New Scholarship Programme Will Assist in Widening Access to UK Law and Medical Undergraduate Study

LONDON, June 24 /PRNewswire/ --

- Kaplan Creates Programme with Emphasis on Talent, Not Ability to Pay

As a growing number of UK universities adopt the BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT) and National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) as requirements for entry, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, the leading test preparation company, today announced the launch of a scholarship programme offering free places on its BMAT and LNAT preparation courses in the UK.

The scholarships, which will be made available to students across the UK, will provide free two-day Kaplan test preparation courses for high-achieving sixth form students of limited means (in addition to a discretionary travel contribution of up to 50 pounds Sterling per successful applicant).

BMAT and LNAT are increasingly required by the UK's leading academic institutions as part of the undergraduate selection process to differentiate among the many students applying with top A-level grade predictions. Students eligible for the scholarship will be those applying to study law or medicine for the 2006/2007 academic year at universities requiring the BMAT or the LNAT, including Oxbridge, UCL and Durham. The number of universities requiring the LNAT has risen from eight to eleven this year; and the number of universities requiring the BMAT from five to seven.

The successful scholarship applicants will attend one of Kaplan's 2-day courses, which are held between August and December.

Louise Cook, London centre director at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, says:

"We're delighted to be able to announce this scholarship programme that will give gifted students the chance to benefit from Kaplan's decades of experience in the US preparing students for university admissions exams as they look ahead to the BMAT and LNAT. "We have created this programme to give talented pupils from all backgrounds the best possible chance of entering their universities of choice. Our test preparation courses are designed to help students perform at their very best in these important tests which, ultimately, could have an enormous bearing on the direction of their future."

To apply for one of the scholarship places, applicants must complete an application form; provide a personal statement about why the scholarship will benefit them; and be supported by a letter of recommendation from their school, which confirms that they meet the application criteria. Deadline for first round applications is 25th July, 2005, and for second round applications 19th September, 2005. Short-listed candidates will then be interviewed by telephone as part of a selection process that will be finalised on 12th August (first round) and 27th September (second round).

Kaplan's BMAT and LNAT courses are designed to help students master the skills needed to succeed on these new multiple-choice format exams, and in the case of the LNAT, a computer-based test. Kaplan's courses provide complete preparation including targeted instruction, in-depth content review and practice under exam-like conditions. Courses include strategies for recognising common question types, identifying incorrect test answers and making the most effective use of time during the test.

Students' results on the BMAT and LNAT will be used to help universities' admissions teams differentiate between the growing numbers of students with exceptional GCSE results, AS results and predicted straight As at A-level.

"Last year was the first year for our courses in the UK," continued Ms. Cook. "The results were very successful -- and already this year we are seeing much earlier and higher levels of bookings, which indicates the demand for high quality test preparation."

Kaplan has provided one-on-one tutoring and classroom-based courses to students in the UK for more than a decade. Programmes include admissions consulting services, preparation for U.S. college and graduate school admissions exams as well as medical and nursing licensing exams. Full details of Kaplan courses, the Scholarship Programme, eligibility and selection process can be found on http://www.kaptest.com/uk or by contacting your school careers adviser.

For further press information contact Greg Moore or Nan Williams at the Kaplan press office at Four Communications plc:

Tel: +0870-420-3212 Mobile: +07748-968695 Email: Kaplan@fourplc.com

Kaplan Test Prep contact details: 3-5 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0HA Tel: +020-7930-3130, Fax: +020-7930-8009 Email: london_center@kaplan.com, Web: http://www.kaptest.com/uk

Notes to editors:

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions

Established in 1938, Kaplan offers preparation for US and UK university standardised admissions tests as well as US professional licensing exams. 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 50 standardised tests, including entrance exams for secondary school, college and graduate school, as well as English language and professional licensing exams. Last year, Kaplan provided standardised exam preparation support to more than 280,000 students. Its website, Kaptest.com, is the largest online destination for education and career services. See http://www.kaptest.com/uk for UK information and services.

Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, is a division of Kaplan, Inc., a leading provider of global educational services whose operations include the London-based Financial Training Company and the Dublin Business School. Kaplan, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

BMAT and LNAT

The universities using BMAT are University of Bristol Veterinary School, University of Cambridge Medical School, Oxford University Medical School, the Royal Veterinary College, University College, London, Manchester University and Imperial College London. The tests were used for the first time in 2003 for university entrance in 2004.

The universities using LNAT are University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, University of Durham, University of East Anglia, University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, University College, London, Kings College London, the University of Glasgow and Manchester Metropolitan University. This is the second year that the tests have been used in the UK, and will be used for 2006 university admissions.

The BMAT and LNAT test names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Web site: http://www.kaplan.com http://www.kaptest.com/uk