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.

As this new school year begins, we want to share resources, tips, and reminders that will help you and your learners prepare for success.

GEDPrep Connect and GED Manager

GEDPrep Connect is a free tool that helps adult learners who have asked for information about their local adult education program. GEDPrep Connect is a valuable tool to recruit interested adult learners to your education program without spending more on marketing. You can learn more about GEDPrep Connect and GED Manager here.

Through your GED Manager account, you can view the students that have expressed interest in your program. You are also able to manage your enrollments, view student test activities, and more. You can request access to GED Manager by submitting your information here.

*Please note that educators in Virginia do not have access to GED Manager.

New GED Ready Direct Discounted Pricing

The GED Ready Practice test is a valuable tool for learners and is required before testing online. However, we know many GED programs utilize the GED Ready Practice test and struggle with maintaining the voucher codes. To solve voucher challenges, we launched GED Ready Direct through GED Manager earlier this year. While educators love being able to purchase and assign Ready tests directly to their students through GED Manager, we heard that they’d like to see price discounts – especially when purchasing vouchers in large amounts. Through our new tiered pricing model, the more tests you buy the more money you save! Don’t forget that you can share your purchased Ready tests with educators in your program as well. To view this, log in to your GED Manager account here.

OP Test Vouchers Available on GED Marketplace

You can purchase OP test vouchers with a credit card or VUE credit on GED Marketplace and through the VUE Voucher store. Vouchers you have already purchased will also continue to be valid for use with OP tests through December 1, 2021. These vouchers will cover 100% of the cost for OP or in-person testing if used before December 1st. After this date, educators will need separate vouchers for both in-person and OP tests.

Online Proctored (OP) GED Test Changes Coming Sept. 1

On September 1, 2021, the price of the Online Proctored GED test subject will increase by $6 in most states. To check the current pricing of the OP GED test, check here. Students who schedule a test before September 1 will pay the current OP price regardless of their test date. OP test takers will continue to be required to earn a “green” GED Ready score before they are allowed to schedule an OP exam. To learn more about the important changes coming to the OP test, visit here.

We will continue to share updates through email and future InSession newsletters.

Whether in-person or virtual, there are marketing resources to help recruit and engage learners everywhere.

Getting (and keeping) students’ attention can be a challenge. We’re here to help with free educator resources and marketing materials.

First, let’s take a moment to get to know the student audience better – a diverse group of adults with varying levels of completed education and current work and life commitments.

To help better prepare your student on what to expect through their GED journey, we want to share the student’s views as they interact with their GED.com account through the preparation, scheduling and testing phases.

Inside the Student Account

As an educator, you can create a student account to see how a student account looks. You can explore the student experience by creating an account on our “demo” site. You can navigate to this website link: https://demo.ged-cloud.com/login

You then sign-up for a GED.com account just like you would on GED.com. If you don’t have GED Manager access, you can create a real student account. Use a different email address than the one you use as an educator and enter “Candidate” for your fictitious student’s last name.

This tool is a streamlined way for you to demonstrate to your students how to set up a GED.com account.

Scheduling the OP test

Once the student scored green on their practice test, they are then able to schedule an OP test. The student will be asked to agree to the online exam policies, choose their preferred exam language, and select the content areas they would like to be tested in.

The student will then be led to a selection and appointment date and time then to confirm their appointment details. After agreeing to GED’s policies, students are then able to pay for their tests. After payment, confirmation information will be sent to the student, and they will be able to start their system test.

System Test

Before taking the OP test, students much perform a system test to make sure their computer, webcam and internet connection meet the online testing requirements. While running a system test, students must confirm that the device they are running a test on is the same device that will be used on their exam day.

The student will go through a series of network checks, equipment checks, and an exam simulation. The test will check things on your devices like download speed, webcam quality, and if your device can run the OnVUE exam simulation.

Preparing for the OP test

A helpful resource that will help students prepare for the OP test is our practice whiteboard. This onscreen whiteboard can be used during the test to draw and write math calculations. Students will be able to access the whiteboard during their exam by clicking the “Whiteboard” icon at the top of the screen.

You can practice using the whiteboard by navigating here.

Check-in on test day

On the student’s test day, they will be able to run a system check if they have not already done so. Then, they can prepare their workspace and launch their test up to 30 minutes before their appointment time. Before their test is launched, they will be shown a video going through all the rules of the OP test.

For the student to begin their check-in process, they must enter their access code and mobile phone number. If the student needs any help throughout their check-in process, a live chat will be available to help with any questions.

After the access code is entered, they must verify their age so that the check-in process can begin. The student will run through a quick series of equipment and network checks then move on to mobile check-in.

For mobile check-in, the student will be asked to take required verification photos and to upload their government-issued ID. After that, the student will then have to upload pictures of their testing space to ensure they are testing in the correct environment. After all these photos are uploaded, the mobile check-in is complete.

Lastly, the student will be asked to close all other device applications and agree to the exam rules. When they are done with the check-in process, the student will now have to wait for a proctor to begin their test.

We hope this look at the GED student experience will help you prepare your students for what to expect when preparing for and taking their GED test!

We are committed to providing students with full access to the GED test. Anyone with disabilities and test accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodations includes things such as extra testing time, extra breaks, and a separate testing room.

Accommodations are available to students with learning and cognitive disorders (LCD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD), psychological and psychiatric disorders (EPP), and physical disabilities and chronic health conditions (PCH).

Students are also able to change what their tests look like on their computer screen to make it easier to read. Students are able to modify screen color combinations, text size, and highlight text.

To apply for accommodations, students must first create an account on GED.com. Within their GED account, they will select yes for modified testing then click on “My Accommodations” on the dashboard. This will navigate you to create an account on the online accommodations system. After completing your account, you will then receive a link to apply and start the accommodation request process. For a more in-depth explanation of the process and how to go about requesting accommodations, navigate here.

It is important to remember that it may take up to 30 days for your request to be reviewed. However, you are able to check the status of your request by signing into your GED® account and clicking on the “My Accommodations” link.

Students are also able to appeal against an accommodation decision if they are unhappy with the outcome. Just click on the “Request an Appeal” button in the Accommodations System to start the appeal process and be sure to include additional documentation along with the appeal form.

If you have additional questions about accommodations, email accommodations@GED.com.

I hope you all remain healthy and safe and had a chance to connect with family and friends this summer.

As we enter the back-to-school season, we are looking forward to a great year of learning and another opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of our learners. We recognize that “back to school” and the way we approach supporting and preparing students for the GED credential will look different. Whether hybrid, in-person or completely virtual, we’re entering this school year better prepared to meet our learners, however needed to help them succeed.

GED Testing Service is evolving to become a learner-centric organization focusing on meeting our learners where they are and getting them what they need to earn their GED credential and pursue their life goals. This evolution is through direct feedback from our students, educators, and partners. We are taking this information and putting it into action in many ways including improving our resource options. New offerings like GED+ helps learners create a flexible personal study plan while receiving guidance and support from an advisor.

The GED test program was created not only to help students earn a credential, but also obtain the skills they need to enter the workforce. Our move to the Workforce Skills Division within Pearson will allow us to create even greater connections to job training and employment opportunities. The GEDWorks program is expanding to include more employers, non-profit organizations, and healthcare providers. Many of these new partners are creating a pathway to employment for individuals that would have previously been ineligible for open positions due to not having a high school diploma or GED credential. Our goal is to prepare our learners for the current job market that needs qualified candidates for a growing number of positions.

Being learner-centric is at the center of our continued commitment to providing equitable opportunities for all learners. Our work is rooted in recognizing the steps we have taken to be more inclusive, while acknowledging what we still need to do to be an anti-racist organization that is a strong advocate for marginalized groups including our Black, Latinx/Hispanic, and Indigenous learners. We will continue to listen, learn, and offer a platform to elevate their stories and experiences.

Collectively, we have experienced another year of uncertainty with the state of the pandemic changing daily. The safety and well-being of our employees, educators, learners, and communities is at the top of our minds as many states continue to be heavily impacted by COVID-19. We understand the need for learners to safely earn their credential and recently announced that the Online Proctored GED test option would remain available in participating states.

We know that this school year will bring continued challenges, but our learners will stay at the heart of all we do. We want to ensure that the GED learner has a better path to reach their goals and dreams. I want to thank all of you for your willingness to engage with GED Testing Service, our learners, and our employer partners. Together we will continue to change the lives of millions and give each of our students an equal opportunity.

–Vicki Greene, President of GED Testing Service