month or stretch the sessions out to 2 months. The course has 2 options based on your availability: weekday evening classes or weekend classes. Given that many who are considering going back to school are either juggling a full-time job, family, or other obligations, these options are generally well-received and can be worked around.
When you join an in person or live online class, you will receive assignments as well as a study plan that you are expected to complete and follow. After each class, you will receive an email from the instructor that reviews the whole class as well as additional helpful resources like the GRE Channel, which allows you to watch content by subject as well as filter through specific teachers.
This curriculum is built around the fact that many students have not learned Algebra 2 concepts for several years, and teachers are there to help guide you through working these solutions quickly. They can answer questions you have on assignments in-person, allowing for a quick and effective way to study and get answers to your problems efficiently.
Students have time outside of class to work through Qbank questions as well as practice their newfound knowledge on the 7 computer-based GRE practice tests. Students can also appreciate the opportunity to go into an official testing center to take a simulated GRE practice test. This can work wonders in helping to ease pre-test jitters and anxiety, as you are more prepared for the test day experience.
Related: 2,200 Free GRE Practice Questions You Need In your Prep
Platform
Whether you choose a Live Online or In Person GRE course from Kaplan, you will still have access to the KapTest portal. They boast 180 hours of “online instruction,” which is essentially bite-sized pre-recorded videos of teachers in a mock classroom sharing lectures and quick exercises that last 2-3 minutes. The KapTest portal is all work that needs to be done outside of the classroom, which still pushes a bit of responsibility on the student to take charge of their own studying destiny.
The KapTest portal is very user friendly and easy to navigate. There are some nifty options they also allow when working through the QBank, for example, like creating your own customized practice test. This practice test can be ran through like a timed simulated test or through an untimed or tutor mode. You can work through only unused questions, flagged questions, or all questions.
For those who want a mix of difficulty, you can “select all” questions or choose between the options “low,” “medium,” and “high.” You are able to choose question types as well, if you know that you are particularly struggling on a few concepts. The Qbank has over 5,000 practice questions, so it’s unlikely that you will run out of problems to work on throughout your access.
Student Feedback
The Kaplan live online course was exactly what I needed and I am very glad I took it before taking the GRE. The GRE is NOT common sense and you HAVE to study to do well. The Kaplan instructors do a great job of teaching the math subjects you forgot after algebra 2 and offer detailed explanations on how to solve the problems quickly.
-Adrianaap4
Kaplan’s Q Bank that allowed students to time themselves and choose verbal and quantitative questions to answer was immensely helpful. It gave me a better idea of how to pace and what questions I needed to spend additional time on to improve my overall score.
-Vohalloran
I liked taking this course and I think it was a great opportunity that was offered through my school. It was a little intimidating as my class was a little large and my room was pretty small, so I felt a lot of pressure to answer questions. I was really intimidated by the quant section, and my prof eased some of my nerves, the verbal and writing sections were also really helpful. If I had to do it again– I would take more advantage of the online resources instead of just in class. I just felt like it was hard to practice the outside stuff while I also had school work and actual work to tend to.
-Freed08
Related: Get this Free GRE Study Plan [1-6 Months]
Who Needs This Course
The ideal user for the Kaplan GRE In Person Course, whether you opt for the Live Online or In Person, is a student who benefits from experiencing a physical classroom or at least a classroom that takes place digitally. Oftentimes, students prepping for the GRE have other outside commitments, like a full-time job or are even finishing up college, so if you do not think you have the motivation to study on your own with a book or an on-demand course, then the Kaplan In Person course will get you up-to-speed quickly and efficiently.
If, however, you thrive studying on your own or will not be able to focus during weekend or evening classes, then this is not the course for you. We’d recommend the Magoosh GRE On Demand.
For those seeking a cheaper course option that has a more affordable subscription-based model, you may want to consider Target Test Prep. See our full review of Kaplan vs Target Test Prep GRE.
- Simulated GRE practice test in a real testing center
- Complimentary lessons on the GRE Channel
- Higher Score Guarantee allows for full refund of course
- Plus add-on includes 1-on-1 tutoring & 2 self-paced math courses
- Full-length practice tests are not real GRE practice questions
- No disclosed vetting on GRE teachers
Course Discounts
Get Started Now With a Free Kaplan GRE Practice Test
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