Top 5 Changes to the GED® Test

Five Important Changes Coming with the 2014 GED® Test

September 13, 2013Pre-Conference Webinar

Achieving Credentials for Success Conference Appleton, WI

Meagen Farrell

Author, trainer, consultantGED instructor

@farrellinkFacebook.com/farrell.inkFarrellink.com

GED® is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education and may not be used without permission. The GED® and GED Testing Service® brands are administered by GED Testing Service LLC under license.

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The Big Changes

Common Core State

Standards

Depth of Knowledge

100% Computer-

Based Testing

New Test Pricing

Four Intertwined

Subjects

The Big Changes

• The motto of the Common Core State Standards is “______er, _______er, ______er.”

• GED Test items connected to the Depth of Knowledge Levels: Level One: ____% Levels Two & Three: ____% Level Four: ___%

• For the 2002 GED Math Test, the first time passing rate is ___% for paper-based and ___% for computer-based testing.

The Big Changes

• The “wholesale” price of the 2014 GED Test is $_____ for the first two years.

• _____________ sets the price for test-takers.• The 2014 GED writing sections will include:– ____ min extended response in Reasoning through

Language Arts.– ____ min extended response in Social Studies.– ____ short answer responses in Science.

Common Core State Standards

• GED assessment targets are based on the CCSS and other career & college readiness standards

• Also used for standards-based instruction• Skills standards in English Language Arts &

Mathematics (not content standards)• “Fewer, clearer, higher”

Depth of Knowledge

Replaces Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Measures cognitive complexity of a task.

GED test items:• 20% level 1• 80% levels 2 & 3

1

•Verbatim Recall

•Paraphrasing

2

•Main point, patterns

•Identify relationships

3

•Inference & synthesis

•Prediction, elaboration

4

•Generating hypotheses

•Complex analysis

Computer-Based Testing

2012 CBT Testing Results(2002 series test)

Partnering with computer-based testing provider Pearson VUE

2014: Automated scores available within 3 hours

Reduced Stress!

Increased scores Time left over

Math Passing Rate (1st Time)

83% on computer 30% on paper

Overall Passing Rate

88% on computer 71% on paper

New Price for GED Test

• Cost for test battery $120 for 2014 & 2015-- Jurisdictions may set student fee higher/lower

Value for the GED Test

• Adults with a high school equivalency diploma earn $250,000+ more over their lifetime.

• GEDTS is protecting the value of the credential for test-takers:– Litigate to protect GED name: 40 fraudulent companies

shut down already– Improve customer service to test-takers: great YouTube

videos & tutorials!– Continue to research value of passing the GED Test &

market to colleges and employers

Four Intertwined Subjects

Reasoning through

Language ArtsScience

Social Studies Mathematical Reasoning

Content from Real Life Scenarios

Reasoning through



Writing Constructed Responses

Reasoning through



Interpreting Data

Reasoning through



The Big Changes

• The motto of the Common Core State Standards is “______er, _______er, ______er.”

• GED Test items connected to the Depth of Knowledge Levels: Level One: ____% Levels Two & Three: ____% Level Four: ___%

• For the 2002 GED Math Test, the first time passing rate is ___% for paper-based and ___% for computer-based testing.

The Big Changes

• The “wholesale” price of the 2014 GED Test is $_____ for the first two years.

• _____________ sets the price for test-takers.• The 2014 GED writing sections will include:– ____ min extended response in Reasoning through

Language Arts.– ____ min extended response in Social Studies.– ____ short answer responses in Science.

Questions?

Take It Home

• You have permission to use these workshop materials in your program as long as you attribute New Readers Press. Ex: © 2013 New Readers Press, Used with permission

• Please send Meagen an email so we know how you are using it: [email protected]

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