Best MCAT Prep Courses
We compared six of the best-known MCAT prep courses so you can pick the one that fits your budget, schedule and learning style.
The MCAT reports scores in four sections: biological and biochemical foundations, chemical and physical foundations, psychological and social foundations, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS), per the AAMC overview of the MCAT exam. A good course should cover all four.
And the winner is…
Even though The Princeton Review topped our overall rankings, if you’re looking for a course on a budget then we recommend Magoosh or Kaplan too. It just depends on when you plan to take the exam, your budget, and your learning style. Read on to find out why Princeton topped our list.
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| VISIT SITE | VISIT SITE | VISIT SITE | VISIT SITE | VISIT SITE | VISIT SITE |
| Princeton Review MCAT | Magoosh MCAT | Kaplan MCAT | Blueprint MCAT | Aptare Prep MCAT | The Gold Standard MCAT |
| 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Self-paced, live and tutoring options (check current price) | Self-study plans, 7-day money-back guarantee (check current price) | Self-paced, live and tutoring options (check current price) | Self-paced from $999 (sale price); 10-hour tutoring from $2,250 | $49-$199, 15 days to 365 days | Several packages (check current price) |
| Practice Questions – 1,000+ Full-Length Practice Tests - 16 | Practice Questions - 740 Full-Length Practice Tests - 3 | Practice Questions – 10,000+ Full-Length Practice Tests - 16 | Practice Questions – 5,000+ Full-Length Practice Tests - 16 (10 Blueprint + 6 AAMC) | Practice Questions – 4,800+ Full-Length Practice Tests - 0 | Practice Questions 3,000 - 10,000* Full-Length Practice Tests 2 – 20* *Selected Courses |
| Online (self-paced and live), in-person | Online (self-paced) | Online (self-paced and live), in-person | Online (self-paced, plus live review sessions) | Online (self-paced) | Online (self-paced) |
| Higher score or your money back (restrictions apply) | 7-day money-back guarantee +10-point improvement | Higher score or your money back Free repeat if not happy | Restart the course or money back if you miss your goal | No score Guarantee | Get the score you want or free 6-month repeat |
| Amount of study materials, live in-person or online instruction, tutoring | Affordability, stellar customer support, personalized dashboard | Live in-person or online instruction, tutoring | Quantity of material, 6 content review eBooks | Flexible budget-friendly plans, rank estimator | Plan flexibility, amount of study materials |
| Books Included | Books Included | Books Included | eBooks Included | No Books Included | Books Included |
| Study Planner | Study Planner | No Study Planner | Study Planner | No Study Planner | Study Planner |
Things to Consider When Choosing an MCAT Prep Course
When choosing the best MCAT prep course for your individual needs, you should consider your:
- Learning style
- Motivation
- Budget
Understanding where you are in your MCAT prep process (personal schedule, time until exam) will also help you decide on the best option and how you’re going to fit the course into your already busy schedule.
Online MCAT Prep Course Reviews
The Princeton Review
Princeton Review MCAT has excellent name recognition. Founded in 1981, they offer a wide range of resources, like test prep, tutoring, admissions assistance, and printed prep books. Their MCAT prep course focuses on high-quality video instruction with lectures that break down essential and tough topics into concepts that you’ll find easy to understand. One of their best features is the detailed score reports used to gauge your progress.
The course has diagnostic exams that measure your improvement in each MCAT subject, so you can focus your time on the subjects you need to improve.
The Princeton Review offers a variety of options: a Self-Paced course, the Ultimate Course, a 515+ Course, a 515+ Immersion program, a Winter Bootcamp and private tutoring. Prices change often, so check the current price before you enroll.
The higher tiers add live online or in-person instruction and more practice exams. All of their courses are backed by a "score higher or your money back" guarantee, with restrictions.
In a hurry? Check out our deal here
Princeton Review MCAT Prep Course
Save $500 right now
Pros
- Number of practice tests
- Course software (diagnostics and detailed reports)
- Variety of Options (including in-person instruction)
- MCAT Exam Score Guarantee
Cons
- No free trial
- Pricier than other prep options
Kaplan MCAT
Kaplan has been a front-runner in the test prep game since 1938, when Stanley Kaplan started tutoring students in the basement of his parents’ Brooklyn home. Today, Kaplan is one of the largest test prep providers, and its online platform makes its courses convenient and easy to use.
Kaplan’s Self-Paced option lets you work online from home with on-demand instruction, full-length practice exams, a large question bank and MCAT prep books.
Kaplan’s live online courses are instructor-led and can also be watched on demand. Prices and package names change often, so check the current options on Kaplan’s site.
Kaplan also sells one-on-one tutoring packages that bundle the course materials with private sessions. Tutoring is the priciest way to prep.
In a hurry? Check out our deal here
Kaplan MCAT Prep Course
Just reduced all prices and Improved course material too!
Pros
- Printed course materials
- Wide range of course offerings
- Live and interactive instruction (The MCAT Channel)
- Great brand reputation
Cons
- Price tag
- No free trial
Magoosh MCAT
Magoosh is an online test prep company that has been around since 2011. All of their plans are 100% online, accessible from multiple devices, and backed by a 7-day money-back guarantee.
Magoosh organizes its MCAT video lessons by subject, and lesson transcripts let you decide whether to review, fast-forward or skip a video.
Magoosh MCAT prep comes with 740+ practice questions and three full-length practice tests designed with the look and feel of the actual exam. Each question comes with a text explanation.
You can pick a study schedule based on how long you have until test day, which is a great way to get organized.
See also our full Magoosh MCAT Review here.
They don’t offer tutoring, but they do provide email support from their MCAT team. Magoosh is one of the cheapest full MCAT courses; check the current price on their site.
In a hurry? Check out our deal here
Magoosh MCAT Course
Best prices on all the MCAT course material.
Pros
- Affordable
- Great mobile app
- 10-point improvement guarantee
- Great customer support
Cons
- Quantity of study material
- Only have self-paced option
Blueprint MCAT
Blueprint acquired Next Step Test Prep and overhauled their MCAT prep course. The self-paced course was listed from $999 (down from $1,499) when we checked, and the price varies with the access length you choose.
You’ll get a 5,000+ question adaptive Qbank and 16 full-length exams: 10 from Blueprint plus the 6 official AAMC practice exams, according to the Blueprint MCAT online course page. The course also includes a study planner and six content review eBooks.
A neat feature is unlimited live review sessions, about two hours each, six days a week, where MCAT instructors teach topics and answer questions. If you don’t reach your goal score, Blueprint lets you restart the course or get your money back (terms apply).
Pros
- Number of practice questions
- Number of practice exams
- MCAT instructors who scored in the MCAT 99th percentile
- Content eBooks and optional tutoring packages
Cons
- Pricey (tutoring starts at $2,250 for 10 hours)
AptarePrep MCAT
AptarePrep MCAT (formerly called AdaptPrep) offers personalized practice tools to build your skills and confidence for the MCAT. You choose the access length that fits your budget and the time you have until test day.
Plans run from $49 for 15 days to $199 for 365 days, and every plan includes the same features. You get 4,800+ practice questions and custom quizzes that get harder as you improve. On the downside, they don’t offer full-length tests.
You can get answers to your questions in their discussion forum. AptarePrep’s section reports show your progress across each topic so you can focus on areas where you need more help.
Their rank estimator predicts your likely percentile rank for each MCAT section. Sign up for the free 3-day trial to see if AptarePrep is for you.
Pros
- Unlimited quizzes
- Discussion forum
- Rank estimator
Cons
- No full-length tests
- No lecture content
The Gold Standard MCAT
The Gold Standard MCAT is a long-running MCAT prep publisher. They produce prep books, online videos, flashcards, mobile apps and full-length online practice exams that simulate the real MCAT.
Their larger packages bundle prep books, full-length practice tests and thousands of practice questions, while smaller packages cover a single need. Package contents, prices and guarantee terms change, so check the current options before you buy.
Pros
- Number of practice exams and questions
- Prep books
- Free resources
- Number of plan options
Cons
- Platform is outdated
- Confusing web page
What is the Best MCAT Prep Course?
Let’s compare the six MCAT prep courses on pricing, practice materials, guarantees and standout features.
Pricing
Self-paced programs give you the best value. It’s when you add live classes and tutoring that the price tag can really skyrocket.
For a basic self-paced online course, Magoosh and AptarePrep are the bargains. AptarePrep gives you a full year of access for $199, and Magoosh has a solid platform and course materials for the price.
The Gold Standard sells packages at several price points. Kaplan, Princeton Review and Blueprint offer live instruction and tutoring, so they are the priciest options, but they can be worth it if you need the extra help.
Compare the features before you buy. Several programs offer a free trial or a short money-back window, so use it to make sure the course is the right fit.
Top Pick: Magoosh MCAT
Practice Materials
Full-Length Practice Tests
Full-length practice exams under realistic conditions are one of the best ways to prepare. Make sure you’re consistently getting the scores you want before you sit for the actual exam.
Kaplan, Princeton Review and Blueprint all include a large set of full-length practice tests (Blueprint’s 16 include the six official AAMC exams). We give the nod to Princeton Review because of their great analytics. Not only do they show you the results of your tests, but it also breaks them down by topic area and provides a goal tracker to keep you on target. It’s also important to remember the timing on taking the MCAT, so see our full When Should You Take The MCAT here for more guide.
Top Pick: The Princeton Review
Practice Questions
Practice makes perfect when it comes to practice questions too! In addition to offering a large number of questions to prepare you for the MCAT, they should also be adaptive, allow you to set the pace, and show you where you need work.
Kaplan and the Gold Standard offer large question banks, and Blueprint has a 5,000+ question adaptive Qbank. Even though The Princeton Review doesn’t offer the most practice questions, their personalized approach to learning focuses on your strong and weak areas, so you can save time and frustration going through needless questions.
Top Pick: Princeton Review
Guarantees
All of the top MCAT prep courses want to make sure you are happy with its product and get you the scores that you need to realize your dream of a career in medicine. Some will return your money if you’re not happy, and others will promise a higher score after you complete their course.
Most of the programs (except AptarePrep) back their course with a score guarantee. Magoosh promises a 10-point improvement, and Blueprint lets you restart or get your money back if you miss your goal. The Princeton Review guarantees a higher score or your tuition back, with restrictions. You can also see our How Many Times Can You Take The MCAT if you’re interested.
Top Pick: The Princeton Review
Standout Features
All of the top MCAT prep programs we reviewed have features and resources that will help you crush the MCAT or significantly increase your test score. Now that you have seen the pros and cons of each course and what programs have the best features, check out what makes each program scream, “buy me!”
- The Princeton Review MCAT has a large offering of study materials and in-person instruction and tutoring.
- Kaplan MCAT offers a wide variety of course options like live online and in-person classes.
- Magoosh MCAT offers an affordable self-paced course and stellar customer support.
- Blueprint MCAT offers 16 full-length exams, including the six official AAMC exams, and daily live review sessions.
- AptarePrep offers a variety of flexible, budget-friendly plans and their rank estimator.
- The Gold Standard MCAT has many package options and a large selection of printed prep books.
Top MCAT Prep Course: The Princeton Review
Conclusion
Use The Princeton Review MCAT if:
- you want plenty of practice exams.
- you want great analytics to gauge your skills.
- you want the most options (including in-person classes and one-on-one tutoring).
- See more here
Use Kaplan MCAT if:
- you want the option for in-person classes and tutoring support.
- you want some of the best MCAT prep books on the market.
- you want a trusted test prep brand.
- See more here
Use Magoosh MCAT if:
- you want an affordable MCAT course.
- you want a score improvement guarantee.
- you want excellent customer support.
- See more here
Use Blueprint MCAT if:
- you want plenty of full-length exams, including the official AAMC ones.
- you want live review sessions with expert instructors.
- you want content eBooks and a tutoring option.
Use AptarePrep if:
- you want a low-cost plan with a percentile rank estimator.
- you want unlimited personalized quizzes.
- you want academic support via a discussion forum.
Use The Gold Standard MCAT if:
- you want a large number of practice exams and questions.
- you want tons of prep books.
- you want a wide choice of plan options.
Read More About the MCAT
Sources
- About the MCAT Exam, AAMC
- MCAT Online Course, Blueprint Prep
- MCAT Prep, Magoosh
- MCAT Prep Plans, AptarePrep