Cutscores for certifying competence on the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) have been raised three times since the test was implemented in 1982. In 1989, a study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to challenge the contention that a vast majority of students taking the CLAST under the largest and most recent jump in cutscores would pass within a year. The study also investigated the effect that increased time limits for retaking the CLAST would have on passing rates. Associate-degree seeking students who took the CLAST for the first time at MDCC in fall 1987 (N=1,089) or fall 1988 (N=2,617) were selected for the study. While 72% of the 1987 group had completed the required mathematics and English curriculum, only 41% of the 1988 group had finished the curriculum. The students' CLAST scores were analyzed in terms of three sets of cutscores: the standards that were implemented in 1986 and remained in effect through 1988; compromise standards that were imposed in 1989; and standards that will be imposed in 1990. Study findings included the following: (1) 72% of the 1987 students passed the CLAST the first time, compared to only 60% of the 1988 group; (2) after 1 year, 84% of the 1987 group and 74% of the 1988 group had passed the test; (3) considering only students who had completed the required curriculum, first-time passing rates were 86% for the 1987 group and 91% for the 1988 group; (4) of those who retook the test, 58% of the 1987 group and 78% of the 1988 group passed, indicating that increasing time limits did help the pass rate; and (5) under 1989 standards, the pass rate for the 1988 group would have dropped from 60% to 35%, while under the 1990 standards only 19% of the students would have passed. Based on study findings, it was concluded that, under the 1990 cutscores, between 30% and 75% of the students would pass all four parts of the CLAST, and that allowing a second year to pass all four parts would only slightly improve the passing rate. Four figures and 20 tables supplement the text. (VVC)