For students who want to improve their SAT scores, professional prep materials are vital. That’s why we spent 100+ hours researching and trying out the most popular SAT prep courses available. Here’s what we recommend:
| Program | Starting Cost |
|---|---|
| Best Free Course: Khan Academy Official SAT® Practice | Free |
| Best Results Guarantee: Princeton Review SAT Prep | $299 |
| Best Track Record: Kaplan SAT Prep | $640 |
| Best for Mobile: Magoosh SAT Prep | $129 |
| Best for Visual Learners: Olive Book SAT Course | Free |
| Best for Newcomer: PrepScholar SAT Prep | $397 |
| Best AI Tutor: Acely SAT Prep | $149 |
More than half of our recommended programs offer free access to certain materials. For example, while Varsity Tutors charges hourly rates for tutoring, free sign-up includes unlimited access to their online Learning Lab. With proper guidance, a motivated scholar can customize their own prep course at no cost.
Please note that the traditional SAT is no longer available. All references to SAT on this page refer to the Digital SAT only.
Best Free Course: Khan Academy Official SAT® Practice
- Best for every SAT test-taker.
- The only official SAT prep course.
- All prep material is available 100% free (donations accepted).
Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the official partner of the College Board, administrator of the SAT. Invaluable for its exclusive resources, Khan Academy’s content is based on what the upcoming SAT will look like, including its content and format.
Khan Academy’s prep course is the best first step for any student preparing to take the SAT. For some students, it may be the only prep course they need or have time for. Take full-length practice tests with Bluebook™ and receive a score analysis through Kahn’s My Practice portal. Assistive technology and technology assistance are available.
Should you select a premium SAT prep course, Kahn Academy is an excellent supplement. It can also help you decide what you want to pay for, such as 1-on-1 tutoring. Use practice exams as diagnostic tools to determine which subjects you need to spend more time studying.
On Kahn Academy’s website, you can register for the SAT, view your test scores, and find important dates, deadlines, and device requirements. Learn more about fee waivers and how to borrow a compatible device.
Learn more about Khan Academy or enroll for their SAT test prep course here.
Also refer to Kahn Academy for more about the full transition to the Digital SAT from its old paper format.
Best Results Guarantee: Princeton Review SAT Prep
- Score guarantees up to the 98th percentile.
- Live instruction online and in person.
- Private and 24/7 on-demand tutoring available.
Princeton Review offers multiple SAT prep courses, online and in-person, at various levels of intensity. Tutoring and 1-on-1 help is available, usually for an additional fee. All courses include 365 days of access to study and practice material. Discount codes may be available. Free access material includes one free full-length digital practice SAT.
Princeton Review’s courses are high-end in terms of quality and price. Extensive course material and resources are available with the most modestly priced courses. Interactive study guides and progress trackers let students see themselves advancing. Instructional material is appealing and informative.
Princeton Review’s private tutoring offers the best value among higher-end online tutoring services. This option includes a year of access to study materials, including drills, instructional videos, and practice questions. Best for self-starters and students with irregular schedules.
Learn more about the different courses and free material from Princeton Review here.
Princeton Review SAT Self-Paced
- Best value with tutoring; add 10 hours of OnDemand tutoring for $200 (a 43% discount).
- Options to include ACT and AP Test prep.
- Online only starting at $299.
For self-motivated students, Self-Paced is the best value. It includes access to most of the same practice and study materials available with any other Princeton Review package, minus the scheduled live online class time.
The abundance of quality coursework, videos and texts, practice exams, and more provide hundreds of hours’ worth of study and practice. If you take advantage of the discounted tutoring, you’ll have access to some of Princeton Review’s most valuable test prep resources: their instructors.
Princeton vets its instructors using a certification process then administers training specifically for the upcoming SAT.
Learn more or enroll in Princeton Review’s SAT Self-Paced course here.
Princeton Review SAT Essentials
- Princeton Review’s best option for most test-takers.
- Unlimited access to SAT Advantage LiveOnline.
- Live instruction online & in person for $649.
With 18 hours of scheduled class time, SAT Essentials fits well with a busy high school student’s schedule. Courses are available online and in person. Students also have a year of access to over 135 video lessons, as well as live study and review sessions. Essentials is sufficiently intensive for most test-takers.
Learn more or enroll in Princeton Review’s SAT Essentials course here.
Princeton Review SAT 1400+
- Most popular of Princeton Review’s SAT prep courses.
- 24/7 tutoring on-demand.
- Live instruction online & in person for $1,849.
Students enrolled in SAT 1400+ have access to 24/7 tutoring with 36+ hours of live classroom instruction. The 1400+ score money-back guarantee* applies to students with a previous score of 1250 or higher (making the price of each additional point a maximum of $10.67). Students with lower starting test scores are still guaranteed* a 150-point improvement.
*This guarantee includes requirements such as completion of a majority of coursework.
Learn more or enroll in Princeton Review’s SAT 1400+ course here.
Princeton Review SAT 1500+ Tutoring
- 98th percentile score guarantee.
- Live instruction online & in person for $376 per hour.
- Includes ACT test prep.
- Private tutoring is available.
SAT 1500+ Tutoring often tops SAT prep course “Best of” lists; this is objectively Princeton Review’s best course in terms of results. Notably, their 98th percentile score money-back guarantee is only valid with the successful completion of the 18-hour Comprehensive Tutoring package for a total cost of just under $7,000.
Learn more or enroll in Princeton Review’s SAT 1500+ Tutoring course here.
Princeton Review SAT Summer Camp
- Best marathon cram session (cramming not recommended).
- Most intensive of Princeton Review’s programs.
- Best for test-takers with only two (2) weeks to study.
- Live instruction online & in person for $1,199.
This two-week bootcamp makes use of the least effective method of study (i.e., “cramming”) at an exclusively high cost. Summer Camp offers many of the same study aids found in the Essentials course. The program includes unlimited SAT Advantage sessions, over 140 video lessons, and access more than half-a-million hours of Princeton Review’s LiveOnline session. Still consider this the option of last resort; it’s always better to study regularly over a long period, giving yourself the option to read and review.
Learn more or enroll in Princeton Review’s SAT Summer Camp course here.
Best Track Record: Kaplan SAT Prep
- The original test preparation company (founded 1938).
- Longest positive track record among SAT prep courses.
- Best textbooks.
Kaplan’s founder is generally considered the patriarch of SAT prep.[1] The company has been time-tested and does not appear to be resting on laurels. Kaplan offers one free online trial class, sample free practice materials, and a money-back guarantee. ACT, Inc. has also partnered with Kaplan as the official live online prep for the ACT®.
Kaplan SAT On Demand
- Kaplan’s most affordable SAT prep program.
- Improved score money-back guarantee.
- Six (6) months of access for $199.
On Demand material includes instructional videos, study guides, practice tests, and access to Kaplan’s Qbank with over 500 practice questions. Kaplan recommends at least 30 minutes of daily study to prepare for the SAT. With that regimen, On Demand provides enough material for weeks of self-guided instruction.
All courses come with access to On Demand. Learn more or enroll here.
Kaplan SAT Live Online
- Kaplan’s most popular SAT prep course.
- Choose courses in 2- to 8-week sessions.
- Live instruction with 2+ teachers per class for $799.
SAT Live Online includes 18 hours of live instruction and four (4) realistic practice tests. The flexible payment plan is a bonus that may make all the difference for some scholars.
Kaplan’s Live Online program course includes a lead instructor (the same one for every class in that session) and at least one other instructor to monitor student chat and respond to questions.
Learn more or enroll in SAT Live Online, click here.
Kaplan SAT Live Online Plus
- Best sample of Kaplan tutoring.
- Choose from the same sessions as Live Online.
- Live instruction plus tutoring for $1,099.
This program includes everything from Live Online plus three (3) hours of 1-on-1 tutoring with an expert instructor who will answer questions, guide you through review and test taking strategies, and give you personalized recommendations. Live Online Plus also includes Kaplan’s Digital SAT Practice Book.
Learn more or enroll in SAT Live Online Plus here.
Kaplan Standard SAT Tutoring
- Kaplan’s best value tutoring.
- Choose one course session and a block of tutoring sessions.
- Instruction plus tutoring plus high score guarantee starting from $1,999.
Kaplan generally offers tutoring in blocks of 10, 20, 30, and 40 hours. With Standard SAT Tutoring, Kaplan connects you with a private instructor for one-on-one sessions. This program also includes a new digital SAT prep book (with an extra practice test), more in-depth practice test score analysis, and 1-on-1 classroom chat (as opposed to a student chatroom).
Learn more or enroll in Standard SAT Tutoring here.
Kaplan Premium SAT Tutoring
- Best score analysis.
- Instructors have a minimum of 8 years’ experience.
- Instruction plus tutoring plus high score guarantee from $2,999.
The key difference between Standard and Premium SAT Tutoring is educator experience. This prep course includes everything from Standard SAT Tutoring plus veteran lead instructors with 8+ years of experience and tutors who scored in the SAT’s 99th-percentile.
To learn more about Kaplan or to enroll in Premium SAT Tutoring, click here.
Kaplan Unlimited Prep
- Best class time flexibility.
- Includes prep for PSAT, ACT, and AP exams.
- Live instruction for $1,999.
Unlimited Prep covers material for most college entrance exams, including advanced placement tests. Scholars may schedule classes any time and take as many courses as they like until December of their senior year of high school. This course also includes 10 physical textbooks; research indicates that physical books may be more effective than text on screen for reading comprehension and memorization.
According to Kaplan, their Unlimited Prep course is a $5,300 value. Learn more about Kaplan or enroll in Unlimited Prep here.
Kaplan SAT Bootcamp
- Courses in 2- to 3-week sessions.
- More effective than weekend cramming.
- Live Zoom sessions plus on-demand video learning for $799.
While Kaplan advertises a bootcamp prep course, they didn’t cave to consumer demand without considering the established facts about cram sessions.
Decades of research and clinical trials have concluded that long term study and review is more effective than cram sessions. Frequent breaks, however, can improve the efficacy of shorter study periods. Most “bootcamps” try to cram an entire prep course into a few days; Kaplan’s bootcamps are 2- to 3-week sessions.
Learn more or enroll in Kaplan’s SAT bootcamp here.
Best for Mobile: Magoosh SAT Prep
- Best mobile interface.
- Live online courses and video lessons.
- Vocabulary challenges vs. other scholars.
Magoosh’s mobile applications have the most versatility, allowing students to study and practice using multiple tested methods. Students can quiz themselves and each other. The user-friendly interface is perfect for learning on the go. Partial access is available with a 7-day free trial that includes a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee.
Magoosh SAT Self-Paced
- Best value self-paced course.
- Thousands of hours of video lessons.
- Live online and video instruction for $129.
The best relatively low-cost self-paced SAT course, Magoosh’s self-paced offers more practice material and guidance than other programs that cost more. For one year, students have access to over 200 video lessons and test explanations, tutor email support, practice tests, flashcards, and other study aids.
This program includes a 100-point boost guarantee (subject to completion of specific course requirements).
To learn more about Magoosh or to enroll in Magoosh’s SAT course, click here.
Magoosh SAT Guided Study
- Best mobile live instruction.
- The same benefits as Magoosh self-paced but with additional guidance.
- Live online & video instruction for $399.
Guided Study includes everything the Self-Paced course does, plus 16 hours of live instruction with an instructor whose SAT score was in the 99th percentile. In addition to fiscal value, Magoosh is mobile-friendly; it’s the best option for students who are on the move. This may also be the best option for students who want to take a traditional test prep course but do not have access to a computer.
To learn more about Magoosh or to enroll in Magoosh’s SAT course, click here.
Best for Visual Learners: Olive Book SAT Course
- Animated video explanations.
- Free study available.
- Live online & video instruction for $899.
Visual learners may work best with Olive Book, which uses animated videos as its primary text. Its website claims the average student boosted their SAT score by 160 points using the Olive Book paid course. Research indicates that animation is an effective teaching tool.[3]
Olive Book’s best offering is its animated videos. Otherwise, course content and material are fairly standard. In other words, this course is best for students who continue to struggle with concepts, explanations, or paying attention.
While most SAT prep courses include some element of visual learning, Olive Book’s animated approach may improve student performance more than a live-action or nonanimated video.
Two-thirds of K-12 teachers believe animation is an effective visual aid. Animation reminds viewers of cartoons; students recall pleasant experiences watching cartoons, prompting them to pay more attention to the lesson. Furthermore, animated explanations stimulate creativity, which fuels problem-solving.
Students who complete at least 75% of the course are guaranteed to score at least 1350 or their money back.
To learn more about Olive Book or to enroll in Olive Book’s SAT Course, click here.
| Percentile | Among SAT Test Takers | Among National Sample |
|---|---|---|
| 99+ | 1560 – 1600 | 1520 – 1600 |
| 99 | 1520 – 1550 | 1450 – 1510 |
| 98 | 1490 – 1510 | 1420 – 1440 |
| 97 | 1470 – 1480 | 1390 – 1410 |
| 96 | 1450 – 1460 | 1370 – 1380 |
| 90 – 95 | 1350 – 1440 | 1290 – 1360 |
| typical cutoff for selective institutions | ||
| 85 – 89 | 1290 – 1340 | 1240 – 1280 |
| 80 – 84 | 1250 – 1280 | 1190 – 1230 |
| 70 – 79 | 1170 – 1240 | 1120 – 1180 |
| 60 – 69 | 1110 – 1160 | 1060 – 1110 |
| 50 – 59 | 1050 – 1100 | 1010 – 1050 |
| 40 – 49 | 990 – 1040 | 960 – 1000 |
| 30 – 39 | 930 – 980 | 910 – 950 |
| typical cutoff for most institutions | ||
| 20 – 29 | 860 – 920 | 840 – 900 |
| 10 – 19 | 780 – 850 | 770 – 830 |
| 1 – 9 | 630 – 770 | 630 – 760 |
| -1 | 400 – 620 | 400 – 620 |
Best Newcomer: PrepScholar SAT Prep
- Structured weekly study.
- Live instructors with AI assistance.
- 160+ point increase money-back guarantee.
Launched in 2013, PrepScholar offers live instruction and tutoring in conjunction with AI assistance. Students in the top quartile improved their SAT score by 370 points or more.
While one year of access costs $397, PrepScholar offers bundle deals for 50% off or more. For example, an additional year of SAT access is another $180 (total $577) while SAT and ACT prep together is $597.
PrepScholar offers a 5-day free trial period. Students begin with a 60-question exam that takes roughly 90 minutes to complete. After completing the test, students receive a weekly study plan based on the results.
To learn more about PrepScholar, click here.
Best AI Tutor: Acely SAT Prep
- 24-hour AI tutoring that is more affordable than a traditional tutor.
- Plans start at $49 per month, $149 per year.
- 200+ point increase money-back guarantee.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a growing influence. Students who expect to use AI professionally may be interested in an SAT prep service that makes extensive use of the technology.
While other SAT prep providers have incorporated AI, Acely has made it the foundation of its program. Acely advertises a personalized study plan and an AI tutor in addition to more traditional program materials, such as practice questions.
With an unusually short free trial period (3 days), Acely offers monthly, quarterly, and annual plan options. Every tier has access to 30 practice tests and 9,000 questions.
Acely promises that students who complete program requirements are guaranteed an SAT score increase of 200 points or more with a 100% money-back guarantee.
To learn more about Acely, click here.