We report an investigation into the calculation of near-edge X-ray absorption. ne structure with the CIS(D) method. Core excitation energies computed with time-dependent density functional theory using standard exchange-correlation functionals are systematically underestimated. CIS( D) predicts core excitation energies that are closer to experiment. However, excitation energies for Rydberg states are too low with respect to valence states, and for some systems spectra that are qualitatively incorrect are obtained. A scaled opposite spin only approach is proposed that reduces the error in the computed core excitation energies, and results in spectra that are in good agreement with experiment. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.