Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanGMATPrep

New York, NY (February 15, 2017) – As global brands increase their hiring of graduates with in-demand tech skills, Kaplan Test Prep’s most recent business school admissions officers survey finds that MBA programs across the United States are integrating data science, big data and coding courses into their curriculum*. Of the 209 business schools who participated in Kaplan’s annual survey, 72 percent say they offer courses in either data science or big data; 13 percent say they don’t currently offer it, but are considering offering it; and 15 percent don’t currently offer it and have no plans to offer it. The survey also found that 28 percent of business schools currently offer courses in software development or coding; 9 percent say they don’t currently offer it, but are considering offering it; and 63 percent don’t currently offer it and have no plans to offer it, indicating that many business schools don’t currently see coding as a necessary skill for workforce-bound MBAs.  

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council, the organization that writes the GMAT® test, 72 percent of the companies they surveyed in 2016 said they planned to hire recent business school graduates to fill data analytics positions. This is roughly the same percentage who planned to hire graduates for positions in marketing and finance, which are historically more traditional MBA areas. The report also says that employers are looking to hire workers who have strong skill sets in SQL and R, two programs frequently used in data science.

Bain & Company, a consulting company long at the top of many MBA graduates’ employer wish lists, is among the businesses that see the importance of their employees holding a strong data skill set. “We have been aggressive in hiring in that space. We are building a team of champions with specific technology expertise,” Elizabeth Spaulding, a partner at Bain & Company and head of the firm’s global digital practice, recently said in a BusinessBecause.com article.  

“What companies are saying is that many of their current employees, who graduated a decade ago or more, don’t necessarily have these skills, and they’re looking to a new generation of business school graduates who do. Our survey finds that many business schools are rising to the challenge to meet this demand,” says Brian Carlidge, executive director of pre-business and pre-graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “Employees who both understand a company’s business goals and understand the data to help them reach those goals will be highly desirable to recruit and hire in the technology-driven workforce.”

*The survey was conducted between August 2016 and October 2016 of admissions officers at 209 business schools in the United States. Among the 209 business schools are 17 of the top 50, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

GMAT® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council™. Kaplan materials do not contain actual GMAT items and are neither endorsed by nor affiliated in any way with GMAC.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services. Additionally, through its Metis and Dev Bootcamp brands, Kaplan offers new economy skills training (NEST) programs and resources in data science and coding to build skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (February 10, 2017) – Kaplan Test Prep’s latest survey of more than 350 college admissions officers from across the United States finds that while the percentage of admissions officers who check applicants’ social media profiles has dipped (35% versus 40% last year), a greater percentage of those who do check say social media has influenced their views on applicants*. Of the 35% of admissions officers who say they check social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to learn more about applicants, 47% say that what they found has had a positive impact on prospective students — up from 37% last year. On the flip side, 42% say that what they found had a negative impact, up from 37% last year. Kaplan’s survey also found that of the admissions officers who use social media to help them make decisions, 25% do so “often” — more than double the 11% who said they did it “often” in last year’s survey.

What exactly are the kinds of things admissions officers say they have found that positively impacted applicants’ admissions chances? It ranged from community building to winning awards:

• One admissions officer said, “One student described on Twitter that she facilitated an LGBTQ panel for her school, which wasn’t in her application. This made us more interested in her overall and encouraged us to imagine how she would help out the community.”
• Another admissions officer shared, “There’s such a negative stereotype of social media that people often forget about the positive effects of it. One student had won an award and had a picture with their principal on their personal page, and it was nice to see.”
• “One young lady started a company with her mom, so it was cool to visit
  their website,” added another admissions officer.

Some of the things college admissions officers found that negatively impacted applicants’ admissions chances ranged from bigotry to illegal activity.

• “We found a student’s Twitter account with some really questionable language. It wasn’t quite racist, but it showed a cluelessness that you’d expect of a privileged student who hadn’t seen much of the world. It really ran counter to the rest of her application,” said one admissions officer.
• “A young man who had been involved in a felony did not disclose his past, which is part of our admissions process. His social media page shared his whole story. If he had been forthcoming, we would not have rescinded his acceptance offer, but we had to.”
• One admissions officer said that pictures of a student “brandishing weapons” gave him pause when deciding whether to admit the applicant.

“To be clear, the large majority of admissions officers do not visit applicants’ social media sites. However, a meaningful number do, as many note that social media can provide a more authentic and holistic view of applicants beyond the polished applications. And in fact, past Kaplan surveys have shown that a majority of students themselves consider their social networking sites to be ‘fair game’ for admissions officers,” said Yariv Alpher, executive director of research, Kaplan Test Prep. “That said, college applicants need to be aware of what others can find about them on social networks and make sure it reflects well on them. For better or worse, social media has become an established factor in college admissions, and it’s more important than ever for applicants to make wise decisions. If you’re not sure what to post, ask a parent or high school counselor. If you’re still not sure, then the best course of action might be to not post it at all.”

For a short video illustrating the survey’s findings, click here. And to read a blog post on Kaplan’s college admissions blog College: Admission Possible, visit here.

For more information about Kaplan Test Prep’s survey, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*For the survey, 365 admissions officers from the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled from U.S. News & World Report – were polled by telephone between July and August 2016.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @BGCA_Clubs

New York, NY (January 23, 2017) – Kaplan Test Prep has partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to provide up to $125,000 in test prep scholarships. The scholarships will help students get ready for the SAT® and ACT® for college admissions, and exams like the GRE®, GMAT®, LSAT® and MCAT® for graduate school-level admissions.

The “Practice with a Purpose” campaign will award Boys & Girls Clubs of America with a Kaplan test prep course for every 1,000 free test prep tools— including pop quizzes, 20-minute workouts or practice tests— used at www.kaptest.com/purpose (for college admissions exams) and www.kaptest.com/practice (for graduate admissions exams). Recipients selected by Boys & Girls Clubs of America can choose from one of Kaplan’s live, on site classes or live, online classes to help them advance their educational goals.

“Kaplan and Boys & Girls Clubs of America share a common mission of improving the lives of underserved students, which is fundamental to our nation’s economic and social success. We are excited to provide so many students with live instruction from Kaplan experts, who are caring, motivating and dynamic,” said Lee Weiss, vice president of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “We need everyone’s help to do this right. By simply going to the campaign’s landing page and signing up for one of our free practice exercises, you can boost someone’s confidence, aid them in achieving their goals, and help them seize the moment. It’s a free and easy way to give back and help yourself too.”

“Boys & Girls Clubs play an important part in helping millions of kids and teens succeed academically with year-round programming designed to help them graduate high school, college or career ready,” said Dr. Damon A. Williams, chief educational and youth development officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “Thanks to support from Kaplan and other teens who utilize resources on Kaplan’s website, more Boys & Girls Club teens will have access to test prep courses to help them pursue their dreams after graduation.”

For more information about Kaplan Test Prep and Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s partnership, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. To help Kaplan provide scholarships for Boys & Girls Clubs of America members, visit https://www.kaptest.com/purpose for college-level admissions exams and www.kaptest.com/practice for graduate-level admissions exams.

Test names and other trademarks are the property of the respective trademark holders. None of the trademark holders are endorsed by nor affiliated with Kaplan or this partnership.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 150 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,200 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people annually through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at Facebook and Twitter.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KaplanSATACT, @KapTestNews

New York, NY (December 13, 2016) –  A new Kaplan survey of nearly 1,000 PSAT students reveals why so many aspiring college students put so much effort into doing well on the exam: to get better prepared for the SAT® and to earn money for college*. The findings come as 3.8 million test takers across the country who took the PSAT in October begin receiving their scores this month. A deeper dive into students’ motivations are as follows:

• The SAT: A plurality (34%) say the main reason for why they prepared for the PSAT was to get ready for the SAT, one of two admissions exams used by the the vast majority of college and universities (including almost all the most competitive ones).  With highly parallel content, the PSAT  has traditionally functioned as a practice test for the SAT, but in recent years also for the ACT®, as the recent changes to the SAT made it more similar to the ACT.
• Scholarships: Earning scholarship money for college was the second most cited reason for prepping for the PSAT, given by 28% of students. $180 million in National Merit scholarships are awarded to top-scoring PSAT takers and doing well on the exam can go a long way in making sure affordability is less of an issue when deciding where to enroll.
• Required: Some high schools across the country require that their sophomores take the PSAT as a way to make them more open to the idea of applying to college.  Usually, these high schools even cover the costs. Of the students surveyed, 19% said the main reason they took it was because it was required by their high school.
• Recruitment: PSAT scores are one of the first pieces of information that colleges see about prospective students. Having this information, which is automatically sent to admissions officers, allows colleges to recruit high performing students early and gives students the benefit of knowing which schools think they “have what it takes.” This was the reason why 17% of students decided to prepare for the PSAT.
• AP® Classes: Just two percent said the main reason they prepared for the PSAT was to qualify for Advanced Placement courses. Some high schools, as part of the process for qualifying to take AP courses, require students to do well on the PSAT.  Doing well in AP courses and performing well on AP exams can go a long way in improving your GPA and earning credit for college, respectively.

“The PSAT is an important first step on the path to success in the college admissions process, so it’s important to prepare accordingly,” said Lee Weiss, vice president of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “Aspiring college students should think about taking the PSAT before taking the SAT or ACT.”

PSAT preppers are among the record number of pre-college students turning to Kaplan, with the test prep industry leader reporting that more students have used Kaplan products and programs for the PSAT, SATⓇ and ACTⓇ this year than in any prior year in its 78-year history.  Uncertainty around the redesigned SAT has fueled a more than 54% growth in Kaplan’s SAT publishing offerings, 43% growth in Kaplan’s ACT publishing offerings, and 41% growth in Kaplan’s SAT Live Online offerings.

In 2016, Kaplan introduced several groundbreaking free, interactive livestreaming teaching events for the PSAT, SAT and ACT, which  prepared hundreds of thousands of students for these high-stakes tests.  PSAT Prep Live, the most recent of these events, taught by master Kaplan teachers, garnered enthusiastic responses from the tens of thousands of students who participated and were part of the dynamic live-chat discussion.

The PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse this product.  The SAT® and AP® are trademarks registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product. The ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.

*For the survey, 981 students who took a Kaplan PSAT course were polled online in October  2016.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanBarReview

New York, NY (December 8, 2016) — A new Kaplan Bar Review survey of 1,000 law school graduates from the class of 2016 finds a nearly unanimous judgment: 91 percent want every state to adopt the Uniform Bar Examination to license new attorneys.* This percentage represents a significant jump from when Kaplan first surveyed law school graduates on this issue in 2013, when 80 percent supported UBE adoption across the country. Kaplan’s findings come as three additional states — Illinois, Maine, and North Carolina — consider joining the 26 other jurisdictions that have adopted the UBE.

When asked why they support the adoption of the UBE, which is essentially a national licensing exam for would be practicing attorneys to practice law across multiple states without having to take multiple state-specific bar exams, 89% say because it provides more job portability; 38 percent say because the exam is easier to study for; but just 16 percent say because the exam’s content is easier.

“While the job market for new attorneys has improved significantly in recent years, it remains tight, and law school graduates recognize that the UBE offers greater portability and flexibility in terms of career opportunities. The UBE is not necessarily an easier exam than state-specific bar exams, but it may make the job search a bit easier,” said Tammi Rice, vice president and general manager, Kaplan Bar Review. “It’s important to note, however, that although more than 90 percent of recent graduates prefer universal adoption the UBE, half of the U.S. jurisdictions still don’t use this, including four of the five biggest states: California, Texas, Florida and Illinois. This may change, but given unique issues that states face, we believe many will hold onto their state-specific bar exams.”

Rice points out that adopting the Uniform Bar Examination has led to a boost in the overall exam passage rate for some states, but not others. Since adopting the UBE, the passage rate in both New York and DC jumped. In New Mexico however, the bar passage rate dropped. “There are a lot of variables for why a state’s bar passage rate may rise or fall after the UBE is adopted. In some states, the UBE is actually harder than the state-specfic bar exam was, but in some states it’s not as challenging. Law schools realize how important it is for their students to pass and many have made it a priority to make sure their students get the preparation they need to succeed, as many aspiring law students look at this statistic when deciding where to enroll. A school’s bar passage rate also weighs heavily into the rankings.”

The 26 U.S. jurisdictions that have adopted the UBE are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

To schedule an interview with a legal education expert at Kaplan, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*Kaplan Bar Review conducted the survey via email in August 2016. It includes responses from 1,000 law school graduates from the class of 2016.

About Kaplan Bar Review

Kaplan Bar Review (www.kaplanbarreview.com) provides full-service bar review programs in 51 jurisdictions (all 50 states and Washington, DC). Additionally, Kaplan Bar Review offers supplemental preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE).

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanGMATPrep

New York, NY (November 28, 2016) – Kaplan Test Prep’s 2016 business school admissions officers survey finds that 92 percent accept the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT, giving aspiring MBAs more flexibility than ever in deciding which exam to take to get in*. This all-time high percentage in Kaplan’s annual survey represents a huge jump from its 2009 survey — the first year Kaplan asked the question — when only 24 percent of business schools said they accepted GRE scores.

But despite increased acceptance of the GRE among business schools, there’s a point of consideration for MBA applicants who are considering this option: The GMAT might still give applicants an edge at some schools. Twenty-six percent of admissions officer say those who submit a GMAT score have an admissions advantage over those who submit a GRE score. Only 2 percent say GRE takers have the advantage; the remaining 73 percent say neither exam taker has the advantage, essentially unchanged from Kaplan’s 2015 survey.

Business schools have contended that accepting the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT — long the only accepted admissions exam –widens the pool of applicants beyond students from ‘traditional’ MBA backgrounds like finance, banking or consulting. Kaplan survey data supports this notion and finds that schools have been successful in this effort, with 61 percent saying offering the GRE option has resulted in the enrollment of more students from nontraditional backgrounds. The GRE has not, however, significantly contributed to business schools enrolling more female students (25 percent), students of color (24 percent), or low income students (16 percent). It’s important to note, unrelated to the GRE, that the percentage of female students at top business schools has increased over the past several years and there are other efforts underway to increase the number of students of color; and the GRE alone isn’t the only reason business schools have enrolled more students from non-traditional MBA backgrounds.

“One reason acceptance of the GRE continues to grow seems to be because it generally broadens the application pool to include prospective students who might bring a different set of experiences and skills to business school and the business world, which is important as the economy continues to diversify. It’s also possible that business schools that don’t offer the GRE option may lose excellent prospective students to schools that do,” said Brian Carlidge, executive director of pre-business and pre-graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “We continue to stress to students to understand that some schools are still reluctant to give both tests equal cachet, even though they accept both exams. Our advice is to gather intel and ask admissions officers if their program has preference for one exam over the other.”

*The survey was conducted between August 2016 and October 2016 of admissions officers at 224 business schools in the United States. Among the 224 business schools are 18 of the top 50, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

GMAT® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council™. Kaplan materials do not contain actual GMAT items and are neither endorsed by nor affiliated in any way with GMAC. GRE ® is a registered trademark of the Educational Testing Service, which neither sponsors nor endorses this product.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanGMATPrep

New York, NY (November 15, 2016) – Aspiring business school students preparing for the GMAT® exam with Kaplan Test Prep will retain exclusive permission to take a realistic practice exam in a Pearson Professional Center, the network of test centers that administers the actual exam, thanks to a renewed five-year agreement between Kaplan and Pearson VUE. With the agreement, Kaplan students can participate in “The Official Test Day Experience” — a practice exam in the same testing environment as the actual GMAT® exam to experience a dry run under realistic test day conditions.

Kaplan has offered its students the Experience since 2004 — exclusively through Pearson VUE since 2006 — and remains the only test prep provider whose students are allowed to sit for a practice exam in the actual GMAT® exam testing facilities. As part of the Experience, students have a chance to go through their exam environment in advance from start to finish — from check-in, to security procedures, to computer setup, to lighting, to seating arrangements, to break procedures, to everything in between. The Experience is available to Kaplan students in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Hong Kong.

“The Experience provides Kaplan students with a distinct competitive advantage. Familiarity with the testing environment helps boost test takers’ confidence, which is key to success on test day. Because admissions officers tell us that a low GMAT® exam score is one of ‘the biggest application dealbreakers’, every question you answer correctly on the exam is that much more important in helping you get into a top program,” said Brian Carlidge, executive director of pre-business and pre-graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep.

Bob Whelan, managing director of Pearson VUE, said, “We have a longstanding relationship with Kaplan Test Prep and I am pleased that, through our continued partnership, we will help students prepare for the GMAT® exam with a potentially positive effect on their lives and careers.”

The in-center Official Test Day Experience is administered as one of the nine practice computer-adaptive tests that are included in Kaplan’s In Person course; Kaplan’s In Person PLUS course; Live Online course; online Self-Paced course; and private tutoring programs.

The announcement of the agreement renewal comes as Kaplan launches its revised GMAT prep course, which includes the all new GMAT Channel.  The GMAT Channel is an innovative new way to prep for the GMAT® exam, which gives every student unlimited access to Kaplan’s top-rated GMAT faculty for live, online elective instruction every day of the week.

Kaplan has been preparing students for the GMAT® exam for over 40 years, and helps thousands of would-be MBAs annually. For more information about Kaplan’s GMAT test preparation course options, visit www.kaplangmat.com.

GMAT ® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council™. Kaplan materials do not contain actual GMAT items and are neither endorsed by nor affiliated in any way with GMAC.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services. Additionally, Kaplan offers new economy skills training (NEST) programs and resources designed to provide training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

About Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.com) is the global leader in computer-based testing for high-stakes certification and licensure exams in the healthcare, finance, information technology, academic and admissions markets. We offer a full suite of services to develop, manage, deliver and grow test programmes for over 450 clients via the world’s most comprehensive network of highly secure test centers in 180 countries. Pearson VUE owns Certiport, the global leader in foundational IT certification solutions, and is a business of the world’s leading learning company Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON).
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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter @KapTestNews, @KaplanMCATPrep

New York, NY (October 25, 2016) — Kaplan Test Prep’s 2016 survey of 68 medical schools across North America finds that 43% believe the new MCAT, which launched in April 2015, enables them to better evaluate applicants’ potential to succeed in their program than the old exam.* While the majority (56%) are taking a wait-and-see approach, responding that they are “unsure,” only 1% of admissions officers say the new test worsens their ability to evaluate applicants’ potential to succeed. Those who believe the new test has improved their ability to evaluate applicants noted the “broader variety of topics” tested, a better “focus on what the applicant has learned in school rather than rote memory,” and the addition of “biochem, sociology and psych that are beneficial to medical school.” However, as medical schools begin just their second application cycle in which students are submitting scores from the revised exam, the majority view is that there is still “not enough data” and it is “too early to tell.”

In addition to being almost twice as long as the old MCAT, the current MCAT has a different scoring scale and tests students on additional content in biochemistry, psychology and sociology. These were the biggest changes to the test in 25 years. According to the makers of the exam, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the new exam was launched to better reflect the changing landscape of healthcare and medicine.

“Even though the test changed 18 months ago, this fall’s entering class is the first cohort of medical students who could have submitted new MCAT scores as part of their application. As schools receive more and more scores from the new MCAT, and they are able to see how candidates reporting new scores perform in their programs over time, it’s likely their opinions will shift to a more favorable view,” said Eric Chiu, executive director of pre-medical programs, Kaplan Test Prep.

Additional Kaplan survey data supports this hypothesis. Only 47% of medical schools say a majority of their applicants during the last cycle submitted scores from the new MCAT, but 93% predict a majority of their applicants from the current cycle will. “Additional data will give medical schools the data they need to conduct additional research on the new MCAT’s benefits,” said Chiu. Nearly half of medical schools surveyed say they plan to conduct longitudinal research to gauge the usefulness and effectiveness of the new MCAT.

Chiu also points out that despite this uncertainty, medical schools say that MCAT performance remains the most important admissions factor with 46% naming a low score as “the biggest application deal breaker.” A low undergraduate GPA placed second at 32%. “One thing medical schools are certain about is the MCAT’s importance in the admissions process. The MCAT continues to be a key indicator of applicants’ academic potential,” said Chiu.

Medical schools are not the only ones using longitudinal research to improve their efforts. Chiu explains: “In addition to this most recent survey of medical schools, we’ve also been collecting data from the tens of thousands of students who have prepped with Kaplan for the new MCAT to inform our recently released third-edition books and MCAT prep programs, including our new Winter Intensive Program. As registration just opened for January through June 2017 test dates last week, Kaplan students can rest assured that they will have the most up-to-date preparation as they work towards 2017 test dates.”

Kaplan’s latest research comes as the company’s prepares to hold its first-ever MCAT Prepathon, on Sunday, October 30. Join fellow aspiring doctors from around the world as Kaplan’s top-rated instructors provide eight hours of live, interactive MCAT prep for free. A recording will be available for those who miss the livestreaming event. To register, visit: https://www.kaptest.com/mcatprepathon. It also comes as Kaplan launches its revised MCAT course for the new exam, which was honed after feedback from thousands of test takers.

For more information about Kaplan’s survey results, contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

*The survey was conducted by phone between August and October 2016 of admissions officers at 68 accredited medical schools in the U.S. and Canada, all of which require the MCAT.

MCAT® is a registered trademark of the Association of American Medical Colleges, which is not affiliated with Kaplan or this survey.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Students preparing for the October 19 PSAT can go to www.kaptest.com/psatlive for free, livestreaming interactive teaching sessions with Kaplan experts

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (October 13, 2016) – With the PSAT approaching on October 19, millions of teens across the country are prepping for the first step of their college admissions journey.  A Kaplan survey of more than 400 teens who are preparing for the PSAT* revealed that when prepping for the test, many students’ music preferences run decidedly old school: the most popular genre of test prep music among teens surveyed is classical, with several students citing Mozart as their favorite study buddy. The second most popular response to the question “What song/artist would you play to motivate or calm you in prepping for a test?” was “none/no music,” as many teens opt for quiet while studying. Among more current artists, the most frequently-cited test prep music choices were Eminem, Drake and Twenty One Pilots.

“Depending on the individual, studying with music can be calming, motivating or distracting, so we recommend students find whichever works best for them,” said Lee Weiss, Vice President of College Admissions Programs for Kaplan Test Prep. “What’s important is that they stay motivated, calm and focused.”

To fuel themselves, teens turn to popcorn, chips, Cheetos and chocolate, which were the most-cited study snacks of choice. Also popular among PSAT preppers: pizza, pretzels, Goldfish and Skittles. For hydration, students also went with a classic choice: water is the overwhelming favorite beverage among PSAT teens — cited about four times as much as soda or coffee.

Weiss cautions against sugary snacks that can cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate, which can result in lethargy, irritability and fatigue, and recommends that students opt for high-protein snacks instead. He also recommends students plan their study sessions ahead of the test to avoid last-minute cramming: “The night before a big test should be spent relaxing and getting a good night’s sleep.”

PSAT preppers for the October 19 test are among the record number of pre-college students turning to Kaplan, with the test prep industry leader reporting that more students have used Kaplan products and programs for the PSAT, SATⓇ and ACTⓇ this year than in any prior year in its 78-year history.  Uncertainty around the redesigned SAT has fueled a more than 25% growth in Kaplan’s SAT publishing offerings, 39% growth in Kaplan’s ACT publishing offerings, 40% growth in Kaplan’s SAT Live Online offerings and 27% growth in Kaplan’s ACT Live Online offerings, and more than 20% growth in its live-taught school-based SAT partnerships.

“Students may vary in their test prep music and their study snacks, but most of them feel anxious about the high-stakes tests in their college journey, and we’re seeing this in the record number of students who have prepared with us this year,” said Weiss. “Our goal is to relieve that anxiety and help them build confidence with engaging, dynamic world-class offerings that are accessible to all.”

This year, Kaplan introduced several groundbreaking free, interactive livestreaming teaching events for the PSAT, SAT and ACT. Through its free 12-hour SAT Prepathon, free ACT pulse events and ACT Online Prep Live offering, as well as its free PSAT Prep Live offering, Kaplan has prepared hundreds of thousands of students this year for these high-stakes tests.

Taught by Kaplan’s master teachers, the engaging, livestreaming sessions have garnered enthusiastic response from the thousands of student participants, who have filled the live chats with non-stop discussion. A small sampling of comments from the recent free PSAT Prep Live sessions included, “this is actually the coolest prep ever,” “fastest and most helpful 2 hours of my life lol,” “this is helpful but actually really fun XD,” “this is the best free resource,” “I wish this would go 4 another hour,” “thank you for this amazing live stream,” “I thought I knew everything for this section but this is actually super helpful!” “I LOVE THIS,” “***this is so freaking helpful,” “my counselor told us about this and I am so glad thank you very much,” “Thanks to you and all of the experts I can actually raise my score.”

Students prepping for the October 19 PSAT can attend any of Kaplan’s upcoming free livestreaming, interactive PSAT teaching sessions: Problem Solving: Rates, Ratios & More (10/13, 9-10 pm ET), PSAT Writing & Language Strategies (10/13, 10-11 pm ET), Math Rules: Exponents, Functions & More (10/16, 6:30-7:30 pm ET), Common PSAT Reading Question Types (10/16, 7:30-8:30 pm ET), Advanced PSAT Math (10/17, 7:30-8:30 pm ET), Advanced PSAT Verbal (10/17, 8:30-9:30 pm ET).

The PSAT/NMSQT® is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation which were not involved in the production of, and do not endorse this product.  The SAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.  The ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.

*For the survey, 405 students who took Kaplan’s free PSAT Prep Live interactive livestreaming sessions were polled online on October 8-9, 2016.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses.  Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC)

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Twitter @KapTestNews, @KaplanLSATPrep

New York, NY (October 6, 2016) – This past admissions cycle, the legal education community saw something they haven’t seen since 2009: an increase in the number of law school applications and LSAT® takers. This momentum is reflected in continued optimism that Kaplan Test Prep finds in its 2016 survey of law school admissions officers.* Of the 111 law schools from around country that participated in the annual survey, 92 percent say that they are feeling “more optimistic about the state of legal education” than they did one year ago.  That optimism leads 78 percent of respondents to express confidence that their law school will see another increase in applications for the 2016-2017 application cycle — a far cry from the 46% who expressed such confidence, when Kaplan conducted its 2014 survey.

But perhaps still wary from  a multi-year application slump and the continued tight job market for law school graduates, America’s law schools want to tread carefully. Nearly two-thirds of law schools (65 percent) agree that it “would be a good idea if at least a few law schools closed.” Additionally, 52 percent support a recent recommendation by the National Advisory Council on Institutional Quality and Integrity to the U.S. Department of Education, which was ultimately rejected, that the American Bar Association be stripped of its ability to accredit new law schools for a period of one year.

“Law schools are in the midst of what we might call a fragile application and financial recovery. We see cautious optimism, but by no means are they roaring back to life, so opening additional law schools could set things back by contributing to a job market saturated with too many lawyers looking for a limited number of jobs,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The good news for pre-law students is that the data shows that the worst of the law school application crunch and job crisis is likely over, but we encourage aspiring attorneys to be thoughtful about what they want from law school and what that want to do with their degree.”

Kaplan’s survey also found that just 24 percent of law schools cut the number of seats for their 2016 class of first-year students, lower than the 35 percent who reported doing so for the 2015 class of 1Ls and and the 54 percent who did for the 2014 class.  

“It is exciting to see increasing interest in attending law school,” said Robert Schwartz, assistant dean of admissions at UCLA School of Law. “With the job market for lawyers improving, it’s entirely plausible that we will continue to see another increase in applications this year. In the meantime, it remains imperative for law schools to keep innovating and keep tuition in check to help make law school a more attractive place for would be professionals.” Schwartz noted that UCLA Law froze tuition for the class of 2019.

“Law school is, and has been, an investment,” added Stephen Brown, assistant dean, Fordham University School of Law.  “The happiest and most successful law students are the ones who come to school with a reasonable goal, a plan to achieve it – and passion.”

* For the 2016 survey, 111 of the 205 American Bar Association-accredited law schools were polled by telephone between August and September 2016. Included among the 111 are 12 of the top 25 law schools, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

LSAT® is a registered trademark of the Law School Admission Council, which neither sponsors nor endorses this product.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings as well as a complete array of print books and digital products, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 100 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as professional licensing exams for attorneys, physicians and nurses. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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