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

On September 1, the price of the Online Proctored (OP) GED test subjects will increase by $6 in most states.

You can check here to see the current price. The price for in-person testing, which 75% of students continue to choose, will not change.

Based on data, testing patterns, testing performance, and feedback from students, we have recommended that states move from offering OP as a pilot to a long-term testing option for learners. This transition has been approved in most states with a few states still in the final stages of the approval process. The OP test will remain only available through participating U.S. jurisdictions and U.S. territories.

In a recent national survey with previous OP test takers, almost 3 in 4 students would choose OP vs. in-person testing in the future if given the option. Additionally, 84% said that they would recommend the OP test to a friend. Students have found many benefits to taking an OP test such as the availability of test appointment days and times, the convenience of testing from home, and reduced anxiety and stress in testing from home.

However, we understand that the OP testing option isn’t right for every student. While the OP test option is convenient for students, it required the use of advanced technology and processes that are new, different and complex compared to in-person testing. These advances (e.g. artificial intelligence, test security, etc.) have also resulted in additional work and costs. To date, we have kept the OP test price the same as in-person testing to make communications simpler, to allow us time to determine the cost of the OP delivery option and ascertain the future of this new testing delivery mode.

Students who are scheduled to take an OP test before September 1 will pay the current OP price. For example, if on August 30 a student schedules to take their test on October 1, they will pay the current OP price. If they schedule a test on September 1, they will pay the new OP test price.

Vouchers

Vouchers you have already purchased will also continue to be valid for use with OP test through December 1, 2021. These vouchers will cover 100% of the cost for OP or in-person testing if used before December 1. OP test takers will still be required to earn a “Green” GED Ready score before they are allowed to schedule an OP exam.

Accommodations

We’ve also added an OP testing accommodation for eligible students. The reader/recorder will be available as an OP testing option in September for approved students. More information about accommodations is available here.

To learn more about the Online Proctored GED test or schedule a test, visit our site: ged.com/take-the-ged-test-online/

We are making updates to simplify the GED.com account sign-up process for students.

Beginning this month, students will notice changes when they set up a GED.com account. Our goal is to make it easier for students to create their GED account, especially since we’ve heard feedback from both students and educators that it’s currently a lengthy process. During account creation, we will ask for the most relevant information that we need from the student. Students can answer additional questions once they are further along in their GED journey. These questions help us learn more about the students and how we can help them earn their credential.

The Accommodations question will be moving out of account set-up this month. Instead, students will see a notification after creating their account that asks if they need a testing accommodation.

Since the launch of the GEDWorks program in 2015, over 4,400 graduates have earned their credentials at no cost with the support of their employers.

The program has grown to reflect a wide range of employers and health plan providers spanning the U.S., including one of our latest partners, Charter Manufacturing. Charter Manufacturing, a family-owned metals manufacturing and metals-based engineered solutions business, will offer the program to newly-hired employees across its four businesses including Charter Automotive, LLC, Charter Dura-Bar Inc, Charter Steel, and Chart Wire LLC.

Additional companies that currently offer the GEDWorks program to their employees or members include KFC, Sheetz, Total Wine, and UCare. Learners can find if their current or desired employer offers the GEDWorks program through their GED.com accounts.

An overwhelming majority, 71% of GEDWorks participants, are more loyal to their employer because the GEDWorks program is offered. GEDWorks students are also 39% more likely to earn their diplomas than students who are pursuing a GED credential on their own. Throughout the program, students receive online GED study materials in English and Spanish, practice tests, access to a personal advisor, connections to local adult education programs and free GED tests.

We expect additional health plan providers, non-profit organizations, and companies to join the ranks and offer the GEDWorks program as more employers commit to helping their workers pursue their professional, academic, and personal goals.

Additional information about the GEDWorks program and GEDWorks success stories are available here.

–Nadia Gonzales, GEDTS Communications

Thank you for being a part of celebrating our GED graduates and their achievements during this year’s GED Grad Week that took place during the week of May 17-21.

Throughout obtaining their credential, this year’s GED graduates overcame many obstacles and persevered throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This annual event is an opportunity to make our GED graduates feel important and congratulated. We also want our GED graduates to discover and acknowledge the community of support for them now and as they pursue their future goals.

Unlike previous years, we celebrated GED graduates on our social media platforms for an entire week instead of just one day on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. This year’s event included videos with congratulatory messages from adult educators, and celebratory messages and stories of triumph from GED graduates. We also interviewed educators and their GED graduates highlighting the important relationship they have during the GED journey. This was our first year asking graduates across the country to share their names to showcase in a special Grad Week graphic.

Our GED Grad Week event drove the most engagements ever and reached 5x more users and twice the number of responses compared to previous years. Our Facebook event page received a total 7,500 views and reached a total of 56,300 users. We also had 40 adult education programs participate throughout the week.

Thank you for helping make this year’s event another success! We look forward to celebrating our graduates again next year.

To learn more about GED graduates and their success stories, visit ged.com/en/grads/. You can also visit the GED Grad Week event page to see all the posts and videos: https://www.facebook.com/events/558433591987055/

Test accommodations are considered on a case-by-case basis and include things such as extra testing time and extra breaks.

The purpose of accommodations is to provide candidates with full access to their test and is not a guarantee of improved performance or test completion. Test accommodations are individualized and considered on a case-by-case basis. All candidates requesting accommodations must provide appropriate documentation.

Disability types include learning and other cognitive disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychological and psychiatric disorders, physical disorders and chronic health conditions.

Commonly requested accommodations include extra time (25%, 50%, 100%), extra “stop-the-clock” breaks, a separate room and a reader/recorder.

All accommodations available at test centers are available for online testing except a reader/recorder–we are actively working on a solution.

Students can request accommodations through their GED.com accounts. More information about the application and appeals process is available here: https://ged.com/about_test/accommodations/

You can find commonly asked questions in our Accommodations FAQs: https://ged.com/wp-content/uploads/accommodations_faqs.pdf

If you still have questions, you can email your questions to the GEDTS Accommodations team at accommodations@ged.com