If you're looking to pursue higher education or enhance your skills, you've probably heard of Kaplan, one of the most renowned names in the education industry. However, with the dynamic landscape of online learning, new platforms have emerged, offering innovative approaches and a diverse array of courses.
In addition to becoming a registered nurse, aspiring nurses are required to successfully pass NCLEX, a comprehensive multi-part examination designed to evaluate their readiness for nursing jobs.
This critical test serves as a crucial milestone on the journey to obtaining a nursing license and demands substantial preparation. So let’s see what exactly Kaplan offers and read some reviews about it. We’ll also cover some of Kaplan’s alternatives to see which platform is better to help you prepare for your nursing license exam.
Kaplan overview
Kaplan Test Prep is a leading provider of test preparation, practice tests, and private tutoring for numerous standardized tests, including SAT, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, USMLE, and NCLEX.
Kaplan offers a variety of practice tests that can help students identify their strengths and weaknesses and track their progress over time. The nursing NCLEX practice tests are designed to simulate the real NCLEX-RN exam and include a variety of question types.
Kaplan pros and cons
Let’s check some of the pros and cons of Kaplan:
+ Offers personalized and customizable learning aids.
+ Focuses on developing effective answer strategies.
+ Offers a vast collection of practice questions.
+ Provides a pass guarantee within six months.
+ Offers a full refund or additional enrollment time if you don't pass the exam.
- Lacks case studies.
- Features a traditional user interface.
Kaplan pricing
Kaplan offers different courses, including self-paced and live options. The self-paced course, priced at $425, provides 6 months of access to valuable resources. Alternatively, the Live Online course costs $525 and includes 18 hours of live instruction along with 6 months of online resource access.
Kaplan alternatives
Looking to explore other options beyond Kaplan for your educational needs? Check out these top 5 alternatives that offer a diverse range of courses, personalized learning experiences, and expert instructors.
Whether you're preparing for exams, pursuing professional certifications, or seeking to enhance your knowledge in various subjects, these education providers have got you covered. Discover the perfect fit for your learning journey below:
1- Smart’n
Smart'n is a recently founded Canadian organization that specializes in offering NCLEX exam test preparation. Their unique method of preparing nursing students for the exam has quickly caught the spotlight. By skillfully integrating technology and learning, their platform is transforming the traditional approach to exam readiness.
This quality NCLEX study tool is designed to support nursing students in their academic pursuits by offering an extensive range of practice questions, explanations, and assessments. Smart'n provides a vast collection of over 2,500 NCLEX practice questions and more than 60 hours of NGN NCLEX-style nursing case studies, meticulously organized by topic, including respiratory, cardiac, mental health, neurological, and more.
To access the NGN case studies on Smart'n, upgrading your free account is necessary. This upgrade unlocks additional materials and content that are specially curated to enhance your understanding of intricate nursing scenarios.
One outstanding feature of Smart'n is its personalized quizzes, tailor-made to address the individual needs of each student. The platform's AI generates these quizzes based on recommended practice topics, enabling students to focus on areas where they may require more practice or review. This personalized approach effectively reinforces their knowledge and sharpens their skills.
Furthermore, Smart'n is a groundbreaking program aimed at supporting nursing students in their educational journey by providing scholarship grants. The program seeks to alleviate the financial burden on nursing students through two approaches:
A monthly $300 grant is awarded to a Smart'n member who answers five questions provided in the grant application. Eligibility for this program does not require any membership fees; students only need to be in their final year of study at a licensed nursing school in North America.
Additionally, every week, Smart'n grants $100 to a member currently studying nursing in North America. This financial aid is intended to assist nursing students in covering educational expenses such as textbooks, lab fees, and other related costs.
Smart’n pros and cons:
+ Ability to go over previous quizzes and assess yourself again on the topics that require improvement.
+ Suitable for those preparing for NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN.
+ 100% money-back guarantee.
+ Nursing scholarship grants.
+ Suitable for those preparing for NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN.
+ Innovative and interactive learning approach.
+ Modern user interface.
+ Competitive pricing.
+ Free trial.
+ Over 60 hours of real-life NGN case studies.
- Limited track record.
- No physical books.
Smart’n pricing:
Smart'n offers a free trial and allows users to activate their complimentary membership whenever they prefer. Nevertheless, to access a broader selection of practice questions and various nursing case study types, users must upgrade their accounts. There are three upgrade choices available:
30-day access for $39
90-day access for $79
All-year access for $119
Note: All subscription options from Smart'n include a 100% money-back guarantee if the user does not pass the NCLEX exam.
2- Nurse Plus Academy
Nurse Plus Academy warmly invites all aspiring nurses to prepare for the NCLEX exam by utilizing their extensive collection of free sample test questions. For a more comprehensive study experience, you can choose a Nurse Plus Premium account, granting you access to over 1,600 additional questions, 65 realistic practice tests, and the NCLEX test simulator offering unlimited exam retakes.
With each practice question, you'll receive instant feedback featuring detailed explanations with images and videos. The learning aids are customizable, allowing you to display or hide hints, listen to the question's audio version, and view the most popular answers among other reviewers. Furthermore, any questions answered incorrectly will automatically be added to the Challenge Bank, allowing you to revisit and reinforce your understanding.
Nurse Plus Academy pros and cons:
+ An extensive collection of practice problems with comprehensive answer solutions.
+ An exceptionally realistic NCLEX simulator to simulate exam-like conditions
+ The cost-effective option for NCLEX review.
+ Beneficial email support is available, staffed by NCLEX experts, to address any questions you may have.
+ An economical Premium subscription plan with lifelong access.
+ Includes 65 practice tests and unlimited simulated exams.
+ Comes with a pass guarantee, offering a full refund if not successful.
- No live classes, prep books or video lessons.
- No physical books.
Nurse Plus Academy pricing:
Nurse Plus Academy's NCLEX course offers incredible value with their one-year plan priced at only $139 (or $99 for the 60-day plan). For approximately $100 to $140, this course provides an exceptional deal, delivering the maximum benefit for your investment in NCLEX preparation.
3- UWorld
UWorld offers a QBank with over 2,000 challenging questions designed to enhance critical thinking and analysis. The QBank includes detailed explanations and visuals to help you understand the reasoning behind each question and its answers.
The platform allows you to customize exams based on your study needs and provides flashcards and performance graphs for tracking progress. Visual learners benefit from vivid illustrations that aid in comprehending clinical reasoning for both correct and incorrect answers. The QBank comprises 30% alternate format questions, preparing you for the actual NCLEX test day.
UWorld pros and cons:
+ High-quality practice material and corresponding explanations that are reliable and comprehensive.
+ Answer solutions enriched with useful visuals and diagrams.
+ An exceptionally smooth and user-friendly experience.
+ Adaptable flashcards and exams that can be personalized to your preferences.
+ Each question covers multiple concepts, providing a comprehensive learning experience.
+ Opportunities for renewal discounts.
- Exclusive focus on practice material, without any separate NCLEX study material (video or written).
- Offers an average resemblance to the style and difficulty of actual NCLEX problems.
- Disappointing email and chat support experience.
UWorld pricing:
The most affordable choice is the 30-day access, providing a question bank with 2,300+ questions for $159. Alternatively, there are other options available, such as the 60-day plan for $189, the 90-day plan for $249, and the 180-day plan for $329.
Note: Be aware that prices for NCLEX review courses might change over time. To obtain the latest information on pricing and subscription options, it is advisable to visit the websites directly.
4- Hurst
Hurst has been dedicated to NCLEX review since 1988 and has an impressive 98% first-attempt pass rate, having assisted over 400,000 RN and PN candidates across. Their clinical judgment approach to NCLEX review, along with a wide array of traditional and online learning choices, leaves a strong impression.
The online-based Hurst N-Stream package offers interactive live lectures similar to the physical classroom course, providing 9-month access to four distinct NCLEX-style exams and over 1,500 Qbank items. Additionally, Hurst's Elevate add-on presents a guided study plan consisting of six modules. For added assurance, they provide a guarantee, allowing a full refund or an intensive one-time remediation course for those who don't pass.
Hurst pros and cons:
+ Gain access to a wide range of questions and an eBook.
+ Hurst's structured and strategic content review approach fosters critical thinking, equipping you to handle challenging questions effectively.
+ Hurst offers specialized strategies tailored specifically for the NCLEX exam.
+ Benefit from the opportunity to take four distinct exams designed to mirror the NCLEX format.
+ Receive assistance from nursing coaches who will guide you throughout the course.
+ Select from multiple choices, including live classes, online classes, or streaming webinars.
- Limited in-person classes.
- No major complaints about Hurst Review courses.
Hurst pricing:
Hurst provides several package options, with the most affordable one being a 30-day access to an online question bank for $109. The live classroom instruction and online live stream courses are both priced at $399. Alternatively, you can opt for the online class with 90-day access, available at a cost of $249.
5- NCLEX Mastery
Developed by Higher Learning Technologies, a company specializing in mobile learning solutions, the NCLEX RN Mastery and NCLEX PN Mastery apps are tailored for students who prefer studying on the go and engaging in self-study on their mobile devices. With reasonably priced auto-renewing subscription plans available for 1 month, 3 months, and 12 months, NCLEX Mastery caters to various needs. Moreover, they offer a money-back guarantee, promising to double your money back if you don't pass the exam.
These apps offer an extensive question bank, with 1,800 NCLEX-RN and 1,600+ NCLEX-PN practice questions, all based on past exams. Each question comes with detailed, illustrated explanations to aid in comprehension. In addition to the practice questions, you'll have access to nursing terminologies, mnemonics, and category-specific quizzes, as well as detailed statistics tracking your review progress.
NCLEX Mastry pros and cons:
+ Receive a double money-back guarantee if you don't pass the exam.
+ Access to a dedicated support team.
+ Also available is the Canadian NCLEX-RN Mastery app.
- No sample tests.
NCLEX Mastry pricing:
It offers several packages, each providing you with different features, pricing between $24.99 to $114.99.
Kaplan reviews and testimonials
Kaplan Test Prep for nursing students has a good reputation overall. Students who have used Kaplan have reported that they were satisfied with the program and that it helped them prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam.
Here are some reviews and testimonials from Trustpilot and Consumer Affairs :
1. Overall my experience was really great!
Overall my experience was really great! My small group leader provided really helpful information, and the webinar classes were incredibly informative and engaging. However, my original tutor was not helpful, and I ended up having to request a different tutor, which was definitely frustrating. Kaplan was very supportive in helping me find a different tutor though.
2. Live Online + Tutoring
I likes that there was a lot of content review, however, the questions were more based on content compared to AAMC material. I thoroughly enjoyed the live-online course as it helped me learn and try new strategies. It was very engaging and helpful in maintaining motivation. Highly recommend. I would say online tutoring was not very helpful unless you can create a plan for every tutoring session. Overall I'd say that the content was helpful but not worth the price as my scores were pretty stagnant.
3. Scheduled a 2-day class
Scheduled a 2-day class, 2 months out, and they cancelled 30 min prior to start time and had no back up instructor. They reschedule for a date, 30 days out, that was dated after my scheduled exam. I called cs and they advised they only have one class a month and no back up instructors. One class a month and one instructor when we only have 3 months to study.. I'm a single mom, I had to get a babysitter for after daycare and took two days off of work to complete this class, to have them cancel 30 min before and schedule me out past my exam date.. after sitting on the phone for an hour with a cs rep (who was really kind).
All they could do for me was add a recorded class (which I now can't ask questions or get clarification on subject details). In order to have access to these recorded courses I have to take another two days off and complete those all day recorded courses to have future access to them. They were going to downgrade my current plan and partially refund me since I paid for a live class, but I would then lose my online study progress, 2.5 months in. I advised that was unacceptable. So I asked if they could just add the course on to my existing plan. So that is what they did, but no compensation.
I'm really not happy how unprepared they were and how they inconvenienced us with no regard to us having to clear our schedules for two whole days. 30 min prior, is unbelievably unprofessional. I understand things happen, but with deadlines they should have a back up instructor to make sure they don't inconvenience paying customers in this way.
To add, the study guide is easy to follow, the terminology is a bit confusing, especially if you're new to the industry. Some of the wording they chose is hard to follow. I paid extra for the quick sheet and flashcards, which are helpful but I had to write a lot of my own answers on the back of the flashcards to make them easier to understand and remember. Studying forms are different for each person, I do better reading out loud and listening to an instructor while following along with written instructions, then reading back over it myself. For my learning type, this program was OK, but not great. The class cancellation really put the nail in the coffin for me.
Tips for choosing the right NCLEX exam prep resource
Here are some tips on how to choose the right NCLEX exam prep resource:
Make sure the resource is up-to-date: The NCLEX exam changes frequently, so it's important to choose a resource that has been updated recently.
Choose a resource that covers the latest test plan: The NCLEX test plan is a blueprint of the topics that are covered on the exam. Make sure to choose a resource that covers all of the topics on the test plan.
Select a resource that fits your learning style: Some people learn best by reading, while others learn best by doing. Choose a resource that offers a variety of learning tools, such as practice questions, videos, and simulations.
Read reviews: Before you buy a resource, read reviews from other students to see what they think of it. This can help you get a better idea of whether the resource is right for you.
Consider your budget: NCLEX exam prep resources can range in price from free to several hundred dollars. Choose a resource that fits your budget and your needs.
Choose a resource that offers a variety of question types: The NCLEX exam includes a variety of question types, such as multiple choice, multiple response, fill-in-the-blank, and drag-and-drop. Choose a resource that offers a variety of question types to help you prepare for the exam.
Look for a resource that provides feedback on your answers: The best way to learn from your mistakes is to get feedback on your answers. Choose a resource that provides detailed feedback on your answers so that you can understand where you need to improve.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Kaplan has long been a trusted name in the test preparation industry, there are several excellent alternatives that have emerged in 2023. These top 5 websites offer a range of features, from extensive question banks and comprehensive study materials to interactive learning tools and personalized support.
Whether you're preparing for standardized exams, professional certifications, or academic tests, read Kaplan’s reviews, consider the alternatives, and then choose the best fit for yourself according to the tips provided above.
FAQs
1- What is Kaplan known for?
Kaplan is known as a leading provider of licensing exam preparation and ongoing education for professionals with hectic schedules, assists individuals in acquiring and keeping sought-after certifications and designations in various industries such as financial planning, insurance, securities, real estate, engineering, architecture, and accounting.
2- Who are Kaplan's competitors?
Smart’n
Nurse Plus Academy
UWorld
Hurst
NCLEX Mastery
