Preparing for the SAT while balancing school, extracurricular activities, and prepping for college is tough—and not all test prep programs make it easier.
The Princeton Review steps up to the challenge with 40+ years of experience, personalized strategies, and flexible options designed to build confidence and boost scores.
But does that mean it’s right for you? Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
Princeton SAT
Summary
The Princeton Review offers a wide range of SAT prep options—from intensive, structured programs to flexible self-paced courses—making it suitable for many types of students, especially those aiming for high scores and top colleges. However, its high cost and structured approach may not be ideal for students on a tight budget or those seeking more flexibility.
- Live and self-paced courses
- Options for every budget
- 2-week SAT “summer camp”
- Comprehensive materials
- 2-week free trial for self-paced prep
- Year-long access to most online material
- Award-winning tech and mobile app
- Over 40 years of experience
- Satisfaction guarantee
- Expensive premium options
- Free trial only for self-paced learning
- Rigid live course structure
- 3-hour-long live classes
- More challenging than official SAT
- In-person courses limited by location
- No personalized study plans (except tutoring)
- Confusing schedules
- Complicated refund policies
Who Is Princeton Review SAT Prep For?
The course options Princeton Review provides—from live classes to self-paced to tutoring—can benefit a wide variety of students.
🎯The Princeton Review is for all levels of students.
The Princeton Review has something for every student. If you just need to cram, Princeton has a Summer Camp option. If you’re looking for something more comprehensive, explore your options from Princeton’s longer, more intensive (and more expensive) courses.
🎯The Princeton Review is ideal for students who perform best with more structure.
Most SAT prep courses offered by the Princeton Review follow a strict timeline based on the year’s SAT dates.
The study plan calculates how much time students can dedicate to studying each week, based on when they are going to take the SAT and their availability, so you can’t really take it easy with Princeton Review.
The only course option this doesn’t apply to is the SAT Self-Paced—the student is entirely in control of their SAT prep. Even the Summer Camp is pretty rigorous.
🎯Students who want to get into highly competitive colleges can benefit from Princeton Review’s score guarantee.
If you’re paying for SAT prep, there’s a good chance you’re taking the college journey very seriously. Luckily, with Princeton Review’s SAT prep, students with high aspirations can rest easy—well, easier.
❌Who is Princeton Review SAT Prep NOT for?
The thing is, Princeton Review has so many options, this is a difficult question to answer.
First, students looking for last-minute prep may not benefit from Princeton Review’s comprehensive programs, but the two-week Summer Camp fits this need perfectly.
Second, students looking for a bit more freedom will likely struggle with the rigidity of this platform, unless they sign up for the Self-Paced course, that is.
Finally, Princeton Review’s SAT prep is not for students on a budget. Its courses usually fall on the pricier side. This is especially true for its premium courses, such as its 1500+ Tutoring, which costs several thousand dollars. The Self-Paced course is only $299, though.
If that price is still too much, Princeton Review isn’t for you. Check out Khan Academy—it’s free!
How Does Princeton Review SAT Prep Work?
The Princeton Review may offer a wide variety of course options, but each one starts off the same. Here’s how it works:
➡️Your SAT journey with Princeton Review kicks off with a diagnostic test known as the Princeton Review Assessment (PRA).
This isn’t just any practice exam: it’s a tool that helps the platform figure out your current skill level and where you need the most support. It can also determine if you are better suited for the SAT or ACT.
➡️Once you finish the PRA, you’ll get a detailed breakdown of your strengths and areas to improve.
That info becomes the foundation for your learning journey with the Princeton Review. You will then know where you will need to focus the most, which is organized through your personalized study plan.
The study plan adjusts to your real-time progress with SAT practice content. Through analytics incorporated into the student dashboard, your study schedule is constantly evolving and will always reflect where you have grown as a student.
➡️After each lesson, no matter your course option, you’ll complete targeted drills and homework assignments. These are designed to reinforce what you’ve just learned and build your skills over time.
The goal isn’t to just get the right answer but to understand why you got that answer and why it is correct. This allows students to prepare for specific sections of the official test.
➡️Practice tests are a huge piece of Princeton Review’s SAT prep. You will receive a score report after each one, so it’s a great way to track your progress.
But first, you have to choose which of Princeton’s SAT courses is the best for you.
Princeton Review SAT Course Options and Pricing
The Princeton Review offers a grand total of six course options, each with its own features and prices.
All prep packages offered by Princeton Review successfully meet ESSA II standards, which means its SAT courses are statistically proven to have moderate effectiveness in improving students’ scores.
| Course | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
Self-Paced SAT Prep | $299 | |
SAT Essentials | $949 | |
SAT 1400+ Course | $2199 | |
| SAT 1500+ Tutoring | $7560 | |
SAT Private Tutoring | Starts at $175/hr | |
SAT Summer Camp | $1499 |
My main criticism of Princeton Review’s course options is that they’re confusing, partly because there are so many of them, but the schedules for the live classes are particularly complex.
While it’s nice that Princeton Review is transparent about when its classes are available, it can complicate matters for students already dealing with hectic schedules.
What Does Princeton Review SAT Prep Include?
From hours of live instruction to thousands of practice questions and digital materials, it’s important to know what you are signing up for.
➡️Live Instruction
The Princeton Review offers LiveOnline SAT courses for students who prefer to learn in real time from expert instructors. Its live-online classes consist of 18–36+ hours of learning spread between two or four months of classes. Classes are once or twice weekly for three hours, so be sure to choose the LiveOnline option that works best for your schedule.
➡️Video Lessons
Every course includes access to on-demand video lessons that cover both sections of the SAT. Totaling over 200 in number, Princeton Review’s video lessons are short, sweet, and to the point.
The real bonus is the videos are recorded lessons from real instructors. This helps keep the videos engaging as you watch real instructors explain concepts step-by-step.
A video lesson from the Princeton Review
➡️Practice Drills and Skill Building Exercises
The Princeton Review’s SAT prep provides structured homework assignments and practice drills after each lesson. These are meant to reinforce what was taught in the class.
The drills, in particular, are a fun, challenging way to improve topic retention and build upon a student’s test-taking capabilities. There are over 240 practice drills, which cover numerous high-yield topics and are available for use by students in all course options.
➡️Practice Questions
Among the most beneficial materials that Princeton Review has to offer its students is its practice questions, which there are thousands of. Its Qbank contains over 2000 practice questions that mimic what you will encounter on the SAT, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the SAT question structure.
➡️Practice Tests and Score Reports
Practice makes perfect, and Princeton Review provides plenty of it. It provides up to nine mock SATs (four for those looking to go with self-led learning) that effortlessly imitate what you will encounter on test day.
Seriously—the practice tests are extremely accurate to the Digital SAT and give students a good idea of what content they can expect.
To help you prep, the material is completely interactive. You can annotate and mark different topics for review to build your own online review guide to reference as you study. You will also have access to a Desmos calculator and a timer—all entirely online.
An example question from the practice test
Following every practice test, Princeton Review offers regular analytical score reports so you will always know where you have room for improvement.
Score summary from the Princeton Review’s Digital SAT Practice Test
➡️Personalized Study Plans
Personalized study plans are developed for every student after they take a diagnostic test upon signing up with Princeton Review. Study plans are tailored to students’ needs and develop around their strengths, weaknesses, and availability during the week.
It also considers the students’ long-term goals and factors them into their study schedule. Importantly, through some stellar analytics, the study plan develops with each student as they progress through their SAT journey.
➡️Digital E-book Materials and Flash Cards
The Princeton Review makes textbooks available in both physical and digital e-book formats. The formatting of the digital books is fantastic and has seamless transitions between sections.
Furthermore, depending on the digital e-book that corresponds with the course, you may gain access to extra study materials, such as the flash cards that come with the Princeton Review Digital SAT Premium Prep 2026.
Generally, flash cards published by Princeton Review can be purchased separately. What’s nice is you get digital access after purchasing the physical copy and registering the product.
Just in case paying extra for flash cards isn’t your thing, free SAT prep flash cards are available through sites like Quizlet and StudyStack.
➡️Tutoring Options
The Princeton Review has two SAT prep tutoring options: the SAT 1500+ Tutoring and the basic SAT Tutoring.
Generally, SAT tutoring is ideal for students who need specialized support. Its customizable learning ensures that students are constantly making progress toward their SAT goals.
The SAT 1500+ Tutoring program includes 18 hours of tutoring in addition to giving access to live-online classes and everything else the course program has to offer.
While it’s currently Princeton Review’s most expensive SAT prep program at a whopping $7560, it’s also one of Princeton’s most popular options because of how comprehensive it is.
You get everything.
Meanwhile, the standard SAT Tutoring comes with options for an 18-hour package ($3150) or a 10-hour package ($2000). Both are backed by a money-back and tutor satisfaction guarantee.
Digital Platform and User Experience
The Princeton Review’s digital platform is comprehensive and easy to navigate. The intuitive dashboard provides insights into your practice test scores, making it easy to stay motivated and on track by identifying individual strengths and weaknesses.
It also provides access to timed drills, annotation tools, short instructional videos, and a Desmos calculator for practicing the math portion of the SAT.
The Princeton Review’s user interface
SAT prep provided by Princeton Review works great on mobile too, and its free app makes studying on the go even easier.
The mobile app is a continuously evolving project that is frequently updated to reflect up-to-date SAT content.
A look at Princeton Review’s mobile app interface
Supplemental Study Resources
Supplemental materials when studying for the SAT—and just about anything, really—is a crucial part of success. These resources are available through the website for free or at a small price, or on Princeton Review’s seller page on Amazon.
- Mock SATs
- College admission webinars
- Advice articles
- “Strategy sessions”
- University ranking and exploration
- Flash cards
- SAT/ACT/AP mobile app
- Prep books
“Strategy sessions” are free classes that give tips and tricks in mastering specific sections of the SAT or things like college admission essays.
Content Access Period
After purchasing an SAT prep package from the Princeton Review, students can access the content for up to a year afterward.
The only package that doesn’t offer 365-day access to online material is the Summer Camp program, since it’s meant to drill students on SAT content in only two weeks.
Year-long access is fantastic for students who may take extra time prepping for the SAT or who are looking to take the SAT at a date later than the one recommended for a specific course. Regardless, having access to online prep materials for such an extended period is a huge boon for busy students.
Refund Policy and Score Guarantee
The Princeton Review does have a refund policy based on score improvement for its SAT prep courses. Buckle up, though, because it has a lot of conditions:
- You must attend all classes, do all assigned homework, and complete all required practice tests.
- You must have taken the official test by the recommended date.
- You must submit your official score alongside a refund request within 60 days of receiving your score.
- For the SAT 1500+ Tutoring, you must submit within 30 days after your first official test date and you must take a second official SAT within 90 days of your first official test date.
- You can only use a money-back guarantee once on your first program with the Princeton Review.
- You may also only receive a refund if you paid in full without the assistance of an organization or government entity.
Refunds are partial because they do not include the cost paid for shipped course materials. If you decide to repeat the program for free after invoking the money-back guarantee—which is an alternative option to a refund—you may be charged $299 for new materials.
The alternative satisfaction guarantee is applicable for both live classes and self-led learning.
For the satisfaction guarantee policy, students get a one-time free repeat of a package. Most repeats can be easily arranged through the student dashboard, or by contacting the Princeton Review’s customer service.
Tutoring is also covered by a tutor-satisfaction guarantee.
To be able to apply for the tutor-satisfaction guarantee, you will have to notify customer service before your second scheduled tutoring session that you weren’t happy with your tutor. A new tutor will be assigned to you, and you’ll get refunded for your first session.
Final Verdict: Is Princeton Review SAT Prep Worth It?
At the end of the day, the Princeton Review’s SAT prep is a strong choice, especially for students who thrive with structure and can invest in a premium program. Its comprehensive content and research-backed strategies provide a solid foundation for test success.
That said, the structured formats might not be ideal for those who prefer more flexibility or a self-directed study approach. In such cases, though, free-range students will find the self-paced course more than meets their needs.
Overall, the program earns high marks from us, thanks to its proven track record, strong instruction, and results that consistently speak for themselves.
Start preparing with one of the most trusted names in test prep.
FAQs
How much does Princeton Review SAT prep cost?
The Princeton Review offers six different SAT prep study packages, each with its own cost. Depending on which course you select, you could expect to spend anywhere from $299 to $7560.
Are the Princeton Review’s live classes worth it?
The Princeton Review’s live classes are worth it for students who benefit from a live learning environment. However, live-online classes can be expensive and reflect a more rigid schedule than a self-paced option. You need to determine your learning style and budget before committing to a program.
How many full-length practice tests are included?
At the Princeton Review, almost all SAT prep packages include nine full-length practice tests. The sole outlier is its self-paced prep option, which includes four full-length practice tests for its two-week crammer program.
What is the difference between Princeton’s 1400+ and 1500+ courses?
The Princeton Review’s 1400+ and 1500+ both boast significant score increases, yet they do diverge in some areas. The most significant difference between the two is that the 1500+ course tacks on 18 hours of one-on-one tutoring, on top of SAT Advantage LiveOnline sessions, online content, and other practice tools, including mock tests and a Desmos calculator.
Is 1520 a good SAT score for Princeton?
Yes, 1520 is considered a good SAT score for Princeton University. Generally, students admitted to Princeton University have SAT scores between 1490 and 1580. It’s one of the most competitive colleges to gain admittance to the Princeton Review’s 1400+ and 1500+ SAT courses can help aspiring Princeton students get a competitive edge.
| Course | Features | Price (with current 20% discount) |
|---|---|---|
On Demand | $160 | |
Bootcamp | $640 | |
Live Online | $640 | |
Live Online+ | $880 | |
Standard SAT Tutoring | $1,600–$3,680 | |
| Premium SAT Tutoring | $2,400–$5,600 | |
Unlimited Prep | $1,600 |