GRE prep is not one-size-fits-all. The right tutor for a student trying to build quant fundamentals from scratch may not be the right tutor for a consultant trying to add 8 points before Round 2 deadlines.
This guide is designed to help MBA applicants find GRE tutors who match their specific goals, constraints, and starting points, based on each provider’s strategy, official materials, and the experiences of past students.
We’ve based our ranking on real students’ documented experiences, the materials and tools available to them, and the firm’s positioning.
| Our verdict | Name & key points | Links |
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Best for big gains on a short timeline
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Menlo Coaching |
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Best for students on a budget
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GregMat |
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Best for test-anxious students
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City Test Prep |
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Best for non-STEM backgrounds
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Trevor Klee |
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Best for non-native speakers
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TestCrackers |
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Best for convenience factor
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Generic Test Prep Marketplace |
Best fit for MBA applicants with limited prep time
Menlo Coaching
Some GRE students need a long runway to (re-)establish the basics. Some need to begin their prep with vocabulary drills, algebra review, and a lower-cost self-study plan they can work through over several months. Menlo Coaching is not really for that type of student.
Their GRE tutoring is aimed more at applicants who already have a specific score goal in mind, particularly MBA applicants applying to highly competitive programs. These students may already have a solid academic background, but need help turning limited study time into a higher score.
For that reason, Menlo’s GRE tutoring is best understood as a premium, targeted option rather than a general GRE prep program. A student might come to Menlo after trying self-study, switching from the GMAT, or getting close to a target score but not quite reaching it.
Menlo says its tutors help students identify the weaknesses costing them points, with the goal of helping applicants reach top GRE scores for business school admissions.
Pricing
Menlo Coaching sits at the higher end of the GRE tutoring market, alongside companies like TTP, Kaplan, and Manhattan Prep. Its packages are relatively compact, ranging from 10 to 20 hours, and are priced at a premium hourly rate.
Unlike other major test prep companies, however, they offer fewer hours at a higher price point, reportedly helping students achieve their scores on a more condensed timeline.
Each package includes a study plan, live online tutoring, session recordings, homework assignments based on tutoring and exam performance, an error log, offline support, a private Basecamp project, GRE refresh modules, GRE lessons, curated ETS resources, 2,255 official GRE practice problems, and a 1,228-word vocabulary list.
Process & experiences
A central part of the service is the diagnostic process. Menlo starts by using POWERPREP tests, official score reports, and other tools to understand where a student is losing points. The company says this usually takes one session before the tutor moves into more targeted assignments.
This approach lines up with the types of students featured in Menlo’s testimonials. Several describe having worked hard or used multiple prep resources without much improvement. One student described her previous prep as a “spray and pray” strategy involving official books, Kaplan, Magoosh, Princeton Review, and practice exams. Another had a Stanford engineering background but still struggled to finish practice tests on time. Yet another had logged 250 hours of study time before Menlo and still not reached the score he needed.
Hailey … improved my overall score to above the HBS average in 3 weeks.
Working with David was really helpful in the GRE prep because he gave me a very structured way of approaching the GRE type of questions. And then in the one-on-one sessions, we could really focus on the stuff that I had problems with.
Before we started the actual lessons, we did a sort of strategy meeting where we basically planned out where my weaknesses were.
Menlo’s tutoring appears to focus less on simply adding more practice, more on identifying specific problems in a student’s approach. The curriculum relies exclusively on official GRE materials, which may appeal to students who are wary of prep questions that feel difficult but do not closely match the real exam.
Brand story
- Menlo Coaching began as an MBA admissions consulting firm, and that background shapes how it presents its GRE tutoring.
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The service is not framed as general graduate-school test prep; it is aimed largely at applicants who need a GRE score that supports a selective business-school application.
In summary —
Best fit for students on a budget
GregMat
Most GRE prep services fall into one of two categories: inexpensive materials that require students to organize their own study plan, or more structured programs that cost substantially more. GregMat is unique in that students benefit from both models.
GregMat is priced like a low-cost self-study option, but offers more structure than most products in that category. For $7.99 per month, GregMat+ includes study plans, live classes, recordings, tools, quizzes, and practice resources. For $9.99 per month, students can add PrepSwift, which offers shorter review videos and exercises.
Students interested in tutoring should note how the booking process works. GregMat does not offer a free consultation process for tutoring. Students need an active GregMat+ subscription before they can view available tutoring slots, and sessions are booked separately after selecting an open time. Greg himself currently has no tutoring availability, and GregMat notes that some lower-cost half-hour sessions have limited availability, so joining the platform does not guarantee access to a tutor on a student’s preferred timeline.
GregMat’s low price point has helped make structured GRE prep more accessible, and that is a major part of its appeal. The service has also developed a visible following on Reddit and other online forums, where a low-cost “bargain” option is always sure to stir up hype.
Pricing
GregMat is among the least expensive structured GRE prep options available. For students who are comfortable studying independently and following a preset roadmap, it can provide a large amount of material for the price.
It may also be a useful starting point for students who need to build fundamentals before deciding whether to work with a tutor later.
Each GregMat+ subscription includes access to GRE study plans, live classes, recorded lessons, quizzes, practice problems, vocabulary tools, quant resources, full practice tests, and the community forum. Students who add PrepSwift also get shorter concept-review videos and exercises designed for faster review.
Private tutoring is not included in the subscription price; students need an active GregMat+ account to view tutor availability, then book and pay for sessions separately.
Process & experiences
GregMat is not specifically designed around MBA admissions, quant-heavy students, verbal-heavy students, or applicants targeting a particular score band. Instead, it offers a broad GRE prep system: study plans, live classes, recordings, vocabulary tools, quant tools, full practice tests, forums, and optional tutoring.
That broad approach is both useful and limiting. Students who want highly individualized admissions-oriented tutoring may find GregMat too general. Students who mainly need structure, explanations, and a low-cost study plan may find it a practical option.
Student-reported results are often strong, though GregMat’s marketing is admirably cautious about overstating them. The testimonials page notes that the company does not validate most scores and does not offer a score guarantee.
The platform also offers private GRE tutoring through several tutors, including people focused on quant, verbal, and study planning. GregMat says these sessions may involve diagnosing weaknesses and building a broader study plan. However, Greg himself is not currently available for tutoring, and the low price point means students should not assume that convenient tutoring slots will always be open.
I moved from a 318 to a 328 in two months.
I had a few tutoring sessions with Jovyn, and he was extremely helpful. He was able to lay out a plan for me to follow, provided some resources, and helped go through some problems I had trouble with.
Jovyn – thank you for the tutoring sessions. You made quant less awful.
Brand story
- GregMat was built around the idea that GRE prep should be more affordable and easier to follow.
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The product still has a teacher-led feel: The tone is informal, the tools are straightforward, and the study plans are meant to give students a clearer sense of what to do each day.
In summary —
Best fit for students with test anxiety
City Test Prep
For some students, GRE prep is not only a content problem. They learn the formulas, memorize the vocabulary, and understand the question types, but then they sit down for the real exam and watch their preparation amount to less than the sum of its parts.
City Test Prep is a better fit for that type of student than for someone simply looking for a large GRE question bank or a conventional prep course. Its approach combines one-on-one test prep with strategy, time management, mindset coaching, emotional regulation, and focus techniques. The company describes its model as a blend of content mastery, test-taking strategy, time management, and mindset work.
That makes City Test Prep somewhat different from the more traditional GRE tutoring companies on this list. It still offers academic tutoring, but it puts more emphasis than most providers on the mental side of testing: anxiety, confidence, calm, and the ability to perform under pressure. The company compares this kind of support to the role sports psychologists and trainers play for athletes.
Pricing
City Test Prep does not appear to publish standard GRE tutoring package prices on its site. Students interested in one-on-one GRE tutoring are directed to contact the company for more information, which makes it harder to compare directly with providers that list hourly rates or fixed tutoring packages.
Each one-on-one tutoring plan appears to be individualized rather than sold as a fixed GRE package. City Test Prep says its tutors work with students on content mastery, test-taking strategy, time management, confidence, focus, and mindset. Its separate GRE Full Potential product is listed at $199 and is better understood as a mindset-support tool than a complete GRE prep program.
As an individual package, it appears that the GRE Full Potential package could work well as an addition to external tutoring packages for students who need help reaching their final score.
Process & experiences
The main appeal is that City Test Prep treats test anxiety as part of the prep process rather than something to handle on your own. For students whose practice scores are meaningfully higher than their official scores, that may be useful. A student who already understands the underlying material may not need hundreds of additional practice problems as much as a plan for staying calm, reading efficiently, managing time, and recovering from mistakes during the exam.
The tradeoff is that City Test Prep’s GRE offering is less transparent than some competitors’. There are no clearly described GRE tutoring packages, hourly rates, score guarantees, or GRE-specific score reports on the main pages. Students who want a straightforward comparison of hours, prices, practice tests, and guarantees may find the site harder to evaluate.
Still, for students whose main obstacle is anxiety rather than content knowledge, City Test Prep occupies a clear niche. It is best considered by GRE students who already know that test-day confidence is affecting their performance.
With their help, I was offered MBA interviews with my top-choice program (Stanford GSB) and more than that, I walked away from the test prep experience feeling an overwhelming sense of pride in myself for reaching my goal!
I had never realized my full potential. I always scored lower on actual exams than on practice exams. Then, after working with Test Prep New York and the Full Potential Program, I was able to gain the confidence, focus, and skill sets to increase my score. I was able to walk into the exam relaxed, focused, and confident!
Brand story
- City Test Prep was founded in New York in 2005 by Bara Sapir, an educator whose work combines test prep with mindset and performance coaching.
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The company says it pioneered the integration of mindset-enhancing techniques and speed reading into the study process, with the goal of helping students become calmer and more confident.
In summary —
Best fit for weak math backgrounds
Trevor Klee
Some MBA applicants are not trying to become quant specialists. They just need a GRE Quant score that is strong enough for their target programs. For students who have been away from math for years and struggle with algebra, probability, rates, or word problems, it can be a significant hurdle.
Trevor Klee is a better fit for that type of student than for someone who wants a large online platform or a highly polished course interface. His GRE materials and tutoring style are built around making the test feel more manageable. On his GRE tutoring page, he writes that his teaching style is meant to make the GRE seem “conquerable,” with a clear roadmap, easy-to-understand techniques, and support aimed at reducing stress for students.
That positioning is especially relevant for students with weaker math fundamentals. Trevor’s GRE Quant Bible covers more than 40 quant topics on the GRE, including how to recognize each topic and how to solve the questions in different forms. The book starts with basic algebra and guides readers on how to translate word problems into equations, before moving into more advanced topics. It’s a natural fit for students who need to rebuild foundations before they can worry about timing or advanced strategy.
Pricing
Each GRE tutoring package includes an easy-to-follow study plan, copies of Trevor’s GRE guides, unlimited email support, and structured tutoring sessions. The separate GRE academic coaching option is listed at $300 a month and is described as giving students ongoing access to a GRE academic coach by email or text when they get stuck on a question.
Process & experiences
The main appeal is that Trevor’s approach appears to be more foundational than flashy. His GRE study advice emphasizes starting with an official ETS diagnostic test, using an error log to identify patterns, and then practicing based on the weaknesses that show up. He also recommends official GRE books and POWERPREP tests as mandatory materials, with extra quant practice as an optional supplement.
That approach may suit students who know they need quant help but are not confident that self-study will be enough. In one GRE testimonial, a student said Trevor helped break complex GRE problems into simpler parts after broader services like Magoosh and Princeton Review felt too impersonal. Another student said she had not done math since high school, worked with Trevor for six weeks, and raised her GRE Quant score by 7 points.
“I hadn’t done any math since high school and was looking to take the test very soon. In the six weeks that he was my tutor, my score went up a full 7 points.
I would definitely recommend Trevor to any aspiring MBA, especially those that have been out of school for a while.
I had studied with Magoosh GRE and the Princeton Review for the GRE, but I found that these services were very broad and impersonal. Trevor, on the other hand, was able to break down the GRE’s complex problems into simpler parts, so that I could better understand the concepts.
The site has a more personal, less corporate feel than most larger GRE tutoring providers. That may be a benefit for students who want a straightforward tutor with written study guides and direct support, rather than a broad platform with many instructors and course tracks. It may also be a limitation for students who want a polished dashboard, large question bank, score guarantee, or formal admissions-focused package.
For MBA applicants with weak math backgrounds, the clearest case for Trevor Klee is the combination of individual tutoring, published quant-focused materials, and a teaching style that starts from fundamentals. He is probably not the most specialized option for elite-score MBA strategy, but he may be a practical fit for students who need to rebuild confidence in GRE Quant before anything else.
Brand story
- Trevor Klee is an independent tutor based in Boston and also working online. He graduated from Princeton, previously worked as a tutor in Singapore, and says he scored 170 Verbal and 166 Quant on the GRE.
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His site also describes him as the GRE instructor for MIT’s Laureates and Leaders Program.
In summary —
Best for non-native English speakers
TestCrackers
For non-native English speakers, the GRE Verbal section can be difficult in a specific way. It is more than a vocabulary test or a reading test. Students also have to work through dense sentence structure, unfamiliar idioms, logic-heavy reading passages, and answer choices that differ by small shades of meaning.
TestCrackers is a good fit for students who want more support on that side of the exam, with a reasonable level of English but in need of a systematic approach to GRE Verbal. The company offers both GRE tutoring and a separate GRE Verbal and Essay course, and its team includes Seth Capron, who designed TestCrackers’ GMAT and GRE verbal curricula and tutors both exams.
This is not a remedial English class, though, and TestCrackers is fairly direct about that distinction. In its FAQs, the company says many ESL students have had good experiences with TestCrackers, but also notes that students who struggle to read and understand test material — particularly those with a TOEFL score below 90 — may benefit more from studying English before beginning the course.
Pricing
TestCrackers advertises several tutoring options, including expert tutoring packages and founder packages. The expert packages are likely the best-value option for most students; founder tutoring is pricey, especially for in-person or weekend sessions.
Each tutoring package includes private live tutoring, analysis of what is holding a student’s score back, a personalized plan for improvement, six complete practice exams with teacher analysis, all study materials, and flexible scheduling. TestCrackers also offers a free 20-minute consultation for students considering one-on-one tutoring.
Process & experiences
The main reason to consider TestCrackers for non-native English speakers is its verbal emphasis. Their private tutoring focuses on understanding the underlying material and how to approach the test, rather than simply running through practice problems.
For non-native English speakers, that kind of instruction may matter. Vocabulary lists alone do not really solve GRE verbal problems, especially when the issue is interpreting logic, understanding passage structure, or choosing between similar answer choices.
TestCrackers’ own FAQs are careful not to promise that verbal prep can replace English fluency, but it does position their tutoring as a fit for ESL students who already have the language foundation to handle GRE-level material.
If you’re like me and just don’t think you’ll ever be good at reading comprehension or long wordy math problems, go with Testcrackers–I’m seriously convinced they can turn anyone into a math or verbal guru.
Seth gives you the tools to defeat even the most complex verbal questions and essay prompts. In just a few weeks with Seth my verbal score jumped from the 71st percentile to the 87th percentile.
Brand story
- TestCrackers is a smaller GRE and GMAT prep company founded by Yuri Gottesman in 2012. Its site emphasizes experienced instructors, small classes, and one-on-one tutoring rather than a large self-study platform.
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Yuri has taught the GRE since 2005 and reports a perfect 170 on GRE Quant; Seth Capron, a partner at the company, designed the GRE Verbal curriculum and is a 99th-percentile scorer on both the GRE.
In summary —
Best for the convenience factor
Generic Test Prep Marketplace
Okay, there’s no firm called Generic Test Prep Marketplace, but there are a lot of sites out there that fit the profile: large tutoring marketplaces where students can search for a GRE tutor, compare profiles, and book a session with relatively little friction. Wyzant and Varsity Tutors are the obvious examples, though the same basic model is replicated elsewhere.
The main appeal is convenience. A student who wants to start quickly can usually find someone, check availability, and book a session without committing to a full prep package. Wyzant, for example, lists GRE tutors who set their own prices, with average rates shown around $40–$75 per hour, and emphasizes no upfront fees and no costly packages.
That setup can work for students who mostly need homework help, a one-off explanation, or short-term accountability. It is less convincing for students who need a serious GRE plan, especially for business school.
In a marketplace model, the platform may help connect you with a tutor, but the student is still largely responsible for judging whether that tutor actually knows the GRE, uses accurate materials, understands timing strategy, and can build a coherent study plan.
Pricing
Marketplace pricing varies widely because tutors often set their own rates. Students may also see different pricing models depending on whether they are using an open marketplace, a tutor-matching platform, or a tutoring membership.
Each marketplace package is different, but students generally get access to tutor profiles, scheduling tools, online lessons, and some form of review or matching system.
Wyzant lets students compare tutor costs, qualifications, reviews, and availability, then pay only for the time they book; it also protects the first hour with a “Good Fit Guarantee.” Varsity Tutors presents its tutoring packages as including individualized instruction, learning tools, diagnostic tests, and a satisfaction guarantee.
Process & experiences
The upside is that students can move quickly. If a tutor is not a good fit, they can often switch without starting the entire search from scratch. That is the best argument for this category: it’s simple, flexible, and easy to access.
The downside is quality control. A marketplace can show ratings, reviews, hourly rates, and availability, but those signals are not the same as a GRE-specific curriculum or a company taking responsibility for the outcome of the prep. A tutor may be excellent, or they may be a generalist who happens to list GRE tutoring among many other subjects.
Worse still, when students buy tutoring by the hour, they’re unlikely to benefit from a long-term strategy. In short, students take on more personal responsibility for their test prep.
The clearest use case for a test prep marketplace is short-term convenience. If a student needs help understanding a specific quant topic, wants a few verbal sessions before test day, or needs to compare several instructors quickly, a marketplace may be enough. If the goal is a full GRE plan for MBA admissions, it is probably safer to choose a provider whose entire product is built around GRE prep rather than around tutor matching.
Brand story
- These platforms are built to make tutoring easier to find. They are not necessarily built around a particular GRE philosophy, a defined curriculum, official ETS materials, or a specific admissions outcome.
- That does not make them useless. Some excellent tutors work through marketplaces, and the flexibility can be helpful for students with unusual schedules or narrow needs. But for GRE students who need a structured plan, a clear diagnostic process, or accountability for tutor quality, a specialized tutoring company is usually easier to evaluate.
In summary —
Where to find the best GRE tutors for you
Choosing a GRE tutor is ultimately less about finding the “best” tutor in the abstract and more about finding the right fit for the problem you actually have. A student who needs to relearn math fundamentals, one whose verbal score is capped by dense reading passages, and one who scores well on practice tests but panics on exam day all need different kinds of help.
Before choosing a tutor, it is worth asking a few questions:
- Do you need content review, strategy, accountability, anxiety support, or a full diagnostic plan?
- Are you trying to make a modest improvement, or do you need a score that will stand out at competitive MBA programs?
- Do you learn best through a structured curriculum, flexible one-on-one explanation, or independent study with occasional support?
- Do you want a tutor who works from official ETS materials, or do you want a larger bank of proprietary practice questions?
A good GRE tutor should be able to explain not only what they teach, but how they would approach your specific situation. That means asking how they diagnose weaknesses, what materials they use, how they assign homework, how they measure progress, and what kind of student they specialized in helping.
The more clearly you can define your own obstacles, the easier it becomes to tell whether a particular tutor can help you surmount them.