As the year comes to an end, we are sharing a closer look at the progress of the GED test program, our learners, and what’s to come.

Data provides a snapshot of our successes and an assessment of what areas we can make improvements. This is just one aspect of how we approach the work we do every day and the commitment we have to creating equitable access to a GED credential and pathways to a better life.

Our Learners

Evolving as a learner-centric program requires us to understand better who our students are and what support they need. For example, we know that the average GED test taker is 25 years old, and 50% of test-takers stated that they belong to communities of color, including Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and Indigenous communities.

Our learners leave traditional school settings due to various circumstances, with 42% stating personal reasons, 30% for personal and academic reasons, and 13% identifying academic reasons. Many students share that their families are the primary reason for going back to school and earning their credentials. In addition, 40% listed educational gain as a motivating factor, 32% listed personal gain and achievement, and 21% were motivated for work-related reasons.

We’ve seen these demographic trends for the past three years (2019 to 2021), and it’s helping shape how we reach out to our learners, develop products, and improve access to resources.

The GED Test Program and Journey

The ongoing pandemic has changed our lives in unexpected ways and has certainly impacted our testing program. Our online proctored testing option was created in response to test center closures and limited availability during the early phases of the pandemic. It has remained as an option, offering the flexibility our learners want and need.

Approximately 150,000 test takers earn a GED credential per year. This includes test-takers in over 90 countries where the GED test is offered. The average GED test journey is 90 days. The national pass rate for 2019, 2020, and 2021 was around 75%.

Almost 500,000 GED.com accounts were created in 2021. Through ongoing research, we are identifying how we can help more interested learners take the first step in their GED journey and continue until they earn their credentials.

Our employer-offered GEDWorks program has grown to more than 50 employers, health plans, and non-profit organizations and has helped nearly 5,000 GEDWorks graduates earn a credential at no cost.

What’s to Come in 2022

Our learners come from every background with a common goal of earning a high school equivalency diploma. In 2022, we will expand how we connect all learners to workforce development opportunities and postsecondary education as part of Pearson’s Workforce Skills Division. Under this new umbrella, we are more closely aligned with programs and services that will give our learners access to career exploration tools, additional employer partnerships, and training opportunities. We know that currently, 50% of GED graduates enroll in college within four years. We will continue to work with learners to help them identify college and vocational training programs that will prepare them for their desired career fields.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Your partnership and commitment are essential to the success of our learners and the GED test program. We wish all of you a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season and end of the year. We look forward to all the success to come in 2022!

–-Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service

Our new GED+ product is helping self-study learners reach their GED credentials in an all-inclusive program.

The GED+ product offers learners everything they need during their GED prep journey, including:

• A GED advisor
• Access to English and Spanish study materials

• GED Ready practice tests
• Access to online tutors for tough topics
• GED tests for every subject

GED+ was created to help learners studying on their own benefit from the structure of an all-in-one program with the support of an advisor in the process. Advisors act as coaches and motivators, as well as hold learners accountable for earning their GED credential. Learners also have the opportunity to be matched with a tutor who can help them tackle tough topics. The GED Ready practice test acts as a starting point to help learners see firsthand what to expect on their test day and what they need to study.

GED+ was launched as a pilot in May. Our data shows that students who go through the GED+ program are 2x as likely to earn their GED credential than those who study on their own. In addition, as an all-inclusive program with a “test pass guarantee,” the cost of the test and any retakes are fully covered throughout the student’s entire journey of earning their GED credential.

GED+ is available for all four subjects at $389 or each subject can be purchased individually for $119. Educators and programs can purchase GED+ four-subject vouchers here or one-subject vouchers here. To learn more about this product and how it can help your learners visit: ged.com/gedplus.

Educators play an important role in helping new GED graduates navigate the next steps of their journey.

There are many avenues that your students can take after they have obtained their GED credential. Preparing your students for the next step will allow them to utilize their GED credential to start their post-secondary education or their careers.

College

To prepare your learners for college, it is important to look into the scores your students earned on each of their GED subject tests. If students scored in the 165-174 score range, it means they have the skills needed to start college-level courses and may be exempt from placement tests or remedial (non-credit) courses in college. This will save your students money and help them earn their degrees faster. If students scored between the 175-200 range, it means that they have demonstrated skills that are being taught in college-level courses and could be eligible to earn college credit. Depending on the programs they are applying to, your students may be able to earn college credit and bypass certain college classes.

To prepare students to start applying for colleges, help them reach out to the admissions office of colleges and universities they are interested in to find out more about their programs. Help your students research which institutions would be a good fit for their academic and career aspirations.

Trade School

Another way to help your students prepare for life after earning their GED credential is by introducing them to earning their trade school certificate. Trade school, also known as a vocational school, offers focused training that prepares students to work in a specific field. This route allows students to enter the workforce quickly and helps them land a good job. Trade programs can include: Medical assisting, welding, electrical, and cosmetology.

Workforce

As many employers require job candidates to have at least earned their high school diploma or GED credential, many jobs do not require students to earn a bachelor’s degree. Even without pursuing postsecondary education, a GED diploma allows students to qualify: for many jobs. These jobs include physical therapist aides, self-enrichment teachers, and home health and personal care aides. You can help your students find jobs like this by notifying them of opportunities to attend job fairs and by helping them research for jobs online.

Military

Joining the military is another great way for your students to utilize their GED credential. Joining the military also comes with great benefits for your students such as healthcare, housing allowance, tuition assistance, and retirement benefits. With a GED certificate, students can be recruited into the military as Tier 2. There are three tiers, people can get recruited as Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. These are based on education level and each level is eligible for different roles, operations, and units.

There are many ways to prepare your students for life after earning their GED credential. If your students may feel lost after earning it, remind them there are many paths they can take to having a successful future career. If students are wanting to request their transcript and diploma, they can do that here.

Our latest Tuesdays for Teachers webinar shared how instructors can help learners overcome skill and knowledge gaps in math.

Special guest presenters Michael Bell, GEDTS Math Content Specialist, and Cheryl Klar-Trim, Manager of Test Development, took educators through a presentation focused on mathematical reasoning. It provided a content-based introduction to trends in students’ knowledge and skills gaps, suggested additional instructional strategies, and offered new ideas for the classroom.

The webinar highlighted:

• How items and tests are developed
• How skill/knowledge gaps are identified
• Specific skills and GED indicators where students and test takers have the most challenges
• Possible reasons why students and test-takers are having difficulty

Our statistics have found that a lot of students are close to earning a high school credential, if only they could master the skills needed for the GED Math test. We found that:

• 70% of those who have taken the GED Math test scored in the 140-144 range,
• 36% scored 145+ on the GED Ready Math test and ·
• 57% scored in the 135-144 range on the GED Ready Math test.

A recording of the recent webinar, as well as supplemental resources, are available here.

This session was the first of two parts that will focus on mathematical reasoning. Part two of this webinar series is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19th at 3:30 pm ET/2:30 pm CT. You can register here.

News and updates for November 2021:

• InSession will be on hiatus until January 2022. We wish you all a healthy and happy holiday season!