Facebook started out as a network for college students, so it only makes sense that organizations like Kaplan turn to Facebook for outreach and to make themselves available to college and post-grad students as resources. This week Kaplan is launching a new suite of Qbank applications for the SAT/ACT, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT and NCLEX. These follow the success of Kaplan’s USLME Qbank application for medical students that was released on Facebook just weeks ago.

The format of the new applications follow the original Qbank app pretty closely. The game format used in the Qbank applications are more engaging for students and make for a better learning experience. There are daily challenge quizzes, leader boards, wall posting options for open forum discussions, and Kaplan Rewards. The rewards points can be earned through application actions, and can then be redeemed for Kaplan discounts in workbooks and other items.

There’s also a direct link tying the Qbank applications to their respective profile walls, which is a smart use of the formatting options now available to brands utilizing Facebook for outreach and direct interaction with users. This is especially important given the new Pages options available to brands, as they are better able to incorporate applications and interactions amongst users.

But it’s the social components of the games that also help encourage students to stick to their test preparations. This can be leveraged for competitive purposes, or mere incentives to gain return visits to the application itself. The hands-off approach to providing a resource to students is also appealing–I know it worked for me in high school as I used CD-based quizzes in high school to prepare for the SAT and ACT.

I think it’s smart of Kaplan to expand their Qbank applications in this manner as it spans all the students’ that may be present on high school, from high schoolers to post-graduates. Manifesting brand recognition and taking advantage of the technology at hand indicates Kaplan’s dedication to students and the necessary preparation for higher education.