Kaplan Makes Personalized Online SAT Practice Tool Available to All Students for Free

NEW YORK, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- In the high-stakes world of college admissions, it seems nothing comes without a price tag - until now. As the population of SAT takers grows larger and more diverse, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions has announced it is making one of its award-winning SAT prep tools available to everyone - at no charge.

Beginning today - in time for the upcoming April test - all students will have free access to Kaplan's online SAT QuizBank, the first SAT quick-training tool that enables students to create their own personalized SAT-like quizzes tailored to their academic needs, personal schedule and preferences. Drawing from over 1,000 SAT practice questions, SAT QuizBank is the only customizable SAT quiz builder available. The Kaplan test prep tool allows users to practice on their own schedule and customize quizzes online based on subject area, level of difficulty and number of questions. SAT QuizBank users can also elect whether or not to activate timing, show hints or explanations, or allow repeat questions. In-depth progress tracking and score reporting options enable users to see how well they are doing in each section, and compare the results with past performances.

"Kaplan believes that no student should take the SAT without adequate preparation," said Mark Ward, President of High School and College Programs for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. "Given the importance of the SAT in the college admissions process, we wanted to give every student the access to high-quality test prep resources, no matter what their financial circumstances."

Kaplan's SAT QuizBank is the winner of the 2005 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers.

To see a demo or access the SAT QuizBank go to http://www.kaptest.com/satquizbank. Kaplan also provides free practice tests and informational seminars on the college admissions process nationwide. For information regarding Kaplan programs and free events in your area, go to http://www.kaptest.com/ or call 1-800-KAPTEST.

More than twice the size of its nearest competitor, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions has been preparing students for the SAT since 1946.

In addition to free preparation resources, Kaplan offers the unique insight on the new SAT - overhauled one year ago to a lengthened 2400-point, three-hour, 45-minute test, with the addition of a Writing section (a 25- minute essay plus multiple-choice grammar questions) and Algebra II concepts.

For students preparing to take the SAT, following are five insights from Kaplan:

* Most colleges will look at the new SAT essay score as a way of reinforcing borderline applicants. In a Kaplan survey of college admissions officers at 374 top schools, 87 percent of respondents said they will consider or will definitely look at the SAT essay score in cases of borderline decision-making. * Colleges are adopting varying policies on scoring the new Writing section. While a majority of schools may refer to the essay for some or all applications, only 15 percent of colleges will give the Writing section (two-thirds of which is multiple-choice grammar questions) equal weight as the Math and Critical Reading sections this year. But nearly half the schools surveyed will not count the Writing section in factoring SAT scores this year, taking a wait-and-see approach to the new section. * The greatest challenge with the new test may be stamina and maintaining concentration. Nearly 90 percent of respondents to a Kaplan survey of nearly 2,000 SAT takers nationwide said that the 3 hour, 45 minute exam was the longest test of their lives. 37 percent said they felt the length of the exam hurt their score. In fact, feedback on the length of the exam has prompted some college counselors to petition to have the SAT administration split up so that students can take different sections of the test on different days. * Students may find the Critical Reading section harder than expected. Kaplan surveys show that when students are asked which section they thought would be hardest versus which section they actually found the hardest, Critical Reading is consistently the section cited as more difficult than anticipated. * Different test sites may convey varying policies - but yes, you can (and should) bring a snack. In theory, test-taking policies should be uniform nationwide, but the large number of test administrations results in inconsistencies. A Kaplan survey of 876 students who took the SAT last fall revealed that 13 percent were told not to bring a snack, while 16 percent said they were not allowed to eat snacks they had brought. Some students reported being allowed only one break, most students reported getting two, and some reported having three breaks - and break time varied. The test administrator's policies allow for a snack, and two five-minute breaks.

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions (http://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 and has served millions of students in nearly 70 years. With 3,000 classroom locations worldwide, a comprehensive menu of online offerings and a complete array of books and software, Kaplan offers preparation for more than 80 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. Additionally, the division's K12 Learning Services unit is a leading nationwide provider of a broad range of academic intervention and support programs for school districts seeking to meet the demands of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Kaplan, Inc. (Kaplan.com), is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post Company .

Press contact: Carina Wong, carina_wong@kaplan.com, 212-453-7571