The objectives of this project were to develop and evaluate special instructional materials covering abstract reasoning, mechanical comprehension, and spatial visualization as related to basic vocational talents for eighth and ninth grade students who had a high probability of entering vocational education. The materials: paper and pencil aptitude practice exercises, basic reading texts, and laboratory and demonstration equipment were used in 30 class sessions for the eighth grade and 60 class sessions for the ninth grade in schools in eight systems selected from a national population. Results were based on test-retest changes on a battery of tests from project talent for 1,203 boys and 262 girls for whom complete data were available. Conclusions based on statistical analysis of data included: (1) basic vocational talents can be taught directly in schools using the new curriculum and materials; (2) no "general test taking skill" was found; (3) girls tended to gain more on tests than boys; (4) ninth graders who used the laboratory materials showed more gain than eighth graders who did not; (5) nonverbal test skills seemed to be as easily modifiable as were verbal test skills; (6) mechanical talent or aptitude appears to be a skill largely learned through a variety of our-of-school experiences; and, (7) culturally disadvantaged students can be trained to do substantially better on vocational aptitude tests. Descriptions of the talent exercises, basic readers, laboratory exercises, and the test battery are included. These are available as VT 004 455 through VT 004 471. (EM)