When preparing for standardized tests, choosing the right prep course is crucial. Two prominent names in the test prep industry are Kaplan Test Prep and Manhattan Prep. Both offer comprehensive resources and have helped countless students achieve their academic goals. In this detailed comparison, we’ll explore their offerings, key features, and ultimately discuss why Kaplan might be the better choice for many students.
Overview of Kaplan Test Prep
Kaplan has been a leader in the test preparation industry for over 80 years, offering a wide range of courses for exams such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and various professional licensing tests. Their extensive experience and comprehensive resources have made them a trusted choice for students worldwide.
Overview of Manhattan Prep
Manhattan Prep, established in 2000, has built a strong reputation, particularly for graduate-level exams like the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT. Known for their in-depth materials and rigorous instructor selection process, they cater to students aiming for top-percentile scores.
Key Features Comparison
1. Course Offerings and Flexibility
Kaplan: Offers a broad spectrum of courses across various standardized tests, providing multiple learning formats such as on-demand (self-paced), live online classes, in-person sessions, and intensive bootcamps. This flexibility allows students to choose a format that best suits their learning style and schedule.
Manhattan Prep: Specializes primarily in graduate-level exams like the GRE, GMAT, and LSAT. They offer live online and in-person classes, as well as on-demand courses. While their focus is narrower, they provide deep dives into these specific tests.
2. Quality of Instruction
Kaplan: Employs experienced instructors, though the selection process is less stringent compared to Manhattan Prep. This can lead to variability in instructional quality.
Manhattan Prep: Known for its rigorous instructor hiring process, requiring candidates to have scored in the 99th percentile on the respective tests and possess prior teaching experience. This ensures a high caliber of instruction.
3. Study Materials and Practice Tests
Kaplan: Provides extensive study materials, including thousands of practice questions, full-length practice tests, video lessons, and comprehensive study guides. Their materials are designed to closely mirror actual exams, offering students a realistic preparation experience.
Manhattan Prep: Offers high-quality materials with a focus on in-depth content. Their practice tests are known for their difficulty, often exceeding that of the actual exams, which can be both a strength and a potential stressor for some students.
4. Adaptive Learning Technology
Kaplan: Utilizes adaptive learning technology to create personalized study plans, helping students focus on their specific areas of weakness and track their progress effectively.
Manhattan Prep: Offers structured study plans but lacks the adaptive learning technology that Kaplan provides.
5. Pricing and Value
Kaplan: Generally offers more affordable options, with self-paced courses starting at lower price points. They also provide a higher score guarantee, offering a refund if a student’s score doesn’t improve after completing their course.
Manhattan Prep: Tends to be more expensive, reflecting their premium instructor quality and specialized focus. However, they do not offer a score improvement guarantee, which may be a consideration for cost-conscious students.
6. Customer Support and Accessibility
Kaplan: Offers robust customer support, including access to instructors outside of class times, though some students have reported variability in responsiveness.
Manhattan Prep: Provides dedicated support with responsive instructors, aligning with their emphasis on quality teaching.
Pros and Cons
Kaplan Test Prep
Pros:
- Comprehensive Course Offerings: Covers a wide range of standardized tests, providing flexibility for students across various disciplines.
- Flexible Learning Formats: Offers multiple formats to accommodate different learning styles and schedules.
- Adaptive Learning Technology: Personalized study plans enhance study efficiency.
- Higher Score Guarantee: Provides a safety net for students aiming to improve their scores.
Cons:
- Variable Instructor Quality: Less stringent hiring process can lead to inconsistencies in teaching quality.
- Customer Support Variability: Some reports of inconsistent responsiveness from support staff.
Manhattan Prep
Pros:
- High-Quality Instruction: Rigorous instructor selection ensures top-tier teaching.
- In-Depth Study Materials: Comprehensive resources cater to students seeking a deep understanding of test content.
- Specialized Focus: Excels in preparation for specific graduate-level exams.
Cons:
- Higher Pricing: Premium services come with a higher cost, which may not be feasible for all students.
- Limited Course Variety: Focuses primarily on a few exams, lacking the breadth of Kaplan’s offerings.
- No Score Guarantee: Does not offer a refund or guarantee if scores do not improve.
Why Kaplan Might Be the Better Choice
While both Kaplan and Manhattan Prep offer quality test preparation services, Kaplan’s broader course offerings, flexible learning formats, adaptive learning technology, and more affordable pricing make it a more versatile choice for a wider range of students. Additionally, their higher score guarantee provides added assurance for those looking to improve their test performance.
Courses Comparison: Kaplan Test Prep vs Manhattan Prep
Here’s a detailed comparison between Kaplan Test Prep and Manhattan Prep in a table format. After the table, I’ll explain why Kaplan might be the better option for many students.
| Feature | Kaplan Test Prep | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| Course Offerings | Wide range of tests (SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, professional exams, etc.) | Focus on GMAT, GRE, LSAT, and Executive Assessment |
| Learning Formats | On-Demand (Self-paced), Live Online, In-person, Bootcamps | On-Demand (Self-paced), Live Online, In-person |
| Instructor Quality | Experienced instructors, variable quality | Top-tier instructors with a 99th percentile requirement |
| Study Materials | Comprehensive (books, video lessons, practice tests, adaptive learning) | In-depth materials with more challenging practice tests |
| Adaptive Learning | Yes, personalized study plans based on performance | No adaptive learning system |
| Pricing | More affordable (starting from $199 for self-paced) | Higher pricing (starting from $800–$2,000+) |
| Score Guarantee | Higher Score Guarantee (money-back if score doesn’t improve) | No score guarantee |
| Customer Support | Good support with access to instructors outside class time | Excellent support with small class sizes for personalized help |
| Flexibility | High flexibility, with multiple options and schedules for all types of learners | Less flexible, mainly focused on a few exams |
| Target Audience | High school students, college-bound students, professionals | Graduate students aiming for GMAT, GRE, or LSAT |
| Specialization | Broad focus on a variety of exams and professional licensing | Deep focus on GMAT, GRE, LSAT exams |
| Extra Features | Higher Score Guarantee, customizable study plans, mobile app | Focused, in-depth materials for graduate exams |
| Mobile Access | Mobile app available for on-the-go learning | Mobile-friendly, but no dedicated app |
Why Kaplan Wins:
While both Kaplan and Manhattan Prep are excellent providers of test prep, Kaplan stands out for its broad course offerings, flexible learning formats, more affordable pricing, score guarantee, and the added benefit of adaptive learning technology.
These features make Kaplan a better choice for students who want a comprehensive, flexible, and cost-effective test preparation option, especially for those taking multiple types of exams or balancing a busy schedule.
Pricing Comparison: Kaplan Test Prep vs Manhattan Prep
Here’s a pricing comparison between Kaplan Test Prep and Manhattan Prep in a table format, followed by an explanation of why Kaplan may be the better choice when it comes to pricing.
| Course Type | Kaplan Test Prep | Manhattan Prep |
|---|---|---|
| SAT/ACT Prep | Self-Paced (On-Demand): $199 – $299 | Self-Paced: $299 – $499 |
| Live Online: $699 – $1,099 | Live Online: $1,199 – $1,799 | |
| In-Person: $1,099 – $1,499 | In-Person: $1,499 – $2,499 | |
| Bootcamp: $1,299 – $1,599 | Bootcamp: N/A | |
| GRE Prep | Self-Paced: $449 – $649 | Self-Paced: $799 – $1,099 |
| Live Online: $999 – $1,499 | Live Online: $1,299 – $1,799 | |
| In-Person: $1,499 – $1,799 | In-Person: $1,799 – $2,499 | |
| GMAT Prep | Self-Paced: $599 – $799 | Self-Paced: $999 – $1,199 |
| Live Online: $1,199 – $1,599 | Live Online: $1,599 – $2,299 | |
| In-Person: $1,799 – $2,099 | In-Person: $2,199 – $2,899 | |
| LSAT Prep | Self-Paced: $799 – $999 | Self-Paced: $999 – $1,299 |
| Live Online: $1,299 – $1,499 | Live Online: $1,699 – $2,099 | |
| In-Person: $1,799 – $2,099 | In-Person: $2,199 – $2,699 | |
| MCAT Prep | Self-Paced: $2,199 – $2,599 | Self-Paced: N/A |
| Live Online: $2,799 – $3,299 | Live Online: N/A | |
| Private Tutoring | $3,000 – $5,000+ for 10+ hours of tutoring | $4,000 – $6,000+ for 10+ hours of tutoring |
Why Kaplan Wins in Pricing:
1. More Affordable Options:
Kaplan generally offers more affordable options, with self-paced courses starting as low as $199, compared to Manhattan Prep’s starting prices of around $299 for self-paced courses. This makes Kaplan a more budget-friendly choice for students, especially those preparing for exams like the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, and LSAT.
2. More Cost-Effective Live Online Classes:
Kaplan’s live online courses start at $699 for SAT/ACT prep, while Manhattan Prep’s live classes begin at $1,199 for GMAT/GRE prep. Kaplan’s pricing for live online courses is generally much more affordable, offering a more cost-effective option for those who want live instructor-led sessions.
3. Private Tutoring:
Kaplan’s private tutoring packages range from $3,000 to $5,000+, while Manhattan Prep’s rates can reach $4,000 to $6,000+ for a similar number of hours. This gives Kaplan a clear advantage for students who want personalized tutoring but are concerned about cost.
4. Greater Value with Higher Score Guarantee:
Kaplan provides a higher score guarantee, which means if your score doesn’t improve after completing their course, you get your money back (under certain conditions). This makes Kaplan a lower-risk investment, providing more value for the money spent.
5. More Variety of Courses:
Kaplan offers a wider variety of prep courses, covering not only popular exams like SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT, but also professional exams like the NCLEX, CFA, and CPA. With such a wide range of affordable courses, students preparing for a variety of tests get more options at a lower cost.
Conclusion
Choosing between Kaplan Test Prep and Manhattan Prep depends largely on individual needs and preferences. For students seeking specialized, high-quality instruction for specific graduate-level exams and are willing to invest more, Manhattan Prep is a strong contender.
However, for those looking for comprehensive, flexible, and cost-effective test preparation across a variety of exams, Kaplan stands out as the better option.
FAQ’s
1. Which tests do Kaplan and Manhattan Prep offer prep for?
Kaplan: Offers prep for a wide range of exams, including SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, and professional certifications.
Manhattan Prep: Specializes in GMAT, GRE, LSAT, and Executive Assessment prep.
2. What are the pricing differences between Kaplan and Manhattan Prep?
Kaplan: Courses start at $199 for self-paced and $699+ for live online classes.
Manhattan Prep: Courses start at $299 for self-paced and $1,199+ for live online classes.
3. Does Kaplan or Manhattan Prep offer a score guarantee?
Kaplan: Provides a Higher Score Guarantee (money-back if scores don’t improve).
Manhattan Prep: Does not offer a score guarantee.
4. What learning formats are available in Kaplan and Manhattan Prep?
Kaplan: Offers self-paced, live online, in-person, and bootcamp courses.
Manhattan Prep: Offers self-paced, live online, and in-person courses.
5. Which test prep company has better customer support?
Kaplan: Offers good customer support, with access to instructors outside of class.
Manhattan Prep: Known for excellent customer support and smaller class sizes.
