Khan Academy started a decade ago as a YouTube channel and, over the years, has taught millions of students across the world for free. Today, Khan Academy remains a non-profit organization and has added various features to its website that make it more than just a video lesson platform.
To get the complete experience, you will have to sign up for a free account, which will let you use the several different tools that the academy offers.
Many students wonder if they can use Khan Academy for their GRE prep, and today that is precisely what I will explore in this article.
In this Article
Can I Use Khan Academy to Prepare for GRE?
The answer to this question is yes for the quant section and “not really” for the verbal section. Here is what you need to understand. Khan Academy wasn’t initially set up to offer test prep. However, it was set up to provide lessons on particular STEM topics.
In 2015, Khan Academy and the College Board (the organization responsible for SAT) announced a collaborative project that would help students prepare for SAT on Khan Academy via specialized tools and lessons.
They have since added LSAT, MCAT, and Praxis to the list but sadly, no GRE.
This doesn’t mean that you cannot prepare for GRE using Khan Academy.
Firstly, all the topics that are tested on GRE Math section can be easily found on Khan Academy. Since Khan Academy provides lessons on particular topics, you can pretty much find any STEM topic you can think of.
All you will need to do is check which quant topics GRE tests and then search for those particular topics on Khan Academy. So, in this sense, yes, you can prepare for GRE using Khan Academy. However, the only problem is that it is not a specialized online course specially designed to offer GRE prep.
How do I find GRE Quant Topics on Khan Academy?
You have two options; firstly, you can manually look for GRE quant topics on Khan Academy and go from there. The math topics tested on GRE are the following:
- Algebra
- Arithmetic
- Data Analysis
- Geometry
Secondly, the better option is to consult the following table provided by ETS themselves. This table lays out all the relevant lessons for the four subject areas tested on GRE Quant.
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GRE Math Review Topic |
Relevant Section on Khan Academy Site |
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ARITHMETIC |
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1.1 Integers |
§ Arithmetic: Multiplication and Division |
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1.2 Fractions |
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1.3 Exponents and Roots |
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1.4 Decimals |
§ Pre-Algebra: Arithmetic Properties |
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1.5 Real Numbers |
§ Arithmetic: Negative Numbers and Absolute Value § Pre-Algebra: Equations, Expressions, and Inequalities |
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1.6 Ratio |
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1.7 Percent |
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ALGEBRA |
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Sections 2.1 through 2.9 |
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2.1 Operations with Algebraic Expressions |
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2.2 Rules of Exponents |
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2.3 Solving Linear Equations |
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2.4 Solving Quadratic Equations |
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2.5 Solving Linear Inequalities |
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2.6 Functions |
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2.7 Applications |
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2.8 Coordinate Geometry |
§ Algebra I: Two-variable Linear Equations § Algebra I: Systems of Linear Equations |
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2.9 Graphs of Functions |
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GEOMETRY |
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3.1 Lines and Angles |
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3.2 Polygons |
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3.3 Triangles |
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3.4 Quadrilaterals |
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3.5 Circles |
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3.6 Three-Dimensional Figures |
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DATA ANALYSIS |
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4.1 Graphical Methods for Describing Data |
§ Pre-Algebra: Applying mathematical reasoning § 8th Grade (US): Data and modeling |
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4.2 Numerical Methods for Describing Data |
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4.3 Counting Methods |
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4.4 Probability |
§ Probability and Statistics: Independent and dependent events |
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4.5 Distributions of Data, Random Variables, and Probability Distributions |
§ Probability and Statistics: Random variables and probability distributions § Statistics and Probability: Modeling distributions of data |
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4.6 Data Interpretation Examples
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§ Pre-Algebra: Applying mathematical reasoning |
Note that some videos in the referenced sections may contain content that does not appear on the GRE Quantitative Reasoning measure. For example, the group of videos labeled “GEOMETRY: Right triangles and trigonometry” contains videos involving trigonometry, which does not appear on the measure.
Their respective topics and sub-topics have broken down all the different lessons. If you don’t want to spend money on specialized courses and books, then, by all means, use the lessons above to learn GRE Math from Khan Academy.
How Do I Find GRE Verbal Topics on Khan Academy?
GRE verbal is where things get a bit tricky. Unlike the quant section, ETS has not made a dedicated table for Khan Academy Verbal lessons. The verbal reasoning section of the GRE is designed to test your analysis skills.
You will find the following three types of questions in the verbal section of the GRE:
- Reading Comprehension
- Text Completion
- Sentence Equivalence
Khan Academy is primarily a STEM-based learning platform, and you will not find lessons on topics that are tested on GRE verbal. However, you can use Khan Academy’s SAT resources for the reading section related to GRE verbal reading passages, which is 50% of the verbal portion of GRE.
The videos that you will find under SAT’s reading section will explain how to analyze and identify the meaning, structure, and purpose of text passages. This will prepare you for a portion of the GRE verbal test but is far from a comprehensive study.
What Can I use for GRE Verbal prep instead?
Since Khan Academy is not ideal for the verbal section of GRE, I would recommend you sign up for a specialized course such as Magoosh. However, if you are short on money, then GREG MAT is ideal for you to get your verbal lessons from. GREG MAT is a dedicated GRE platform, and it is the cheapest online course you will ever find for only $5/month.
On Magoosh and GregMat you will also have access to hundreds of video lessons on math and verbal and live classes and a whole bunch of interactive tools that Khan Academy doesn’t offer, i.e., GRE practice tests, quizzes, word lists, and other vocabulary tools, etc.
Moreover, you can also buy ETS GRE Verbal Reasoning guide, an excellent guide that is both authentic and comprehensive. It features real GRE practice questions, and you don’t have to buy the equivalent math guide if you choose to do your GRE math prep from Khan Academy.
What GRE resources Khan Academy doesn’t offer?
If we are to take the entirety of the GRE test, then there is a lot of important stuff you wouldn’t find at Khan Academy. We have already established that Khan Academy is not suitable for verbal prep, and on top of that, it also lacks the following:
- Explanation of the GRE format
- GRE Practice questions
- Full-length GRE practice tests
- Vocabulary tools
The good news is that you can easily find these things on the internet for free over here. ETS offers two full-length practice tests for free on their website. You can find countless material on the structure and format of the GRE on YouTube. For vocabulary tools, you can check our article here for the best GRE vocabulary resources.
Bottom Line
So, is Khan Academy a sufficient resource for GRE prep? No, it is not. However, it is still good if you want to pick up the Quant concepts. Otherwise, Khan academy is an incomplete GRE resource, and you can’t fully rely on it.
If you want an all-encompassing solution for your GRE prep, then you will have to look elsewhere.
What makes Khan Academy so accessible is that it is free. However, it is not a dedicated GRE resource, so it is not as streamlined as some of the other courses specially designed to teach GRE prep.
I would advise that you buy an excellent GRE verbal guide like the one mentioned in the article if you decide to stick with Khan Academy. As for the practice material, you can get two free full-length practice tests from ETS, and if you want more, you can buy those as well.