Kaplan Test Prep Survey: Among Parents of College Applicants, 43% Say Their Child is Taking Both the SAT® and the ACT®

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

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

New York, NY (November 5, 2015) — A Kaplan survey of parents of college applicants shows that 43% say their child plans to take both the SAT and the ACT.* The most cited reason? Their child wants to see which test earns them the higher score and send that score to schools.

Another frequently-cited response: their child “plans on applying to schools in different states and I think schools in different geographies prefer one over the other.” Historically, the New York City roots of the SAT administrator and the Iowa City, IA roots of the ACT administrator drove public perception that schools on the East Coast preferred the SAT while schools in the Midwest preferred the ACT — a misconception today, as all schools nationwide accept both tests equally.

“We recognize that motivated students are always seeking a competitive edge in the college admissions process, so it’s not surprising that so many are taking both tests,” said Michael Boothroyd, executive director of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “By senior year, most factors in a student’s college application are fairly well established — their grades, their coursework, their history of extracurricular activities. SAT and ACT performance is the last major piece of the college application that students can influence at this stage of the process, and we fully support their wanting to put their best foot forward.”

“Preparing for the tests will help reduce the anxiety of test day, especially as the new SAT will not be easier,” said Boothroyd. “But the new SAT will also be much more similar to the ACT in many ways, so taking both tests may be less onerous than it has been in years past.”

To help students get a feel for both tests, Kaplan Test Prep will hold its free National Practice Day on Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15 at locations around the country as well as live, online.  Thousands of students have already registered for the event, which will feature a test with realistic practice questions for both the ACT and the new SAT, which debuts in March 2016. In addition to the free practice, each participant will receive a personalized detailed performance analysis. This will give students an idea of which exam they should prep for and take. Students who choose to take the  practice test online will receive detailed score reports of their performance immediately following the practice test.

Online registrants will also be able to take the practice test on Saturday, November 7 and Sunday, November 8.

Differences between the New SAT and the ACT include:

• Length: The New SAT is 3 hours and 50 minutes long (with Optional Essay), while the ACT is 3 hours and 35 minutes long (with Optional Essay).
  
• Sections: The New SAT has Evidence-Based Reading, Writing, Math without a calculator, and Math with a calculator sections, plus an Optional Essay. The ACT has English, Math, Reading, and Science sections, plus an Optional Essay.
  
• Scoring: The New SAT is scored on a 1600 scale, while the ACT is scored on a 1-36 scale. Neither test penalizes students for wrong answers.

To register for Kaplan’s free national practice event or for more information, please call 1-800-KAPTEST or visit www.kaptest.com/satvsact.

*From two Kaplan e-surveys conducted in May 2015 and October 2015; total number of respondents was 1,083.

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. ACT® is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc,  which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse 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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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Kaplan Survey: 79% of Female Nurses Are Concerned about Receiving Equal Pay for Equal Work; 61% of Male Nurses Share Concerns About Pay Equity for Their Female Colleagues

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

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7548
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanNCLEX

New York, NY (October 28, 2015) — A recently conducted Kaplan survey of almost 6,000 recent nursing school graduates shows that salary issues are significant concerns and that gender disparities in the workplace are not going unnoticed. According to the study, 79% of female nurses say that not earning the same amount as their male counterparts for the same amount of work is a concern. While 61% of male counterparts sympathize with female nurses’ equality of salary concerns, 39% say it’s an issue that doesn’t bother them.

A separate study of 290,000 registered nurses released this year revealed that male nurses earn about $5,000 more annually than their female colleagues in similar roles. The study also found that this pay gap hasn’t narrowed between 1988 and 2013, though no reasons were offered for its existence. (http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/24/stubborn-pay-gap-is-found-in-nursing/)

Other survey results:

• No Bonus for Being a Man: Kaplan’s survey also found that despite the desire and need of many healthcare providers to hire more male nurses — who make up only one-tenth of the workforce — just 13% think male nurses should be paid more.
• Topic of Discussion: While speaking about salary may be considered taboo, 41% of nurses say they often discuss salary with one another.
• Workplace Fairness: Nearly seven out of 10 (68%) nurses say that pay issues aside, male and female nurses are treated equally in the workplace.

“Nurses aren’t in their profession for the money, but it’s entirely understandable that female nurses in particular are concerned about their salary and being paid equally to their male counterparts. Nurses perform the same job duties regardless of their gender. Being a woman should not be a disadvantage when it comes to earning potential in the nursing profession, or in any profession,” said Susan Sanders, DNP, RN, NEA-BC and vice president of nursing, Kaplan Test Prep, who previously served as a hospital chief nursing officer. “Because pay is oft discussed among nurses, it’s an issue that’s not going to go away quietly. Employers need to pay attention to it.”

To view a 25-second video about the survey results, click here.

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

*From an e-survey conducted between April 2015 and July 2015 of 5,945 recent nursing school graduates (5,312 women and 633 men) who took a NCLEX-RN® exam prep course with Kaplan Test Prep.

The NCLEX-RN® is a registered trademark of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.

About Kaplan Test Prep

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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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Kaplan Test Prep Survey: Medical Schools Cool to New MCAT® Following its Launch

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

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7548
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanMCATPrep

New York, NY (October 23, 2015) — Kaplan Test Prep’s 2015 survey of 68 accredited medical schools across the United States finds that admissions officers have increasingly ambiguous feelings about the new MCAT.*  Only 42% of medical schools surveyed believe that the new MCAT, which was just launched in April 2015, will better prepare students for medical school than the old MCAT did. This represents a big drop from last year, when 68% of medical schools responding to Kaplan’s 2014 survey believed the new test to be an improvement. It’s important to note, however, that this shift was to the “undecided” camp, rather than to the negative camp. A majority (52%) say they aren’t sure if the new MCAT will better prepare students; just 6% believe it will not, essentially unchanged from Kaplan’s 2014 survey.

The uncertainty among medical schools may be due to the lack of data regarding the predictive value of the new test — data that most medical schools are planning to secure. Nearly 6 in 10 (59%) of medical schools are planning to conduct longitudinal research to gauge the new MCAT’s usefulness and effectiveness, helping to determine the correlation between performance on the MCAT and success in medical school.

“The decrease in the percentage of medical schools that believe the new MCAT better prepares students for medical school than the old exam did can possibly be explained by premature exuberance facing the reality of a complex test change,” said Eric Chiu, executive director of pre-medical programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “As medical schools move through their first application season with new MCAT scores, their increased uncertainty doesn’t necessarily mean they are putting any less emphasis on the MCAT as an admissions factor. In fact, our survey also found that a low MCAT score remains ‘the biggest application dealbreaker.’ As medical schools gather more data on the new MCAT, it’s likely that a greater percentage of them will return to their initial optimism about the improved role the new MCAT will play in the ever-evolving state of medical education.”

In addition to being almost twice as long as the old MCAT, the new MCAT has a vastly different scoring scale and tests students on additional content in biochemistry, psychology and sociology, among other changes.

Other results from Kaplan’s 2015 survey of medical school admissions officers:

• Blast from the Past: Nearly 1 in 10 (9%) medical schools say they will look at at applicants’ SAT and ACT scores to help them make an admissions decision, due to the uncertainty of the new MCAT.
• Importance of a High MCAT Score: According to the survey, 45% of medical school admissions officers say a low MCAT score is the “biggest application dealbreaker” in the primary application, followed by 31% who cite a low undergraduate GPA.
• New MCAT Numbers: A strong majority of medical schools (69%) predict that less than half of this year’s applicants will submit scores from the new MCAT, as the 5-year shelf life of MCAT scores drove many applicants to take the MCAT before it changed in April. It should be noted, however, that some medical schools will only accept scores from the new MCAT beginning next year.
• More Applications: 82% of medical schools predict an increase in the number of applications in the 2015-2016 cycle, compared to the 2014-2015 cycle. This would continue the multi-year upward trend that began several years ago. In fact, first time medical school enrollment reached an all-time high in 2014: 20,630.

Fore 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 2015 and September 2015 of admissions officers at 68 accredited medical schools across the United States.

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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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Kaplan Test Prep Survey: Business Schools Reverse Course as Majority Now Embraces the GMAT’s Integrated Reasoning Section

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

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7548
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanGMATPrep

New York, NY (October 6, 2015) — What a difference a year makes. Kaplan Test Prep’s 2015 survey of admissions officers at over 200 business schools across the United States and United Kingdom finds that 59% say an applicant’s separate score on the GMAT’s Integrated Reasoning section (launched in June 2012) is an important part of their evaluation of a prospective student’s overall GMAT score.* This represents a significant change of opinion from Kaplan’s 2014 survey, when just 41% said an applicant’s Integrated Reasoning score was an important part of their overall GMAT score evaluation.

“Now that MBA programs have an additional year’s worth of data on the Integrated Reasoning section and have become more familiar with what it measures, it’s understandable why more have decided that it should be an important part of how they evaluate an applicant’s overall GMAT score,” said Brian Carlidge, executive director of pre-business and pre-graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep.  “As more and more applicants submit scores from the current GMAT over the next couple of years, Integrated Reasoning performance might continue to increase in importance, which is why we strongly advise MBA applicants to prepare for and do well on this section. Remember that Integrated Reasoning receives its own special score, so doing well on it can distinguish you in a positive way if your performance on other sections of the exam like Quantitative, Verbal or Analytical Writing Assessment is lacking. A high score on IR can give you that competitive edge. On the flip side, a low score can hurt you.”

With a 1-8 scoring scale, Integrated Reasoning includes four question types: table analysis, graphics interpretation, multi-source reasoning and two-party analysis.

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

*The survey was conducted between August 2015 and September 2015 of admissions officers at 214 business schools in the United States (209) and United Kingdom (5).  Among the 214 business schools are 21 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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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Dev Bootcamp Opens its Doors in San Diego; Original Coding Bootcamp Will Provide Talent Pipeline for San Diego’s Tech Economy

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

Press Contact: Chris Nishimura, chris.nishimura@devbootcamp.com, 949.300.2234
Twitter: @devbootcamp

San Francisco, CA (September 30, 2015) – Dev Bootcamp, the pioneer of the immersive coding bootcamp, is coming to San Diego. Applications are now open for the first 19-week (9 weeks remote, 9 weeks immersive, 1 week career training) intensive program that begins on November 9 at 707 Broadway, Suite 800.

“We can’t wait to hit the ground running in San Diego. The city has been building an economy based on innovation for years, and with such a great community of software companies and developers, San Diego shows all the signs of a city that is about to experience tremendous growth,” said Kevin Solorio, program director of Dev Bootcamp’s San Diego campus. “Prospective Dev Bootcamp students will find the developer community here extremely welcoming and open to mentoring and helping them achieve their goals.”

A new report by the National University System Institute for Policy Research finds that technology companies make up over 11 percent of payroll jobs and over 20 percent of total wages in San Diego. According to Glassdoor.com, there are over 5,500 open coding jobs in San Diego.

“We are confident that Dev Bootcamp will play a critical role in helping our regional economy grow and prosper. Our highly trained and educated workforce is one of the greatest strategic advantages San Diego possesses over other regions, both nationally and globally,” said Erik Caldwell, economic development director, City of San Diego. “Feeding the continued growth of this talent pool is something both business and public policy leaders see as a strategic imperative for our continued economic expansion. We would much prefer to see San Diegans getting trained for jobs in our own tech community rather than companies having to recruit talent from other regions. Dev Bootcamp helps accomplish that.”

Using input from past students, instructors and employer partners, Dev Bootcamp has continued to innovate on the program that effectively takes people with little to no practical coding to job-ready full-stack web developers in a matter of months. The 19-week program – 9 weeks guided remote learning, plus 9 weeks intensive on-site project work and 1 week career preparation – teaches students how to master the technical applications of trending web development languages and to develop the conceptual understanding of software development, so that they can quickly learn new languages as the need arises or as the market changes. Multiple learning modalities such as lectures, pair programming, group projects, and individual challenges are used to optimize student engagement.

The program’s unique “whole-self” approach to learning ensures that its students graduate with not only solid technical skills, but also an enhanced sense of self, and intrapersonal skills like practicing empathy, giving/receiving feedback, and projecting leadership confidence, which enable them to work well in diverse teams.

Dev Bootcamp alumni who now work in San Diego attest to the importance of bringing the program to southern California.

“While I was a student at Dev Bootcamp, I not only learned the tech skills that were part of the curriculum, but I also learned skills to help me adapt to any development environment I might face throughout my career,” said Charlie Dibble, a Dev Bootcamp alumnus currently employed in San Diego. “My current position as a software engineer has me working with an almost entirely different set of technologies than what is taught at Dev Bootcamp, but the immersive experience at Dev Bootcamp prepared me to quickly learn the other tech stack I come across. Bringing Dev Bootcamp to San Diego will bring more people with these skill sets to an already thriving tech community.”

Dev Bootcamp has graduated more than 1,700 students since it was founded in 2012, making it one of the largest bootcamps of its kind. After graduation, Dev Bootcamp focuses on maintaining engagement with its graduates through its active alumni community, inviting many alumni to engage as coaches and mentors for new students, celebrating new jobs that graduates land after the program, and offering perks like tickets to events and conferences.

For more information about Dev Bootcamp’s expansion to San Diego, contact Chris Nishimura at chris.nishimura@devbootcamp.com or 949.300.2234. To enroll in a course, visit http://devbootcamp.com/locations/san-diego/.

About Dev Bootcamp

Dev Bootcamp pioneered the short-term, immersive developer bootcamp, a model that transforms beginners into highly employable web developers in a matter of months. The 19-week curriculum teaches the technical skills people need to work as a web developer, but also the functional and emotional skills that are critical to working in dynamic, cross-functional engineering teams. With more than 1,700 graduates to date, and locations in San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago, and New York City, Dev Bootcamp continues to lead the industry through innovation and expansion. Dev Bootcamp is owned by Kaplan, Inc. For more information, visit devbootcamp.com.

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Kaplan Test Prep Survey: Only 13% of Colleges Say They Will Require Applicants to Submit the New SAT’s® Optional Essay– But That Percentage Includes the Nation’s Top Ranked Schools

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

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7548
Twitter @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (September 29, 2015) — With a revamped, more rigorous SAT debuting in March, Kaplan Test Prep’s 2015 survey of college admissions officers shows that one of the key changes on the new test — the conversion of the essay section from required to optional — means that a majority of colleges will now forgo the SAT essay as an application requirement. Of the more than 300 top colleges and universities* across the United States surveyed, only 13%  will require applicants submit the new SAT’s optional essay section. Notably, however, schools that fall in that category include the nation’s top tier: Harvard University, Yale University, Princeton University, Dartmouth College and Stanford University are among those that will require applicants to submit the SAT essay, as recently reported by Bloomberg. (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-24/it-s-yale-vs-brown-in-ivy-league-split-over-optional-sat-essay)

According to Kaplan’s annual survey, 66% of schools will neither require nor recommend the new analytical, fact-based SAT essay for admissions; 19% will recommend but not require it; 13% will require it; and 2% will only require it for specific programs. (On the ACT, the other major college admissions test, the essay has been optional since it was introduced on that test in 2005.)

“Making the essay optional is one of the few changes that will help students on the new SAT, but make no mistake about it — the new test will not be easier. In fact, while the essay will become optional, it is also more challenging. The current SAT essay simply asks students to develop a persuasive essay about an issue, while the new SAT essay asks students to read a 700 word passage and then prepare a facts-based essay analyzing how the author builds her/his argument,” said Michael Boothroyd, executive director of college admissions programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “One thing to consider is that an optional but more challenging section provides an opportunity for students who are good writers and analysts to distinguish themselves. Schools appreciate applicants who challenge themselves, so earning a high score on an optional section can factor favorably on an application.”

For more information about the upcoming changes to the SAT, visit www.satchange.com.

*For the 2015 survey, admissions officers from 307 of the nation’s top national, regional and liberal arts colleges and universities – as compiled by U.S. News & World Report — were polled by telephone between July and August 2015.

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.

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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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Kaplan Test Prep Survey: Majority of Law Schools Predict Application Bump in Current Cycle, But They Also Predict at Least One Law School Will Shut Down

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

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

New York, NY (September 22, 2015) — According to Kaplan Test Prep’s 2015 survey of admissions officers at 120 law schools across the United States*, the vast majority of law school admissions officers predict that they are going to see something they haven’t seen in many years: an increase in applications. Nearly nine in 10 (88%) are confident that their law school will see a spike for the 2015-2016 application cycle, compared to the previous cycle. This level of optimism represents a dramatic reversal of opinion from Kaplan’s 2014 survey when only 46% expressed confidence that their law school would see an increase in applications over the previous cycle.  That spike that nearly half predicted didn’t come to fruition. In fact, the 2014 entering law school class was the smallest one in 40 years.

But current data from the Law School Admission Council, the organization that writes the LSAT®, shows that admissions officers might be onto something. For three consecutive administrations of the LSAT — December 2014, February 2015, and June 2015 — the number of LSAT takers increased, compared to the previous year. This is a pattern not seen since the 2009-2010 cycle, during the Great Recession.

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

“Something feels different about this application cycle to law school admissions officers, and those sentiments are backed up by some key data points regarding the number of LSAT takers,” says Jeff Thomas, director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The job market continues to be competitive for new law school graduates, which no doubt weighs heavily on the minds of prospective applicants, so any turnaround will likely be slow to build.”

“We are hearing from students who have put off applying to law school for a few years, so applicants are a bit older and seem to have fully investigated the pros and cons of law school and legal careers,” said Stephen Brown, assistant dean of enrollment at Fordham University School of Law, commenting on an application trend he sees.

It’s not all good news though. Law school admissions officers say the past few years of slumping applications are taking its toll — 87% predict at least one law school will close its doors over the next few years due to financial insolvability.  

For more information about Kaplan’s law school admissions officers survey, contact russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

* For the 2015 survey, 120 of the 205 American Bar Association-accredited law schools were polled by telephone between August and September 2015. Included among the 120 are 17 of the top 30 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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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Kaplan Test Prep Survey: Majority of Parents Are Unaware the SAT® is Changing in March 2016

Also: After Learning About New SAT’s Content, Most Say the Revamped Grammar,
Math and Essay Sections Will Make the Admissions Exam Harder

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

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7548
Twitter @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (August 24, 2015) — A Kaplan Test Prep survey finds that 85% of parents of college-bound students are still unaware that the SAT is changing, even after two years since the change was announced and less than seven months before the new SAT launches in March 2016.* When provided more details about the proposed changes to the SAT, the surveyed parents’ opinions about the new format were divided: 30% say they viewed the changes as something negative or think the exam will be harder; 30% view the changes as something positive; 20% are indifferent; and 15% still don’t know enough to form an opinion. However, views on specific changes reveal that a majority of parents believe the new SAT will be harder:

• Math: The current SAT focuses on computational skills and allows students to use a calculator during all sections. The new SAT will focus on advanced algebra, data analysis, and real-world problem solving and calculators will only be permitted for one of two math sections. Fifty-six (56%) percent of parents say these changes make the Math portion of the new SAT harder; 18% say it will become easier; and 26% say it makes no difference.
• Reading: The current SAT Reading section includes three 20-25 minute sections of sentence completions, and long- and short-passage reading questions. The new SAT Reading section will last 65 minutes and be made up of long passages followed by reading comprehension questions and will also test understanding of passages from U.S. and World Literature, History/Social Science and Science. Fifty-three (53%) percent of parents say the redesigned SAT Reading section will be harder than the current one; 12% say it will become easier; and 36% say it makes no difference.
• Writing and Language/Grammar: The current SAT tests grammar in the form of individual sentence correction. The new SAT will test grammar in the form of passages and will also include questions about structure and reading comprehension. Fifty-three (53%) percent of parents say the Writing and Language/Grammar portion of the new SAT will become harder; 13% say it becomes easier; and 34% say it makes no difference.
• Essay: The current SAT essay is required, and asks students to develop a persuasive essay about an issue; facts and grammar have little bearing on the overall score. The new SAT essay is optional, and asks students to read a 650-750 word passage and then prepare a facts-based essay analyzing how the author builds her/his argument. Sixty (60%) percent of parents say the SAT essay will become harder; 15% say the essay will become easier; and 25% say it makes no difference.
• No Wrong Answer Penalty: The current SAT includes a ¼ point penalty for wrong answers. The new SAT eliminates the wrong answer point penalty. Fifty-six (56%) percent of parents say this change will make the new SAT easier; 22% say the change will make it harder; and 23% say it makes no difference.

“It’s not surprising that most parents are still unaware of the upcoming SAT changes, as most are understandably focused on other aspects of the college admissions process like tuition, but the time to get all the facts about the test changes is now as Test Day is quickly approaching,” said Lee Weiss, vice president, Kaplan Test Prep. “Our survey found that the more parents learn about the new SAT, the more they understand how challenging the content will be for their kids. There is no doubt that the new SAT is more rigorous than the current one.”

Fore more information about the upcoming changes to the SAT, visit www.satchange.com. And for a series of short videos about the new SAT, visit www.youtube.com/KaplanSATACT.

*The e-survey was conducted in May 2015 of 309 self-described parents of college-bound students.

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.

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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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Kaplan Test Prep Survey: Pre-Law Students’ Top Concerns About Their First Year of Law School are Academic and Financial — But Not Social

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

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

New York, NY (July 22, 2015) — Pre-law students say that their biggest concerns about their first year of law school are academic and financial, according to a June 2015 Kaplan Test Prep survey of 466 pre-law students*. As they put together their law school applications at a time when the number of LSAT® takers is noticeably on the rise, here’s what prospective students are thinking about most when it comes to their first year (1L) experience:

• Achieving High Grades: Understanding how academically intense the 1L experience can be, nearly 9 out of 10 (89%) pre-law students surveyed said they are concerned about achieving high grades.
• Maintaining a Healthy Work/Life Balance: Students’ first year is considered to be the most rigorous of the three-years long law school experience because of the many exams and reading. With that in mind, 82% of surveyed students said maintaining a healthy work/life balance was a concern.
• Debt: With tuition at many law schools topping $40,000 a year and the job market for lawyers still struggling to return to healthy levels, more than three-quarters (76%) of pre-law students surveyed said that taking on large debt is a concern.
• Securing a Summer Internship: Securing a summer internship, which can lead to post-graduation jobs, is an extremely competitive process, which may explain why 73% are concerned about this aspect of being a 1L. The critical piece to secure a summer internship: high grades.
• Fitting In: Whether due to confidence in their social skills or indifference to being socially accepted, just 38% of pre-law students said that fitting in socially was a first year concern.

“Your first year of law school is undoubtedly your most important. It’s the start of what will hopefully be a rewarding three year experience, and when you earn the grades that are most determinate in launching a successful legal career,” said Jeff Thomas, executive director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “The fact that pre-law students are concerned about achieving everything from high grades to covering tuition is an appropriate and natural response to the real challenges that await them.”

*The e-survey was conducted in June 2015 of 466 pre-law law students who prepared for the LSAT with Kaplan Test Prep. The LSAT is a trademark of the Law School Admission Council, which is not affiliated with this survey or Kaplan Test Prep.

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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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1 Comment

Kaplan Test Prep Comments on New SATⓇ Practice Resources from Khan Academy and SAT Test Maker

Press Contacts: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7548
Twitter: @KapTestNews, @KaplanSATACT

New York, NY (June 2, 2015) — The following statement regarding practice resources for the new SAT unveiled today by Khan Academy and the College Board comes from Seppy Basili, vice president of college admissions and K-12 programs, for Kaplan Test Prep:

“It’s terrific that Khan Academy and the College Board are making SAT practice resources available for students of all income levels. Kaplan has been providing free SAT prep resources for years and applauds the effort to take some of the mystery and stress out of high stakes standardized tests. In fact, by offering SAT prep, the test maker not only validates it, but also calls attention to its importance in test success, which in our experience has only been positive for our students and our business.

At Kaplan, we will continue to develop programs and resources that provide our students with a competitive edge. We know from experience that successful test prep relies not just on practice but also on having a good strategy and a good coach to guide, mentor and support students. We invest countless hours and deploy the talents of many experts towards developing teaching and learning materials that enable our students to benefit from caring, engaging, expert instruction supported by innovative technology and evidence-based learning science — all with the goal of building student confidence and improving outcomes. We look forward to preparing students for the new SAT.”

To speak with a Kaplan expert regarding the upcoming SAT changes and what they mean for students, contact Russell Schaffer at 212-453-7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. For an overview of the changes, go to www.satchange.com. For a 45-second video overview of the SAT changes, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNdh_TYxijA. Subsequent Kaplan Test Prep videos will dive deeper into the structure of the new SAT, as well as specific exam sections.”

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.

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 90 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 operates new economy skills training (NEST) bootcamps designed to provide immersive training in skills that are in high demand in today’s job market and prepare participants for hire.

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