What are the best exam prep course providers for preparing for a standardized test?

The “best” exam prep provider depends a lot on which standardized test you mean and how you learn best. But for most major exams, these are the most commonly recommended providers:

Top general exam prep providers

• Kaplan — Very well-known, strong for structured programs and live classes.
• Princeton Review — Good for clear instruction, test strategies, and practice materials.
• Magoosh — Often a great value, especially for self-paced online prep.
• PrepScholar — Popular for adaptive, personalized study plans.
• UWorld — Excellent practice questions and explanations, especially for harder exams.
• Manhattan Prep — Strong reputation for GMAT, GRE, and some other grad admissions tests.

Best by test type

SAT / ACT

• Princeton Review
• Kaplan
• The College Board / ACT official prep for official practice
• Magoosh for online flexibility

GRE / GMAT

• Manhattan Prep
• Kaplan
• Magoosh
• Target Test Prep (especially strong for GMAT quant)

LSAT

• Blueprint
• PowerScore
• 7Sage
• LSAC official materials

MCAT

• Kaplan
• The Princeton Review
• AAMC official materials
• UWorld for question practice

USMLE / medical exams

• UWorld
• Kaplan
• Board and Beyond
• Amboss

CPA / accounting exams

• Becker
• Wiley
• Roger CPA Review

How to choose the best one

Look for:

• Official-style practice questions
• Detailed answer explanations
• Live vs. self-paced options
• Adaptive study plans
• Pass guarantees or score guarantees
• Updated content for the current exam format
• Price and refund policy

Quick rule of thumb

• If you want premium structured instruction: Kaplan or Princeton Review
• If you want best online value: Magoosh
• If you want lots of practice and deep explanations: UWorld
• If you want highly test-specific prep: use the provider most known for that exam

If you tell me which test you’re preparing for, I can recommend the best 3 providers for that exact exam.