High School Juniors Outpacing Seniors In SAT Prep Enrollment for the First Time

New SAT Anxiety Drives Unique Enrollment Shift in Kaplan Test Prep Programs

New York, NY, August 26, 2004 - With the first administration of the new SAT still seven months away, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, the world leader in test preparation, reported a unique shift in SAT enrollment: more juniors are enrolled in its programs than seniors.

"Typically during the summer and fall, the number of seniors enrolled is about three times higher than the number of juniors enrolled," said Jon Zeitlin, General Manager of SAT/ACT programs at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. "Normally, SAT test prep season begins in the spring of junior year and goes through December of senior year."

"However, for the first time ever, the number of enrollments from students entering their junior year is running higher than those from students entering their senior year," Zeitlin said. He attributed the shift in large part to the pending SAT change.

Spring 2005 will see the SAT's biggest overhaul in history, including an expansion from two sections (Math, Verbal) to three (Math, Critical Reading, Writing). Changes include the addition of a 25-minute essay, multiple-choice grammar questions, and Algebra II concepts. Analogies and quantitative comparisons will be eliminated. To adjust for the additional section, 800 points will be added to the new test, moving it from a 1600-point scoring scale to 2400 points. The total test time will be lengthened to three hours and 45 minutes.

Earlier in the year, Kaplan reported a record 78% increase in enrollment in its free SAT practice test sessions and workshops.

"Clearly, the changes to the SAT are causing students to look at the test earlier than they otherwise might," Zeitlin said. "Additionally, students in the class of 2006 are realizing that they have a unique opportunity to take both the current and the new versions of the test, as most colleges will accept a combination of both tests."

In a March survey of more than 200 college admissions officers at the nation's leading schools, 82 percent of schools that had determined an SAT policy stated they would take scores from both the current and new test - with nearly three-quarters of these schools taking the highest composite score.

"Anxiety around the test change is causing students to enroll in our SAT courses in record numbers," said Zeitlin. Last year, nearly 270,000 students enrolled in Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions courses, which are provided at more than 160 centers and thousands of satellite locations throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Founded in 1938, Kaplan is more than twice the size of its nearest competitor. For more information about Kaplan's SAT programs, students can call 1-800-KAPTEST or log onto www.kaptest.com.

About Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, a division of Kaplan, Inc., is a leading provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. With a comprehensive menu of online offerings and a complete array of books and software, Kaplan gives students and professionals the best in test preparation combined with unbeaten convenience and flexibility. 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. Its Web site, 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:

Carina Wong
212-453-7571
carina_wong@kaplan.com

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