[OPLINLIST] The GED® is changing in 2014. Here is what your library should know.

[McDevitt-Stredney, Marsha]

Please excuse multiple postings…

The test for the Ohio High School Equivalence Diploma, known as a General Educational Development (GED®) diploma, for Ohioans who did not finish high school is transitioning to a Computer Based Test (CBT) only format in 2014. The Paper Based Test (PBT) will no longer be offered in 2014.

GED® Test in 2013
Online registration for taking the GED® in 2013 will close on September 30th.  Test-takers wishing to have 120 days after registering to take the test must register by August 9th.  Test-takers can still sign up for the test after September 30th but they must go to a testing center<http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/GED/GED-Testing-Centers> to register. The current GED® test has five parts. If a test-taker has not passed all five parts by December 21, 2013, they will have to start over in January 2014.  . All test takers must create a SAFE account<http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/GED/GED-Application-and-Forms/Using-SAFE-to-Apply-for-Your-GED> at the Ohio Department of Education’s website prior to taking the GED® assessment.

GED® Test in 2014
The new test will start on January 2, 2014.  The test will be taken on a computer and there is no longer a paper-based option.  The price of taking the GED® will increase from $40 to $120.  There will be four content areas: Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. More information on the 2014 test content is included in the GED® 2014 Quick Guide<http://www.proliteracy.org/Downloads/ProLiteracy_ged-2014-quick-guide-2.pdf> from New Readers Press.

Ohio Department of Education
The Ohio Department of Education administers the GED® test.  They have information about the GED® test<http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/GED/> and a Frequently Asked Questions<http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/GED/GED-FAQs> (FAQ) section on their website.

Ohio ABLE
The Ohio Adult Basic & Literacy Education<https://www.ohiohighered.org/ABLE> (ABLE) program offers GED® test preparation services<https://www.ohiohighered.org/GED> in all 88 Ohio counties<https://www.ohiohighered.org/able/locations>.

Libraries and 2014 GED®
There are several ways that libraries can help community members with the GED® transition.  One way is to communicate the need for test-takers to finish all parts of the test before the end of the year or they will have to start over again in 2014.  GED® Testing Service<http://gedtestingservice.com/educators/closeout> has flyers, posters, a press release template, an email template, a letter template, and a phone script for libraries to download and use.  Libraries can also order print materials through Brand Central<http://gedtestingservice.com/educators/brandcentralinfo>, though they will need to create an account.

Libraries can highlight print and online resources to help test-takers prepare for the GED®.  All Ohioans have access to tests, courses, and eBooks in the areas of GED® practice tests, GED® preparation courses and guides, GED® skills improvement, and Spanish-language GED® preparation in the Learning Express Library<http://www.oplin.org/tests> through the Libraries Connect Ohio partnership.

As test-takers prepare to take the 2014 GED® on a computer, libraries can provide resources to help test-takers become more comfortable using the computer.  Ohio ABLE has provided a list of skills test-takers will need<http://www.ohioable.org/files/SkillsforCBT.pdf> for computer based testing that includes keyboarding, mouse maneuverability, and navigation skills.  The Goodwill Community Foundation has online tutorials for Computer Basics<http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computerbasics> like a Mouse Tutorial<http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computers/module/14>, and Internet 101<http://www.gcflearnfree.org/internet101>, including Browser Basics that focuses on navigation skills.  The State Library is working on additional resources for digital literacy skills for both formal instruction and informal one-on-one assistance and will share these resources soon.

Libraries are also encouraged to work with their local ABLE provider<https://www.ohiohighered.org/able/locations> to share resources and explore opportunities to work together.

More Information
The GED® Testing Service has information on the 2014 New Assessment<http://www.gedtestingservice.com/educators/new-assessment> and a Frequently Asked Questions<http://www.gedtestingservice.com/educators/2014-faqs> (FAQ) section about 2014 GED® on their website.

Still have questions?  Contact State Library Development Consultant Ashlee Tominey at atominey at library.ohio.gov<mailto:atominey at library.ohio.gov> or 614-644-6889.

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Marsha McDevitt-Stredney
Director, Marketing & Communications
274 E. 1st Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
Tel: 614-644-6875
Fax: 614-466-3584
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