But why has the US gone up one place and the UK's score improved?

Although there were few actual song synchronization changes, this modification made the grading much more accurate, and many player's scores improved as a result.

Over all, scores improved from 2000 to 2004 for most companies - a reflection of increased attention to audit committees in the wake of corporate scandals, Mr. Weil speculated.

In writing, scores improved, with third grade students making the most gains - 60 percent met the state goal, up from 54 percent the previous year.

The average score of third graders barely improved, by six-tenths of a point.

The National Assessment's report on the test praised five states - California, Hawaii, Kentucky, South Carolina and Virginia - because both fourth- and eighth-grade scores there improved from 2000 to 2005.

Oddly, that district's fourth-grade scores improved more than those of any other district in the city in 1999-2000.

He said that when he gave them to his remedial students last year, their scores improved on the state's English test.