A comparison of a measure of crude gain with a measure of residual gain in individual reading improvement, as measured by the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, Revised, Form A and B administered to thirty-six college freshmen, showed the residual gain method to be the more reliable assessment of reading improvement. In addition, the residual gain procedure is not affected by pre-test score differences, it provides a realistic basis for grading individual reading improvement, and it estimates inferior and superior improvers in accordance with their own proficiency and progress in the improvement of reading. (MC)