This digest summarizes what is known about scholastic achievement in general education at the college level, and is based on a study using the College Basic Academic Subjects Examination (College BASE), a criterion-referenced achievement test of general education skills and competencies. College BASE assesses achievement in four subject areas: English, mathematics, science, and social studies and has been used by 56 colleges and universities; scores are available for 74,535 students tested between 1988 and 1993. The measure also collects data on four subpopulation categorical variables: sex, ethnic heritage, class standing, and age. Findings indicate that the sexes differ in achievement, with females outperforming males in English and males outperforming females in mathematics, science, and social studies. Differences within ethnic groups include an enormous disparity between Asian achievement in mathematics and in the three other subjects, especially English. Within the Hispanic population, social studies scores are significantly stronger than scores in other areas. Differences among racial groups are most pronounced. In mathematics, Asian students outperformed all other students, whereas Caucasians' achievement was greater than all other groups in English, science, and social studies. Blacks/African Americans lagged far behind the achievement of all other ethnic groups in every area assessed. (DB)