Tag Archives: college preparation

English Vocabulary and College Admissions

Posted on January 18, 2012 by meritsoftware

In a recent blog post, the New York Times addresses the growing and passionate interest students from India and China, particularly Indian students, have in top American colleges and universities. A number of questions about applying to American colleges and … Continue reading →

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Can Changing Reading and Writing Instruction Raise SAT Scores?

Posted on September 23, 2011 by meritsoftware

SAT reading scores in 2011 were the lowest on record. This is the second time in the past two decades that reading scores have fallen as much in a single year. It is well known that middle and high school students … Continue reading →

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Ghetto grammar robs the young of a proper voice

Posted on August 19, 2011 by meritsoftware

“Language is power.  The ability for young people to communicate articulately and intelligently is of huge importance, not only for themselves but also for the way in which they are perceived by others,” writes  Lindsay Johns in the August 16, … Continue reading →

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Cheating in Schools – Lessons Learned

Posted on July 27, 2011 by meritsoftware

The recent discovery of vast numbers of teachers in Atlanta who faked students’ scores on high stakes tests is an astonishing twist in the use of tests in U.S. public schools. To deal with this issue, some have called for … Continue reading →

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Need for College Remediation Linked to Before High School Performance

Posted on June 24, 2011 by meritsoftware

There is a clear link between college remediation needs and how well students performed before entering high school, according to data released by the New York City Department of Education. This analysis was published in a recent New York Times … Continue reading →

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Incentives Offered to Raise College Graduation Rates

Posted on March 23, 2011 by meritsoftware

In what amounts to a ‘Race to the Top’ for higher education, the U.S. Department of Education is offering competitive grants to help states increase their college completion rates. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said the program would offer … Continue reading →

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College Student Passes English Requirement Thanks to Essay Punch

Posted on March 23, 2011 by meritsoftware

I am writing to thank you for making Essay Punch. Having missed exemption from English after my first try on the college entrance exam, I realized I needed to brush up on my essay skills. I found your website and … Continue reading →

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Poor grammar haunts college students

Posted on May 25, 2010 by meritsoftware

Almost one third of students are failing a requirement at an Ontario university that they pass an exam on English language skills.  The failure rate has jumped five percentage points in the past few years.

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More College Prep Help Needed for U.S. Students

Posted on August 26, 2009 by meritsoftware

According to a new study published by ACT, Inc. the percentage of U.S. high school graduates ready to earn at least a “C” or higher in first-year college courses was only 23 percent in 2009

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Investing In Innovation (i3) Fund

Posted on August 26, 2009 by meritsoftware

Last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced preliminary guidelines for the $650 Million Investing In Innovation (i3) grant program.  Unlike the previously announced Race to the Top funds which were only for public schools, i3 funds will also … Continue reading →

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