The GED test program has returned to New York and will now be the only test for earning a high school equivalency diploma in the state.

Beginning this month, students can start testing in New York at a testing center. This is the first time the GED test has been available to New York residents since 2013. All passing subtest scores from the TASC Test™, 2014-2021, and prior passing GED scores, from 2002-2013, can be used toward meeting the requirements for an HSE diploma.

There is no cost for students to take the GED test in New York. More information about the state policies related to the GED test and student eligibility is available here.

As an educator, you can also apply to become a test center in the state of New York. You can view the requirements and how to get your test center up and running by navigating here.

To learn more about the GED in New York and access professional development resources, visit our webpage dedicated to educators in New York.

You can read the full announcement from New York State’s Education Department on their website.

Staying motivated can be difficult when learners have busy lives and other priorities. However, there are many ways to help learners stay on track and motivated to earn their GED credential.

Make learning easily accessible

One of the ways that learning can be accessible, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is by hosting online classes or learning sessions. This allows your learners to be engaged wherever they are. In addition, online classes are a way that students can fit studying and working towards their GED credential into their busy schedules. Learning can also be made accessible by providing your students with our free classroom materials. These materials are at no cost to students and include tutorials and practice questions.

Help learners work towards their short-term goals

Accomplishing short-term goals keeps learners motivated to finish their GED journey. Earning a GED credential can be tough, and it comes with many challenges, but breaking down barriers one by one helps learners feel confident. A way to help students accomplish their short-term goals is by mastering each GED test subject one at a time. Taking each subject and topic one by one allows learners to manage and master the content that they are learning easily.

Determine their need to earn their GED

Learners go on their journey to earn their GED credential for a variety of reasons. Helping your students figure out and remember why they want to earn their GED is helpful so that they start the year strong and are motivated to finish through their GED journey. In addition, it is important to remind your learners that earning their GED is an investment for their future. Sit with your learners and talk about what benefits will come if they earn their GED credential. Earning a GED credential will open doors to new jobs and educational opportunities, allow graduates to earn more money than they previously did, and grow as an individual.

Build a relationship with your learners

Building a relationship with your learners is crucial to guiding them through their GED journey. Support your learners and push them to persevere when they feel doubtful about their education. Being supportive to your learners and letting them know you are a helpful resource allows them to feel confident and will keep them motivated.

Many helpful resources are available to guide your GED instruction for learners of all levels.

You can view detailed information on the skills students need to demonstrate to pass, what is being assessed in each content area, and more. Free classroom resources include professional development webinars, tutorials, and scoring tools.

You can download free classroom materials such as tutorials, practice questions, and reference sheets. Our free tutorials are for students to become familiar with different types of test questions and how the test and calculator work. Students can view the Computer-Based Test Tutorial and Calculator Tutorial in both English and Spanish.

Some other free resources are provided to you to give your students are our free online sample tests and study guides. Your students can try a free sample test in each GED subject. These sample tests will give your students an idea of what to expect when taking the actual GED test. The study guides explain all the skills covered in the GED test and include sample questions. The study guides are available in both English and Spanish.

GED also holds a bi-monthly Tuesdays for Teachers webinar series, a free professional webinar series designed for educators. The webinar will also help you have a deeper understanding of classroom strategies and techniques for the GED test. Our past webinars have covered mathematical reasoning, GED testing accommodations, and more.

Teaching resources are available that allow you to effectively instruct and guide your students to develop the skills they need to pass the GED test successfully. Our teaching resources include an educator handbook, an overview of the GED test content, and how to teach the content to students. You can also view Performance Level Descriptors and see what skills your students need to have to earn each score level. Lastly, we also provide How-to-Guides for supporting your students. These guides are step-by-step instructions on applying for accommodations, scheduling a test, and more.

If you have not already, sign up for the InSession Educator Newsletter to get the latest news and resources at the bottom of the Professional Development page.

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!

I am proud of the work we have done as a collective community amid the ongoing pandemic.

My main concern has always been the health and safety of our employees, learners, educators and partners. I hope this fall season has brought renewed feelings of promise as GED learners returned to in-person and virtual classrooms to start or complete their credentials.

We continue to work at GED Testing Service to process and create more solutions for learners that need flexible pathways to credentialing. The world of education and work is forever changed—the demand for remote options and the call for a focus on mental and physical wellbeing are necessary and long overdue. We know that GED learners come to us from diverse backgrounds with a common goal, and it is our job to help them succeed with options. Our personal lives and families should be a priority, and we know that our learners have this and other priorities that may make structured learning paths challenging or unappealing.

Our GED+ product has received an overwhelmingly positive response from learners, and we credit that to its all-inclusive model that includes access to an advisor. The Online Proctored GED test entered the post-pilot phase as of September 1st, and we continue to see learners take advantage of this option. The convenience and flexibility with remote testing provide benefits that we know our learners appreciate and need now and in the foreseeable future.

We have also had a number of employers start offering the GEDWorks program to recruit and retain workers. Many of our latest employer partners use the GEDWorks program to extend hiring opportunities to individuals who did not previously qualify for employment due to not having a high school diploma or credential. This aligns with the work we will continue to do as part of the Workforce Skills division. We’ve shared that we have a more significant opportunity to connect learners to employers and career pathways. GED Testing Service is actively working with other business units and programs in our new division to develop clear connections from credential to career and on-going up skilling/re-skilling. We have access to businesses focused on helping individuals develop specific workforce skills through platforms driven by user experience and interest, data, and automation. We’re excited to share with you in the near future how we will be using this to help learners identify their talents and pursue related careers.

I look forward to enjoying the remaining few months of this year as they bring a time for reflection and gratitude. It’s also a wonderful time to benchmark and think of all the goals we set and the incredible work we’ve done together to get this far. It has taken teamwork, grace, and support to get where we are, and we will need this to finish the year strong. We are grateful for the work that each of you do each day to change the lives of many! May you, your family, friends and those you hold dear continue to stay safe. Thank you for your partnership.

All the best-

Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service

One of the best ways that learners can study and prepare to take their GED test is by utilizing the GED Ready Practice tests.

Since the questions on the practice tests are just like the real ones on the GED test, learners are highly likely to succeed on the official GED test subjects.

The GED Ready Practice tests are written and designed by the creators of the actual exam. Therefore, no other practice test will be as perfectly aligned as the GED Ready. Learners are able to see firsthand what to expect on their test day and what exactly they need to study to prepare.

Our practice test is also the only practice test that tells you how you will do on the actual test. Once learners finish taking the GED Ready practice test, learners will receive an indicator of how likely they are to pass the real thing.

If learners score in the Green Zone (145-200), it means that they are most likely to pass the official GED test. If they score in the Yellow Zone (134-144), it means that the student just needs a little more practice before attempting to take the actual test. If learners score in the Red Zone (100-133), it means the student is not likely to pass the GED test. You can learn more and view detailed descriptions about each GED Ready score by using the performance level descriptors.

With GED Ready, learners can save time on GED prep with the custom study plan with their preferred study tool to spend time specifically on areas that they need to improve on. GED Ready will even point out the exact chapter and pages that need to study with will save the student time.

Learners can purchase the GED Ready subject tests through their GED.com accounts. Educators can use GED Marketplace and GED Manager to purchase GED Ready for learners.

On September 14, Drew Barrymore announced on her show that she and three adult learners would begin their journey of earning their GED credentials with the help of RuPaul!

RuPaul left high school when he was in the 11th grade and then went on to earn his GED credential when he was 19 years old. Drew was emancipated when she was only 14 years old and didn’t earn her high school diploma. Drew invited three Drew Barrymore Show viewers to create “Drew & Ru’s Back-to-School Crew”.

The first adult learner earning her GED credential alongside Drew is Anissa a 50-year-old from Florida. After becoming pregnant at 17 years old, Anissa’s life got in the way of graduating with her high school diploma. However, she is looking forward to her GED journey and starting her second chapter in life.

The second adult learner is Justin, a 19-year-old from New York. After saving a family from a burning car, he was motivated to return to school and make his mom and little siblings proud.

The final adult learner on this journey is Linda from California. Growing up, Linda didn’t have a very big support system to encourage her to finish school. She then left school during her junior year of high school. Linda wants to set a good example for her children and hopes to open a business of her own one day!

To learn more about the start of Drew’s GED journey, you can watch the entire segment of her announcement here. You can also stay updated on Drew and the “Back-to-School Crew” by following the hashtags #DrewBack2School and #DrewBarrymoreShow Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

We wish Drew and the Back-to-School Crew the best of luck on their journey, and we look forward to seeing them become official GED graduates!

We have identified common behaviors, motivations, and attitudes through prior research with tens of thousands of adult learners and GED program users.

These student types, or personas, can be grouped into four categories.

Here at GED Testing Service, we have used this information to develop messaging that encourages students to pursue or continue testing. This is found in the GED.com experience for students and throughout the GED.com website. Our goal is to identify the challenges our test takers face and provide supportive ways to meet each student’s studying and testing needs.

Here are the four different “mindsets” alongside several identifying characteristics:

Determined— “I WILL The GED is my first step to success”

Even the most determined student can hit obstacles, so encouragement is still valuable. This persona also needs the benefit of well-target study aids: everything from how to study through what to study can be useful.

Family Go-To— “I CAN I need my GED, it’s so important!”

This persona has a strong desire to be a good person and to do good in the world — but has seen being available to her/his family as the only way to do that. Help this persona see a bigger vision of how they can do good in the world, and for their family, with the GED.

Disheartened—“I’LL TRY I want my GED, but can I do it?”

This persona needs hope, especially hope that they are able to change. That takes the growth mindset and self-efficacy. Help this persona see that every hero experiences failure and setbacks, and overcoming those ordeals is part of the victory.

Here and Now—“I WILL… later The GED will always be there.”

While everyone is affected by the context around them, this persona will especially benefit from a context that encourages consistent actions in the right direction. That context can come from a positive social group, a structured study tool, or automated messaging.

Identifying similarities between the personas and your students can help you develop and implement classroom instruction that motivates and accounts for the different ways students may approach the GED testing journey.

The full chart with detailed descriptions of each persona can be downloaded here.