If you’ve ever planned on taking the SAT or ACT, or even walked into a local Barnes and Nobles, you’ve probably seen or heard of The Princeton Review with the word “Princeton” bolded on the books’ covers. Despite its title, however, Princeton Review has nothing to do with Princeton University. 

Princeton Review offers test-prep services, tutoring and admissions resources, online courses and books published by Random House. With 4,000 instructors across 14 countries, it’s a mega all-in-one prep house for pretty much every widely taken standardized tests out there, including the SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP, and TOEFL, as well as assistance with the process of college admissions.

Founded in 1981, Princeton Review is one of the earliest brands that helped create the industry. Since then, the industry’s gotten a lot bigger and students can now choose out of a much wider set of test-prep options. Amidst many other burgeoning and already settled competitors, Princeton Review promises its students adaptive study material to your difficulty level, 24/7 on-demand help from expert tutors, and in-person tutors from a local Princeton Review center near you. 

With our comprehensive list of every program offered by Princeton Review, consider your choices, look into what it offers, and choose the best option for you.

SAT Prep

Taught by SAT and college admissions experts, the Princeton Review SAT offers a wide variety of options, each with a full-refund guarantee if there is no score improvement. If you’re not 100-percent satisfied with your course, you can also repeat the program for free.  

• Practice tests: Varies by course options, from as low as 15 to as high as 24 full-length practice tests

• Free service: 14-day free trial with access to the materials included in the SAT Self-Paced program

• Customization: Choose out of seven different options.
  • Lasting for a year, the SAT Self-Paced option includes 377 online drills, 15 full-length and single-section tests, more than 3,200 online practice questions, prep for the PSAT, informative score reports on your performance, and a personalized study plan updated based on your practice tests and drills. At $124 for a year, this option may be the most reasonably priced to many students. 
  • Also lasting for a year, the SAT & ACT Self-Paced option includes everything in the SAT Self-Paced option plus eight ACT and five PSAT full-length practice tests, more than 280 online video lessons, SAT & ACT practice questions online review sessions, and AP online video lessons on the following subjects: U.S. Government, U.S. History, World History, English Language, and Chemistry. 
  • The Ultimate option offers everything in the Self-Paced option plus 18 hours of class time with an SAT expert, unlimited access to SAT Advantage LiveOnline sessions, and three scheduled and proctored practice tests. You can choose to take this option as either LiveOnline or in-person at a Princeton Review building near you.
    • NOTE: The Ultimate option lasts for a year, but the countdown begins from the date your LiveOnline or in-person class starts. So, the earlier you enroll, the sooner you can get access to all the online studying materials.
  • Lasting for a year, the SAT 1400+ option includes 20 full-length practice tests, four proctored practice tests, eight single-section tests, 24/7 On-Demand Tutoring, review and practice books, a personalized study plan, ACT & PSAT Self-Paced Prep, unlimited access to SAT Advantage LiveOnline sessions, a full-refund guarantee if a student doesn’t score 1400 or higher, and help from an expert instructor. You can choose to take this option as either LiveOnline or in-person at a Princeton Review building near you.
    • NOTE: The SAT 1400+ option lasts for a year, but the countdown begins from the date your LiveOnline or in-person class starts. So, the earlier you enroll, the sooner you can get access to all the online studying materials. 
  • The Private Tutoring option offers everything in the SAT & ACT Self-Paced option plus unlimited access to SAT Advantage LiveOnline sessions, a custom-built app for managing progress, communicating and scheduling with tutors, review and practice books, and one-on-one sessions with expert tutors. 
  • The Cram Course option includes two full-length practice tests, eight section-specific practice tests, more than 3,200 online practice, 377 online drills, informative score reports, and six hours of live online lessons. 
  • Lastly, the On-Demand College Essay Review option offers 24/7 On-Demand service from an expert college admissions essay consultant at $59 per a draft. There is NO word limit. 

• Variety of content: On top of practice tests, both self-taken and proctored, you will get access to practice questions, video lessons, drills, personalized study plans, score reports, and LiveOnline and In-Person teaching. With every course option, students can use a set of 500 flashcards with English and Math concepts. The flashcards are available in print and online. 

• Price: Varies by course options, from as low as $56 or as high as $2,600 

ACT Prep

Taught by ACT and college admissions experts, the Princeton Review ACT offers a wide variety of options, each with a full-refund guarantee if there is no score improvement. If you’re not 100-percent satisfied with your course, you can also repeat the program for free.   

• Practice tests: Varies by course options, from as low as 15 to as high as 30 full-length practice tests

• Free service: 14-day free trial with access to the materials included in the ACT Self-Paced program

• Customization: Choose out of seven different options.
  • Lasting for a year, the ACT Self-Paced option includes 377 online drills, 8 full-length and single-section tests, more than 3,200 online practice questions, prep for the PSAT, informative score reports on your performance, and a personalized study plan updated based on your practice tests and drills. At $124 for a year, this option may be the most reasonably priced to many students. 
  • Also lasting for a year, the SAT & ACT Self-Paced option includes everything in the ACT Self-Paced option plus 15 SAT and 5 PSAT full-length practice tests, more than 280 online video lessons, SAT & ACT practice questions online review sessions, and AP online video lessons on the following subjects: U.S. Government, U.S. History, World History, English Language, and Chemistry. 
  • The Ultimate option offers everything in the Self-Paced option plus 18 hours of class time with an SAT expert, unlimited access to ACT Advantage LiveOnline sessions, and three scheduled, proctored practice tests. You can choose to take this option as either LiveOnline or in-person at a Princeton Review building near you.
    • NOTE: The Ultimate option lasts for a year, but the countdown begins from the date your LiveOnline or in-person class starts. So, the earlier you enroll, the sooner you can get access to all the online studying materials. 
  • Lasting for a year, the ACT 31+ option includes 10 full-length practice tests, four proctored practice tests, 20 single-section tests, 24/7 On-Demand Tutoring, review and practice books, a personalized study plan, SAT & PSAT Self-Paced Prep, unlimited access to SAT Advantage LiveOnline sessions, a full-refund guarantee if a student doesn’t score 31 or higher, and help from an expert instructor. You can only choose to take this option as LiveOnline. 
    • NOTE: The ACT 31+ option lasts for a year, but the countdown begins from the date your LiveOnline or in-person class starts. So, the earlier you enroll, the sooner you can get access to all the online studying materials. 
  • The Private Tutoring option offers everything in the SAT & ACT Self-Paced option plus unlimited access to ACT Advantage LiveOnline sessions, a custom-built app for managing progress, communicating and scheduling with tutors, review books, and one-on-one sessions with expert tutors. 
  • The Cram Course option includes two full-length practice tests, eight section-specific practice tests, more than 3,200 online practice, 377 online drills, informative score reports, and six hours of live online lessons. 
  • Lastly, the On-Demand College Essay Review option offers 24/7 On-Demand service from an expert college admissions essay consultant at $59 per a draft. There is NO word limit. 

• Variety of content: On top of practice tests, both self-taken and proctored, you will get access to practice questions, video lessons, drills, personalized study plans, score reports, and LiveOnline and In-Person teaching. 

• Price: Varies by course options, from as low as $56 or as high as $2,600 

PSAT Prep

The Princeton Review PSAT Prep offers both online and in-person prep programs for the PSAT, short for Preliminary SAT, a standardized test required for the National Merit Scholarship Program.

• Practice tests: Varies by course options 

• Free service: No free trial but free PSAT Practice test 

• Customization: Choose out of two different options.
  • The PSAT Cram option includes two full-length practice tests, informative score reports, six hours of LiveOnline lessons led by an expert instructor, and four expert-created strategy lessons. 
  • The PSAT Private Tutoring option offers three different options. Each option comes with an expert tutor matched to your goals, more than 2,000 practice questions, more than 140 expert-created video lessons, more than 240 online drills, review books, a customized dashboard, informative score reports, and a custom-built app for managing progress and communicating and scheduling sessions.
    • The PSAT Comprehensive option includes 18 hours of instruction at $167 per hour, three progress meetings, and tutor-satisfaction guarantee (if not, you’ll get another session for free). 
    • The PSAT Targeted option includes 10 hours of instruction at $180 per hour, but doesn’t include progress meetings or tutor-satisfaction guarantee.
    • The PSAT Intro option includes three hours of instruction at $190 per hour, but doesn’t include progress meetings or tutor-satisfaction guarantee.

• Variety of content: On top of practice tests, you will get access to practice questions, video lessons, drills, personalized study plans, score reports, and LiveOnline and In-Person teaching. 

• Price: Varies by course options, from as low as $399 or as high as $3,000

AP Prep

The Princeton Review AP Prep offers one-on-one expert tutoring experience, available in person and online, for the AP, short for Advanced Placement, with which you could earn college credit if passed.

• Practice tests: Varies by course options 

• Free service: No free trial 

• Customization: Choose out of three different tutoring options. Each option comes with an expert tutor matched to your goals, a customized dashboard, informative score reports, and a custom-built app for managing progress and communicating and scheduling sessions. Every option is available in person and online.
  • The AP Comprehensive includes 18 hours of instruction at $167 per hour, three progress meetings, and tutor-satisfaction guarantee (if not, you’ll get another session for free). 
  • The AP Targeted option includes 10 hours of instruction at $180 per hour, but doesn’t include progress meetings or tutor-satisfaction guarantee.
  • The AP Intro option includes three hours of instruction at $190 per hour, but doesn’t include progress meetings or tutor-satisfaction guarantee.

• Variety of content: Though the AP program only provides private tutoring options, you will still get access to online study tools, such as a dashboard and score reports. 

• Price: Varies by course options, from as low as $570 or as high as $3,000

College Admissions

Princeton Review offers different types of college admissions service for each of the four grade levels in high school. You can choose from a very selective option, such as the college essay review, to a very exhaustive service, such as the ultimate admissions package.

• Free service: One consulting session with an expert college admissions counselor 

• Customization: Choose out of eight different options. Depending on your grade level, certain options are NOT available.
  • The Strategy Session option offers a comprehensive needs assessment and an hour-long virtual meeting with a college admissions counselor. 
  • The Premier Essay Package option offers a brainstorming assignment to come up with compelling topics for one college essay prompt of your choice, a virtual brainstorming session with a college admissions counselor, and two rounds of detailed written feedback by an expert essay consultant.
  • The On-Demand Essay Review option offers one round of detailed written feedback on your essay draft by an expert essay consultant. There is no word limit, meaning the price is the same for a short answer response or a longer essay. 
  • The Sophomore Edge option offers two virtual meetings, one with a college admissions counselor and another with a college admissions coach, analysis on your transcript, guidance in identifying unique extracurricular and summer activities, a personalized prep plan for college admissions tests, such as the ACT, SAT, PSAT etc., and unlimited access to your personal college admissions coach.
  • The Ultimate Admissions Package includes a total of seven virtual meetings, four with a college admissions counselor and up to three with a college admissions coach, two rounds of detailed feedback on supplemental essays for up to five schools, final review of your top-choice application form, deadline management, unlimited admission support from your own admissions coach, up to three rounds of detailed feedback on your personal statement essay, a personalized college list of 20-25 schools, and post-application support, such as guidance on interview prep. 
  • The College List Building 101 option includes an hour-long virtual meeting with a college admissions counselor to create a personalized college list of 20-25 schools tailored to your profile and interests. 
  • The BS/MD option includes everything in the Ultimate Admissions Package plus assistance with up to eight BS/MD medical program application essays, interview prep, post application support, and additional application support, such as unlimited access to your personal admissions counselor and coach.   
  • The Professional Application Review option includes one round of a detailed feedback on one application form of your choice. 

• Variety of Content: Varying in grade level, extent of coverage and more, Princeton Review basically covers every bit of college admission process. If you’re not in need of the entire coverage, but just in an essay review or application review, there are services available for you too. 

• Price: Varies by service options, from $59 to $3,999  

TOEFL Prep

The Princeton Review TOEFL Prep service offers one-on-one expert tutoring experience, available in person and online, for the TOEFL, short for Test of English as a Foreign Language, a standardized language proficiency test required for non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. 

• Practice tests: Varies by course options 

• Free service: No free trial

• Customization: Choose out of three different tutoring options. Each option comes with an expert tutor matched to your goals, a customized dashboard, informative score reports, and a custom-built app for managing progress and communicating and scheduling sessions. Every option is available in person and online.
  • The TOEFL Comprehensive includes 18 hours of instruction at $167 per hour, three progress meetings, and tutor-satisfaction guarantee (if not, you’ll get another session for free). 
  • The TOEFL Targeted option includes 10 hours of instruction at $180 per hour, but doesn’t include progress meetings or tutor-satisfaction guarantee.
  • The TOEFL Intro option includes three hours of instruction at $190 per hour, but doesn’t include progress meetings or tutor-satisfaction guarantee.

• Variety of content: Though the TOEFL program only provides private tutoring options, you will still get access to online study tools, such as a dashboard and score reports. 

• Price: Varies by course options, from as low as $570 or as high as $3,000

Conclusion

Princeton Review is definitely one of the most widely known prep services for college prep. However, while Princeton Review provides ample quantity of practice questions for the tests they offer, you should definitely compare the features it offers against those of other competing services and see if it’s worth the money. Depending on the test you’re prepping for, it may or may not.