Stanford Testing Systems Leads the Pack on Web-based Test Preparation; Kaplan joins the ranks, more to follow.

SPOKANE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 1, 1996--Stanford Testing Systems, the first company to introduce web-based test preparation, formally welcomed Kaplan Educational Centers today as the second company to offer test-prep assistance via the Internet.

"Since we first introduced the Internet-based test prep class six months ago for the Scholastic Assessment Test (http://www.testprep.com) the website has logged more than one million "hits" representing nearly ten thousand students' online test-prep efforts," said Pardner Wynn, president of Stanford Testing Systems. "The test preparation market is a good application for Internet-based training."

Stanford Testing System's SAT site was the only test preparation website included in the February 6, 1996 issue of PC Magazine's recent "The 100 Top Web Sites" list.

Distinctions between test prep sites are starting to evolve. Here is a factual comparison of the Stanford Testing Systems on-line test preparation service announced September 6, 1995 and the Kaplan ePrep service announced almost six months later.

STS: Unlimited free use

Kaplan: Limited to two weeks free use

STS: Scores and analyzes one complete real SAT test (real test, available free from guidance offices, taken with pencil and paper to ensure realism) plus nearly 700 additional on-screen practice questions organized as helpful, interactive skill-building quizzes

Kaplan: Scores and analyzes about one-half of one simulated GRE test (simulated, incomplete test taken online) but no additional quiz questions to practice weak subject areas.

STS: Provides ACTUAL test score

Kaplan: Provides ESTIMATED/predicted score

STS: Diagnoses student's performance in over 40 skill areas

Kaplan: Diagnoses only three general areas

STS: May be used anonymously

Kaplan: Requires full name, address, phone, etc. (possibly for intensive follow-up sales efforts)

In the near future, even more content providers will be able to conduct Internet `virtual classrooms.' Stanford Testing Systems has recently announced IBTauthor, the first Internet-based Training authoring tool that allows full-featured interactive training courses on any subject to be created, published on and conducted across the World Wide Web without requiring special runtime software. Existing courses written with word processors will be easily converted into IBT courses. A sampling of five IBT courses is available now at a new Web site Stanford Testing Systems has created to promote the use of the Internet for training purposes (http://ibt.testprep.com).

"Clearly the market of Internet-based training is growing at least as fast as the Internet itself," added Pardner Wynn.

Stanford Testing Systems plans to introduce additional test preparation products within the next several months including the American College Test (ACT), the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test, Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Miller Analogies Test, Practical Nurse Licensure Exam and Registered Nurse Licensure Exam.

Founded in 1988, Stanford Testing Systems, Inc. provides computer and Internet-based training courses and authoring tools. The privately held company is located in Spokane and can be reached at 509/468-5100 or [e-mail].

CONTACT: Stanford Testing Systems, Inc.

Michael Edward, 509/468-5100

[e-mail]

or

Moore Media Relations

Xenia Moore, 619/274-5959

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