After leaving school, how do underachievers fare in further education, in careers and in personal relationships such as marriage? This volume explores whether underachievers `catch up' after school to the level of their abilities, and the traits of those who do and those who do not.

Issues such as personality variables, learning strategies, self-esteem, classroom structure, the educational system and parental styles are explored. Basing their analysis on the findings of a 13-year longitudinal study, the authors explore the factors that are associated with underachievement and ask what techniques have worked to help these students improve their performance.