Skills in reading, writing, and mathematics are key to academic learning but are conventionally taught separately from the discipline areas to which they must be applied. For example, students may be taught writing skills in the morning in an English course and then be expected to apply them to writing an essay in a history class in the afternoon.…

Defined as language, literacy and numeracy, and employability skills, foundation skills are essential for individuals to participate in further education, employment and wider society. Community education providers, such as community colleges, neighbourhood houses, faith-based organisations and adult learning associations, are key providers of…

Detailed analyses are given of the most effective teaching techniques in each of four major basic skills areas: writing, reading, English as a second language, and mathematics. Six basic questions are addressed for each area: (1) What are the objectives of skills programs in this area? (2) What are the different skills levels of entering students,…

A statement regarding what is needed in academic preparation for college in the 1980s, which was developed during 1980-81 under th aegis of the College Board's Project EQuality, is presented. The work of school and college teacher in cooperation with other professionals addresses expectations about six basic academic competencies that should have…

The New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test (NJCBSPT) is designed to measure basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills of students entering New Jersey colleges. The test consists of five sections: Essay, Reading Comprehension, Sentence Sense, Mathematical Computation, and Elementary Algebra. The test is intended to answer the question…

One of four reports describing the basic skills programs in writing, reading, English as a second language, and mathematics at the City University of New York (CUNY), this volume describes the writing aspect of the program--including content, structure, methodology, and support services--at nine senior colleges and eight community colleges in the…

A project designed to evaluate the quality of basic skills programs in writing, reading, and mathematics, which was implemented at a regional university and a community college within a statewide system in the Southeastern United States, is described. A multiple-indicator strategy was used, involving both short-range and long-range postprogram…

Evaluation results for the College Bound (C.B.) program at New York City public schools are presented. The C.B. program seeks to improve reading and mathematics skills of high school students who are 2 or more years below grade level and to prepare these students for college. It includes basic skills instruction in reading, career and college…

The New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test was administered to 42,984 freshmen entering New Jersey colleges and universities and four independent colleges in the fall of 1978 in order to assess students' specific strengths and weaknesses in reading, writing, and mathematics for placement in appropriate first-year courses. Based on test…

Substantial research demonstrate that high school graduates are not being prepared to succeed. There are gaps between the education received in high school and the overall skills, abilities and work habits needed for the demands of postsecondary education and the workforce. Seventy-six percent of employers in Arkansas state that less than half of…

Test results are summarized for the second year of the New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test administered to 47,725 entering freshmen in the fall of 1979. Performance is categorized into one of three groups: appears proficient in basic skills tested; demonstrates proficiency in some (but not all) of the areas tested; and demonstrates a…

The knowledge and skills needed by college entrants are described in depth. Attention is directed to six basic academic competencies that are general skills necessary for effective work in all subjects, along with six basic academic subjects on which college-level study is based. The following basic academic competencies are outlined: reading,…

The New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test (NJCBSPT) was instituted in 1978 as a proficiency examination designed to measure the reading, writing, and mathematics skills of students entering college. In spring and summer 1982, 51,135 students at New Jersey's state and county colleges and at 10 independent colleges took the NJCBSPT. Of…

A study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to examine the separate and combined effects of entering basic skills levels and curriculum-related variables (i.e., grades in required English and math courses, the length of time between the course and the test, and the number of credits in developmental courses) in predicting student…

Results of the New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test are presented for fall 1984 entering freshmen. The test consists of an essay and four multiple choice sections: reading comprehension, sentence sense, computation, and elementary algebra. New forms of the test are developed each year. A total of 46,465 freshmen at 30 public colleges and…