GED certification going online

Source: American News, Aberdeen, S.存倉D.Sept. 22--Folks seeking their General Education Development degrees have until the end of the year to pass their tests, or they'll have to start over.And they'll have to get a feel for technology, too.The pencil and paper tests used now are going away, to be replaced by tests taken on computers, said Dawn Dovre of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation. The changes are being dictated by the GED Testing Service, which oversees the tests nationwide. They're part of a new GED test that's being released Jan. 2.The GED credential is recognized as an equivalent to a high school diploma. And, according to the state Department of Labor, the new tests will be more rigorous than the current ones.A person seeking a GED degree needs to pass five tests covering reading, writing, math, science and social studies. And, according to the state, all scores will expire at year's end if a tester has not taken and passed all five of the tests.Dovre said the department is working with the 17 test centers in South Dakota to make sure those preparing for GED tests know about the pending changes and can finish by the end of the year. The testing centers also are helping people who won't finish until next year brush up on their computer skills, if needed, she saidA database search shows there are 30 people who have started but not completed GED testing in Aberdeen, said Becki Lemke, Cornorstones Career L迷你倉arning Center education coordinator.Cornerstones is the testing center in Aberdeen and Huron.The 30 people are the only people who started the testing process in Aberdeen since 2006, but haven't finished, Lemke said."There are likely many more people who may have started taking final GED tests somewhere else, either in South Dakota or another state, who now may live in the Aberdeen area and need to finish testing before the Dec. 30 deadline," she said.Over the past five years, an annual average of 29 people have completed GED testing in Aberdeen, Lemke said. Last year, she said, there were 24.There's no typical amount of time it takes students to pass all five tests, Lemke said.Aside from the new tests and the fact that the exams must be taken on computers starting next year, there are no other changes planned for the program in South Dakota, Dovre said. That means the fees -- a maximum of $130 for the first set of tests -- will remain unchanged. Re-testing in a single subject cannot cost more than $26, according to the state Department of Labor and Regulation.According to the GED Testing Service, which is a program of the American Council on Education, only 60 percent of graduating high school seniors would be able to pass the GED tests on their first attempt.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) Visit the American News (Aberdeen, S.D.) at .aberdeennews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services自存倉