By Cindy Harrison

HOPE Literacy, Inc. www.hopeliteracy.com 

History of the GED Tests

The American Council of Education (ACE), “The major coordinating body for all the nation’s higher education institutions,” created The Tests of General Educational Development (GED) in 1942, after a request was made to them by the United States Armed Forces Institute. The Institute wanted to help military personnel, who entered World War II before completing a high school degree, have the credentials to get a job or attend college. New tests were created in 1978, 1988, and 2002 to keep up with changes in secondary education. The 1942 Tests focused on “correctness and effectiveness of expression, while success in social studies, science, and literature depended on interpreting reading material” (ACE). The main changes since then have been: the separate reading tests apart from science and social studies and the “transition away from recall of facts toward application of conceptual knowledge and evaluation of presented facts” in the 1978 Tests; the essay requirement, and focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the 1982 Tests; and the focus on meeting content standards in the 2002 Tests (ACE).  The American Council of Education is now preparing for the introduction of the 2011 test series in January 2011. GED examinees and educators are being told that scores earned on the 2002 Tests will not be combined with the new 20011 Tests (ACE). ACE has complete information concerning the changes listed on their web site. They also give some statistics on those who have passed the GED through the GED Testing Service, “More than 15 million people have received a GED credential. One in every seven Americans with high school credentials received the GED, as well as one in every 20 college students. 70 percent of GED recipients complete at least the 10th grade before leaving school and the same percent are over 19, with the average age being 24”(ACE). The Tests now helps immigrants, refugees, home school students, and adults who have dropped out of high school in the same way it helped early veterans.

GED Tests Information and Administration

The GED Tests are developed, delivered, and administered by the General Educational Development Testing Service, a program of the American Council on Education. They are the source for exact information on the Tests and can be found at www.acenet.edu by selecting GED Testing Service in the box under “Program or Service.” You may also access their information at www.gedtest.org. Each state has a test administrator with multiple testing centers. The Texas administrator is G. Paris-Early, J.D. with the Texas Education Agency. The Texas Education Agency’s contact information is: 1701 North Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701-1494, 512-463-9292. Due to the many fake GED testing services it is important that students use the websites above for correct information. Information on the true testing centers by city can be found through the ACE web site or at http://bass.tea.state.tx.us/Tea.GEDi.Web/Forms/TestCenters.aspx. There is no online testing. The tests and retests fees vary for each location. They are usually from $60-100 for the tests and $16-20 for the retests. The test versions are: English-language GED Tests, Spanish-language Tests, French-language Tests, Canadian version of the English-language GED Tests, Braille edition of the GED Tests, audio cassette edition of the GED Tests, and the large-print edition of the GED Tests. Some locations allow students two days to test, which is very helpful for most students due to the Tests intensiveness and approximately 8 hours of testing time for the 5 tests. Most testing centers provide paper and pencils and all provide calculators. There are usually only 5-minute breaks between the five subject tests with a short break for lunch. Students must register ahead so it is best to look on their testing center’s web site or call the center they intend to use, to find out what they will need to register.  Eligibility requirements for the tests are: “18 years of age, residents of the state not enrolled in school and not a high school graduate; if 17, the same as above and exception for enrollment in school is made if applicant is in an approved in-school GED preparation program and has the parent or guardian’s approval; if 16, the same as above and if a public agency providing supervision of the person or having custody of the person under a court order recommends that the person takes the examination or is in a Job Corps training program”(TEA).

Specifics of the Tests and Grading

Random samplings of graduating seniors are tested each spring to establish the score scale for the GED Tests. The GED Testing Service states that, “In order to pass the GED Tests, the GED candidate must currently demonstrate a level of skill that meets or surpasses that of the top 60 percent of graduating high school seniors” (ACE). In the state of Texas the passing score is a total of 2250, with a required minimum of 410 on each of the individual tests. An example of the five tests, the number of questions in each, and their time is listed below.

Test Area                                       No. Questions                         Time Limit
Language Arts, Writing Part I           50                                         75 minutes
Language Arts, Writing Part II          1 essay                                  45 minutes
Social Studies                                 50                                         70 minutes
Science                                          50                                         80 minutes
Language Arts, Reading                   40                                         65 minutes
Mathematics                                   50                                         90 minutes

Details of each test are on the ACE web site. The Language Arts Writing, Part I mainly tests proofreading skills with students correcting errors or revising for clarity. Part II requires an essay on a general knowledge topic. Students taking the Social Studies test must understand and interpret questions on history, geography, civics and government, and economics. The Science Test includes questions based on text passages and visual texts such as graphs and charts focusing on physical science, life science, earth and space science. Language Arts, Reading consists of multiple-choice questions from poetry, drama, prose fiction before 1920, prose fiction between 1920-1960, prose fiction after 1960, nonfiction prose, critical review of visual and performing arts, workplace and community documents such as mission statements and letters (ACE). The Mathematics portion is divided into two parts. Students are only allowed to use the Casio fx-260 calculator in part one. They are given a math formulas page to use during the test which consists of number operations and number sense, measurement and geometry, data analysis, statistics, and probability, and algebra, functions, and patterns. 80 percent of the math questions are multiple-choice with 20 percent requiring an answer (ACE).

Resources and Examinees Readiness

The American Council on Education provides posters for the classroom, teaching tips, sample test questions and answers, free half-length and full-length GED practice tests, examples of using the calculator, and a formulas page for preparation on their web site. There is also a link to the Steck-Vaughn practice pages at www.Gedpractice.com that provides more free practice tests and other resources. Steck-Vaughn is the exclusive distributor of the Official GED Practice Forms at $34 for a pack of 5. Better options than buying the separate practice tests is to purchase Steck-Vaughn (steckvaughn.harcourtachieve.com /en-US/steckvaughn.htm) or McGraw-Hill’s (www.mhcontemporary.com) 9th grade-adult level complete preparation books, which have initial and final practice tests, as well as instructional materials and practice exercises for each concept that needs to be learned. Using the complete practice books alone are best for students who just need to have a little practice before taking the tests. For those who need more practice the individual subject books that both these publishers offer will be a better choice. Students who are between 6th -9th grade levels would benefit from the publisher’s pre-GED complete book for initial testing before going into the subject level books. It would be best for those below a 6th grade level to first complete an adult literacy program such as the Texas Scottish Rite Literacy Program (www.epsbooks.com) or Laubach Way to Reading (www.newreaderspress.com). Information on Dallas/Fort Worth adult literacy centers who provide these can be found at www.hopeliteracy.com or by e-mailing charrison@hopeliteracy.com. The ACE web site offers suggestions according to zip code for centers across the country. McGraw-Hill and Steck-Vaughn also offer adult education special packages that include multiple copies of the subject level books and complete GED preparation books. Steck-Vaughn sells 10 copies of each of the 6 content area subject books, a GED instructor’s resource guide, and exercise books of 10 copies of each of the content areas for around $1300., while McGraw-Hill sells 5 each for $900. There are other GED preparation books such as Kaplan GED (www.kaptest.com) which also has an initial and posttest. It is excellent as a review and guide as to what students need to know and can be used with great textbooks such as Saxon Math (http://saxonpublishers.harcourtachieve.com/en-US/saxonpublishers.htm) and Easy Grammar (www.easygrammar.com) or subject level books that have multiple exercises and are reproducible. The Princeton Review (www.princetonreview.com) also has two practice tests and is strong on its test taking strategies, overview of the GED tests and practice exercises. There are a few others, but none as complete as McGraw-Hill and Steck-Vaughn overall. All can be purchased from the individual publishers web sites, at bookstores or through Amazon. 

GED Preparation Classes

No GED preparation class will look the same. Those in libraries will usually have students taking turns working one on one with the instructor, in quiet individual study, and taking home practice worksheets. In GED preparation centers through independent school districts, community colleges, and church and community ministries there is more opportunity for group teaching, as well as individual tutoring. Lesson plans will vary according to the setting and need. No matter where GED instruction takes place, initial assessment is imperative not only to provide knowledge of grade level, but to also assess how much time a student will have on a weekly basis for GED preparation on their own. A registration form should include registration date, name, address, number, e-mail, emergency contact name and number, birth date, languages spoken, race and gender for grant purposes, completed grade level, physical and learning needs the student is aware of, anticipated weekly individual study time and completion goal, GED practice test placement, assigned teacher, and instructional materials. As important as it is for a student to take a practice test, after filling out a registration sheet, it is equally important for them to discuss with a director or teacher what they see as the time it will take them to complete their preparation. A student who is reading on a 4th grade level will of course take much longer than one who is reading on a 10th grade level and actually finished 11th grade. Students need to clearly understand the length of time it takes to be ready to prepare for and pass the GED Tests. They also need to be able to ask any questions they have, meet their assigned teacher, if possible, and be given a schedule of classes with program and contact information. Instructional time will vary according to the program. A break every two hours is best no matter what the schedule. If the student will be taking books or worksheets home or doing work online, it is best to have a pre-copied lesson plan with the days of the week with assignments written in each week so they can check what has been completed. This also gives a sense of achievement and helps students learn to work toward attainable goals. 

Help in Beginning a GED Program

HOPE Literacy serves as a resource to churches, community, refugee resettlement, and mission organizations, schools, businesses, and individuals. We provide regular GED Teacher Training during the year. We also have a partnership with Literacy Instruction Of Texas (LIFT) that enables HOPE Partners to utilize online GED Instruction. Please contact Cindy Harrison at 817-988-6818, charrison@hopeliteracy.com or Dr. Harry Wilson 817-999-9357, hwilson@hopeliteracy.com for questions or to schedule a Workshop. Information on training, programs, curriculum, and partnerships can be found on our web site at www.hopeliteracy.com.

 Free GED Prep Classes in Tarrant and Surrounding Counties

Contacting your nearest independent school district or community college is a good place to begin finding GED classes near you.

Agape Baptist Church Contact Scotty Gray 817-263-5011
3954 Southwest Blvd.
Fort Worth, TX 76116
817-923-6800
Classes: GED, ESL, Citizenship, Adult Literacy
www.agapebaptist.org
(Will only accept students who have completed 11th grade)
 
Mission Central Contact Emily Youngberg 817-595-0011
732A East Pipeline Rd.
Hurst, TX 76053
Classses: Adult Literacy, GED


Fort Worth Independent School District
Adult Education Center
1066 Magnolia Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76104
817-852-1000

Fort Worth ISD Competency Based High School Diploma Program (CBHSD)
offers adults with 17 or more high school credits an opportunity to earn a high school
diploma through a combination of credits, work experience, and examination.
 For more information call 817-852-1000 ext. 247
or email  billie.younger@fwisd.org



Tarrant County Community College Workforce Services
Contact Jan Morgan or Cesar Diaz 817-515-4320 or sites below
Butler Learning Opportunities Center
(Fort Worth Housing Authority's Family Investment Center)
1201 E. 13th Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
817- 515-2789

Eastside Learning Opportunities Center at Workforce Center
4701 E. Lancaster
Fort Worth, Texas 76103
817-515-2986


Northside Learning Opportunities Center at Workforce Center
2100 N. Main Street, Suite 100
Fort Worth, Texas 76106
817-515-2973

Southeast Learning Opportunities Center at YMCA of Metropolitan Fort Worth
2801 Miller Avenue
Fort Worth, Texas 76105
817-515-2984
Arlington Locations

Center for Continuing Education and Workforce Development at University of Texas at Arlington
140 West Mitchell
Arlington, Texas 76010
817-804-4273 GED
817-804-4274 ESL

Water From the Rock, Inc. Learning Opportunities Center at Arlington
1015 Gibbins Rd.
Arlington, Texas 76010
817-860-9702 GED and ESL
Fort Worth Independent School District GED Prep Classes
In-School GED Satellite Program Contact Mary Green 817-852-1000 ext. 244
This in-school program serves Fort Worth ISD students 17-21 who have seven and one-half or fewer high school credits or those court-ordered to obtain a GED.
For information on all other FWISD GED Classes Call 817-852-1000
Or email lucy.ocon@fwisd.org or sylvia.underwood@fwisd.org

Cornerstone Assistance Network
3500 Noble Avenue
Fort Worth, TX 76111
817-632-6000
GED Classes Tuesdays/Thursdays 6-8 PM

Martin United Methodist Church
2621 Bedford Road
Bedford, TX 76021
(817) 354-9038   GED/ESL Classes

Arlington ISD VENTURE SCHOOL
Tarrant
4900 W Arkansas Lane
Arlington, TX 76016
(682) 867-6400 Main

Weatherford ISD Community Services
Parker County
602 W. Water
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 598-2806 Main

Cleburn ISD Adult Education
Johnson County
425 Granbury St
J N Long Bldg
Cleburne, TX 76033
(817) 202-1108 Main

Decatur Public Library
Wise County
1700 Highway 51 South
Decatur, TX 76234
(940) 627-5512 Main