Textual competence at the beginning of Higher Education

This study aims at reflecting on the writing skills of students on their arrival at college. The study describes and analyzes the main difficulties experienced by students with regard to the field of writing techniques and linguistic accuracy. An analysis of the Portuguese Language Program, at Secondary Education is also made, with emphasis on core competencies as outlined in the teaching of writing. We attempt to explain the existence of different levels of writing, which can be justified by the predominant role of the family, namely the parent's education, and by enrollment in kindergarten.