January 2014 will bring a new GED®. While receiving a GED® is success in and of itself, The American Council on Education realized the test, as it currently stands, does not go far enough in preparing takers for college admission and/or work requirements that follow. This new test will focus more heavily on the American Common Core Standards, which lay out exactly what students should master as they make their way through primary education. The ultimate goal is to set GED® recipients on a path towards higher education and more advanced employment opportunities.
The new test will:
- be entirely computerized—from registration to score retrieval.
- replace all uncompleted tests. If you have not completed all tests in the series before January, you will be required to start again from scratch.
- be at a higher cost—$120.
Things to be aware of:
- If you haven’t completed the series before January 2014, you will have to retake all portions.
- The new scaling does not allow for compensation of scores between tests.
- The new computerized format means a reduction in number of testing centers, at least in the first few months.
The GED® was created in the mid-1940s to help returning WWII veterans, who left high school to join the war, prove their knowledge despite not having a diploma. The test has seen many revisions throughout its history in an effort to stay up-to-date with educational and employment requirements. This new test will highlight specific career- and college-ready skills, setting test-takers on a path towards higher education and/or gainful employment.
If you are interested in taking the GED®, Project Rise might be right for you. This program prepares participants for the GED® while also providing important work-readiness training. Participants take these newly-developed skills into internships while enrolled in the program and, more importantly, as they move on to careers once they have graduated. Project Rise also offers opportunities for participants to bank college credits if they choose to enroll at Kingsborough on completion. Our staff have been working diligently to stay on top of developments with the new GED®. Their work will ensure that both staff and participants will adjust to the new test and system without issue. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be:
- Between 18-24 years old
- Unemployed and not enrolled in school for the past six months
- Residents of NYC (certain district restrictions apply)
If you are interested, contact us at 718.368.6600 or ProjectRise@kbcc.cuny.edu.
Pingback: New Year, New GED at Project Rise | Center for Economic and Workforce Development
Seems like the GED has changed a lot since I took it in 1975 when I was 16 years old. Back then in was two days of testing. The tests were graded by a computer, so I got the scores within a few minutes of turning in each test. I passed with high enough scores to go to the university. The reason I took the GED at 16, was that the school district had messed up my records so badly that the state department of ed had me take the GED, which apparently over-rode the botched records in the school district. When I first enrolled in the university, the only thing the registrar was interested in was if I had taken the ACT, which I had as a freshman in high school because they were doing an experiment where they had freshmen take the ACT, and then when we were supposed to retake in as Seniors to see what kind academic improvements we had made. I dropped out before my senior year, but I had taken the ACT. I went on to get a Master’s Degree.
Thanks for your story, Timothy. Yes, the GED has changed quite a bit over the years. Rather than focusing on simply passing, GED-preparation now focuses on college and/or career readiness, positioning test-takers for a future that might have previously been closed off. While the 2014 version will represent one of the more drastic revamps of the test, it is formatted to help GED recipients move on to more successful futures.
Reblogged this on Teaching, Travel, and Text.
Reblogged this on What do you want to accomplish in this lifetime? .