Kaplan SAT Prep (2025): Reliable and Comprehensive

The Verdict: The “Big Box” Standard

Kaplan is the other giant in the room alongside Princeton Review. For decades, Kaplan has been synonymous with test prep. Their SAT offering is polished, professional, and reliable.

While they may not offer the flashy “1500+ Guarantee” that Princeton Review does, they offer a very solid “Higher Score Guarantee” and often come in at a slightly lower price point. Kaplan is excellent for the “average” student who needs structure, good teaching, and plenty of practice material.

The “Live Online” Experience

Kaplan’s standout feature is its Live Online platform. It’s not just a Zoom call.

• The Teacher: You see a master teacher on screen delivering the lesson.
• The TAs: In the chat, there are multiple Teaching Assistants (TAs) answering student questions in real-time. This means you never have to wait to get an answer, and the main teacher doesn’t get bogged down.
• The Channel: Kaplan offers an “SAT Channel” which is like a TV guide of live elective sessions. You can tune in to “Advanced Math” on Tuesday or “Reading Comprehension” on Thursday. It gives you flexibility beyond the core curriculum.

The Kaplan Method

Kaplan teaches a very structured approach to the test.

• Step-by-Step: For every question type, there is a specific Kaplan Method. Read the question, identify the type, predict the answer, etc.
• Consistency: This is great for students who feel overwhelmed. It gives you a recipe to follow for every single problem.

Resources and Books

Kaplan is one of the few online courses that still sends you physical books.

• The Big Book: You get a comprehensive course book to follow along with the lectures.
• Practice Tests: You get access to 9 full-length practice tests, which is plenty for most students.

Kaplan vs. Princeton Review

• Price: Kaplan is often slightly cheaper.
• Vibe: Kaplan feels a bit more “school-like” and supportive. Princeton Review feels a bit more “strategic” and aggressive.
• Guarantees: Princeton Review wins on specific score guarantees. Kaplan guarantees you will score higher, but doesn’t promise a specific number (unless you are in a specific high-end tutoring package).

Final Thoughts

Kaplan is a safe, solid choice. You won’t go wrong with it. The Live Online classes are arguably the best in the business due to the multi-teacher format. If you learn best by listening to a teacher and asking questions, Kaplan is the way to go.

Our Recommendation:

• Best Value: The Live Online course. It gives you the structure of a class without the commute.
• Self-Starters: The On Demand course is decent, but for self-study, UWorld or Khan Academy might be better options.