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Ben Weintraub (212-675-8567)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Sat Exam Places High Importance On Concepts Taught By Merit Software
New Application for Widely Used Educational Software Programs: Essay Punch and Grammar Fitness for Upper Grades

NEW YORK, NY — Starting in March 2005, SAT test takers will be required to complete a new writing section in addition to the current SAT math and verbal sections. The writing section will include multiple choice grammar questions and a one to two page essay. Colleges and universities will use these essays when evaluating students for entrance into their degree programs. This addition will change the way students prepare for the SAT exam and increase the need for effective SAT prep materials.

Essay Punch and Grammar Fitness for Upper Grades, by Merit Software, have been used for years in college prep classes to teach essay writing and grammar skills. The programs are self-paced and self-directed. Students receive context-sensitive tips and advice as they work through the software. Teachers have remarked that students grasp writing and grammar concepts more effectively by using the software than through traditional methods of instruction. Students preparing for the new SAT exam will greatly benefit by using Essay Punch and Grammar Fitness for Upper Grades as part of their SAT prep curriculum.

About Essay Punch
Merit Software’s Essay Punch program helps students already familiar with paragraph writing write short essays by taking them through the expository writing process, step by step. Essay Punch includes skill-building exercises that strengthen students’ writing.

Students will learn to...

* Use pre-writing strategies for different writing tasks.
* Write clear descriptive sentences.
* Focus writing on a central idea or topic.
* Use devices to develop relationships among ideas.
* Use supporting ideas, details, and facts to develop and elaborate on a topic.
* Use an effective organizational pattern.
* Proofread to correct conventional errors in mechanics, usage, and punctuation.

Merit Software's Essay Punch program has been praised by educators for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness and has proven to be a valuable training program for students who wish to enhance their essay-writing skills.

For more information, visit Merit Software's Essay Punch

About Grammar Fitness for Upper Grades
Merit Software’s Grammar Fitness for Upper Grades program provides students with interactive grammar exercises that help them master difficult points in English grammar.

Students will learn to...

* Correct errors in punctuation
* Use tenses properly
* Identify and correct errors in usage

Merit Software’s Grammar Fitness for Upper Grades program has also been praised by educators for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness and has proven to be a valuable training program for students who wish to advance their grammar skills.

For more information, visit Merit Software's Grammar Fitness for Upper Grades

ABOUT MERIT SOFTWARE:

Since 1983, Merit Software (www.meritsoftware.com) has been producing educational software that addresses the core competencies that students require to succeed. The emphasis is on strengthening students' ability to read, analyze data and communicate their ideas.

Merit Software's programs are known throughout the industry for providing context-sensitive tutorials for students and convenient record management features to aid teachers, tutors and parents.

Visit www.meritsoftware.com to examine the company's library of educational applications currently being used in thousands of educational facilities worldwide.

Merit's educational software has been the subject of rigorous, independent, scientific-based research. These studies have concluded that Merit's software provides an effective supplement to everyday instruction. Research findings are available on www.meritsoftware.com/research.

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