Introduction: It can assumed that both verbal and visual cognitive processes are neededin the skills necessary for three dimensional drawings/copying. These skillsare also thought to be important during written language acquisition. Wesuspected that unidentified cognitive problems could be a major obstacle foradequate language acquisition in a group of adult immigrants/refugees with weaklanguage skills. We assessed the cognitive status using a Necker Cube drawingprocedure. Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate Necker cube copying as a usefulscreening for early identification of possible language learning problems. Methods: N= 160immigrants/refugees attaining second language learning of minimum 300 hours, aftera minimum of 10 years stay in Norway. 84 had learned the second language to adegree necessary for employment. 76 clients had not achieved the necessaryskills.  A cognitive screening – the Neckercube drawing with rehearsal up to 5 practice trials – was scored as passed orfailed after practice. A Clinical Utility Index was calculated: CUI+sensitivity x PPV and CUI- specificity x NPV. Results: The sensitivitywas .67 and the positive predictive value/PPV of the Necker drawing failurescore was .66 and the negative predictive value/NPV was .69. The clinicalutility index (CUI+, CUI-) of was quite low (.44, .48). In the group with morethan 5 years education the CUI+ was low (=.23) but the CUI- was satisfactory(.52). Conclusion:About halfof this group had significant language problems and was in need of an interpreterin a normal conversation. The Necker drawing procedure may to some degree beuseful when of ruling out the individuals in need of further cognitiveexaminations (CUI- .52 when the educational level is above 5 years). Thus the Necker screening may be useful early in an educational language education program.