Kaplan Launches New Test Prep Program to Address Surge in Demand For Qualified Pharmacists

Introduction of New Course Follows Changes to Pharmacy College Admissions Test

New York, NY, (July 27, 2004) - Following on the heels of recently announced changes to the Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT®), Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, a leader in test prep and education, is introducing a new course to help pharmacy students prepare for their entrance exams. The new program is the only classroom-based preparation option nationally available for aspiring pharmacists.

Since near the PCAT's inception in 1993, Kaplan has offered preparation for the exam. The new course, set to launch in time for students interested in taking the popular October administration of the PCAT, addresses the changes in the exam and provides even more review and practice than the previous version of the course. An online PCAT course is also set to launch this fall.

The PCAT, which was until recently required by only a small number of pharmacy graduate schools, is now a mandatory requirement for entrance to fifty-one out of the eighty-nine U.S.-based pharmacy graduate programs. Additionally, a number of factors, including the industry's steadily rising compensation rates and an increased recognition of the attractive work/life balance pharmacists enjoy, have contributed to a sudden surge in the number of PCAT test takers nationwide - doubling from 15,000 in 2002 to nearly 30,000 in 2003.

"With the recent growth in interest in the pharmacy field, we're seeing that schools are increasingly reliant on PCAT scores to help them identify qualified candidates and assess standard skills," said Albert Chen, Executive Director for Graduate Programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. "Our new PCAT prep program is designed to help pharmacy students achieve their goals and differentiate themselves within their rapidly growing pool of peers."

The PCAT test changes, recently announced by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, center primarily around content changes in the Verbal Ability section, the introduction of calculus in the quantitative ability section, scoring modifications in the way PCAT test scores are reported and the addition of an experimental critical thinking essay component scheduled for release in the fall of 2005. The new test material will eliminate the analogies portion of the Verbal Ability section and replace it with a new sentence completion portion. Introductory calculus is included in the Quantitative Ability Section. The score change, which takes effect in October, 2004, moves the test from a limited 100-300 score to a broader 200-600 scale. The wider range of scores enables schools to better distinguish test-takers from one another.

Kaplan's new PCAT program is composed of eleven intensive sessions with in-depth review, online resources and time-saving strategies. The course is lead by teachers with a thorough understanding of science and the PCAT. The program also includes three diagnostic and full-length simulation testing sessions and an integrated online syllabus, as well as a comprehensive set of review notes.

About Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions:
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, 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 and has served well over 3 million students. With 3,000 classroom locations worldwide, a comprehensive menu of online offerings and a complete array of books and software, Kaplan offers preparation for 35 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 college and graduate admissions consulting services, as well as K-12 programs for school districts. Its Web site, www.kaptest.com, is the largest online destination for education and career services. Kaplan, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Press Contacts:

Victoria Grantham
212-453-7538
victoria_grantham@kaplan.com

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