Last Updated on April 30, 2023
If you’re planning to take the GRE General Test to apply to graduate schools, you’re likely considering using some form of online GRE coaching to prepare. Many people go the route of preparing for the GRE online, since it’s convenient and effective. At the same time, there are a few different ways to prepare for the GRE online, including live classes, tutoring, and self-study courses. So, which method is best?
The answer to that question depends on your goals, learning style, budget, and more. Accordingly, to determine which type of GRE online coaching is best for you, you have to consider the characteristics and pros and cons of each. So, in this article, we’ll do just that.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- How Can I Study for the GRE Online?
- Live Online GRE Classes
- Online One-on-One GRE Tutoring
- Online Self-Study GRE Courses
- Key Things to Consider When Deciding Among the Types of Online GRE Coaching
- Online GRE Coaching: Key Takeaways
- What’s Next?
Let’s begin by reviewing the main types of online GRE coaching.
How Can I Study for the GRE Online?
There are three main types of GRE coaching online:
- live online classes
- online tutoring
- online self-study courses
There are some significant differences between these ways of preparing for the GRE, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. So, before choosing one of them, it’s important to determine which best fits your goals and learning style. After all, the main reason why people have difficulty achieving their GRE score goals is that they don’t prepare effectively. Thus, in choosing a method of preparing, it’s key to make sure that that method will be effective for you.
TTP PRO TIP:
To determine which GRE preparation method is best for you, learn about the options and consider their advantages and disadvantages.
So, let’s explore each of these three approaches, starting with live online GRE classes.
Live Online GRE Classes
Live online GRE classes are a widely available and relatively affordable means of preparing for the GRE. Offered by many test prep companies and other organizations, live classes provide some support for GRE students but generally don’t represent the most comprehensive approach to preparing for the GRE.
Let’s discuss the advantages and disadvantages of live online classes in detail.
Advantages of Live Online GRE Classes
Like the in-person classes we’re all accustomed to, in an online class, you get to see concepts and strategies applied in real time and interact with your instructor and other students. In other words, an online class can be a dynamic learning experience.
Also, attending an online class is a way to meet people from around the world on paths similar to yours. You can make friends with classmates or find a study buddy to make preparation easier, more effective, and more fun.
Finally, since an online class resembles a traditional learning environment, many students are comfortable with this modality.
KEY FACT:
A live online GRE class provides a dynamic learning experience in which you can interact with an instructor and other students in an environment similar to a traditional classroom.
At the same time, there are some disadvantages to online classes.
Disadvantages of Online GRE Classes
One issue with online GRE coaching classes is that only so much can be taught in a class. Mastering the GRE requires learning a lot of material, more than can be taught in the 30 hours or so that a class meets. So, even if you take an online class, you still may end up doing a lot of your learning on your own.
This fact isn’t necessarily a significant problem. After all, whoever provides the class may also provide great study materials for use outside the classroom. The issue is more that the class itself is somewhat limited in terms of what it can accomplish.
A more significant disadvantage of an online class is the lack of personalization. Each student learns a little differently and has different strengths and weaknesses. However, to a large degree, a class has to be taught to fit the average student.
As a result, you could feel that sometimes you’re wasting time reviewing topics you already know well. Alternatively, you could find yourself needing to work more on a topic when the instructor and most of the class are ready to move on. It’s great to have other students to interact with and learn from. However, if you’re not in sync with the rest of the class, the learning experience can be less than ideal.
One last consideration is that live online GRE classes meet at predetermined times. So, while there are many classes out there, if you have a very busy or constantly changing schedule, making it to set class times each week may be challenging for you.
KEY FACT:
The main disadvantage of an online live class is its lack of personalization.
So, live online GRE classes have some unique benefits but aren’t the best option for every student.
Let’s now discuss our second option, online one-on-one GRE tutoring.
Online One-on-One GRE Tutoring
Online one-on-one GRE tutoring is a popular approach to GRE test preparation. While tutoring is generally more expensive than a class or self-study course, when you consider tutoring’s advantages, you can see why many people choose it.
Here are some of the advantages of online one-on-one tutoring.
One-on-One Tutoring Is Personalized
The greatest advantage of one-on-one tutoring is that you get personalized help with your GRE preparation. An expert tutor can readily determine how best to help you to achieve your dream score. Then, the tutor can teach you GRE concepts and strategies in ways tailored to your learning style and levels of knowledge and skill.
Also, in one-on-one lessons, a tutor can give you personalized feedback regarding how you’re solving problems and preparing in general. Thus, a tutor can help you optimize what you are doing, so that you maximize your results and save time.
Scheduling With a Tutor Is Flexible
Unlike a class instructor, a tutor can be flexible with scheduling in terms of both what time and how often you meet. For instance, a tutor could meet with you often if you want to work intensively to cover a lot of ground or once every week or two if you just want some guidance and help with specific issues. So, working with a tutor can make sense if you have specific scheduling preferences that require flexibility.
An Expert GRE Tutor Can Provide Information Not Found Elsewhere
Typically, a good tutor will be a GRE expert and thus be able to provide information that you would have difficulty finding elsewhere. A class instructor or GRE study resource can provide only so much information, and that information will tend to be limited to what is useful to the typical student. In contrast, a tutor can have key information that applies specifically to your situation.
A GRE Tutor Can Provide Support and Motivation
Studying for the GRE can get lonely. So, another way a tutor can help is by accompanying you on your GRE prep journey and providing general support. The preparation process can have ups and downs and moments when you’re not sure whether you’re going to get the results you want or whether you even want to continue. An experienced tutor will have been through this process many times and thus be able to help you remain confident and motivated.
KEY FACT:
GRE tutoring has a number of advantages, including a high degree of personalization, scheduling flexibility, key information, and support and motivation.
While we can see how tutoring can be very helpful, it does have some disadvantages. So, let’s discuss those as well.
Disadvantages of Online GRE Tutoring
For people who like to learn in a group setting in a structured program, the one-on-one nature and flexibility of tutoring can actually be disadvantages. If you’re one of those people, an online class may be better for you.
Additionally, one of the main reasons why people don’t choose to work with tutors is the cost. GRE tutoring can be expensive, especially if you want a lot of help with your preparation. So, if minimizing expenses is a priority for you, it’s likely that tutoring is not your best online prep option.
KEY FACT:
GRE tutoring may not be ideal for students who prefer a structured program or want to minimize expenses.
Let’s now discuss our final type of online GRE coaching, online self-study courses.
Online Self-Study GRE Courses
Online self-study GRE prep courses are the most popular type of GRE coaching. Let’s explore why.
Online Self-Study Courses Are Comprehensive
A good self-study course is the most comprehensive GRE prep resource you can get. Typically, a self-study course will use text and/or video lessons to cover all the topics on the GRE. So, if you use a good self-study course from start to finish, there won’t be any surprises on test day.
Also, a good GRE self-study course will provide ample practice in the form of hundreds, or even thousands, of practice questions. For example, the Target Test Prep online GRE course includes more than 4,000 practice questions categorized by topic and difficulty level that you can use to solidify your knowledge and develop strong GRE Quant and Verbal skills.
An Online Self-Study Course Can Be Personalized
Another great feature of a good self-study course is that it can be personalized to fit your score goal, preparation timeline, and other parameters. So, a self-study course can be set to provide just the type of help you need. For instance, TTP’s online GRE course has different study tracks for different score goals, a customizable study calendar, and the ability to create custom practice tests.
A Self-Study Course Takes Care of Planning for You
Since you’re not a GRE expert, deciding what to study and in what order to study it could be overwhelming. So, a huge advantage of a self-study course is that it provides a complete GRE study plan for you.
A well-designed course will take you through introductory topics before moving on to more advanced lessons on the GRE, providing practice along the way. Then, it will guide you through the final steps of GRE prep, such as taking full-length official GRE practice tests.
With a personalized study plan provided by a good self-study GRE course, you can be confident you’re preparing effectively.
Scheduling Your Prep Is a Breeze With a Self-Study Course
To use an online self-study course, you don’t have to attend a scheduled class or even set up sessions with a tutor. So, using a self-study course, you have complete flexibility in scheduling your GRE preparation.
This kind of flexibility works well for someone with a busy or odd schedule. It also allows you to prepare without ever having to worry about missing a class or rescheduling a tutoring session.
Of the three types of GRE coaching online, self-study courses allow the most scheduling flexibility. All you have to consider is how much and when you want to study.
You Can Save Money by Using a Self-Study Course
Regarding the cost of online GRE coaching, a self-study course is the least expensive of the three options we’re considering. In fact, a subscription to a self-study course can cost less than a third of what a live class costs and less than an hour or two of tutoring. So, in addition to being a very effective means of preparing for the GRE, self-study courses tend to be affordable.
KEY FACT:
Self-study courses are comprehensive, can be personalized, allow flexible scheduling, and are more affordable than other types of online GRE coaching.
So, we can see that using an online self-study course is a great option. However, it does have some disadvantages. Let’s see what they are.
Disadvantages of Online Self-Study GRE Courses
With advances in teaching methods and technology, online courses have become better and better. At the same time, these courses still have some drawbacks related to the fact that, when you use them, most of the time, you’re working on your own.
The basic issue is that, while a test prep company that provides an online course generally provides some support, you won’t get as much support as you would get from a live instructor or a tutor. So, while you’ll have the ability to prepare when you want, at your own pace, and at relatively low cost, you’ll be responsible for keeping yourself motivated and on track.
That said, if you’re using a great course, it will likely have features to help you stay on track. For instance, it may have alerts to remind you if you miss tasks or don’t hit accuracy benchmarks. It may also provide resources that can help you to remain motivated. Still, when you use an online course, your primary source of motivation and assessment of how you’re doing is yourself.
KEY FACT:
In using an online self-study GRE course, you need to keep yourself motivated and on track.
Having explored the main types of online GRE prep, let’s now discuss what to consider when choosing one for yourself.
Key Things to Consider When Deciding Among the Types of Online GRE Coaching
As we have seen, each type of online GRE coaching has its advantages and disadvantages. So, which type is best varies from student to student. To determine which type is best for you, you can consider the following:
- your GRE prep goals and needs
- your learning style
- your GRE prep budget
Let’s discuss each of these considerations.
Your GRE Prep Goals and Needs
Considering your GRE prep goals and needs is key in choosing the online coaching option that is best for you. For instance, if you have a modest score goal and don’t need comprehensive preparation, then the instruction you’d get in a live class could be sufficient. Alternatively, if all you need is some help mastering a few specific topics to achieve a higher score, then it could make sense for you to schedule a few tutoring sessions. If you want to achieve a large score increase by thoroughly studying all aspects of the GRE, a self-study course could be your best option.
Your Learning Style
Each person preparing for the GRE has his or her personal learning style. Some people do best in a structured environment with support from others and thus might learn best in a class. Others feel most comfortable learning on their own and setting their own pace and thus would be happiest using a self-study course.
To determine what your preferred learning style is, think about ways you’ve learned before and what you liked best. Also, consider how you feel when working on your own or with others on any type of project. If you like working alone in a quiet environment, then a self-study course is probably best for you. If you strongly prefer to work with others, then a class or tutor could be a good option.
Your GRE Prep Budget
As we’ve been discussing types of GRE coaching, you may have been wondering, “Is GRE coaching expensive?” One answer to that question is that the costs of the different types of GRE coaching are quite different. A live course typically costs around $1,000 to $2,000. Tutoring can cost anywhere from around $100 per hour to several hundred dollars per hour. A self-study course can cost much less than either of the other two options, even just a few hundred dollars for months of access.
Accordingly, your budget for GRE prep is a key consideration when choosing which approach to use. Of course, just going with the least expensive option, a self-study course, may not make sense if you really want the support provided by a live class or tutor. So, though your budget is a major consideration, it isn’t the only one.
One thing to keep in mind in considering which type of GRE prep best fits your budget is that you don’t have to use one method exclusively. You could use a combination of approaches, for instance by supplementing a self-study course with some tutoring sessions.
TTP PRO TIP:
Considering your GRE prep goals and needs, learning style, and budget will help you decide which GRE prep approach is best for you.
Let’s wrap up by reviewing the key takeaways from what we’ve discussed.
Online GRE Coaching: Key Takeaways
If you’re considering online GRE coaching, keep the following key points in mind.
- Effective preparation is the key to achieving good GRE scores, and using online GRE coaching is an effective approach to preparing.
- You can take an online class, work with a tutor online, or use an online self-study course.
- Each type of online GRE coaching has advantages and disadvantages.
- Online live classes provide structure and support and allow interaction with an instructor and other students.
- An online tutor can provide personalized instruction and help you to remain motivated and on track.
- Online self-study courses provide comprehensive instruction, help with planning, allow complete control over scheduling, and are the most affordable option.
What’s Next?
Now that you better understand the three main types of GRE online coaching, you can learn more about GRE prep by checking out our post on the best way to study for the GRE and our guide to how long to study for the GRE.
