Let’s face it. Applying to an elite college is more competitive and complicated than ever before.
The rigorous, highly-selective admissions processes of the top U.S. schools are designed to identify the best candidates with the most promising potential.

While standardized tests are a major source of controversy and debate in the U.S. academic world (and beyond), they still play a major role in our lives.

For colleges and universities, these tests function as objective measuring instruments that help them evaluate multiple factors, including an applicant’s knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Additionally, they also may serve as predictors of a student’s first-year success and as a metric to compare huge numbers of students from all over the country and abroad.

Needless to say, for students, getting the right score can mean the difference between being accepted to an ivy-league college or a prestigious advanced program versus settling for a middle or low-tier higher education institution.

Everybody understands that getting into one’s top-choice school requires achieving a certain target test score, but studying for the big test can be a stressful and intimidating experience, especially if this is your first time.

As a result, individuals who aspire to get into their dream school do everything they can to improve their test-taking performance by being fully prepared for anything they see on the exam so that they can succeed at this critical point of their academic journey.

What Do Test Preparation Companies Offer?

A combination of expert instructors, 21st century technology, and quality instructional content, coupled with effective test-taking strategies and skills, help students maximize results in minimum time.

The best digital programs identify student strengths and weaknesses and customize their study plan accordingly.

Test prep providers offer 3 popular course formats, which feature different learning methods and pricing plans. Every student can choose his desired type in accordance with his preferred instruction model, time constraints, budget, etc.

• Online and in-person private tutoring (one-on-one lessons)

• Live online and in-person group instruction

• On-demand, self-study online courses

What Do Prep Course’s Free Trials Include?

Obviously, each company crafts its trial differently in terms of what it actually offers and for how long. Most free trials include components such as the following:

1. An online diagnostic test
2. Video lessons
3. Practice questions
4. Full-length mock exams
5. Live 1-on-1 tutoring sessions
6. A free class
7. A free course
8. Interactive quizzes
9. Personal help from test-prep experts
10. Homework assignments
11. Test-taking techniques, strategies, and tips

Things That Paid Users Often Look For

Test-prep and private tutoring services are not cheap; as a result, price-sensitive users are increasingly looking for companies that offer a variety of assurances and commitments that will help them feel more confident with their financial investment. Such options include the following:

• Free trial: Students love the ability to take the system for a spin for a limited period of time before pulling out their credit card.
• Money-back guarantee: Some websites offer a certain time window in a which a student can ask for a refund if he’s not satisfied with the program.
• Score improvement guarantee: Some companies promise that if you do not get a higher test score, you’ll get your money back or another course for free.

Choosing an Online Test-Prep Platform: Why Should You Try It Before You Buy It?

There are many competing programs that are designed to provide comprehensive educational training and enhance test-takers’ performance on major standardized tests.

Obviously, every company has its unique mix of features, functionalities, and capabilities coupled with their own set of pros and cons.
So, how can you determine which course is ideal for your specific needs?

Since there are so many alternatives available, the best thing you can do is try some out for yourself and obtain independent insights about which package deserves your hard-earned money.

The no-obligation testing period gives you the chance to review the components of a certain program in a hands-on way, giving you a real feel for how it works.
Thus, you can form an independent opinion about a given test-preparation solution, discover its strengths and weaknesses, and reach a research-based conclusion about whether a paid membership is actually worth it or not.

How to Make the Most of a Trial Period?

An initial trial period allows you to try out a premium service for free before committing to a subscription and without spending a penny.

It’s a great way to verify that the program you’re considering delivers on everything you’re looking for before actually putting money down.
Research, reviews, and recommendations are extremely useful, but they’re not the same as actually taking a platform for a test drive.

This timeframe enables you to fully explore the website’s features, evaluate its ease of use, assess its value for money, and experiment with the interactive learning experience.
You get all of this without paying anything and with no obligation to join the service as a paying member.

After starting your free trial, take your time to explore the system and evaluate its usefulness.
Watch a sample video lesson or participate in a live classroom session and asses its quality, content delivery method, and general effectiveness.

Take a diagnostic test (if one is available) to get a general sense of where you stand–even before starting the course.
Read some of the study material and see if it is presented in an easy-to-understand manner.

Ask yourself the following: Do I like using this website? Do I feel like it meets my goals? Does it offer engaging and dynamic instruction? Do I think it will provide great results in the form of significantly improving my test score?

If you’re happy with what you saw and experienced, then maybe it’s time to purchase a paid plan.
However, if a given solution did not meet your expectations or needs, simply cancel the trial and look for better alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trying out and comparing a number of potential site options is a vital step before choosing a provider and selecting an online test-prep program.
Here’s a list of common questions (and answers) that often come up during this process.

Why Should You Sign Up? Benefits of Using Free Trials Before Choosing Any Paid Service

“Credit Card Required”: Why Do Some Free Trial Offers Require Users to Provide Their Credit Card Information?

Risk-Free Offer Models: What’s the Difference Between Free Trials, Freemium, and Money-Back Guarantee?

Common Free Trial Scams: How Do They Work and What Can You Do To Avoid Them?

Tips: How Do You Cancel a Free Trial You Signed Up For?