Wall Street Oasis: “Biggest Killer of Your App? A Low GMAT Score..”
Applying the Science of Learning to Effective Test Readiness
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 28, 2012) – While preparing for exams has been part of the student experience since the invention of tests, approaches for doing so can vary widely. However, a large body of research shows that successful performance relies on three fundamental factors: knowledge of the content; familiarity with the exam’s structure, conditions and tasks; and ability to apply critical thinking. Kaplan’s new white paper, “Effective Test Readiness: What the Research Says,” outlines six key research findings that guide the design of programs that support these fundamental factors.
Author Marcella Bullmaster-Day, Ed.D., the associate director of the Lander Center for Educational Research Touro College, pulls from a range of cognitive science research to provide a concise overview for what goes into an effective test readiness program.
There were six key findings from the research:
Effective test readiness programs…
“Because Kaplan is committed to supporting students with the most effective and efficient test preparation, our state assessment and college test readiness programs are grounded in this research,” said Justin Serrano, president of Kaplan K12 and College Prep. “Our Smart Track™ adaptive learning platform combines a student’s strengths and weaknesses with SmartPoints™, the highest priority standards with the most points on the exam, to design his or her personalized syllabus. Students can confidently carry these proven study and test-taking strategies with them beyond the exams and into the next phases of their academic careers to achieve their personal best.”
In short, students need to know the content, know the test, and know the strategies. These three core elements of assessment readiness can be improved through focused study, rigorous practice and explicit, carefully designed instruction. With more than 70 years of experience in preparing students for high-stakes exams, Kaplan’s programs combine proven methodology, data-driven learning from millions of students, academic best practices, and adaptive technologies to deliver effective learning outcomes.
About Kaplan K12 Learning Services, LLC
Kaplan K12 Learning Services , LLC (http://www.kaplank12.com) partners with schools to measurably propel student achievement. Kaplan K12 offers state test readiness programs to help students meet and exceed state standards, and college preparation solutions that support students as they prepare for college entrance exams and the admissions process. Its solutions also provide teachers with robust Kaplan K12 resources and professional development support to impact achievement in their classrooms. Kaplan K12 Learning Services is a division of Kaplan Inc. (http://www.kaplan.com), a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).
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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 (March 27, 2012) – Kaplan Test Prep issued the following statement on the new SAT and ACT security measures that were announced today, to be implemented this fall. The actions were taken in response to the SAT cheating scandal uncovered on Long Island last year:
“Kaplan Test Prep believes these security measures will help ensure the integrity of students’ SAT and ACT test-taking experiences, while also maintaining the exams’ accessibility to the millions of college applicants who take them every year. The security measures will also help restore confidence in college applicants who need to know that they are only competing for admissions with students who play by the same rules,” said Justin Serrano, president of K-12 and college prep programs, Kaplan Test Prep. “A student’s SAT or ACT score is not only one of the most important college admissions factors, but also helps determine merit-based financial aid, so there’s a lot at stake in making sure that one’s score is one’s own.”
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.
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The following Kaplan Test Prep-created infographic illustrates some of the most important facts about the GMAT that test takers need to know about: from its role in the business school admissions process, to how your GMAT score correlates to starting salary, to the new Integrated Reasoning section that launched on June 5, 2012. Please feel free to include the image in any business school or GMAT-related stories you may do. To view the image larger, keep clicking on it.
