
Selecting the right MCAT prep course is the most important decision you will make on your journey towards becoming a Doctor.
You will be spending hundreds of hours studying, so it’s critical to find the course that best fits your learning style and background.
So here’s the good news – we have researched and reviewed every major online MCAT prep course so you don’t have to! The comparison chart below will help you determine which course best fits your needs.
MCAT Exam Prep Course Comparisons
MCAT Prep Courses |
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COMPANY | Gold Standard MCAT-Prep | Kaplan MCAT | The Princeton Review MCAT | Next Step |
DISCOUNTS | None | Save $250 | Save $150 [couponshortcode id=’16578′] |
None |
COURSE FORMATS | Online Self-Study | Online Self-Study, Live Online | Online Self-Study, Live Online | Online Self-Study |
FULL-LENGTH PRACTICE EXAMS | 16 | 13 | 13 | 12 |
VIDEO LECTURE HOURS | 30+ | 100 | 525 | 100 |
PRACTICE QUESTIONS |
7,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 10,000 |
NEWEST AAMC MATERIALS | ![]() |
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PREMIUM OPTION | ![]() |
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HIGHER SCORE GUARANTEE |
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EBOOKS | ![]() |
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FREE MOBILE APP |
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FLASHCARDS | ![]() |
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COURSE PLANNER | ![]() |
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COURSE EXPIRATION | 1 Year | Until You Pass | 270 Days | 6 Months |
GET STARTED | START NOW | START NOW | START NOW | START NOW |
Gold Standard MCAT-PREP (Rank: #1)
Competitive Price and Option to Pay as You Go: Priced at $1,500, Gold Standard’s MCAT review course offers a savings of several hundred dollars over the competition. You can also pay by the month (only $20 a month for each MCAT practice test, and just $49.99 an month for the online MCAT Crash Course) instead of having to make a large payment upfront. Gold Standard also offers an “MCAT Score Guarantee” which includes a repeat online access to their content for an additional 6 months if you don’t score well.
Variety of Resources can be Mixed and Matched: Choose from a complete review course, just the practice tests package, or the apps and flashcards, and many other options to get access to the precise study materials you need. Buying items a la carte also makes them a great add-on to another course if you are just looking for extra practice.
No Live Courses or Private Tutoring: Gold Standard is definitely aimed at self-motivated learners who are planning to proceed at their own pace without requiring much additional help in the way of staying motivated or private tutors. Although the course is geared towards self-motivated learners students have the option to seek help from test writers and fellow students through their MCAT forum as well as the discussion section that is provided in every MCAT practice question. By offering a more stripped down course, Gold Standard gives students a solid option that will not break the bank.
Kaplan MCAT (Rank: #2)
MCAT Channel: Kaplan’s MCAT Channel gives students access to live lectures from first-rate, experienced MCAT faculty six days a week in addition to on demand, pre-recorded content that is available 24/7. Recorded episodes can searched according to interests, study needs, or even favorite instructors! Live classes are broadcast for about 15 – 20 hours each week.
Wide Range of Course Options: Kaplan offers students many options to prepare for the MCAT. Choose from in-person classes, a live online course, an on-demand self-paced class, an intense six-week summer live session in one of 4 U.S. cities. Live and live online private tutoring options are also available.
Higher Score Guarantee and Access Until You Pass: Kaplan’s courses come with a great guarantee: if your score doesn’t go up, you can repeat the same program at no extra charge, or you can ask for your money back. You can study up until the very day of your exam with Kaplan’s course materials, which do not expire until you take the MCAT.
The Princeton Review MCAT (Rank: #3)
Self-Paced, Online, Live and Tutoring Options: Students can choose from a wide number of course options that will appeal to virtually every type of learner. Whether you want to learn from the comfort of your own home, attend a live, in person class, or spend 6 weeks in the summer at an intense workshop, The Princeton Review has a course for you.
Quality and Quantity of Study Material: No matter which course they choose, students will benefit from an impressive number of practice questions, practice tests, online material, videos, and proprietary learning software (amplifire learning tool). The Princeton Review also stands by the quality of its instruction by offering satisfaction and money back guarantees.
No Free Trial or Flashcards: Many students like to try a review course out to see if it is compatible with their learning style, or to compare it to other options. The Princeton Review invites students to take a free online test and attend a free workshop, but trying out the actual materials requires purchasing a course.
TAKE ME TO PRINCETON REVIEW MCAT
Supplemental MCAT Study Materials
10th Edition Examkrackers Study Package
Visuals: When it comes to study guides, this package provides you with in-depth explanations and advice like other products, but it also has an amazing visual representation of many concepts. With full color visuals on every page, you’re going to really see what is being covered. This type of visual experience also breaks up the content, giving you a breather during your study sessions.
Encompassing Package for Students: The Examkrackers study package comes replete with six preparatory materials that cover physics, chemistry (orgo and general), psychology & sociology, biology 1 and 2, and reasoning skills. Also, within each section, there are lectures – 24 questions for each lecture to reinforce the learned concepts – and plenty of descriptive information to hammer home the key concepts.
Exams : Though there are plenty of study materials within this package, the simulated MCAT practice is really unmatched. The practice section of this package comes with 32 topical exams that are 30 minutes each and mimic the actual MCAT format. This should be plenty of practice for any test taker, especially given that this is a supplemental study package.
Best MCAT Prep Course Rankings
MCAT Course | Company |
1. | Gold Standard MCAT-Prep |
2. | Kaplan |
3. | Princeton MCAT |