5/5
Magoosh is a student favorite among online, self-study GRE prep courses. Notably, this GRE review course delivers exceptional value to students with high-quality instruction that focuses on actionable exam strategies, suitable for a broad range of test takers. Not to mention, it is one of the cheapest comprehensive GRE prep courses available. Continue reading to discover whether Magoosh is the best GRE prep course for you.
Magoosh GRE Review Outline
We’ll be covering Magoosh’s GRE prep course in detail. However, feel free to use the links below to jump around to the most relevant sections for you:
- Magoosh GRE Prep Course Overview
- Magoosh GRE Review Pros and Cons
- What Do Other Students Say About Magoosh GRE?
- Magoosh GRE Prep Course Pricing
- Final Verdict: Is Magoosh the Best GRE Prep Course for You?
- Frequently Asked Questions: Magoosh GRE Review
Which Students Are Best Fit for the Magoosh GRE Prep Course?
The Magoosh GRE prep course is best fit for self-directed learners who want a flexible, online review course at a very budget-friendly price.
Magoosh GRE Prep Course Overview
The first thing you may notice when logging into the course dashboard is that you are not required to follow any particular course sequence. Instead, topics are recommended to students with seemingly no particular logic behind their order. This allows students to freely jump in and out of subject areas at their own discretion. If you enjoy a more laissez-faire approach to studying and prefer to chart your own study plan, you will really appreciate this course design feature. However, if your personal study preferences are more aligned to a linear course sequence with built-in structure, this Magoosh course characteristic may be a small negative. That being said, several detailed study plans are provided for students looking for structure and guidance in their GRE studies.
Although the production value of the video lessons is fairly average, the content and instructional quality is fantastic, and I particularly enjoyed the applied quant lessons on mental math shortcuts (useful beyond just the exam). Notably, the course instructors are affable and explain GRE topics in a cogent and concise manner that is conducive to efficient studying. However, to elaborate on the thoroughly average production value of the instructional videos, I should mention that Magoosh makes use of PowerPoint-type lessons with audio voiceover and does not show their instructors on the screen.
Personally, I wasn’t too bothered by this and felt it was somewhat to be expected given that Magoosh is a highly budget-friendly GRE prep course. Some students may prefer a course with a more premium feel. Other students may believe they would be more engaged in their learning experience by viewing an instructor on-screen. Video quality aside, Magoosh does include a nice note taking feature and dynamic transcript alongside their video lessons. This makes it easy to revisit concepts and refer back to key points that may have been missed.
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All in all, Magoosh offers outstanding GRE review lessons with complete coverage of key topics and how to apply them on the exam. Additionally, the online review course includes over 1,400+ exam-like practice questions to help students build confidence in applying the fundamentals learned in the video lessons. Magoosh truly excels with their “Custom Practice” tool, allowing you to quickly and easily identify your weak spots and drill down on question types at a very granular level. While other prep course providers also include this feature, I found Magoosh’s to be better and easier to navigate. Lastly, I should note Magoosh’s “Review” tool, question analytics functionality, and GRE score predictor. As a group, these tools allow you to measure and manage your improvement throughout the course so that you can feel confident in your abilities come exam day.
Magoosh GRE Course Pros
Competitive Price: Magoosh provides exceptional value at a price point several hundred dollars lower than comparable prep courses. Students can pick up a 6 Month Premium subscription to the Magoosh GRE prep course for only $179. Additionally, if you need a last minute review prep option, Magoosh offers one month of full access to its Premium course for $149.
Practice Question Video Explanations: One of my favorite features from the review course is the depth and breadth of explanations for the practice questions. Whether you prefer text or video explanations, Magoosh has you covered. The instructors do an excellent job dissecting each answer choice with careful, thorough analysis. This is great for truly understanding the “why” behind essential GRE concepts and when to apply them.
Score Increase Guarantee: The average Magoosh GRE student is able to raise their score by 6 points on a retake after using the Premium prep course. Given their proven track record, Magoosh offers a 5-point score increase guarantee, or you’ll be eligible for a full refund.
Customizable Practice Sessions with Analytics: Magoosh offers some of the best practice question customization options we’ve seen across GRE prep courses. Students can create highly customized practice sessions to drill down on their weak areas and achieve progress. To help identify students’ problem areas, Magoosh includes top-notch question analytics to identify not just specific question types but also subject areas where question timing could be improved.
Free Trial With No Strings Attached: Their GRE prep course offers a 7-day free trial period with no payment info required. The course sample includes video content and practice questions from a variety of subject areas so you can get a broad overview of their GRE content coverage. Additionally, if you purchase their prep course, it includes a 7-day risk-free period, which allows you to cancel for any reason and receive a full refund.
Mobile Access and Dedicated Apps: Your Magoosh subscription includes full access across devices (computer, tablet, and smartphone). Additionally, you can view instructional videos on the course app (iOS and Android) or learn critical GRE vocabulary words with their dedicated vocabulary flashcard app.
User-Friendly Course Platform: Like all Magoosh prep courses, their GRE review site is very user-friendly and organized around a helpful dashboard, which highlights your practice question results and notably includes a GRE score predictor.
Magoosh GRE Course Cons
Lacks Meaningful Guidance or Dedicated Course Structure: If you are looking for a well-structured, linear course plan with built-in accountability, you may want to check out other options. Magoosh’s GRE test prep is completely self-guided and has no set sequence for completing the lessons. This isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker as many students prefer to jump in and out of topics in more of an ad hoc style. Magoosh also provides several study plan schedules for those looking for a bit more structure to their GRE exam prep. Additionally, you aren’t necessarily alone in your studies as you’ll be able to message instructors and ask questions if you need further clarification or get stuck on a certain practice question.
Practice Tests: Similar to some of their other test prep courses, Magoosh does not set aside a dedicated group of questions for their practice tests. Rather, the course recycles questions from the practice bank for its “practice exams.” So, if you are an ambitious student who plans to complete all the available practice questions before moving on to the practice test phase of your studies, keep in mind that you will have certainly seen the questions before! Obviously, this is not ideal and might be particularly troublesome for the Verbal section with respect to vocabulary. But, no course is perfect, and students should purchase the official practice tests from ETS, regardless of their prep course provider.
What Do Other Students Say About Magoosh GRE?
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Magoosh GRE Prep Course Pricing
Magoosh easily offers the best value GRE prep course among those priced under $300 (and possibly at most price ranges depending on your personal learning style). They maintain two simple pricing options: a 1 month plan priced at $149, and a 6 month plan that costs $179. The only difference between the two options is the length of access, and both include full access to Magoosh’s Premium GRE course covering the Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing sections.
I have one critique related to how they market their prices. Magoosh lists the “regular” price of their 6 Month Premium course at $894 even though it is consistently marked down to $179 (so $715 off) at all times we’ve checked. While it’s just a simple marketing ploy, I’d argue Magoosh doesn’t need to do this given their proven track record of helping students succeed on the GRE.
Nonetheless, Magoosh’s prices are an absolute bargain considering all of the materials they provide. In fact, just purchasing traditional GRE study materials such as print study guides and the requisite official practice exams would likely cost nearly as much and probably be less comprehensive. If you are a bargain hunter, please consider this prep course.
Final Verdict: Is Magoosh the Best GRE Prep Course for You?
Without a doubt, the Magoosh GRE prep course provides phenomenal value for busy students looking for a review course designed with flexibility in mind. While it doesn’t have the premium feel found among courses at the higher end of the price spectrum, the content itself is on point. You get effective and efficient instructional videos, ample practice questions, and a suite of custom analytics features to pinpoint your weaknesses and measure your improvement. Of course, this is all provided for you at one of the lowest price points available for a comprehensive review course. So, if you are looking for a flexible online review course that’s highly trusted by students, and offered at a budget-friendly price, Magoosh just may be the best GRE prep course for you.
Frequently Asked Questions: Magoosh GRE Review
Is there a GRE score increase guarantee?
Yes! The instructors guarantee you will raise your GRE score by at least five points or otherwise be entitled to a full refund. Of course, you’ll need to meet certain requirements as outlined below:
- Must have a prior valid GRE score taken before studying with Magoosh
- You should email them ([emailprotected]) your “Before” score report upon signing up for the course (scanned or screenshot copies are fine) and include the statement, “Before Score Report for GRE Score Guarantee”, in your subject line
Are there any live classes with Magoosh GRE?
Unfortunately, if you are only considering courses with a live class environment, Magoosh is probably not the best GRE prep course for you. However, students may sign up for live tutoring options.
Is Magoosh worth it?
In our opinion, yes. They offer immense value at a very low price relative to other GRE review materials.
Does Magoosh have a GRE App for mobile devices?
Magoosh’s GRE prep course is easily navigable and available in browsers across multiple devices. Additionally, Magoosh provides a number of mobile apps, not just for their main course offerings, but also specifically for GRE vocabulary words. Personally, I used their GRE vocabulary flashcards app multiple times a day during commutes and work breaks while studying for the GRE. Their app alone will get you eighty percent of the way toward mastering the vocabulary component of the exam.
How does the Magoosh Free Trial Work?
Magoosh makes the free trial sign-up process seamless. Students may access the free trial simply by creating an account with their email and agreeing to the terms of use. Thankfully, no payment info is required. The 7-day free trial allows you to check out over 20 GRE video lessons along with 20 exam-like practice questions.
How much does the Magoosh GRE prep course cost?
Currently, Magoosh offers two main review course options (both are self-study):
- GRE 1 Month Premium: Designed for last-minute study – $149 (Complete course access including Math, Verbal, and AWA for one month)
- GRE 6 Month Premium: Students’ favorite – $179 (Full course coverage for six months)
Both options include a five point score increase guarantee along with the ability to pause your plan.
Does Magoosh offer a refund policy on their GRE review course?
Yes. Magoosh will offer you a full refund for any reason within one week of purchase.
What is Magoosh’s teaching philosophy?
Magoosh sums up their test prep philosophy nicely by stating, “We believe we can level the playing field by giving every student access to effective, affordable, and engaging test prep tools.” I believe Magoosh excels in this mission.
Are you a Magoosh?
You just might be! Magush is an Old Persian word and refers to someone who is highly knowledgeable and well-educated.
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