The Best GMAT Test Prep Courses

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Updated September 27, 2023

The GMAT is a test many students take before applying to business school. Follow this guide to find GMAT test prep courses.

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A joint survey conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council found that 87% of business school graduates agree that their degree enhanced their employability.

Professionals often pursue MBAs while maintaining their current positions. Earning an MBA can increase your job advancement opportunities and salary.

Some business schools accept work experience instead of standardized test scores. But business schools that do require candidates to submit standardized test scores might require the GMAT.

Standardized tests can help schools determine whether a candidate's reading, writing, and analytical skills are a good match for the program.

The best GMAT test prep courses provide plans of study, examples, and practice tests for students to feel more confident about taking the test.

Learners can choose from several available GMAT test prep courses depending on their learning styles and format preferences. Explore top GMAT test prep courses in this guide to find the right fit.

Featured GMAT Test Prep Courses

The following list includes GMAT test prep courses (listed alphabetically) that we believe could benefit students preparing for the GMAT. We analyzed features like pricing, course length, course content, and instructional delivery options.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute professional financial advice. All information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. Readers of this website should contact a professional advisor before making decisions about financial issues.

Bloomberg Exam Prep GMAT Prep

Students can increase their GMAT score by as much as 90 points with Bloomberg Exam Prep's GMAT Prep course. The self-paced program includes ask-a-tutor questions, practice exams, and sessions with live tutors. The ability to pay weekly on an auto-renew plan is a unique feature for learners who have ample study time for one or two weeks as they prepare for the GMAT.

  • Cost: $49/week or $599-$999 for up to six months of access
  • Course Length: Self-paced
  • Content: Practice exams, live tutoring, essay reviews
  • Devices: Desktops, laptops, and mobile devices
  • Get It: Bloomberg Exam Prep

EmpowerGMAT

EmpowerGMAT's GMAT Prep course includes on-demand lessons and a customized, dynamic calendar for course-takers to plan their studies. As learners answer questions, EmpowerGMAT gives quick and actionable feedback for improvement. The program is designed to create a realistic experience similar to test day, even mimicking the GMAT's yellow lined scratch paper in instructional videos.

  • Cost: $99-$149/month or $600 for three months of access
  • Course Length: Self-paced
  • Content: Text and video lessons, personalized study plan, practice questions
  • Devices: Desktops and laptops
  • Get It: EmpowerGMAT

ExamPAL GMAT Prep Course

The ExamPAL GMAT Prep Course comes in three versions, each with interactive learning videos, practice exams, and reviews of analytical essays. With Premium and Genius plans, students also get live tutoring sessions for personalized help with concepts they need more guidance with. The customized system uses your responses to adapt to your learning style.

  • Cost: $449-$989 for up to six months of access
  • Course Length: Self-paced with access for 2-6 months
  • Content: Practice tests, essay reviews, interactive videos, and one-on-one tutoring
  • Devices: Laptops and desktops
  • Get It: ExamPAL

GMAC's GMAT Official Starter Kit

Start your GMAT preparation for free with GMAC's starter kit featuring 90 past exam questions and two full-length practice exams. Learners practice with the same scoring methods as the official GMAT uses. They also receive detailed feedback about their time usage to help them better manage their time on test day.

  • Cost: Free
  • Course Length: Self-paced
  • Content: Full-length practice exams, custom practice sets, time management reports
  • Devices: Laptops, desktops, and mobile devices
  • Get It: GMAC/MBA.com

GMAT Tutor

GMAT Tutor offers a blend of private tutoring and self-paced lessons for GMAT success with its Premium and Genius plans. All plans also include practice tests, a library of verbal and quantitative lessons, and the ability to ask questions to a GMAT tutor. The customizable program recommends that course-takers spend about 20 minutes daily working through the lessons.

  • Cost: $449-$989 for up to six months of access
  • Course Length: Self-paced
  • Content: Practice tests, private tutoring, essay reviews, expert assessments
  • Devices: Desktops, laptops, and mobile devices
  • Get It: Economist Education

Magoosh GMAT Online Test Prep

Magoosh provides a full refund to students who take the GMAT and do not improve their score by at least 50 points after completing the Magoosh prep course. This course includes personalized homework, intimate class sizes, in-depth explanations for sample problems, and live expert-led instruction.

  • Cost: $599 for 12 months of access
  • Course Length: 16 hours of live instruction
  • Content: Live instruction, video explanations, and customized assignments
  • Devices: Laptops, desktops, and mobile devices
  • Get It: Magoosh Test Prep

Manhattan Prep by Kaplan GMAT Prep

Kaplan and Manhattan Prep jointly created this program to meet the needs of GMAT test-takers at every stage of their journeys. Choose between a self-paced toolkit, on-demand sessions, live instruction, tutoring, and a bootcamp. Zero-interest financing is available for affordable payments. Try a free class or workshop to enhance your GMAT strategy.

  • Cost: Free-$2,599
  • Course Length: Self-paced, 27 hours of live instruction, or a 2-3-week bootcamp
  • Content: Interactive video lessons, strategy guides and workbooks, practice assessments
  • Devices: Desktops, laptops, and mobile devices
  • Get It: Kaplan

PrepScholar GMAT Prep Course

PrepScholar Completely Customized Online GMAT Prep course-takers start with a free diagnostic assessment to evaluate their proficiency. Then, PrepScholar tailors their program to their needs, drilling down the concepts the student needs to focus on. The program guarantees a score boost of at least 60 points after completion.

  • Cost: $399 for four months of access
  • Course Length: 100+ hours
  • Content: Interactive lessons, video explanations, computer-adaptive practice questions, study plan
  • Devices: Laptops and desktops
  • Get It: PrepScholar

Target Test Prep GMAT Test Prep

Target Test Prep sets its GMAT Test Prep course apart from others with its error tracking feature designed to highlight common question-answering mistakes. Using its data, students can pinpoint trends in their answering behaviors to improve their GMAT accuracy. Additionally, the course includes more than 1,200 high-definition videos to assist with the verbal and quantitative sections.

  • Cost: $179-$599 for up to six months of access
  • Course Length: Self-paced
  • Content: Instructor-led videos, practice questions
  • Devices: Desktops, laptops, and mobile devices
  • Get It: Target Test Prep

The Princeton Review GMAT 700 Score Guaranteed

The Princeton Review offers a self-paced prep course and a live fundamentals course in addition to its GMAT 700 Score Guaranteed. However, the latter gives test-takers the most comprehensive content. It features over 47 hours of live online or in-person instruction, nearly 4,500 practice questions, and adaptive drills that mimic the GMAT.

  • Cost: $1,999
  • Course Length: 47 hours of instruction
  • Content: Video lessons, adaptive drills, explanation sessions, and practice tests
  • Devices: Laptops, tablets, and smartphones
  • Get It: The Princeton Review

Paying for GMAT Test Prep Courses

Depending on their length and how in-depth their content goes, top GMAT test prep courses vary in price from free to $2,000, on average. Saving money on test preparation for GMAT options is important for many students seeking a business degree.

First, consider free options. Free GMAT test prep courses often do not cover as much material as paid courses but provide essential prep content and sample tests.

Paid options sometimes offer financing through the testing company or a third party, like Affirm. Financing can help students pay for their prep courses over time rather than upfront.

Test-takers can also check the details of their scholarships and financial aid packages to determine if their funds cover test preparation.

Finally, remember that not all schools require the GMAT. Applying to schools with no GMAT requirements could be the best option for students looking to save.

Common Questions About GMAT Courses

Are GMAT prep courses worth it?

Yes. The best GMAT test prep courses include on-demand or live instructor-led videos and practice questions to help learners get a feel for the actual exam. Some courses also provide private tutoring sessions.

How can I prepare for the GMAT at home?

Consider signing up for a GMAT test prep course offering expert instruction and tutoring sessions with practice exams. If you cannot afford a paid program, use GMAC's GMAT starter kit to access complete practice exams as you prepare to take the real test.

Is self-study enough for GMAT?

Motivated learners might find that self-study helps them feel more confident about the GMAT. However, students that excel with instructor-led practice might need more intensive preparation with one-on-one tutoring, videos, and examples.

Which prep course is best for GMAT?

GMAT prep courses provide varied content and learning formats that cater to diverse learning needs. GMAC's GMAT starter kit is a good place for most test-takers to start. Or, get more in-depth instructor-led practice from The Princeton Review's GMAT 700 Score Guaranteed or Magoosh's GMAT Online Test Prep.

Reviewed by:

Portrait of Stephanie DeBord, MA

Stephanie DeBord, MA

Stephanie DeBord is an academic advisor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She has spent the past seven years at MSU Denver advising in various capacities. In her current role, she serves undeclared/exploratory students and helps them navigate the college experience, explore program options, and map out their degree plans.

Stephanie has a bachelor's degree in sport management and a master's degree in higher education and student affairs. Her background and expertise include hospitality, sports management, academic advising, the high school-to-college transition, student affairs, and higher education. You can learn more or connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn.

Stephanie is a paid member of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.

Page last reviewed August 6, 2022

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