There were some rather sobering results of studies done on college students who were nearing graduation, showing that over 50% lacked the proper literacy skills and were unable to perform certain tasks, such as understanding a newspaper editorial. Even more surprising was the fact that over 50% of students attending four year programs and 75% of the ones attending two year programs lacked mathematical problem solving skills, and as such were unable to compare credit card offers that had different annual rates and fees. Nor were they able to summarize the results of surveys concerning parental involvement in schools.
The main areas of this particular study included analyzing stories in the news and other writings, comprehending documents and utilizing the math skills necessary for checkbooks and even restaurant tips. One of the researchers may have understated the feeling of most when he said that it was a “little disturbing” that at this level of higher education students could not perform basic tasks.
On the brighter side, a majority of the students at four year schools and community colleges did demonstrate some intermediate skills, meaning that they were able to perform some moderately challenging tasks. Some examples of the tasks that our college students were able to perform included finding the cost of office supplies ordered, consulting a reference guide in order to find out what vitamins are in different foods and identifying locations on a map.
There is a brighter side; the overall average literacy level of university students is actually higher than the average level of adult literacy nationwide. However, even though it sounds encouraging, experts claim it is not exactly surprising given the fact that the group of adults tested included those who had significantly less education.
Upon comparison with like levels of education in other adults, college students showed above average skills for searching and using information that they gathered from documents and texts, and the students performed worst on any problems that involved math. Almost 20% of the students who were working towards a four year degree had only the most basic of quantitative skills. Also, over 30% of those attending two year programs had only the most basic of mathematical skills.
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