Are you struggling to find the best ACT prep material to kick start your studying? Are you wondering if ACT online prep review is the way to go? Well, wonder no more. ACT season is among us, and it’s only right we bring you a review one of the most popular test preparation companies around.
Imagine purchasing review material strictly off the strength of someone’s opinion, only to find that none of the material work for you. Instead of receiving the score that you wanted, you now have to opt to retake the exam and continue the studying process. Don’t worry; we got you.
This guide will contain all the information you need on the ACT online prep review and ultimately let you know if the review and will ultimately help you determine if Princeton review good for the ACT. All you have to do is keep reading to find out more.
Before you choose whether or not Princeton Review is right for you, check out our Magoosh ACT prep review here. We believe Magoosh provides greater bang for your buck in ACT prep today.
What’s the Story Behind the Princeton Review?
The Princeton Review produces resources that are heavily utilized by college students and the like. It can be explained as a college admission services company. John Katzman and Adam Robinson created the company. The two created the company in 1981 after leaving college to teach SAT prep to students in New York City. Both gentlemen even helped to author some of the earlier Princeton Review material.
The Princeton Review is a company founded based on student success and the notion of wanting to see them succeed. It offers material and preparation for a number of different standardized tests. These tests include the popular ACT and SAT but contain an abundance of others. Other tests that the Princeton Review prepares you for include TOEFL, SSAT, MCAT, GRE, CFA, and so many more. This material is also no longer confined to just books.
The Princeton Review offers several services and resources for high school students, graduate students, and even professionals. They aim to make sure you are adequately prepared for whatever test you’re taking. These services include print resources, online & in-person tutoring, college admissions counseling, and more. The Princeton Review has become a household name for test prep, and with over 35 years’ experience in the industry, there is no question as to why.
Why Choose the Princeton Review for Your ACT Prep Course?
Knowledgeable Top Tier Professors: One thing is evident concerning the Princeton Review, and that is that they hire top tier individuals to teach their material. Although great content is a must, the staff which the Princeton Review hires genuinely makes their courses the best ACT prep courses around. There is no shortage of rave reviews from past students mentioning how amazing their tutor was. They have been described as extremely attentive, highly knowledgeable, and provided the most impact.
Two for the Price of One: If you are on the fence about deciding between taking the ACT and the SAT, there is still a package for you. The Princeton Review Self-Paced ACT & SAT option allows access to prep materials for both tests. Though you have the opportunity to only buy the ACT related materials with the ACT Self-Paced package, they do provide an option that comes with both. This package includes SAT & ACT practice questions, as well as full length and single section practice exams.
Don’t forget your homework: With the latest updates to the dashboard, the Princeton Review site can now gauge how you are doing in a specific area based on how well you are doing on the homework assignments and practice exams. You will be able to see which topics and categories are the strongest and which are the weakest. This allows you to focus your time on the areas which are causing you the most trouble and reach your goal score the quickest.
Create a plan and stick to it: Before getting into the nitty-gritty of the test material. The Princeton Review will walk you through the creation of a plan for your success. This includes choosing a balanced list of schools that you are considering. This will allow you to gauge where your ACT score will need to fall. Outside of selecting the schools you are looking to get into, the site also encourages you to set a goal for yourself and create a date range and schedule that you will need to adhere to. Once you have completed this, the final step is to take a practice exam. This will not only allow you to gauge your current level of knowledge but will also create a plan for you surrounding your preliminary scores.
Everything in one place: The My Campus dashboard allows you to get all of your essential information from one source. This area will show you all of the courses which you are currently enrolled as well as providing notifications with reminders for homework, practice exams, and registering for the ACT. These notifications will all be housed in the green banner on your dashboard page.
Students can also use the dashboard to ensure they are meeting and completing the tasks to follow their test plans. It will provide you with your daily tasks and how they will affect your score. If you have completed any homework or practice exams, the Princeton Review will provide you with a competency score to gauge your progress.
You can even use your weekly planner to complete your studies. If an item in your study plan has not been completed, it will move to your next available study time so that it is not forgotten. If you’re worried about what to expect on test day or even what to bring for the exam, your student dashboard will have it all.
Test Prep Material for the Masses: In choosing any one of the ACT lessons online, you are also choosing to gain access to an abundance of study material. This not only includes the books offered by the Princeton Review but videos, quizzes, practice tests, and even tutors.
What Types of ACT Prep Courses Does the Princeton Review Offer?
The Princeton Review offers four different realms of tutoring for the ACT. Each venue provides a separate structure for a different type of learner. These four options include the Ultimate Course, private training, or self-paced learning. The last option is the ACT 31+, which is currently the most popular option.
The Ultimate
The Ultimate package not only gives you the self-paced options, but it also includes 18 hours of class instruction time at the location of your choosing. You also gain access to ACT Advantage Live Online Sessions. If you were worried about your own inability to focus on a practice test at home, you could sit through 3 proctored practice exams. These exams will closely mimic the real thing and help you improve your score.
With the Ultimate package, you don’t have to worry about staying on track; the Princeton Review will help you. Students receive personalized homework assignments for the areas in which they need.
The ACT 31+
The ACT 31+ is the most popular option for students seeking ACT prep help. The AI system is smart enough to determine what lessons you will need based on your level of expertise in a specific area. This course is idle for individuals starting with a 26 who are looking to get over a 31, or else you will get your money back.
With the purchase of the ACT 31+ option, users get access to 7 full-length practice tests, eight single section texts, and even self-paced texts.
Private Tutoring
Private tutoring is an option with any of the course options. This is a highly-personalized option which allows the experts to help you complete a plan of attack. It is available online or in person. Private tutoring also comes with the Self-paced SAT & ACT options. The tutoring plus option allows tutor matching and even guarantees at least a 3-point increase on your ACT, or you will get your money back.
If college preparation is your primary goal, the tutoring sessions also include 1 hour of private admissions counseling. This counseling ensures that you register for the right courses, plan the best college visits, and develop a timeline for the perfect recommendations.
Self-Paced ACT
The self-paced option is perfect for the motivated student. With this option, not only will you get access to the growing arsenal of online video lessons, but you will also get access to over 370 online drills as well as more than 3200 practice questions. This access lasts for one year and includes PSAT help as well as eight full-length practice exams. Students have the option to choose from receiving the ACT material only or the SAT and ACT.
Which Princeton Review ACT Prep Course Should You Get?
Which course you should get ultimately depends on what you need academically as well as how much you are looking to spend. A number of the ACT prep classes online classes can be costly even with the money-back guarantee; it’s essential that you choose the option which will work best for you.
If you are someone who hates an in-class environment and doesn’t want to work at the pace of someone else, the self-paced option is for you. It allows you to work at your own pace, whenever or where ever you want. The video lessons are engaging and perfect for the lone studier. You can even chat with a teacher if you need help.
If you are looking for a more guided option, the 31+ or the Ultimate options are two significant packages. These offer a course schedule based on the schedule of the student. They also recommend a test date based on the chosen program. Courses generally happen on a variety of dates and times, with a popular option being Saturday and Sunday. Users are even given office hours to brush up on things they still may be struggling with.
If you are unable to make the in-class sessions, there is an online option that still happens weekly at a specific time. These options are for students who need more focused lessons to do well.
If you are looking for something wholly personalized and to specifically fit your needs, private tutoring is the way to go. It is more personalized and happens on a one on one basis.
Does the Princeton Review Offer a Score Guarantee or a Refund?
If you are skeptical about the services that the Princeton Review offers, don’t be. The Princeton Review wants to help you get into even the most challenging academic colleges and universities. The Princeton Review provides an abundance of programs and packages with score raising guarantees. These packages will either give the option for users to get their money back or for them to retake your program for free. The refund option depends on what package was originally purchased, as well as who paid for the program. Programs paid for, by schools, universities, government agencies, and the likes are not eligible for a refund.
There are a number of stipulations placed on the programs. Therefore, it is essential to read all of the material presented to you carefully and thoroughly. To be eligible for a refund, you must remember to complete the official exam no more than 90 days from your completion date of the program.
Outside of the standard programs offered by the Princeton Review. Their arsenal also includes several programs guaranteed to get you above a specific number score. These programs include the ACT 31+, which guarantees a 31+ on the ACT. Another program is the 26+, which guarantees a 26 on the ACT.
With the 31+ ACT Prep Course, you can get into the college of your dreams. The Princeton Review is so confident in their ability to set you up for success that they provide a scoring guarantee for a subset of their services. If you pay for the 31+ course, you will get your money back if you do not score 31 and above.
Aside from the 31+ guarantee, they also offer other scoring guarantees, including the ACT 26+ option, which guarantees that students get at least a 26+ option.
Does the Princeton Review ACT Prep Get Results?
If you’re asking if the Princeton Review gets results, you must not have read their reviews. We are here to tell you that they most certainly do. The Princeton Review’s site offers no shortage of reviews and customer testimonials.
Many students say that tutoring and in-class experience is unmatched. The tutors are not only knowledgeable but engaging and passionate about the work they do. This makes it easier for students to excel in their chosen course options and ultimately do well on the actual exam.
The Princeton Review provides the needed materials for the student to succeed. However, it is up to the student to put in the work they need to get the score they desire. No matter how good your instructors or the platform is, the program won’t work unless you do too.
Is the Princeton Review ACT Prep Worth the Money?
If you are someone who is a great test taker and doesn’t need a review to do well, then no, the Princeton Review will not be worth the money. The Princeton Review’s online ACT lessons are not for everyone. However, the students who need them and who excel from taking them will most certainly tell you otherwise.
The Princeton Review is worth the money if you know that you will utilize their services to the fullest capacity. These online prep programs are not for the average student who is just looking to do okay on the ACT. They are for the students who want to invest in their education and aim to get into the school of their dreams.
For students who will do the work, put in the time, and apply themselves, the material that the Princeton Review offers is invaluable.
Who Shouldn’t Get ACT Prep from the Princeton Review?
If you are someone who is excellent at taking exams and are able to do well under pressure, you should think twice before purchasing the ACT prep options from Princeton Review. You also should not get the ACT prep options if you don’t plan on going to college or taking the ACT at all.
There are a number of students who never take a prep course and still do well on the exam. That could be you. If it is, grab a Princeton review book, register for the exam, and simply prepare yourself. It’s okay to not want the one on one help or tutoring.
If you are afraid of spending the excess dollars for the online material that the Princeton Review offers, you don’t have to. Schools and even some tutoring facilities provide free or heavily-reduced prep classes that may be a better fit for you and your budget. Students can still utilize the material that the Princeton Review offers by purchasing their books and even studying at their own pace.
Alternatives to Princeton Review ACT Prep
If you’ve gotten this far and you have determined that the Princeton Review’s ACT prep courses are not for you, don’t worry, there are other alternatives. These alternatives include the Prep Scholar, Kaplan test prep self-paced courses, and a variety of alternatives.
PrepScholar
PrepScholar offers students a study plan with hour by hour breakdowns of how time should be spent. They also offer 12 hours of one on one tutoring, quality videos, and weekly reports of activity and progress. They also offer a 4-point guarantee on your ACT, or your prep course is free.
Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan Test Prep is another great option when looking for ACT lessons online. You have the option to prep on your own using recorded lessons or with the College Prep Pass. The college prep pass offers users the ability to stream hours of videos, take quizzes, and have access to 17 practice exams. It also offers an on-demand review of applications and supplemental material. Math focused prep can also be added for the ACT, SAT, or PSAT.
Magoosh
Magoosh is another option for test prep that may be slightly more affordable and in the budget for more students and families. Magoosh offers ACT lessons online and a completely free program as well as a score guarantee. The curriculum is made up of online quizzes, videos, and high-quality study materials. We think Magoosh provides an immense amount of value to students.
Self-Study Review Books
You can always opt-out of formal review courses and pick up a review book as well. We detail the best ACT review books here.
Wrapping Things Up: Princeton Review ACT Prep
Overall there are several options out there for test prep, but the Princeton Review ACT prep is a great option. They provide students with several options for a variety of price points. The priciest option and the most popular is the 31+ prep package.
This package guarantees that you will get over a 31 on your ACT with the completion of this course. However, the Princeton Review ensures that you will stay realistic as there is a minimum score you must obtain to be eligible for the money-back guarantee. If this option is not what you are looking for, the Princeton Review also allows users to choose between private tutoring, as well as a self-paced option.
The Princeton Review is an extremely well-known company that offers an abundance of tools and aids to keep students focused on their success. My Campus dashboard allows students to see their progress, as well as gives them a place to view notifications and even daily study tasks.
Overall the Princeton Review is a great site for ACT lessons online. The instructors are highly knowledgeable, and the reviews on their programs are always raving. They continue to be at the forefront of test prep, and we don’t see them losing their spot anytime soon.
We hope this article was able to provide you with some insight into the Princeton Review, which you didn’t have before. No matter what you do, always choose the option which works best for you and make sure you read the fine print. As a reminder, You shouldn’t start a 31+ program if you only got a 20 the first time. You will NOT get your money back. In conclusion, happy testing and may the ACT be in your favor.
If you found this review helpful, you may also enjoy our review on Magoosh’s ACT prep course here.
We also review the Princeton Review’s SAT course here.
