GRE prep course options and how to choose one

The official GRE preparation course from ETS

ETS’s own GRE preparation course is the Official GRE Mentor. ETS describes it as an online, self-paced course with 500+ authentic practice questions and answers, lessons and quizzes with immediate feedback, developed and recommended by the makers of the GRE General Test.

The ETS pages we checked do not state the price or the access period, so confirm both on the purchase page before you buy.

Source: ETS India — Official GRE Mentor Course. Checked 19 October 2026.

Free GRE training from ETS

Before you pay for any GRE prep course, use what ETS gives away. A Deep Look at the Test is a free, 2-hour prep session in which you can hear from and ask questions of the people who make the GRE. The two POWERPREP Online practice tests are free as well, one untimed and one timed.

If you qualify for the GRE Fee Reduction Program, registering for the General Test also gives you free access to official prep materials that ETS values at US$100.

Source: ETS — Prepare for the GRE General Test. Checked 19 October 2026.

Writing practice: the part most courses underweight

Analytical Writing is one 30-minute "Analyze an Issue" task. ETS sells ScoreItNow! Online Writing Practice for US$20, which gives immediate scores and feedback on practice essays. A course that never has you write timed essays leaves this measure to chance.

Source: ETS — GRE General Test Prep Books & Services. Checked 19 October 2026.

How to choose the best GRE prep course

The test changed on 22 September 2023. Before that it ran about 3 hours and 45 minutes with an Issue task and an Argument task; now it is about 1 hour and 58 minutes with one Issue task and shorter Verbal and Quant sections. Any course still teaching the Argument essay or 20-question sections is out of date.

• Current format: one Issue essay, Verbal sections of 12 and 15 questions, Quant sections of 12 and 15 questions.
• Official questions: real ETS questions or POWERPREP tests built into the course, not only invented ones.
• Timed full-length practice under the real section limits.
• Feedback per measure, so you know whether Verbal, Quant or writing is costing you points.
• Tools that match test day, including a basic on-screen calculator for Quant.

Source: ETS — GRE General Test Structure. Checked 19 October 2026.

What is the best prep course for GRE candidates?

There is no single best prep course for GRE candidates, and ETS does not rate courses. The best GRE prep course for you is the one that targets the measure your diagnostic test shows is weakest and uses the current format. If you are strong in Quant, a course that spends most of its time on algebra review wastes your time.

You can also combine official material with targeted question practice instead of a full course. Certsqill’s GRE question bank has expert-developed questions for all three measures, an explanation for every answer option and a readiness score per measure.

GRE training & courses: questions people ask

Is there an official GRE prep course?

Yes. ETS offers the Official GRE Mentor, a self-paced online course with 500+ authentic practice questions. Source: ETS, checked 19 October 2026.

How much does the official GRE prep course cost?

The ETS pages checked on 19 October 2026 do not state the Mentor price. Check the purchase page in your ETS account.

Is there a free GRE prep course?

ETS offers a free 2-hour prep session, A Deep Look at the Test, and two free POWERPREP practice tests. Source: ETS, checked 19 October 2026.

What should a GRE prep course cover?

The current shorter test since 22 September 2023: one Issue essay and two Verbal and two Quant sections of 12 and 15 questions, with timed full-length practice.

Do I need a GRE prep course?

Not necessarily. ETS says many people have prepared successfully using only free materials. Take a practice test first and decide based on the result.