CourseVerdict

Nova's LSAT Prep Course vs TOEFL iBT (26+) Complete Preparation Course

Same Bayesian formula, same rubric — so the difference in scores reflects the difference in the courses, not the difference in how we evaluated them.

Nova Press / Jeff Kolby (Udemy) · Test Prep

Nova's LSAT Prep Course

3.3/ 5 · 25 opinions
14 positive6 neutral5 negative/ 25 total

Keino Campbell (Udemy) · Test Prep

TOEFL iBT (26+) Complete Preparation Course

4.3/ 5 · 34 opinions
24 positive6 neutral4 negative/ 34 total

Per-criterion

Content quality3.4 / 5

The course delivers 403 lectures across 8.5 hours, working through fundamental logic principles — contrapositives, if-then chains, pivotal words — drawn from Nova Press's 560-page Master The LSAT book. Amazon reviews of the underlying book highlight thorough coverage of analytical reasoning and a clear step-by-step breakdown of argument structure. The critical content issue that every independent reviewer and community discussion now flags is currency: Logic Games (the Analytical Reasoning section) were permanently removed from the LSAT beginning August 2024, and any course built substantially around that section is teaching material no longer on the test. The Logical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension coverage is more durable, but the absence of an explicit update addressing the format change is a real gap.

Instructor3.7 / 5

Jeff Kolby of Nova Press carries genuine credentials — 20+ years in test preparation, millions of students reached through Nova's print materials, and a bestselling Amazon ranking for the Master The LSAT book. Amazon book reviewers describe the Nova approach as highly analytical and structured, with solid foundations for argument deconstruction. The honest deduction is that Kolby is primarily known as a publisher and author rather than an on-screen LSAT video instructor, and with only 187 Udemy enrolments the teaching format has had limited real-world stress-testing relative to competitors like 7Sage or Blueprint. Community discussions on Reddit do not mention him by name in the way that Blueprint or LSAT Demon instructors are cited.

Value for money4.1 / 5

This is where the course is hardest to argue against. At a typical sale price of $12-20 with lifetime access, it provides the equivalent of a two-month course framework for roughly the cost of a textbook — compared to $699-$1,899 for Blueprint, Princeton Review, or Kaplan. The onlinecoursespro.com review gives it 4.2/5 overall and cites the 30-day money-back guarantee, free course updates, and iOS/Android access as genuine extras at the price. The honest caveat is that the low price also reflects a small enrolled community (187 students) and a curriculum that has not been explicitly updated for the post-August 2024 LSAT format, which is a meaningful real cost in wasted study time if you are sitting the current exam.

Practice material2.6 / 5

The course is built around teaching logic principles through the Nova Press curriculum, not around supplying high-volume practice. There are no embedded full-length LSAT practice tests and no original question bank; Reddit's r/LSAT community consistently warns that effective LSAT prep requires drilling with official LSAC questions from LawHub, and no Udemy course can replicate that. Independent community reviewers note that the most cost-effective practice resource is free — Khan Academy's official LSAC-partnered prep — which raises the bar for what a paid course must add. The practice-materials gap here is the widest of the five criteria.

Score improvement3.2 / 5

Nova Press's own marketing claims "your score will improve significantly" if you master the course material, and Amazon reviews of the underlying book include anecdotes of successful law school admission after following the study plan. Community opinion gathered from LSAT forums and Reddit threads is more measured: structured prep courses are broadly credited with 10-15 point improvements versus unguided self-study, but reviewers consistently note those gains require pairing any video course with heavy LawHub official practice. At a competitive level, LSAT Demon, 7Sage, and Blueprint are the platforms cited when score improvement is the primary goal.

Content quality4.3 / 5

A genuinely deep, well-structured library — roughly 50-53 hours of video across Reading, Listening, Speaking and Writing, with 87 downloadable resources, section-by-section strategy breakdowns, and content kept current with the redesigned TOEFL iBT (the Academic Discussion writing task). Reviewers consistently call it "probably the most in-depth course you'll find." The main content caveat is that it assumes intermediate-plus English and is not a beginner English course.

Instructor4.6 / 5

Keino Campbell is the single strongest asset in the package — a Udemy Top 10% Most Engaging Instructor, CELTA-certified ESL specialist, university professor and attorney, with 35,000+ five-star reviews across his TOEFL and IELTS catalogue. Clarity, examiner-awareness and the rare free monthly live group classes draw near-universal praise.

Value for money4.3 / 5

List price around $60-85 but very frequently on sale, with lifetime access, monthly live classes, a certificate and Udemy's 30-day refund. That is a fraction of Magoosh, Kaplan or a tutor. The honest catch is that it leans on standard ETS/official practice rather than bundling its own full-length proprietary mock tests, so serious test-takers buy official material on top.

Practice material3.6 / 5

Strong at the technique level — 30+ assignments, quizzes, and timed Reading/Listening practice that simulates exam pressure — but the most-repeated criticism is that there are no full-length proprietary mock tests created specifically for the course, and the dedicated speaking- practice library is thinner than learners want. Most reviewers recommend pairing it with official ETS TOEFL practice.

Score improvement4.2 / 5

Self-reported gains are common and specific across reviews — overall scores up 10-20 points, Reading reaching the 26-27 target band. Because the strategies map onto how the TOEFL is actually scored, motivated self-studiers who do the timed practice tend to report real movement, though reviewers stress success still requires consistent effort.

Scoring methodology applies identically to every course on the site — see the formula.