Also: 37% of Students Would Put More Effort Into Their Coursework if Parents Were Tracking Their Performance

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 2, 2010) – A new Kaplan Test Prep survey* of high school students reports that of teens who say their parents are on Facebook, a much higher percentage (56%) provide their parents with full profile access – status updates, party photos and all – than with no access at all (34%). Only 9% of teens give their parents limited access. However, 58% of teens report that their parents are not on Facebook at all – though moms are more likely to have Facebook profiles (35%) than dads (27%). In keeping with the gender differential in Facebook presence, moms are somewhat more likely to have full Facebook access to their teens’ profiles (56%) than dads (49%).

Teens’ relative comfort level with having a “full access” Facebook relationship with their parents may be due to the high degree of involvement today’s parents have in their children’s lives otherwise. According to the survey, 81% of teens report their parents are “very” or “somewhat” involved in their academic work – a fact of life that may be a motivating factor in their studies. In fact, 37% of teens reported they would have put more effort into their SAT or ACT prep courses had their parents been able to track their course progress.

“In a Facebook era, the online arena serves as a new channel for parents to keep tabs on what and how their kids are doing, and it’s notable that a sizeable percentage of today’s teens seem comfortable with that dynamic,” said Justin Serrano, Senior Vice President, Kaplan Test Prep. “But for the most part, the parent-teen online relationship is still relatively uncharted territory. What we’re seeing is that parents are increasingly expressing interest in being able to monitor their kids’ progress online, and teens are adjusting to this in different ways.”

Reflecting parent interest as well as a growing trend among school districts around the country, Kaplan’s new SAT and ACT course, debuting in June, allows parents to track their child’s attendance, progress on each assignment, and performance on every practice exam and tested topic through on-demand parent reports. Kaplan’s new course will also be the first and only test prep program to integrate into its curriculum the learning best practices of differentiated instruction (in which teachers tailor their instruction and adjust the curriculum to individual students’ needs) and blended learning (mixing different learning environments for effective reinforced learning – e.g. online and classroom). The course’s unique combination of these educational best practices and revolutionary personalization technology sets the new standard in test preparation.

For downloadable B-roll of Kaplan Test Prep students taking a practice SAT, please visit: http://wpc.0355.edgecastcdn.net/000355/marketing/press/Kaplan_SAT_Students_Taking_a_Practice_Test.mp4

*Results were based on the answers of 973 aspiring college students who took the April ACT or May SAT and prepared for the exams with Kaplan Test Prep.

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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Inaugural Mock Exam Prepares Nearly 4,000 Candidates for the June 2010 CFA® Exam

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

La Cross, WI (May 27, 2010) - In a joint effort between Kaplan Schweser and dozens of CFA Institute societies, nearly 4,000 candidates for the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) designation received final practice for this year’s CFA Exam through a six-hour Kaplan Schweser Live Mock CFA Exam, administered on May 22 in more than 50 countries around the world. A sampling of the CFA Institute societies presenting the exam includes those in Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, United Arab Emirates, United States and Uruguay. This global effort marked the launch of Kaplan Schweser’s Live Mock CFA Exam and largest ever single-day administration of a live simulated CFA Exam.

The CFA designation is a highly sought-after international professional qualification for finance and investment professionals which recognizes that designees have met certain academic and professional standards, including passing the rigorous three-level CFA Exam., The Kaplan Schweser Live Mock CFA Exam provides candidates with a realistic test-taking experience similar to the actual CFA Exam to familiarize them with testing policies, exam format, length and level of difficulty. Additionally, candidates receive a follow-up report with written explanations for correct answer choices, evaluation of individual performance by topic area and relative rank among other Mock Exam takers.

“The response from CFA candidates and CFA society volunteers has been tremendous,” said Dr. Doug Van Eaton, CFA, VP of CFA Education at Kaplan Schweser. “The CFA Exam is one of the most challenging professional examinations, and candidates who undergo realistic practice gain a competitive advantage, as they gain familiarity with the test in advance and can hone their prep to work on their weaknesses. Participation from so many CFA societies shows that these industry associations recognize that practice is critical to their members’ success in passing the exam.”

More than 140,000 candidates worldwide have registered for the June 5, 2010 CFA Exam, making it the largest pool of candidates to register for one exam cycle in the 47-year history of the CFA Program. Levels 2 and 3 of the CFA Exam are administered once a year; Level 1 of the CFA Exam is administered twice a year in June and December.

About the CFA Charter

CFA Institute is the global association for investment professionals. It administers the CFA and CIPM curriculum and exam programs worldwide; publishes research; conducts professional development programs; and sets voluntary, ethics-based professional and performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. CFA Institute has nearly 100,000 members, who include the world’s 86,700 CFA charterholders, in 133 countries and territories, as well as 137 affiliated professional societies in 57 countries and territories. More information may be found at www.cfainstitute.org.

About Kaplan Schweser

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. The 2011 exam season marks the 20^th anniversary of Kaplan Schweser as the global leader in CFA review. For more information, please visit www.schweser.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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Also: Nearly 40% Say the Recession Significantly Impacted Their Decision to Apply to Law School

Available for Interview: Kaplan 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 (April 12, 2010) – A down economy hasn’t dampened aspiring lawyers’ confidence in their ability to get a job in the legal field – just their confidence in their peers’ ability to do so. According to a recent Kaplan Test Prep survey of 330 pre-law students*, 52% report that they are “very confident” that they will find a job in the legal field after graduating law school and passing the bar, but only 16% say they are “very confident” that the majority of their fellow aspiring lawyers will do the same. In fact, only seven percent of respondents indicated a lack of confidence in their own ability to secure employment upon graduation. Pre-law students’ attitudes are in keeping with research showing that students aged 18-29 are more optimistic about their economic future – despite a sluggish job market – than past generations.**

“Pre-law students’ confidence in their own job prospects are likely an indication not just of self-assurance, but of their optimism in an economic turnaround,” said Jeff Thomas, director of pre-law programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “What’s interesting is the drop-off in confidence in their peers, which perhaps may just be an indication of the general competitive atmosphere that exists between pre-law students.”

Thomas also noted that he’s witnessed a growing number of pre-law students pursuing law degrees with the intent of seeking non-lawyer jobs. According to the National Association for Law Placement, as recently as 2008, only 56% of new law school graduates were working at a law firm, down from 64% in 1998.

Also in the Kaplan Test Prep survey:

• 39% say that the economic downturn impacted their decision to apply to law school.
• Only 5% of those surveyed say they think it is a smart admissions strategy to send a Facebook friend request to law school admissions officers.
• If given the choice of submitting as part of their law school application a perfect 180 on the LSAT, a perfect 4.0 GPA or a letter of recommendation from a Supreme Court justice, 80% would opt for a perfect LSAT score.

For more information on Kaplan’s survey of pre-law students or to schedule an interview, please contact Russell Schaffer at 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

* All survey participants were Kaplan students who took the LSAT in February 2010.
**Millennials: A Portrait of Generation Next, Pew Research Center, February 2010.

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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Proceeds to Help the International Organization’s Life-Saving Work in Haiti, Chile and Other Medical Emergencies Worldwide

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 (April 10, 2010) – To support the life-saving efforts of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization which provides medical humanitarian aid to countries around the globe, Kaplan Test Prep has pledged to donate up to $50,000 to the organization, with the help of college students across the United States and Canada.  As part of the “Kaplan for Doctors Without Borders Challenge,” Kaplan Test Prep is donating $1 for every prospective graduate, business, medical and law school student, as well as those readying for the medical and nurse licensing exams, who fills out an online form at www.kaptest.com/challenge or in-person at a Kaplan table on campus or Kaplan center, now through June 15. Participating students will receive a short online survey.

In addition, all participants in the Challenge will be entered into a drawing to win free textbook rentals for a year through a donation by Chegg.com. Ten winners will be selected and announced in July. Currently, a full-time college student can expect to spend more than $1,000 on textbooks over the course of an academic year. According to a 2005 report by the General Accounting Office (GAO), college textbook prices increased almost twice as quickly as the overall rate of inflation from 1986 to 2004.

“Many college students and young professionals are looking for a way to make a difference and help the victims of the humanitarian disasters in Haiti and Chile,“ said Brad Sockloff, Vice President for Kaplan Test Prep.  “We are proud to be able to make a donation on their behalf to Doctors Without Borders and assist in their critical work.”

Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization founded in 1971 by doctors and journalists in France on the belief that all people have the right to medical care regardless of race, religion, creed or political affiliation. The organization is currently providing vital medical and psychological care in both Haiti, and Chile, as well as emergency medical care in nearly 70 countries.

About Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières

Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international independent medical humanitarian organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural and man-made disasters, and exclusion from health care in nearly 70 countries. The organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. For more information please visit doctorswithoutborders.org.

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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New Course Gives International LL.M. (Master of Laws) the Skills They Need to Succeed on the U.S. Bar Exam

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 (April 7, 2010) – Non-U.S. trained attorneys and graduates of non-U.S. law schools can now prepare for the New York State Bar Exam – widely recognized as being one of the most difficult bar exams in the nation – with a unique course specifically designed to address the fundamental skills and knowledge critical to passing.  Kaplan PMBR’s new LL.M. Complete Bar Review Course provides ten sessions specifically designed with the unique needs of International LL.M. students and other non-U.S. trained attorneys in mind in addition to the 44 sessions that are a part of Kaplan’s New York Complete Bar Review Course.

Eight of the additional ten international LL.M. sessions take place before the New York State Complete Bar Review Course and focus on the most heavily tested legal topics: negligence, contract formation, 1^st Amendment, Homicide, Hearsay, landlord/tenant and New York CPLR in addition to a specialized seminar designed to enhance essay writing skills which are crucial to passing the Bar Exam.

The other two International LL.M. sessions are entirely devoted to U.S. legal writing and are integrated into the New York State Complete Bar Review Course schedule.

“For non-U.S. law school educated students, learning how to write in U.S.-style legal language, fully understanding exam content and format, and mastering the English skills necessary to pass the New York State Bar Exam are among the most challenging obstacles to fulfilling their career goals,” said Jeremy Singer, president, Kaplan PMBR. “Kaplan PMBR’s new LL.M. Complete Bar Review Course is fully equipped with the bar review expertise and technology to help these students successfully overcome their challenges to help them pass the Bar and begin on their legal career paths.”

In 2009, more than 79 percent of the 5,723 LL.M. students who took a state bar exam sat for the New York State Bar Exam.

Kaplan PMBR’s LL.M. Complete Bar Review Course includes the Personalized Study System that pinpoints students’ specific areas of weakness, generates individualized assignments for targeted improvement and makes the overall intensive preparation required more manageable; unlimited essay grading; unlimited lectures-on-demand that enable students to review parts of lectures specifically assigned to address individual weaknesses or make up missed in-class lectures at their convenience; mobile bar review iPhone apps that include a course manager and over 800 flashcards; innovative outlines designed for different learning styles; “Ask-An-Attorney” call-in support; an “MBE Qbank” online quiz builder; and a free repeat guarantee.

The launch of Kaplan PMBR Bar Review’s first LL.M. class comes on the heels of its recent announcement that it is expanding its full service bar review services to an additional seven states to soon include Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Virginia, in addition to Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington DC. This expansion will make Kaplan PMBR’s comprehensive services available to more than 80% of all bar takers.

Kaplan’s portfolio of legal education programs also includes The Study Group, a nationwide provider of self-study bar review with home study course offerings for full-service bar review in 30 U.S. states; three law schools (the wholly-online Concord Law School, Nottingham Law at Kaplan Law School and Holborn College in the U.K.); as well as criminal justice and legal training through its higher education division. Kaplan’s test prep division prepares tens of thousands of aspiring law students for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) annually.

More information can be found at www.KaplanPMBR.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.

# # #

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 (March 15, 2010) – This year, thousands of low-income families across the country have a new way to bring learning into their homes through a groundbreaking joint effort between Kaplan Tutoring and Computers for Youth (CFY). Kaplan Tutoring, a division of Kaplan and a leading provider of after-school learning programs for children in grades K through 9, has teamed up with CFY, the nation’s foremost organization dedicated to improving the Home Learning Environment of low-income children, to provide free access 1-year access to Kaplan Smart Track to all the 6th grade students participating in its Take IT Home program.

Through its Take IT Home program, CFY partners with high-poverty middle schools to offer each participating family with free learning-focused training, a computer which is theirs to take home after the workshop, and robust tech support. Each computer is Internet-ready and loaded with carefully selected educational software. Now, thanks to Kaplan Tutoring, CFY also provides families with orientation and sign-up instructions for a free one-year subscription to Kaplan Smart Track, a customized online learning program that engages students and their parents in learning reading and math. Kaplan Smart Track drives academic progress through online assessment, customized learning, and measurable progress and features a reward system designed to motivate child to practice important math and reading skills.

“We are thrilled to partner with Kaplan Tutoring,” said Elisabeth Stock, CEO and Co-Founder of Computers for Youth. “We’ve seen first-hand how Kaplan’s Smart Track program motivates the children in our program to learn and keeps the whole family engaged. Programs like Kaplan’s go a long way to helping to improve the Home Learning Environment of the children who participate in Take IT Home.”

“We applaud Computers for Youth’s commitment to using technology to engage families and propel student achievement, as its mission reflects our own,” said Justin Serrano, President of Kaplan Tutoring. “We’re pleased to work with an organization so dedicated to helping to bring a rich array of learning opportunities into the homes of underserved students.”

Kaplan Smart Track is available to all families served by CFY’s Take IT Home program during the 2009-2010 school year. More than 4,000 participating families in New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay area are eligible to take advantage of this opportunity.

About Kaplan Tutoring

Kaplan Tutoring (www.kaplantutoring.com) helps K-8 students reach their academic potential, build self-confidence and develop a love of learning. Kaplan Tutoring is part of Kaplan Test Prep, a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Established in 1938, Kaplan Test Prep is the world leader in the test prep industry. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings and a complete array of books, Kaplan Test Prep 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 Test Prep is a division of Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com), a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

About Computers for Youth

Computers for Youth helps low-income children do better in school by improving their learning environment at home. CFY’s signature program selects high-poverty middle schools and then offers all sixth-grade families both a home computer loaded with educational software and training designed to help parents become more effective learning partners. Studies confirm that CFY’s programs have significantly improved students’ test scores and class effort and have increased parents’ confidence and involvement. Since beginning operations in 1999, CFY has reached more than 40,000 students and parents from more than 50 schools in New York City, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. CFY is building a national Home Learning field within the education sector, including extending its affiliate network to all 50 states and working to influence national education policy. For more information, please visit www.cfy.org.

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While More Business Schools Accept the GRE, Aspiring MBAs Overwhelmingly
Stick with the GMAT Even As They Consider it a Harder Test

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 (March 9, 2010)—A new Kaplan Test Prep survey shows that even as the maker of the GRE announces significant test changes intended to make it an attractive option for business school admissions, most students would still opt for the GMAT. When asked, “If you knew that your top choices for business schools offered the option of allowing you to take either the GMAT or GRE entrance exam to qualify for their program, which would you be most likely to take?” 55 percent of respondents said they would take the GMAT, compared to 12 percent who would take the GRE. Twelve percent said they would take both.

Ironically, according to the same survey of 300 aspiring MBAs polled in January and February 2010, 47 percent said they think the GMAT is more difficult than the GRE—while only 10 percent think the GRE is more difficult. (29% were not sure which was more difficult; 14% said the exams were equally difficult.)

The findings come as the GRE test maker reveals further details on major test changes scheduled for 2011, which would seem to make the test more difficult. Historically, the GRE has been the required admissions test for most competitive graduate school programs, while the GMAT has been the required admissions test for business schools. In recent years, competitive business schools have begun accepting the GRE as an alternative to the GMAT.

“The GRE test maker has made headway in gaining acceptance with many competitive MBA programs, and the announced test changes are most likely designed in part to make it more attractive to business schools,” said Liza Weale, director of graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “According to a recent Kaplan survey, the majority of top business schools are still GMAT-only and report that they are not currently planning to accept the GRE, so for now, we’re recommending that students applying to business school take the GMAT, and students applying for other graduate programs take the GRE. Aspiring MBAs who only take the GRE may be limiting their options.”

Newly Announced Key Changes to the Verbal Section of the GRE:

• Multiple Answer Questions: Select all answers that correctly apply, not just one answer.
• Sentence Equivalence Questions: Select the two answer choices out of six that would correctly complete the sentence, and which when used separately, would create two alike sentences.

Newly Announced Key Changes to the Quantitative Section of the GRE:

• Multiple Answer Questions: Choose all the answers that could correctly be applied to the question.
• Numeric Entry: Enter the correct answer to the math problem. No choices given.

Additionally, while the GRE will still use computer-adaptive technology, test takers can skip around within a section, making it a Multi-Stage Test (MST). ETS also announced that the first administration of the new GRE will be August 1, 2011. Test takers who need their score before November 1, 2011 should take the current GRE.

In December 2009, ETS announced a narrower scoring scale; the addition of an online calculator; the elimination of antonyms and synonyms; and the ability to skip and return to questions.

For more information about the GRE’s planned 2011 changes, how it may affect its 600,000 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.

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Test Prep Industry Leader Extends Full Service Bar Review to AR, MA, MD, MI, MO, OH and VA, Joining Existing Full Services Portfolio in AL, CA, CO, FL GA, HI, ID, IL, IA, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY NC, ND, PA, TX and DC

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 (March 3, 2010) – Thousands of graduating law students eager to practice their profession will soon have more options to help them pass the all important bar exam. Kaplan PMBR Bar Review, a leading provider of full-service bar review and division of Kaplan, Inc, is expanding its bar review offerings to include full-service preparation programs for students preparing for the state bar exams in Arkansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Virginia.

Currently, Kaplan offers full-service bar review in 18 states (Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas), and Washington DC, in addition to preparation for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) in all 48 states that require it. With this expansion, full service bar review from Kaplan PMBR Bar Review will be available to more than 80% of the U.S. bar taking population.

Aspiring lawyers in Arkansas, Maryland and Massachusetts will be able to take Kaplan PMBR for the February 2011 exam; and those in Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Virginia will have this option in time for the July 2011 exam.

“The popularity of our existing courses shows a demand for a highly personalized bar review that helps make the high volume of material needed to pass the bar more manageable,” said Jeremy Singer, president, Kaplan PMBR. “Students benefit from a bar review that helps them better prioritize and focus their studying according to their individual needs. Ultimately, the expansion of Kaplan PMBR’s comprehensive programs is about providing thousands of aspiring attorneys with greater choice in choosing a bar review program.”

In 2009, 68 percent of exam takers (53,991 out of 79,125) passed nationally, although pass rates varied by state.

Kaplan PMBR Bar Review’s full-service seven-state expansion represents the latest growth in Kaplan’s portfolio of legal education programs, which also includes The Study Group, a nationwide provider of self-study bar review with home study course offerings for full-service bar review in 30 U.S. states; three law schools (the wholly-online Concord Law School, Nottingham Law at Kaplan Law School and Holborn College in the U.K.); as well as criminal justice and legal training through its higher education division. Kaplan’s test prep division prepares tens of thousands of aspiring law students for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) annually.

Kaplan PMBR’s Complete Bar Review Course includes a Personalized Study System that pinpoints students’ specific areas of weakness and generates individualized assignments for targeted improvement, unlimited essay grading, unlimited Lectures-On-Demand that enable students to review parts of lectures specifically assigned to address individual weaknesses or make up missed in-class lectures at their convenience, mobile bar review iPhone apps that include a course manager and over 800 flashcards, innovative outlines designed for different learning styles, “Ask-An-Attorney” call-in support, an “MBE Qbank” online quiz builder, and a Money-Back Guarantee.

More information can be found at www.kaplanpmbr.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.

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Do Public Student Reviews Penalize Tough Grading Professors?

Available for Interview: Kaplan College Trends Analyst

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 (March 2, 2010) – While online teacher ratings sites are nothing new – RateMyProfessors, the most widely known of these sites, is more than ten years old – they may be contributing to grade inflation.  A new Kaplan Test Prep survey of 1,229 college students and recent college graduates* showed that of those who have visited professor rating sites, nearly half (46%) were influenced to take courses based on the “easy grading reputation of a professor.”  This supports previous research conducted by Cornell University which found that students shop for classes where the median grade is higher.  In fact, a 2009 analysis on grade inflation by a retired Duke University professor that found the average college GPA rose from 2.93 in 1991 to 3.11 in 2006.

“Our research shows that many of today’s college students are looking at multiple factors when picking out courses: overall teacher quality that will result in a good learning experience, but also instructors who don’t like to award a lot of C’s and D’s,” said Jeff Olson, vice president of research at Kaplan Test Prep.  “While it makes sense that students would opt for more lenient graders, it also helps explain the recent prevalence of grade inflation.”

Although grading leniency is a consideration for many, within the RateMyProfessors category options, peer opinion seemed to be the greatest influencer, with “Prior student comments about the professor” as the element most often cited by Kaplan survey respondents (77%) as the factor they most consider in choosing classes. “Overall quality of a professor” was the second most considered factor (70%), and “engaging teaching style of professor” was third (66%), followed by “easy grading reputation.”

Other survey highlights:

• On a scale of 1 – 10, with 0 being “Not at all reliable” and 10 being “Very reliable,” students consider RateMyProfessors to be more reliable than not, with an average ranking of 5.8
• Only 8% of students who visit professor rating sites say that writing a review is the primary reason they log on; 71% says it’s to select classes.
• Just 3% of students say that a professor’s “hotness” factors into their decision of which classes to take.
  Pre-Law students place a much higher premium on how engaging an instructor is (73%) than Pre-Med students do (57%).

  For more information or to arrange an interview on the impact of sites like RateMyProfessors.com  on the academic landscape please contact Russell Schaffer at: 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.

*Based on responses from 804 Kaplan students who took the LSAT in December 2009 and 425 Kaplan students who took the MCAT in January 2010.

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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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 (January 25, 2010) – As GMAT registration volume reached a record high 301,800 last year (an 11 percent jump since 2007), Kaplan Test Prep has just launched a course that redefines the GMAT prep experience, with the industry’s first fully interactive online center. The first-of-its-kind virtual test prep center brings social networking within the learning space to a new level. Through the Kaplan Online Center, students can manage their course progress, access online resources such as b-school video-on-demand, connect with their teachers or fellow GMAT prep classmates, attend live online business school admissions events, network with future MBAs from around the world, and more.

The new Kaplan GMAT preparation course not only incorporates a cutting-edge Online Center, but also features redesigned course materials. Kaplan’s GMAT prep program continues to provide industry-leading expertise aimed at giving students the edge they need to succeed in today’s increasingly competitive business school admissions environment, including:

• The Official Test Day Experience: Students can take any of their practice GMAT tests at an official Pearson/GMAT Testing Center. It’s the most realistic practice available, and it’s exclusively available to Kaplan students.
• Smart Reports™: This exclusive technology system analyzes students’ practice test performance and generates personalized recommendations on where to target for maximum score improvement.
• Score-Maximizing Curriculum: Whether they are taking the GMAT Classroom course, GMAT Advanced, or a Live Online course, Kaplan students receive nine instructional sessions focused on content review and strategy mastery for Quantitative, Verbal, and Analytical Writing.
• Unmatched Practice: With more than 6,000 practice items and nine proprietary computer adaptive tests (CATs) included, students won’t find more practice opportunities anywhere.

“Kaplan has always provided industry-leading test prep, and our new GMAT prep course further enhances our program to provide students with the most interactive, effective resources available to help them reach their score goals,” said Jason Moss, vice president, graduate programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “We based these revisions to our GMAT preparation course not only on our 40 plus years of GMAT expertise, but also on student feedback on what they are looking for in a successful GMAT prep program. We are confident that aspiring business school students are going to be excited about Kaplan’s new GMAT experience and all its resources to help them succeed.”

Prospective MBAs looking to raise their GMAT scores with Kaplan may also be heartened by the news that the job market for business school graduates may be seeing signs of picking up. According to a survey released in January 2010 by GMAC, the test maker, more than a third of the participating employers polled say they plan to hire more recent MBA graduates this year than they did in 2009, when many employers scaled back plans to hire MBAs and other recent graduates because of the recession. The survey found that 45 percent plan to maintain their current levels.

Aspiring business school students can register for a free session of Kaplan’s new GMAT prep course, to take place on February 15 at 8:30 PM EST, at http://www.kaplangmat.com. The sample class will be brought to participants via Kaplan’s Live Online technology, which puts students in a virtual classroom where they can ask questions and interact with their teacher and other classmates using audio, instant chat, whiteboard, polling, and screen-sharing functionality.

Kaplan’s courses help more prospective MBAs get into business school than any other course.* Kaplan offers the most comprehensive guarantee in the industry. Kaplan students who do not feel ready to take the GMAT, or who aren’t satisfied with their score improvement may retake the course for free. And students who don’t score higher on the GMAT may prep again for free or get their money back.

*The Harris Interactive® online study for Kaplan was conducted between December 6 and 21, 2007 among 196 US adults who applied to and were admitted into business school, of whom 181 took the GMAT and a course to prepare for it.

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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