First-year student dropout in the university sector can reach 20% or higher. Over a two-year period, a simple instrument was developed to identify potential student low performance and withdrawal. It was based on a measure of students' early expectation of higher education, matched subsequently with their actual experience. The instrument design was based both on the concept of a psychological contract, taken from the field of employment relations, and Seven Principles of good undergraduate teaching. An intervention programme of interviews was instituted with low-scoring students. Findings, both statistical and qualitative, indicated a potentially useful role for the instrument, and an improvement in student progression and achievement for those receiving remedial intervention. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)