Magoosh GRE Review [2024] & Discounts – Why is it so Popular?

If you are looking to get into grad school, getting a good score on the GRE will be an important part of the admissions process. It may even be a determining factor if you get into the program of your choice or not. Taking a test prep course is recommended to help you get the best results on such an important test. Let’s take a look at one of the most popular, affordable, and effective GRE prep programs by Magoosh.

Magoosh’s Background

Magoosh is one of the leading GRE prep companies available to recent college graduates. It is an on-demand. online affordable GRE study tool designed to improve a student’s scores by at least 5 points. Magoosh claims its students generally see an average score increase of 6 points in each section of the GRE, compared to other test-takers who have not taken a test prep course. According to their internal data, Magoosh users have a median score of 157 for Verbal Reasoning and 159 for Quantitative Reasoning (math). Additionally, 20% of Magoosh students achieve scores in the top 10%, and 18 alumni have earned a perfect GRE score.

Now let us examine each aspect of Magoosh GRE prep one by one.

Magoosh GRE Pricing

Free Trial & Score Guarantee

Magoosh guarantees users will gain at least 5 points after using their prep materials. So, if your score does not improve after completing your Magoosh test prep, your cost will be refunded, no questions asked. Magoosh provides 7 days free trial which gives you access to 20 lessons and 20 practice quizzes. This is enough to give you a good feel for the program. You’ll be able to tell if it is a good fit for your study habits and schedule before investing.

Magoosh also provides a 7-day money-back guarantee, allowing customers to request a refund if they are not satisfied with the product. This hassle-free policy offers a risk-free trial period for users to evaluate the GRE study materials. While not the most crucial aspect when comparing prep companies, it adds a layer of comfort for potential customers

Magoosh 1-month plan

The Magoosh 1-month study plan, for $149, is great for students looking for a quick refresh heading into the GRE. Even though the study period may be on the shorter side, it still comes with a +5 points guarantee. Note that price can be upto $50 cheaper depending on the country. You can find latest verified promo codes here. Over 1 month, students have access to over 250 on-demand video lessons, more than 1,200 practice questions, and 3 full-length GRE practice tests. The large question pool covers everything you will need to know come test day, including Math, Verbal Reasoning, and Analytical Writing.

Students also have access to a weekly or daily study schedule, depending on their needs and study style. These study schedules are a fantastic resource for students who are just starting their GRE prep and are feeling a bit overwhelmed. It also helps those who struggle with organizing their study plans. However, these plans are free and can be accessed even if the Magoosh prep plan is not purchased.

Magoosh also offers email assistance and a score predictor within all their prep plans. The score predictor is a tremendous resource as it lets students see how their studying is going and what score they can expect if they keep going on that trajectory. Equipped with this knowledge, they can change their study schedule accordingly and reach the score they need.

Magoosh 6-month plan

The Magoosh 6-month plan is virtually the same as the shorter 1-month plan in what it offers except more time is allowed to access the materials. This plan costs $179 for all 6 months versus $774 for 6 months on the monthly plan.

There are additional study plans to choose from if you are preparing for the GRE for around 6 months in advance. Magoosh offers both general study schedules as well as focused plans for both Math and Verbal skills.

Magoosh Course Materials Overview

Quality of Magoosh GRE Study Materials:

Magoosh offers affordable, high-quality study resources. While their offerings may not be as extensive as competitors’, they can still be sufficient for thorough GRE preparation for most students. Instead of a traditional core curriculum with sequential lessons, Magoosh presents a library-style format, covering all essential GRE topics through individual video lessons. These lessons, accompanied by practice problems, are organized by topics. Recommended order of lessons is provided, but not as structured as other test prep courses.

Video Lessons

The videos feature a digital whiteboard with voiceover explanations, focusing on content over style. The instructors are knowledgeable and adept at breaking down complex topics into easily digestible parts. A transcript accompanies each video lesson, highlighting the instructor’s words and providing a useful reference.

After each video lesson, a short practice set helps reinforce the material. The practice problems are well-designed and follow a consistent pattern. Magoosh also offers an impressive customizable practice problem feature, enabling students to create tailored sets based on problem type, difficulty, and other criteria.

• • Average production value, but excellent content.
  • Digital whiteboard with voiceover and notes.
  • Instructors are knowledgeable and present material effectively.
  • Full transcripts and note-taking features available.

Practice Problems

Magoosh has around 1,600 practice problems available. The quality and presentation of the problems are top-notch. Each problem includes a video explanation, text explanation, suggested lessons, and the note-taking function. Magoosh’s review feature allows students to track their performance and progress, offering insights into areas that need improvement. It can be filtered by various factors and even provides access to previously answered questions for further review.

Students can filter questions by type and by difficulty so they can focus on precisely what they need and use their time wisely. There are video and text-based explanations following every single question so students can learn from their mistakes and discover strategies for similar questions. Magoosh system also utilizes an adaptive technology to recognize a student’s strengths and weaknesses to adapt the practice questions accordingly. This technology is very similar to that used on the official GRE.

As students complete their practice tests, Magoosh tracks their performance and pace to give feedback. This feedback is visible on the central dashboard and compares a student’s progress and pace to that of other test-takers. This valuable information can help students adjust their study plans to focus on areas where they might need some extra practice to keep up with their goals.

 

In summary, while Magoosh’s course structure and video lesson production quality may not be on par with other test prep companies, the overall package is impressive considering its affordability. The lessons are informative, the customizable practice sessions are valuable, and the problem explanations are comprehensive. Magoosh’s GRE study materials provide a solid option for comprehensive and cost-effective GRE preparation.

Magoosh Practice Test Features

Magoosh offers 3 full-length practice tests, which is less than competitors like Princeton Review, which provides 8. While it would be beneficial for Magoosh to offer more tests, this is a tradeoff for a value-oriented course. For many students, 3 tests may suffice, and additional free GRE practice tests are available online if needed.

Magoosh GRE Practice Tests interface is very similar to real GRE  to help students become accustomed to the GRE test format and adapt to the test’s time constraints. The adaptive algorithm ensures that students experience a realistic simulation of the GRE exam, which can boost their confidence and readiness.

1. Adaptive Algorithm: Magoosh uses an adaptive algorithm to present test-takers with questions tailored to their performance level, closely emulating the actual GRE testing experience.
2. Extensive Question Bank: The platform offers a large number of practice questions, providing ample opportunities for students to familiarize themselves with GRE question types and formats.

Magoosh Live Class Option

In addition to self-study options, Magoosh also offers Live Classes for students who need extra accountability and individualized attention. GRE Live Classes are taught by expert instructors and cover essential topics like statistics and data interpretation, paragraph argument, geometry, and more. Live Class plans come with supplemental homework assignments to reinforce learning plus everything that’s included in the self-study plans — including their 5 point score increase and 7-day money back guarantees

Magoosh does not promote live class option on their pricing page now. Magoosh has replaced live classes with admissions support services, such as graduate application videos, workshops, personal statement examples, resume templates, and more.

For those who require a live online course for structured learning and accountability, it may be more suitable to consider traditional prep classes from our list of top GRE prep courses, such as Princeton Review or Kaplan.

Magoosh Study Tools

Magoosh offers a comprehensive suite of study tools to help GRE aspirants optimize their preparation process.

Study plans: Customizable study plans and schedules catering to various timeframes ranging from one week to six months. These plans provide a structured approach to studying, ensuring that test-takers cover all essential topics within their desired preparation period.

Vocabulary tool/Flash Card: Magoosh offers a vocabulary builder app designed to expand students’ GRE-specific vocabulary.

To further support vocabulary development, Magoosh provides vocabulary flashcards that enable students to practice and retain new words effectively. Alongside these, math flashcards are also available, helping test-takers strengthen their quantitative skills and tackle GRE math questions with confidence. Overall, Magoosh’s collection of study tools equips students with the necessary resources to excel in all aspects of the GRE.

What We Like About Magoosh

• Access to official questions from past year exams:The number one thing I like about Magoosh is that they now provide access to official GRE questions from previous years’ exams. This is a huge benefit and rare among GRE prep companies. Practicing with real GRE problems under actual test conditions is the best way to prepare. I give Magoosh a lot of credit for adding this great new feature.

• Affordability: Magoosh offers competitive pricing compared to other GRE prep courses, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious students. They also offer a lot of free resources and you can also find discounts and sales to further reduce the cost.
• Detailed Explanation:I really like that Magoosh gives both text and video explanations for all practice problems. This is ideal for visual learners. Written explanations alone can be dull and may not adequately break down problems, particularly difficult math questions. Magoosh’s video explanations thoroughly analyze each problem in an understandable way. They help the lessons really stick with you.
• Flexible and convenient: The online platform and mobile app allow you to study anytime, anywhere, and at your own pace.
• User-friendly platform: Magoosh’s platform is easy to navigate, with progress tracking features to help you stay organized and focused.
• High-quality video lessons: The video lessons are clear, concise, and engaging, covering a wide range of GRE topics and test-taking strategies.
• Customizable study schedules: Magoosh provides study schedules that can be tailored to your needs, whether you have a few weeks or several months to prepare.

• 5-point increase guarantee– If you are going to spend the time and money on a prep course, you want to know that it is worth it. The 5-point increase guarantee can give you confidence while you study.
• Free study schedules- Schedules keep students focused and motivated. Free study schedules come in a daily or weekly format depending on your preference. This is a great resource especially if you struggle with time management or organization.
• Practice tests and questions adapt to your strengths and weaknesses– It is great to be able to customize your practice sessions to what you most need. You can choose how many and what type of questions you want to practice and you can also alternate between practice mode (which provides explanations) or quiz mode (for more realistic practice).
• Tutoring Options available– If you need some one-on-one help, Magoosh offers 4 tutoring packages for an additional cost. These packages cover different areas of the test and give you varying amounts of time in your tutoring session depending on the kind of help you are looking for.
• Free Flash Cards- If you find flash card study effective for your learning style, they provide the cards.

What We Did Not Like

• Limited live support: Although Magoosh offers email assistance from expert tutors, they do not provide live chat or one-on-one tutoring options.
• Fewer practice exams: Magoosh includes 3 full-length practice exams, which is fewer than some competitors.

• 100% virtual- For people who need personal interaction or an in-class experience for best results, this course may not be for you.
• The production quality of the Magoosh’s video lessons are bit lacking when compared with Kaplan or Princeton/Mahattan GRE.
• Access is limited to either 1 or 6 months- This may be sufficient time for some students, but you may struggle to get sufficient practice and review in before taking your test.

Is Magoosh GRE Prep Worth It?

Magoosh is a great GRE prep resource. But that doesn’t mean it is a good option for everyone. If you are anxious about your score, it might be better to choose a program, like Magoosh, that offers a money-back guarantee if you do not increase your score by a certain number of points.

When it comes to budget, Magoosh is affordable compared to other prep courses. Magoosh also offers a 7-day money-back guarantee if you do not like the course for any reason or feel it may not work for you.

If you need face-to-face support, you may want to choose another prep course. However, Magoosh is an excellent option for practice questions completed on a laptop. Email support from Magoosh Test Prep Experts is also available if you need help.

Overall, most students will find Magoosh a useful study tool. It offers the materials and motivation necessary to keep students on track leading up to the GRE. If you are still unsure, it won’t hurt to take advantage of the week-long free trial and see if Magoosh is the right fit for your GRE prep goals.

FAQs

Who should use the Magoosh GRE prep course?

We recommend the Magoosh GRE prep course to people who can study independently and are willing to work hard and put in a lot of practice. This is also a good choice for people who enjoy the video format or who already have busy schedules and need to customize their study time.

Will I get the support I need?

Yes. If you can’t find the answer to your question on their website, you can contact them and will receive a reply within 1 business day, if not sooner.

Does Magoosh have a refund policy?

You have 7 days from purchasing the course to decide if it is the right fit for you. If you are unhappy with it for any reason, notify them within 7 days and they will cancel your course and refund your money.

Who wrote the practice questions?

Magoosh has two experts in GRE field write the practice questions. Mike McGarry, with over 20 years of teaching experience and expertise in the math portions of the GRE, created the questions for the math section. Chris Lele, also a GRE expert, created the verbal questions.

How difficult are the practice questions?

You can be sure that the practice questions match the actual GRE questions very closely. The practice questions will be a range of easy to difficult and the difficulty level will be provided with each question so you know where you stand.

Can I get immediate feedback on practice questions?

Yes, the default setting is for the correct answer and explanation to be displayed immediately after you answer a practice question. However, if you prefer, you can customize your settings to a quiz format if you do not want to see the answer right away.

Can I customize my practice session?

Yes, not only can you select between practice mode and quiz mode, but you can also choose the section you want to practice and the difficulty level. Further, you can select if you want to have all new practice questions or if you’d like to practice questions you previously answered incorrectly to help you strengthen weak areas.

Image	Product	Features	Price
	Magoosh GRE	One of the most popular GRE programs. Free trial available. 6 months subscription. 1400+ Practice Questions. 3 Practice Exams.  Available online on-demand. No in-person classes. 5 Points improvement guarantee. $169-$499	Get DealsRead Full Review
	Kaplan GRE	Both Live and on-demand class options with a wide selection of courses. Score higher or money-back guarantee/repeat the course. 7 full-length practice exams and 5000+ practice questions. On-Demand Course: $449 ,Online Course: $999, Question bank & Practice Test Bundle: $199, Practice Test 4-Pack: $149, Question bank: $69 ,Tutoring: $2,299	Get DealsRead Full Review
	Princeton Review	GRE test prep with live classes. Free trial available.2700+ Practice Questions. 8 High-quality Practice Exams which simulate real GRE experience and difficulty 5 Points improvement guarantee. 4 months subscriptions. Self-Paced Course: $399, Fundamentals: $1,099, GRE 162+: $2,149,GRE 162+ Tutoring: $156/hour Higher Score Guarantee. Curriculum centered on interactive learning modules	Get DealsRead Full Review
	Prep Scholar GRE	One of the most tech-savvy platforms for customized study plan Interactive lessons with high-quality graphics and videos. Provides a lot of free resources including a 5-day free trial. Seven-point score improvement guarantee or your money back. Affordable pricing $38-$345.	Get Deals
	Manhattan Prep GRE	One of the most effective GRE prep programs with great feedback from real students. 7 Days Free trial available. The content materials here have been created and taught by GRE experts, who have all scored in the top 1%. Video lessons will adapt depending on your answers. On-demand course pricing starts from $299.	Get Deals

Additional Information about the GRE

What is the GRE?

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is a standardized test, much like the SAT or ACT, but is specifically designed to predict your future performance in graduate or business schools. If you are interested in pursuing a master’s, MBA, or doctoral degree, you will need to score high on the GRE.

Your final GRE score will be taken into account along with your previous work experience, undergraduate record, and other relevant materials. A poor score can, therefore, negatively affect your graduate school applications.

What is the GRE format?

The GRE is a multiple-choice style standardized test typically taken online, but traditional tests are also offered just not as frequently. All the questions reflect the kind of material you should be prepared for in graduate school courses.

The questions are separated into 3 individually timed sections: Analytical Writing, Verbal Reasoning, and Quantitative Reasoning. The analytical and reasoning skills tested in the GRE are vital for your success in graduate or business school. Unlike other standardized tests, you can skip questions within a particular section and come back to them later. You also have the option to choose which questions you would like to answer first within a section.

Each section has its own grading system:

• Analytical Writing: a scale of 0 – 6
• Verbal Reasoning: a scale of 130 – 170
• Quantitative Reasoning: a scale of 130 – 170

How to Choose the Right GRE Test Prep

Since the GRE is such an important test in your life, it is important to be well prepared and take advantage of the best GRE prep course for you.

We’ll leave you with these questions to facilitate the decision-making process:

1. What program/school do I want to get into and what is the average GRE score of accepted students?
2. What score do I want and how much do I need to improve to get there?
3. What is my budget?
4. What kind of learner am I?
5. Does the company guarantee an improved score?
6. Can I get my money back if the course isn’t a good fit for me?

We wish you the best of luck as you begin this process toward a successful graduate school degree.