Kaplan Opens New Test Prep Center in Durham, North Carolina

Move to Bigger Space Supports Booming Local Applications to Increasingly Competitive Universities, Graduate Schools and Medical Programs

Durham, North Carolina, February 2, 2005 – Kaplan, the world leader in test preparation, has just launched its first course at its brand new Durham center, located at a new, more spacious facility at 2812 Erwin Road. Previously, the center was located at 501 Washington Street, where it has been providing test prep services to college- and grad school-bound students for nearly 15 years. The move will help accommodate a burgeoning local demand for test prep services, created by increasingly competitive admissions to college, graduate schools and medical programs. Over the past three years, enrollment in Kaplan’s test prep programs in North Carolina has increased nearly 60% and enrollment in Kaplan’s admissions consulting program is up 200%.

Overall applications to college and graduate schools have been steadily increasing over the past several years. According the College Board, which administers the SAT, the number of SAT takers among the high school class of 2004 rose to an all-time high of 1.4 million. This marks the fourteenth year in a row that the total number of exam-takers has risen. Similarly, the Law School Admission Council, which administers the law school admissions exam, reported that the number of LSAT takers has jumped nearly 42% over the past four years to 28,600. And according to the Association of American Medical Colleges, total medical school enrollments rose 3% over the same four year period, to more than 67,600 students.

The new location will be particularly convenient for Duke students, as it is one block from the university’s main campus and two blocks from the Duke University Medical Hospital. It will also be accessible for students at North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Elon University.

The center features five full-sized classrooms, a tutoring room and a study area with video stations for videotaped lectures, as well as a computer stations for practicing computer-adaptive tests. The space will enable students to take classes, prepare for their entrance exams or hold group study sessions.

“Kaplan has been in the Triangle area for nearly fifteen years,” said Timeri Wells, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, noting that Durham, the first Kaplan center in the area, services everything east to the coast with the exception of Chapel Hill and Cary.

Wells added, “As competition for university and graduate school admissions grows – making performance on admissions exams ever more critical – preparation for these exams becomes increasingly important. We are excited to be able to be provide our students with an edge through this new, fully-equipped center, which will be conducive to learning and preparation.”

The center will provide courses to help students prepare for the following:

Graduate School Entrance Exams: GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT;
College Entrance Exams: SAT, PSAT and ACT;
Medical Exams: USMLE 1, 2, 3, NDBE 1, 2, PANCE and NCLEX Exams for non-English speakers: TSS, GESS

Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 10am-9pm; Saturday 10am-4pm; and Sunday 1-7pm. The center is closed on Friday.

For more information about Kaplan courses and programs, students can log onto kaptest.com or call 1-800-KAPTEST.

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 Contact:
Victoria Grantham
212-453-7538

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