To fully understand the GED® test, it is best to understand how the GED is developed. To ensure the integrity of the test, every item used on a GED test and GED Ready® practice test undergoes a rigorous review process across several stages, including initial development of the content, expert content reviews, committee reviews, field testing, data reviews, and forms construction. Multiple quality checks by internal and external experts are completed throughout the process, ensuring the accuracy and validity of all GED content.
The first stage of content development begins with analyzing the item bank to determine what type of items and passages are needed. From this analysis, item/passage orders are written and assigned to independent item writers who have been specifically trained to write GED content. Following this stage, the content is scrutinized by GED Testing Service (GEDTS) staff for adherence to assessment best practices, content accuracy, match to indicator/content topic, and match to other assessment targets. The content undergoes several rounds of review and editing by GEDTS content specialists, content experts, fact checkers, and copy editors. Once the content is approved, the items are prepared for committee reviews.
The next stage involves independent content and fairness committees reviewing the content and suggesting further edits to ensure the accuracy and quality of our GED content. These committees are comprised of independent experts (including GED adult educators) who have not participated in developing the content. After the committee’s review process, GEDTS staff make recommended changes; then the edited content is once more scrutinized and reviewed by GEDTS content specialists, content experts, fact checkers, and copy editors. Once the post-committee content is approved, it can be rendered in XML format. The rendered items are reviewed in a computer-based test environment and undergo additional quality checks for content, universal design fairness, functionality, and scoring. Once items pass all levels of quality checks, they are ready to be field tested.
All GED content must first undergo field testing before it can be included on a GED test or GED Ready practice test. Psychometricians establish field testing rules to ensure the statistical integrity of each item. All GED content must adhere to established field test rules and psychometric best practices to ensure the validity of the statistical data. After field testing, psychometricians process and evaluate the statistical data. A panel of content specialists, psychometricians, and other assessment personnel independently review the content and field test data. Statistical data is assessed to ensure that the content of each item is fair to all demographic groups, meets statistical and quality standards, and is error-free. Afterward, the data review team meets to discuss the data and determine which items should be accepted into the item bank. Items accepted into the bank are available for use on GED tests or GED Ready practice tests.