As of January 2, a new GED test will be unveiled across the United States. It will go from an endpoint for adults to a springboard for further education and training.
The new assessment will continue to provide adults the opportunity to earn a high school credential. But it goes further by measuring career- and college-readiness skills that are the focus of today’s curriculum.
The new GED is designed not only to measure what a student knows, but also to measure the ability to apply that knowledge to solve problems, express ideas, and critical thinking in four areas: literacy, math, science and social studies.
There’s not much of a change in the math section, but in the other three some multiple-choice questions will be replaced by those requiring a short-answer.
Paper and pencils are being replaced with a computer-based test and a new website – ged.com. And time is running out for those who haven’t complete the old GED. If they don’t complete it by December 31, they’ll have to start from scratch next year with the new one, which will be significantly more rigorous. Test questions will be aligned with national Common Core Standards.
Those eligible to take the test must be at least 18 years old; not currently enrolled in high school, and did not graduate from an accredited high school. Students under 18 can seek an age waiver. More information – along with practice test questions -- are at ged.com.