In this paper we determine the ability to obtain values of the first normal stress difference, N-1, at relative high shear rates (1.0-100.0s(-1)) in a slit-die for several polymer melts of varying degrees of fluid elasticity using hole pressure data and the Higashitani-Pritchard-Baird (PHB) equation. Accurate measurements of the hole pressure, P-h, which is defined as the difference between the pressures measured by means of a flush-mounted pressure transducer and a transducer mounted at the base of rectangular slot (i.e. the hole), are extremely difficult to make because P-h is typically less than 2% of the absolute pressure measured. By calibrating the pressure transducers once mounted in the slit-die, accounting for viscous heating, and ensuring the transducers were properly aligned, precise measurements of P-h were made even with commercial pressure transducers. Values of N-1 obtained from P-h data agreed well with values of N-1 and twice the storage modulus (2G') for four different polymer melts for shear rates approaching 70 s(-1) and wall shear stresses approaching 80 kPa. Furthermore, exit pressure measurements were made simultaneously in the same slit-die device, and values of N-1 extracted from the data were found to be as much as 100% higher than values measured by means of a cone-and-plate device and the hole pressure which was consistent with the reports of others. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.