I just logged into the BenchPrep test prep website and am welcomed with their greeting of “Gain an unfair advantage on test day”; I like this – a test prep site with an edge! Let’s continue exploring…
After you sign in and choose your test (see list below), you’ll then choose your target test date. The program then generates a study plan of week-by-week tasks that you’ll need to complete to achieve your optimal preparedness for your chosen exam. Each task has a timeframe next to it, indicating the expected amount of time the exercise should take – a nice touch.
As you move through the little icons on the left side of the screen, you’ll encounter some nice features – games (mainly flashcard games – pretty simple and straightforward), practice tests, discussion boards, study groups, and others. Another organizational feature is the table of contents icon which, when you click on it, gives you a very clear outline of your study plan with links to other parts of the site.
There is also a BenchPrep mobile app (Android and iPhone), making this program excellent for test-preppers on-the-go!
One thing I’d like to see more of on this site are videos. There is certainly no shortage of written prep resources here – there are loads of practice tests and explanations and tips, which of course are extremely important. For some people, this may be exactly what they’re looking for, but others – those auditory/visual types – the absence of video will be noticed.
Tests (a sampling):
| • ACT | • GMAT | • PMP Exam |
| • AP Exam | • GRE | • Police Officer Exam |
| • CFA Level I Exam . | • LSAT | • Postal Exam |
| • CLEP | • MCAT | • Praxis Test |
| • EMT | • Nursing School Entrance Exams . | • SAT |
| • FRM | • PCAT | |
| • Firefighter Exam | • PE Exam |
Features:
• Ask-a-tutor, and receive an answer within 24 hours
• Bookmarking and highlighting features
• Ratings/tracking of your confidence level (so you can go back to review those weak areas)
• Games
• Practice tests
• Discussion boards
• Study groups
Head to BenchPrep now to check out these features on your own!
