As Teens Enter the Final Weeks Before Test Day, Kaplan Provides Online Study Materials and Sponsors Practice Test Events at No Cost to Students

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (September 28, 2010) – Continuing its mission to make test prep available to as many aspiring college students as possible, Kaplan Test Prep announced today that now through October 23, students preparing for the SAT (October 9), ACT (October 23) and PSAT (October 13 and October 16) have access to a host of free prep resources to help them reach their goal of achieving the highest score possible.  To take advantage of the complimentary resources, students can visit www.kaptest.com/freeprep. On the site, students can create their own quiz banks from thousands of exam questions and link to YouTube videos where they can learn expert Kaplan strategies for the most important SAT, ACT and PSAT questions. Students will also be able to register for upcoming local practice test events, where they can take an SAT, ACT or PSAT under realistic, test-like conditions and also receive feedback on their performance and strategies on how to improve.

“At Kaplan we know that it’s important for test takers to get in as much practice as possible leading up to the SAT, ACT and PSAT,” said Justin Serrano, president, pre-college programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “We’re glad to provide free resources as students gear up for test day and hope they will take advantage of them.”

Students can find additional prep materials on Kaplan’s Facebook page located at www.facebook.com/KaplanSAT.

According to an annual survey by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, an applicant’s score on the SAT or ACT remains the second most important admissions factor, just behind grades in AP courses. A just released Kaplan survey of admissions officers at 386 of the top 500 colleges and universities in the United States reveals that 87% require students to submit a SAT or ACT score – of that 87%, 100% have no plans to drop the requirement.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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77% Of College Admissions Officers Say Parental Involvement Is Increasing; Many Schools Involve Parents, While Others Seek To Cut The Umbilical Cord

Available for Interview: College Admissions Expert

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (September 27, 2010) – A new Kaplan Test Prep survey* of admissions officers at 386 of the nation’s top colleges and universities reveals that the phenomenon of the helicopter parent – a term given to parents who “hover” over their children – may be more prevalent than ever, but that schools are divided on how to address it. 77% report that parental involvement in the college admissions process is increasing and because of this, 61% say that their school has been prompted to develop new initiatives for parents. But while a majority of schools are setting up special websites, seminars and tours just for parents, some schools are cutting parents out of the admissions process entirely.

Other colleges are taking a different approach by cutting parents out of the picture as soon as possible.

One of the college admissions officers who participated in Kaplan’s annual survey said that once the student is accepted, the school is firm about only interacting with the student, not the parents – a strict policy that has sometimes caused friction with the parents. Another admissions officer reported that their office will not discuss an applicant with his or her parent unless the student gives permission. One admissions officer said that when a parent of an applicant calls to ask a question, the school encourages the parent to hand the phone to the student.

Other key Kaplan survey results:

For more information or to discuss these results with a Kaplan college admissions expert, please contact Russell Schaffer at: 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*The survey was conducted by phone in July and August 2010 as part of Kaplan’s annual survey of admissions officers at the nation’s top 500 colleges and universities, as compiled from U.S. News & World Report’s Ultimate College Guide and Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges. Kaplan also conducts annual surveys of admissions officers at law schools, business schools, graduate schools and medical school to ensure that students are getting the most accurate and up-to-date information on the admissions process and other relevant issues.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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October 9-10 Weekend Conference Will Feature Esteemed Speakers; More than 60 Medical Schools and 20 Public Health Schools to be in Attendance

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (September 20, 2010) – Kaplan Test Prep announced today its cosponsorship of the nation’s largest annual gathering of pre-medical and pre-public health students at the 8^th annual American Medical Student Association American River College/University of California – Davis Pre-Medical and Pre-Public Health Conference, to be held at the Davis campus on October 9 and 10.  Students will attend admissions workshops to help them get a competitive edge in the admissions process, attend a panel discussion on relevant topics featuring deans from top medical schools and listen to a roaster of esteemed speakers.  Aspiring health professionals not able to attend in person will benefit from a free live webcast, brought to them by Kaplan technology.

“Kaplan is pleased to once again cosponsor the American Medical Student Association American River College/University of California – Davis Pre-Medical and Pre-Public Health Conference, a weekend gathering that will both inform and inspire tomorrow’s professionals,” said Jason Moss, vice president, Kaplan Test Prep.  “We encourage all those who cannot attend this fantastic event in person to pre-register and participate online at www.kaplanmcat.com/conference.”

Cosponsors of the live Kaplan webcast include the American Medical Student Association, the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States; the Student Doctor Network, an educational community for pre-health students that assists and encourages them through the challenging healthcare education process; and Phi Delta Epsilon, an international, co-ed medical fraternity.

Guest speakers scheduled to present include:

• John D. Stobo, M.D., Senior Vice President for Health Sciences, University of California
• L.D. Britt, M.D., MPH, FACS, President, American College of Surgeons
• Ted Epperly, M.D., FAAFP, President, American Academy of Family Physicians
• Kavita Patel, M.D., MSHS, Director, Health Policy, White House
• John Brockman, National President, American Medical Student Association

Top medical schools planning to attend include:

• Stanford University
• Harvard University
• Yale University
• Johns Hopkins University
• University of California – Los Angeles
• University of California – Davis
• New York University

In person workshops will include:

• What Medical Schools Look For in Their Applicants
• How to Get Started in Research as a Pre-Med
• How to Succeed in Your Medical School Interview
• Faculty Letters of Recommendation
• “I Didn’t Get In, Now What?”
• Financial Aid in Medical School

To follow Kaplan on Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/kaplanmcatprep.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Future Law School Applicants Now Have Even More Powerful Resources to Help Them Succeed on the LSAT and in the Law School Admissions Process

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (September 15, 2010) – As the number of LSAT administrations reached a record high of 171,500 last year (a 13.3 percent increase over the 2008-2009 testing year and the biggest spike since the 2001-2002 testing year) and the number of law school applications reached its highest level ever, Kaplan Test Prep has just launched a course that redefines what it means to prepare for the critical admissions exam, with the industry’s first fully simulated test day event – accessible in most major cities – the LSAT Experience.* From registration and fingerprinting, to proctors and stringent rules, Kaplan becomes the first LSAT prep provider to replicate students’ actual test day experience so they’ll know what to expect for the real thing. Fact: Bringing your cell phone or iPod into the test or even wearing a hoodie may be grounds for dismissal or having your score cancelled! Included in the course, or as a stand-alone prep option, the first two LSAT Experience* events will take place on Friday, October 1 or Saturday, October 2, depending on the city.

The new Kaplan LSAT preparation course not only includes more than 100 hours of classroom instruction and incorporates the industry’s first ever, simulated test day experience, but also continues to provide industry-leading expertise aimed at giving students the edge they need to succeed in today’s increasingly competitive law school admissions environment, including:

• Extensive Online Resources: Includes 50+ hours of additional video instruction, skills tutorials, test reviews, section management tutorials and stress management techniques, personalized to fit students’ needs.
• Every Released LSAT… Now Online: Students gain online access to every released LSAT, with explanations for every one of the 6,449 questions and 30,000+ answer choices.
• Home Study Resources: Includes lesson book, mastery and timing books (by section), endurance book and full-length tests. Because the LSAT remains a paper and pencil test, print study materials remain important components for effective studying and realistic practice. Resources also include an online companion to help students integrate with online instruction.
• Logic Games On Demand (stand-alone product): With 15 hours of online instruction, and including 150 previously released logic games with detailed explanations, this stand-alone product provides extra help for what students rate as the most challenging section of the LSAT.

“While all graduate level programs place a high emphasis on your standardized test score when evaluating your application, none weigh it as strongly as law schools do, which is why realistic LSAT practice is so important,” said Jason Moss, vice president, graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep.  “Kaplan’s LSAT Experience*, coupled with our new online, print and at home resources, will continue to give students the knowledge and confidence they need to score well on test day and succeed in the law school admissions process.”

According to Kaplan’s annual survey of law school admissions officers at JD programs in the United States, the LSAT is consistently listed as the most important admissions factor, far outdistancing undergraduate GPA, the personal statement and letters of recommendation.

For more information about Kaplan’s LSAT prep programs, including the LSAT Experience*, please visit www.kaplanlsat.com.

*Students unable to attend Kaplan’s LSAT Experience on site at an area testing location will be able to get the fully simulated experience in an online environment, either live or on demand at their convenience. Kaplan’s LSAT Experience stand-alone product includes a condensed course to explain each question and answer.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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From Ranking the Most Desirable Urban Schools to Which Schools Provide Both a Great Education and Tan, the Guide also Provides Expert Advice
and Personal Essays on Preparing for the SAT and ACT,
Navigating the Financial Aid Process and Much More

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (September 13, 2010) – Combining the leadership of more than 70 years of college admissions expertise with the award-winning journalistic excellence of the nation’s leading news magazine, the 2010 Kaplan/Newsweek “Finding The Right College For You” guide – on sale September 13 – debuts the publication’s first ever college rankings.  The rankings categories are tailored to address the real concerns of prospective students and their parents in an increasingly complex admissions process, covering all the aspects of the undergraduate experience: academics, social life, school size and location, diversity and even the ability to get some sun.

In recognizing that where to attend college is one of the most important personal decisions of a young person’s life and that each comes into the process with different values, “Finding The Right College For You” highlights schools that offer special niches and qualities to accommodate almost every student’s biggest must haves. A sampling of the 12 rankings categories and the 25 schools within each one, include:

• Most Desirable Urban Schools: Columbia University, Duke University, Harvard University, New York University, University of California – Los Angeles, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
• Most Desirable Rural Schools: Amherst College, Clemson University, College of the Ozarks, Dartmouth College, State University of New York at Geneseo, Whitman College
• Most Service-Minded Schools: Davidson College, Marquette University, Morehouse College, Syracuse University, Tulane University, Widener University
• Great Education, Great Tan: Arizona State University, Pepperdine University, Pomona College, Scripps College, Stanford University, University of Southern California
• Stocked with Jocks: Bates College, Boston College, Ohio State University, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, University of Oklahoma – Norman Campus, University of Virginia

The guide also contains invaluable admissions information discussed in such articles as “College: There’s an App for That,” in which readers will learn how everything from Facebook, to Twitter, to the iPhone can enrich their college experience; “The Digital-Book Revolution,” which explores how the iPad may replace the centuries old textbook; “Parents, It’s Time to Let Go,” in which veteran Newsweek writer Barbara Kantrowitz counsels parents to put their kids in the driver’s seat so they can make their own decisions; “The College Essay 2.0,” which explores how new media application materials like YouTube videos are supplementing the traditional on paper/e-mail essay; “Strategies to Help You Pay the Bills,” in which readers will learn some savvy ways to pay ever rising tuition costs; and “A Spiraling Down Effect,” which brings added attention to the tough budget decisions facing the country’s state schools and community colleges during the tough economic environment.

From what majors may provide graduates with the biggest pay checks, to why so many students are choosing to study abroad in the most remote areas of the world, to practice for the SAT and ACT, to the revival of once moribund religious studies programs, the Kaplan/Newsweek “Finding The Right College For You” guide is designed to help college-bound students and their families by illuminating issues, challenges and opportunities that await them all the way from the application process through their college senior year.

This year’s guide also has a robust online presence at www.KaplanCollegeGuide.com, where students can find companion tools, including a Facebook application to help them find their “dream school” and even figure out which school they are; stress-busting SAT vocabulary-building quiz banks, a college search tool, videos, online polls, discussion boards, and much more.

The 168-page guide will be available in bookstores and can also be ordered on Kaplan’s Web site (http://www.kaptest.com/store) or by calling toll-free 1-800-KAP-ITEM.

This year’s college guide also marks the launch of Newsweek Education, a special section of www.Newsweek.com dedicated to helping families through the college admissions process. The site will have profiles of all the schools in the rankings as well as the strategies and tools students need to put together a strong application, choose a school, and pay for it. Newsweek Education will also have expert guidance from Newsweek writers and readers who understand the ups and downs of navigating the final years of high school as teens prepare to leave home and parents learn to let go. You can find it all at http://education.newsweek.com.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

About NEWSWEEK

Founded in 1933, Newsweek provides comprehensive coverage of national and international affairs, business, society, science and technology, and arts and entertainment. Headquartered in New York, Newsweek has bureaus located in the U.S. and around the globe. In addition to its U.S. edition, Newsweek publishes three English-language editions overseas and is the only news magazine with five weekly local-language editions—in Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Polish, and Russian. The magazine appears in more than 190 countries.

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Kaplan/Newsweek Finding the Right College for You guide

Also in Survey: Myth Buster! 84% of Law Schools Say Graduates of Their Affiliated Undergraduate Institution Have No Advantage Over Applicants Who Are Not

Available for Interview: Law School Admissions Expert

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (September 8, 2010) – Aspiring lawyers need to be more careful about who they call as their own character witnesses for their law school recommendations. According to a new Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions survey* of admissions officers at 145 law schools across the United States, 87% say they have received a negative letter of recommendation about an applicant. According to the survey, 15% report that a poor letter of recommendation is actually the biggest application killer.

“While your LSAT score and GPA are by far the most important factors in your application, letters of recommendation do factor in, and what these results show us is that students need to be much more self-aware about who they choose to advocate for them in their applications,” said Howard Bell, executive director, pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep.

Kaplan’s research reveals that the issue isn’t limited to aspiring lawyers – in a similar survey of medical school admissions officers, the exact same percentage report having received negative letters of recommendation about medical school applicants.

Bell notes, “First rule: Do no harm. Only ask for recommendations from people who like you personally and think highly of you. If you sense ambivalence‚ don’t try to talk them into it. You only want to ask someone who is enthusiastic about you and supportive of your aspirations. A negative word from someone you think respects you may call your judgment skills into question with admissions officers and that could potentially keep you out of law school, despite of an otherwise stellar application.”

The Kaplan survey also debunks a common myth among law school applicants that having attended the undergraduate institution affiliated with the law school provides an edge – 84% of admissions officers say those who claim the undergraduate school as their alma mater have no advantage in the admissions process over applicants who do not.

Also in the Kaplan survey:

• Law School Applications Continue to Climb: 56% predict an increase in applications this year, while only 6% predict a decrease – 25% predict application numbers to remain flat, while 13% were not sure.
• The Key to Admissions: 64% of admissions officers report that an applicant’s LSAT score is the most important admissions factor; GPA placed second with 23%.
• It’s the Economy, Applicant!: 75% say the lagging effects of the recession are responsible for the recent and predicted application increases.
• High LSAT Score = Financial Aid: 73% of admissions officers testify that a strong LSAT score “very much” helps an applicant receive merit-based aid.
• Don’t Perjure Yourself: 73% say they’ve discovered claims on an applicant’s application to be exaggerated or untrue. That won’t help your case!

For more information or to discuss these results with a Kaplan law school admissions expert, please contact Russell Schaffer at: 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*The survey was conducted by phone in July and August 2010 as part of Kaplan’s annual survey of admissions officers at American Bar Association-accredited law schools. Kaplan also conducts surveys of admissions officers at colleges, business schools, graduate schools and medical schools. Results from those surveys will be released soon.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Deal provides CFA^® scholarships and discounts for Society members

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

LaCrosse, WI (September 1, 2010) – On September 1, CFA Society of Chicago announced the signing of an exclusive agreement naming Kaplan Schweser the society’s Preferred Provider of Chartered Financial Analyst^® (CFA^®) exam preparation. As part of the agreement, Kaplan Schweser will provide seven annual scholarships for select society members, and discounted CFA exam review pricing for the entire membership.

According to Kaplan Schweser Senior VP of CFA Education Dr. Doug Van Eaton, CFA, Kaplan Schweser study tools are designed to provide efficient and focused coverage of the critical material candidates need to know in order to be successful on the CFA exam.

“Kaplan Schweser is deeply invested in the growth and future of the investment profession,” said Van Eaton. “This partnership will make it easier for exam candidates to reach a major milestone in their careers by preparing for the CFA exam with courses and materials from the recognized industry leader.”

In addition to the scholarships and discounts, Kaplan Schweser will offer a free Mock Exam to CFA Society of Chicago exam candidates. The two organizations will also hold bi-annual, co-sponsored Study Group Kick-off sessions. The first of these sessions is currently being planned for December.

“We are dedicated to providing finance professionals with world-class CFA exam preparation resources,” said Angela McKay, CAE, President & CEO of CFA Society of Chicago. “This alliance will help our candidates by offering broader access to Kaplan Schweser’s comprehensive CFA course programs, including its Mock Exam and Review seminars.”

For investment professionals, the CFA charter is recognized as the most prestigious credential in the world. In 2009, more than 129,000 candidates registered for the June exam, the largest number of candidates registered for one exam cycle since the inception of the CFA Program in 1963.

Kaplan Schweser, a division of Kaplan, Inc., is a leading provider of financial and accounting education for hundreds of thousands of business professionals around the world. For more information, visit www.schweser.com.

CFA Society of Chicago serves over 3,900 members as a trusted resource for programs, information, and services to meet their professional needs. Founded in 1925, CFA Society of Chicago was the first CFA Institute member society in the world. For more information, visit www.cfachicago.org.

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Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (August 2, 2010) – To meet would-be law, business and graduate students’ desire for convenient, efficient and effective test preparation programs online and to provide students with more affordable options in test prep, Kaplan Test Prep announced that it is lowering the price of its GMAT, LSAT and GRE On Demand and Classroom Anywhere ^TM courses from more than $1,000 per course to as low as $449.

“Test preparation gives prospective grad students an edge, and we’re pleased to help make prep more affordable for them,” said Jason Moss, Vice President, Graduate Programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “Kaplan recognizes the challenges of today’s economic climate and wants to do its part to help aspiring graduate students by reducing tuition for those who choose to study for their graduate admissions tests online. This price reduction provides students with superb comprehensive test preparation options and enables them to get top rated Kaplan instructors no matter where they are located,” he said.

Kaplan Classroom Anywhere courses allow students to take the exact same real-time course that they receive On Site, but their class meets in an interactive, live, online classroom. Students enjoy the convenience of attending class from anywhere they have Internet access, and choose from class times that work for their schedule. Students are able to ask questions and interact with their teacher, teaching assistant(s), and other classmates using audio, video, instant chat, whiteboard, and polling functionality.

Kaplan On Demand courses provide comprehensive, video instruction from Kaplan’s expert teachers. Students receive the exact same instruction, strategies, and resources offered in the On Site courses, while also benefiting from the ultimate convenience to prep at their own pace, wherever and whenever they choose. Students can also review the lessons again and again.

Kaplan continues to lead the industry in meeting the needs of all students by offering different modalities to suit the needs and learning styles of each student. The newly priced offerings are the next step in Kaplan’s history of innovation. Over the last two years students on five continents have studied test preparation online with Kaplan, the proven leader in test preparation and admissions.

Pricing for the On Demand and Classroom Anywhere courses are as follows:

• GRE On Demand courses start at $449, Classroom Anywhere Courses start at $699
• GMAT On Demand courses start at $449, Classroom Anywhere Courses start at $649
• LSAT On Demand courses start at $499, Classroom Anywhere Courses start at $899

The courses, offered globally, are available at www.kaptest.com.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, 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. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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The Result of Exam’s Administrator Feeling the Pressure of the GRE’s Increasing
Acceptance as an Admissions Alternative by Leading MBA Programs?

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW: KAPLAN BUSINESS SCHOOL ADMISSIONS EXPERT

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY (June 25, 2010) – In an acceleration of its own timeframe to change the exam in the face of MBA programs increasingly accepting the GRE as an admissions alternative, the GMAT’s administrator announced today the addition of a new integrated reasoning section, which aims to measure test takers’ ability to respond to challenges they may face in the business world.  The new section will replace one of the essays currently part of the GMAT’s analytical writing section. The exam’s length will remain at three and a half hours.

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC,) the exam’s administrator, the questions in this new section will be based on multiple sources, including charts, graphs, and spreadsheets.  Test takers will have to analyze information, draw conclusions and determine relationships between pieces of data, just as they would have to do in business school.   According to GMAC, these changes are based on research and surveys of business school faculty.

“By making the GMAT more focused on practical business world skills, the exam’s administrator is making a strategic decision to convince MBA programs that the GMAT is the best exam to evaluate students on,” said Jason Moss, vice president, graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep.  “In recent years, the GRE’s administrator has had some success in convincing some top MBA programs to accept their exam as an alternative to the GMAT.  This move by GMAC may make those schools that already offer the GRE option reconsider their decision and encourage other MBA programs mulling it over to think twice.”

The current scoring scale of 200-800 will remain the same and test takers will receive a separate score for the new section, just as they do now for the essays.

For more information about the GMAT’s planned 2012 changes, how it may affect its 200,000 plus annual test taking population and possibly alter the business school admissions process, please contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com or 212.453.7538.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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Kaplan Helps Future Lawyers and Doctors in Need Get an Edge in a Competitive Admissions Environment

Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)

Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Carina Wong, carina.wong@kaplan.com, 212.453.7571

New York, NY  (June 17, 2010) – As part of ongoing efforts to help students and young professionals succeed, Kaplan Test Prep is donating over $1 million in LSAT and MCAT prep courses to be awarded to students in need seeking to apply to law and medical school. The donation will benefit students at approximately 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States.

The donation of 100 Kaplan LSAT courses was made at this month’s combined national conference of Northeast Association of Pre-Law Advisors (NAPLA) and Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisors (SAPLA), which was held at Duke University. Every advisor in attendance was eligible to receive a scholarship certificate redeemable for any comprehensive Kaplan LSAT classroom, Live Online or LSAT On-Demand course, to be awarded to a deserving student at the advisor’s school. Recipients will benefit from Kaplan’s newly launched LSAT course – a personalized program, which includes, among other offerings, more than 40 hours of supplemental video instruction and online access to every released LSAT, with answers and explanations for all 6,500+ questions and over 37,000 answer choices. According to Kaplan’s annual survey of law school admissions officers, the LSAT is consistently listed as the single most important factor they evaluate applicants on.

To support the aspirations of pre-med students, this week at the national conference of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) in Atlanta, Kaplan is donating over 900 MCAT courses, upon request, to each of the more than 900 pre-med/pre-health advisors in attendance and to those who were unable to attend. The courses are to be awarded to one deserving student at their college or university. For pre-meds, the MCAT remains one of the biggest hurdles to getting into the program of their choice, consistently ranked as the first or second most important admissions factor in Kaplan’s annual survey of medical school admissions officers.

Margaret Kovach, Ph.D., associate professor, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, noted how a past Kaplan donation made a life-changing difference for one student at her school:

“I had a young, but non-traditional student, in my genetics class who was preparing for medical school. She had a degree in geology, but as she put it, she just could not ignore the inescapable, internal voice calling her to the medical profession. She had terrific energy, worked hard and combined with an insatiable curiosity…a great package. Her parents were immigrants from Colombia and Cuba. She had the merit, she had the need, and she had the commitment and desire. She was very appreciative of the MCAT course scholarship because it provided her with an opportunity she would not have had otherwise. It did not go to waste…she got into medical school, and just this past spring earned her M.D.”

“Our mission as a company has always been to help students succeed, and we recognize the advantage test prep provides to students who are seeking admissions to competitive schools,” Jason Moss, vice president, graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “This donation of LSAT and MCAT courses will help aspiring lawyers and doctors who are motivated, but economically challenged, to secure educational resources they need to achieve their career goals.”

Both donations are intended for socio-economically and educationally disadvantaged students; advisors are free to award the course at their discretion to any promising student. Through previous Kaplan donations, many advisors have selected students from under-represented minorities in law and medicine.

In the most recently recorded year, 86,100 aspiring attorneys applied to law school, the biggest jump in applicants since 2003 and the first increase at all since 2004. In that same cycle, 68% of applicants were admitted. In 2009, about 42,000 aspiring doctors applied to medical school, a slight increase over the prior year – only 44% of them were accepted.

About Kaplan Test Prep

Kaplan Test Prep (www.kaptest.com), a division of Kaplan, Inc., 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 and a complete array of books, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 90 standardized tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Kaplan also provides private tutoring and graduate admissions consulting services.

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