
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, September 19, 1993                   TAG: 9309170128
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: JOANNE ANDERSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

CENTER OFFERS STUDENTS A BOOST WITH TESTS

The thought of taking the Scholastic Assessment Test or the Graduate Record Examination, affectionately known at the SAT and GRE, can generate anxiety, sweaty palms and memory lapses.

Students looking for an edge as they compete for admission to a prestigious college or a graduate post at a university have begun using testing centers, which are spreading from larger cities into communities such as Blacksburg.

The Kaplan Center, a chain of preparatory testing centers owned by The Washington Post Co., opened this summer and offers individualized preparation for collegiate tests.

The center, at 220 N. Main St. above Arnold's, first assesses a student's performance with a free test that simulates the real thing.

After the diagnostic test, students are evaluated on strengths and weaknesses in areas such as math, geometry, algebra, data interpretation, verbal skills, reading comprehension and logic.

Those who sign up for Kaplan's total training program at a cost of $695 get classroom instruction, study books, audiotapes, practice questions, individual reviews, extra-help sessions and lessons in test-taking strategies.

Kaplan supplies test question answers accompanied by detailed explanations to help students understand the logic used in developing each question, explained director Freda Blecher.

Most of the classroom instruction takes place on campus. All the subject cassettes, staff and resource materials are at the center downtown.

Students can take the classes and use the tapes and other materials for a year.

\ Kaplan Center hours: Monday, noon-9 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, noon-5 p.m.; Thursday, noon-9 p.m.; Friday, closed; Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Call: 552-TEST (8378).

\ Upcoming test dates: SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test): Nov. 6, Dec. 4, 1993; Jan. 22, March 19, May 7, June 4, 1994. GRE (Graduate Record Examination): Dec. 11, 1993; Feb. 5, April 9, June 4, 1994. GMAT (Graduate Management Admissio Test): Jan. 15, March 19, June 18, 1994. MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test): April 23 and Aug. 20, 1994. LSAT (Law School Admission Test): Dec. 4, 1993; Feb. 12 and June 13, 1994.

by CNB