According to the Global Association of Risk Professionals, the average FRM® candidate spends 240 hours studying for the exam (with some studying up to 400 hours).
So, you’d better love the prep course you choose, because from that day on, you’ll be best friends.
Kaplan FRM® is one of the most popular review courses on the market. To test whether it deserves that spot, I dug through the course materials myself, studying topics like operational risk, market risk measurement, and quantitative analysis to see if they’re one of the best FRM® prep providers, or a top brand name without any substance to back it up.
Is Kaplan FRM® Right for You?
- If you learn best from guided explanations and visuals, Kaplan’s 30+ hours of review video lessons, 15 on-demand lessons, and expert instructors are a strong asset.
- If you’re a self-motivated reader, the Essential Package offers study notes, quizzes, and question banks without the need for video content.
- If you value the ability to ask questions, the InstructorLink feature in the Premium Package gives you direct access to knowledgeable instructors.
- If community support helps you stay motivated, the Schweser Community Forum is active and helpful for quick feedback or peer insight.
- If you’re hoping for lifetime access, keep in mind Kaplan’s materials expire shortly after your registered exam date.
Kaplan FRM® Course Overview
Kaplan is one of the most popular testing companies in the world across dozens of professional and admissions exams, and the same is true for the world of financial risk management. They’re frequently considered one of the best FRM® prep courses out there, but is that verdict true? Well, the goal of this article is to answer that question. For now, however, let’s lay out the highlights.
Kaplan Schweser provides two unique FRM® course packages, one roughly half the cost of the other, so there are options for your budget and needs. Further, there are 15+ on-demand classroom-style lessons, 30+ hours of review video lessons, thousands of exam-quality practice questions, a resource library packed with exam-taking tips, PassProtection™ to ensure you get course access until you pass, and Kaplan’s community forum for students and instructors to connect.
All of this blends together for an enjoyable experience, but one that won’t work for everyone. To determine if it’s right for you, walk with me as I dissect the details to help you make the right decision.
“I purchased the programs for both parts of FRM exam prep. Have passed part one and in process of completing part two. Well organised and structured learning process by Kaplan.”
Lynn Li, Trustpilot Reviewer
Pros
- Surprisingly affordable for a Kaplan Schweser course, and compared to other providers
- The Essential Package is a great choice for a strict budget
- There’s a heavy emphasis on review, which is helpful for memorization purposes
- The wide variety of learning resources caters to all learning styles
- Schweser’s Secret Sauce® is a beloved resource for key topic “fast facts”
Cons
- Some students report wanting more calculator tutorials
- Practice question mistakes are rare, but do come up on occasion
Kaplan
Course Package Options
Kaplan Schweser provides two unique FRM® prep course packages. Here’s what you need to know to choose the right package for your needs.
Premium Package
The Premium Package is roughly double the cost of the Essential Package, but with the extra splurge, you’re getting extra materials, like:
- 15 on-demand video lectures
- 30+ hours of review-driven video lessons
- Schweser’s Secret Sauce® booklet for compact topic summaries
- InstructorLink instructor messaging feature
Put simply, if video lessons are a priority for your FRM® study materials, this is the package you’ll want. It’s also a great fit if you learn best with the ability to ask questions and get clarification (InstructorLink), or if you can nail a test by getting through the key concepts (Secret Sauce).
Essential Package
Meanwhile, everything in the Essential Package is also included in the Premium Package, so you’re still getting a wide variety of materials for a surprisingly low price. However, there are no video lectures; instead, you’re mainly getting practice materials, study notes, the community forum access, and PassProtection™.
This package is clearly the best choice for students on a budget, but also students who learn better from reading and practicing rather than watching videos. Plus, if you’re a quick learner and are used to learning online and teaching yourself a bit, it’s wise to save some money and opt for the Essentials.
| Premium Package | Premium Package | |
|---|---|---|
| SchweserPro™ QBankand 2 Mock Exams |  | |
| 2 Checkpoint Examsand Topic Quizzes | | |
| Activity Feed andQuickSheets | | |
| SchweserNotes™and Resource Library | | |
| Kaplan SchweserCommunity Forum | | |
| Schweser’s PassProtection™ | | |
| 15 On-Demand Class Sessions | |  |
| 30+ Hours of Review | | |
| Schweser’s Secret Sauce® | | |
| InstructorLink | | |
| Price | $849 (Part I)$899 (Part II) | $449 (Part I)$499 (Part II) |
| Learn More | Learn About Premium | Learn About Essential |
Course Discounts
Save 15% on Kaplan Schweser’s FRM® exam prep courses and get high-quality review materials for a more affordable price.
Detail Deep Dive: Kaplan Schweser FRM® Specs
Structure, Interface, and Methodology
Kaplan Schweser takes a traditional approach because sometimes, tradition is tradition for a reason: it works. And until someone “builds a better mousetrap,” I have no doubt Kaplan is going to keep doing what works. For now, that means video lessons, reading through study notes and subject outlines, practicing your newfound knowledge with mock exams and sample FRM® exam questions, and messaging your instructors for help as needed. At the end, tackle the 30+ hours of on-demand review classes to refresh your knowledge and get key insights and tips for exam day success.
If you’re expecting professionalism and ease of use from Kaplan, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Kaplan’s really the master of this, and it shows; I appreciated their clean interface, quick load times, and elegantly designed materials. And yes, the practice questions are comparable to the actual FRM® exam, with similar wording, format, and topics. All in all, when it comes to content and structure, Kaplan is as polished as I expected.
“Learned with Schweser exclusively and passed comfortably – so dont worry mate. Although i agree that Schweser was a little weaker on Part 2, its extremely efficient in terms of time/preparation. Just focus on chapter notes and Identify those you dont feel confident about and search the Internet for Videos or other sources on this specific topic. Dont Stress out, if you learned the Schweser stuff well, you will pass without a doubt!”
shassui
On-Demand Video Lessons
First and foremost, if you want video lectures and review lessons, you’ll have to upgrade to the Ultimate Package. However, the upgrade may be worthwhile due to the quality and quantity of these lectures, particularly if a different prep provider hasn’t spoken to you yet.
It depends on the kind of video you’re watching, but for the most part, you can expect a talking head-style video in one of the corners, paired with clean, succinct slides. There are some great visuals as well, like diagrams, graphs, and pictures to help you make connections (and actually remember what you’ve learned). In my opinion, the lecturers were phenomenal: personable, compassionate, and of course, knowledgeable experts who knew how to break down tough, high-level concepts for aspiring financial risk managers.
Support, Access, and Guarantees
Let’s cover access and guarantees before graduating to support.
As for access, you can expect to retain your course materials until the end of the month after your exam takes place. So, when you’re signing up, you have to choose your preferred exam month: May, August, or November. As for guarantees, you’re not getting a money-back pass guarantee. However, you do get Schweser’s PassProtection™, which ensures that if you fail the exam, you can continue using the materials thanks to a new study package, including the most recent updates.
With the basics out of the way, support varies depending on your package. All Kaplan FRM® students get access to the Schweser Community Forum, which I found surprisingly active. When I posted a question about currency risk calculations, I had multiple replies within a day—some from fellow students, and at least one from a Kaplan moderator. It’s a nice blend of community and expert insight, and a good place to double-check your thinking when practice questions start feeling like riddles.
But the real standout was InstructorLink, which is only included in the Ultimate Package. I used it twice—once for a clarification on Basel III and once to ask about interpreting a particularly dense graph in the study notes. Both times I got thoughtful, detailed replies within 24 hours. It felt like having a personal tutor on standby, which made a huge difference when I was stuck and didn’t want to lose momentum.
Price vs. Value
Kaplan is typically far and away the most expensive prep course in a list. However, for their FRM® materials, they fall right in line with their top two competitors: AnalystPrep and Bionic Turtle. We’ll dig deeper into those comparisons next, but for now, the three are comparable in a number of ways.
Uniquely to Kaplan Schweser, however, are their proprietary approaches to the exam: the SchweserPro™ QBank, SchweserNotes™, PassProtection™, Schweser’s Secret Sauce®, and the gamification through the activity feed.
Kaplan is arguably the most comprehensive, with the most extensive library of unique materials, and the Level 1 Essentials package is the cheapest overall. Further, Kaplan’s “brand name” effect is a lot more potent than other providers due to their extensive history and, sincerely, legacy of student success. This can inspire more confidence and peace of mind as you study, soothing some of that pre-exam anxiety so you can focus more closely on your notes and videos.
Long story short, Kaplan packs a lot of value into a reasonable price.
Kaplan Schweser FRM® vs. The Competition
Kaplan vs. AnalystPrep
Kaplan Schweser has long been a go-to for FRM® candidates who want structure, support, and comprehensive resources. From its 30+ hours of review videos to the SchweserNotes™ and InstructorLink feature, Kaplan offers a well-rounded, guided experience with thoughtful tools built to reinforce the curriculum at every stage. The course feels like a digital classroom, which many students find reassuring and motivating during long study windows.
AnalystPrep leans into efficiency and clarity. The platform is streamlined and easy to navigate, with sharp video instruction, 4,000+ practice questions, and printable study notes. It’s especially appealing for visual learners or candidates looking for a focused study routine without too many add-ons. Since pricing is comparable across major providers, the choice here really comes down to what kind of learner you are: structured vs. self-directed.
“It’s all personal preference, but I bought Kaplan first and I instantly disliked the guy that did their videos. So much so I went and bought AP. I’ll try the Kaplan videos again later, but for now I like my rhythm.
EDIT: I was incredibly super wrong about the Kaplan Videos. Martin is a fantastic teacher. I still like the AP videos but Kaplan is great too.”
brenticles42
➡️ Choose AnalystPrep if you want an efficient, visually focused platform that keeps your study path clean and distraction-free.
➡️ Pick Kaplan if you prefer a highly structured course with deep review options and built-in instructor support.
Kaplan vs. Bionic Turtle
Kaplan Schweser is a full-service course with video content, print and digital notes, and access to live support—perfect for those who want variety in how they study. Its resource-rich platform and features like Schweser’s Secret Sauce® and InstructorLink add helpful structure and polish to your prep. Kaplan also stands out for its long-standing reputation in professional education, which brings a level of brand confidence few others can match.
Bionic Turtle is well-known in the FRM® space for its question bank and detailed answer explanations. It’s highly praised for teaching-through-drilling, which can work exceptionally well for quantitative learners who prefer repeated exposure to complex problem sets. However, its lack of full-length video instruction and live support may limit its appeal for those who need guided walkthroughs or visual explanations.
➡️ Choose Kaplan if you want a guided, multimedia prep experience with instructor support and well-curated tools.
➡️ Pick Bionic Turtle if you’re a numbers-first learner who prefers hammering through problem sets with deep answer breakdowns.
Bottom Line
If you want a quality prep course to help you pursue your FRM® certification, I believe Kaplan Schweser is a safe choice. You’ll unlock intensive FRM® instruction across 15 classes, 30+ hours of review lectures, thousands of exam-quality practice questions, and support options like a student-instructor community and InstructorLink—all at a price competitive with alternative prep options.
However, if you’d prefer lifetime access, printable mock exams and study notes, and a more simplified, streamlined approach, AnalystPrep could be a better pick.
Whichever course you ultimately decide to take, I wish you the best of luck in your prep journey. You’ve got this!
FAQs
Yes, Kaplan Schweser is a reliable and comprehensive FRM® designation prep option with strong review materials, live support, and practice tools.
It’s tough because it tests applied understanding of the candidate’s ability to assess financial risk concepts across multiple domains, not just memorizing facts.
Many students find Part 2 trickier due to broader topics and fewer resources, but it depends on your strengths and background.
It depends on your learning style—AnalystPrep for visual clarity, Kaplan for structure, and Bionic Turtle for question-heavy practice.
They’re different; the FRM® is more niche and application-heavy, while the CFA® covers a broader range of investment topics in more depth.
