Kaplan SAT Prep Review
Kaplan is a great place to begin your search for an SAT prep course. Their prep options include practice questions, full-length practice tests with score analysis, review books, and video lessons. Read on to see how Kaplan can help you reach your target SAT score.
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How do I know if Kaplan SAT is right for me?
Kaplan offers a wide variety of prep options designed to help students like you master college entrance exams. Even though their SAT course is a bit more expensive than some of its competitors, you do get lots of options. You can choose from their self-paced, live online (lecture or small class), in-person programs, and tutoring programs. If you just want to go through questions, you can simply get Kaplan’s Qbank, which is chock-full of custom quizzes.
Make sure any course you choose is built for the digital SAT. Since 2024, the SAT has two sections, Reading and Writing and Math, taking 2 hours and 14 minutes in total, and the essay is gone. You can also visit our Best SAT Prep Courses here if you want to know what other options you have.
About Kaplan, Inc.
Kaplan has been in test prep 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 companies.
Why Kaplan?
Here are the features that make their SAT prep course a serious contender. Their SAT Prep On Demand course lets you work online from the comfort of your own home. They also offer live and on-demand instructor-led Live Courses (Lecture or Small Class). The In-Person course puts you in the room with your instructor. Kaplan has also sold an Unlimited Prep package covering the PSAT, SAT and ACT. All courses come with video lessons, review questions, and practice tests.
The SAT Tutoring package adds private, one-on-one tutoring to the course materials.
Kaplan SAT Prep Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great Choice of Course Options
- Quality Print Materials
- Tons of Questions and Practice Tests
- Live and On-Demand Interactive Lessons (The SAT Channel)
- Top-Notch Instructors
Cons
- More Expensive than Other Providers
- Course Platform Not Intuitive
Things to Consider Before Buying
Kaplan is one of the best-known SAT prep providers among students and parents. You may pay more for their programs, but their live classes and tutoring are a strong fit if you want instructor support.
Here are some things you need to think about before you buy the Kaplan SAT course:
- Do you want the option of live online or in-person classes?
- Do you want the chance to get in lots of practice before the SAT?
- Do you want hard copy review books to come with your course?
- Do you want access to an app that lets you take your test prep course on the road?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, Kaplan could be the right choice for students like you. We have researched and highlighted the features of Kaplan’s SAT program to help you make this critical decision.
Features and Benefits
A Variety of Course Options and Platforms
On-Demand Course
With the SAT Prep On Demand course, you can work online from home (or anywhere with their mobile app). You’ll get on-demand videos covering content and test-taking strategies, practice questions (including the Qbank), and full-length practice tests.
Kaplan’s Learn It, Drill It, Prove It approach moves you from lessons to practice to timed tests. Prices, trial offers and contents change, so check kaptest.com for the current lineup.
Live Online Lecture and Small Class
SAT Live Online Lecture is an instructor-led online class where students can ask questions, just like an in-person classroom. It adds scheduled live sessions and the SAT Channel to the on-demand materials.
The SAT Live Online Small Class course gives you the feel of a real class online, where you can engage with your instructor and classmates. It comes with the features of the online lecture course.
In-Person Classes
The In-Person Course places you in the room with your instructor, face-to-face, along with the features of the live courses.
* In-person classes are offered only in some cities and on set dates. Make sure to check their schedule ahead of time [1]. If you need to start sooner, check out their online test prep courses.
Awesome Tutoring Packages
Kaplan’s tutoring package [2] pairs one-on-one tutoring with Kaplan’s course materials. Tutoring is the priciest option; check kaptest.com or call 1-800-KAP-TEST for current hours and prices.
Free Diagnostic Full-Length Practice Test
A good first step is taking Kaplan’s free practice test. This way, you can gauge your strengths and weaknesses and formulate a plan to attack the areas where you need to put in a bit more effort. Knowing your baseline SAT score will help you find the best way to reach your goals.
The practice test covers Reading and Writing and Math, so you can get a feel for your pacing and the types of questions on the digital SAT. The real test has 98 questions: 54 in Reading and Writing and 44 in Math.
Pair any course with the College Board’s official full-length practice tests in the Bluebook app, which use the same interface as test day.
Loads of Practice Questions
Kaplan’s quiz bank offers a large set of practice questions, so you can practice as much as you need.
When using their quiz bank (Qbank), you can filter the review questions by type and difficulty, tailoring your study plan to focus on the skills and types of questions that may be hard for you. To simulate the actual test, use Timed Mode. Use Tutor Mode to review the questions as you answer them.
The Qbank also lets you customize your review sessions by topic and provides you with progress reports, comprehensive explanations for every answer choice, and personalized feedback to help you continuously review and improve your weak areas.
The SAT Channel
Kaplan’s SAT Channel streams live or on-demand interactive lessons. Episodes cover everything from fundamentals to advanced skills, and you can choose the topics that need attention.
Which packages include the live channel varies, so check before you buy. Episodes are archived for on-demand viewing.
Hardcopy Course Materials
Kaplan also publishes SAT review books, such as SAT Prep Plus and SAT Total Prep, that line up with its course content. You can buy them separately from Kaplan or anywhere test prep books are sold. Buy a current edition written for the digital SAT; older paper-SAT editions cover a test that no longer exists.
Mobile Study App
Kaplan’s Study App gives you on-the-go access to your course materials and practice questions. We found it a little harder to use on a phone than the course is on a PC or tablet.
Higher Score and Money-Back Guarantee
Kaplan offers a Higher Score Guarantee on eligible courses: if your score does not improve, you may get a refund or another option. You must meet the conditions, such as completing the course and showing an official prior score. The terms change, so for full details, check out their website.
Good Access to Customer Service
Kaplan offers several ways to contact them if you have a question or need tech support. Options include live chat, email, social media and phone at 1-800-KAP-TEST (1-800-527-8378). You can also visit the Help Center for articles and FAQs.
Is Kaplan SAT Prep Any Good?
The easiest way to find out the worth of any SAT test prep course is to hear what past students have said about their program. Here are just a few endorsements from previous Kaplan students who praise the merits of their SAT course:
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Conclusion
Overall, Kaplan is one of the best options for SAT test prep. It offers a wide choice of course options from self-paced to live online to in-person classes and private tutoring. The programs come with plenty of practice questions and practice tests, and their print materials are an excellent complement to their online resources.
The SAT Channel is a great way to view live and on-demand lessons. Their tutoring program is a strong option if you want one-on-one help. Kaplan offers free resources to assess your current skills, and the Higher Score Guarantee adds some peace of mind (read the current conditions first).
Even though their live online/in-person courses and tutoring programs are pricey, and the course was somewhat challenging to use, Kaplan SAT test prep is an excellent pick if you want to raise your SAT score.
Sources
- How the SAT Is Structured, College Board
- SAT Practice Tests, College Board