To test the effects of a course in study skills and reading, writing, and listening skills, 150 ninth-grade students were paired on the basis of desire to take the course, sex, and intelligence test scores. The experimental group--composed of one of each pair--was given an 18 weeks' course in study skills and reading, writing, and listening skills, while the control group--composed of the second member of each pair--was given an 18 weeks' course in World Geography. Some of the findings were that the experimental group gained significantly more than the control group in study skills, and that the boys in the experimental group gained significantly more than the boys in the control group. Conclusions were that (1) the teaching of study skills, as a specific course of study is beneficial for ninth grade students desiring to take such a course; (2) students with higher intelligence test scores will achieve more in reading skills after receiving specific instruction in these skills than will students of average or below average intelligence scores; and (3) instruction in writing and listening skills, as outlined and taught in this study, are of no significant value. (Author/MF)