Inside the New GED Test

The improved test better preps adults for their future.

New Test Readies for Today's Adult Education - The General Education Development was created in 1942 as a form of high school diploma equivalency. But times have certainly changed. A new revamped GED Ready™ exam launched on Jan. 2, but what’s different and how will it better prepare Americans for college and today’s workforce? Go inside the new high school equivalency exam. — Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Ted S. Warren/AP Photo, File)

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New Test Readies for Today's Adult Education - The General Education Development was created in 1942 as a form of high school diploma equivalency. But times have certainly changed. A new revamped GED Ready™ exam launched on Jan. 2, but what’s different and how will it better prepare Americans for college and today’s workforce? Go inside the new high school equivalency exam. — Dominique Zonyéé (@DominiqueZonyee)(Photo: Ted S. Warren/AP Photo, File)

What Is the GED? - The General Education Development was created in 1942 to help World War II veterans who dropped out of high school. The original exam was divided into five parts: writing, reading, social studies, math and science. In most states, test takers must be 17 years or older to qualify for the exam.(Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Landov/Reuters)

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What Is the GED? - The General Education Development was created in 1942 to help World War II veterans who dropped out of high school. The original exam was divided into five parts: writing, reading, social studies, math and science. In most states, test takers must be 17 years or older to qualify for the exam.(Photo: Kevin Lamarque/Landov/Reuters)

Out With the Old, In With the New - Other than offering a more rigorous computer-based testing style, the new GED Ready exam will take half the time as the old exam. Test scores can be delivered instantly and new tests also feature guided study plans to help further prepare test takers.(Photo: Alan Youngblood/Ocala Star-Banner /Landov)

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Out With the Old, In With the New - Other than offering a more rigorous computer-based testing style, the new GED Ready exam will take half the time as the old exam. Test scores can be delivered instantly and new tests also feature guided study plans to help further prepare test takers.(Photo: Alan Youngblood/Ocala Star-Banner /Landov)

New Test Comes at a Higher Price - The new 2014 GED Program will cost test takers one flat rate of $120, with $40 of that being returned to the local testing centers. The new price is up from a varying state-to-state cost which ranged from free to as much as $80.(Photo: Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/MCT/Landov)    

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New Test Comes at a Higher Price - The new 2014 GED Program will cost test takers one flat rate of $120, with $40 of that being returned to the local testing centers. The new price is up from a varying state-to-state cost which ranged from free to as much as $80.(Photo: Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group/MCT/Landov)    

Are All States on Board for the New GED? - The higher costs and computerized exam is not sitting well with educators across the nation. At least nine states — New York, New Hampshire, Missouri, Iowa, Montana, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine and West Virginia — severed ties with the GED test and opted for new tests that are entering the market.(Photo: Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal/Landov)

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Are All States on Board for the New GED? - The higher costs and computerized exam is not sitting well with educators across the nation. At least nine states — New York, New Hampshire, Missouri, Iowa, Montana, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine and West Virginia — severed ties with the GED test and opted for new tests that are entering the market.(Photo: Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal/Landov)

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Preparation Upgrade - Another feature of the new GED tests are Item Samplers, which provide access to example test items that address some of the assessment targets on the test. Item Samplers also demonstrate the look and feel of the online exam and include 16 additional multiple-choice items (four items in each content area) that have been field-tested.(Photo: LiPo Ching/Bay Area News Group/San Jose Mercury News/ MCT /LANDOV)

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Preparation Upgrade - Another feature of the new GED tests are Item Samplers, which provide access to example test items that address some of the assessment targets on the test. Item Samplers also demonstrate the look and feel of the online exam and include 16 additional multiple-choice items (four items in each content area) that have been field-tested.(Photo: LiPo Ching/Bay Area News Group/San Jose Mercury News/ MCT /LANDOV)

How Many People Take the GED? - More than 700,000 people took the GED test in 2012. Of the people who reported their ethnicities in 2012, 16.7 percent were Latino, 22.7 percent were African-Americans and 52.1 percent were whites. The average test taker is about 26 and many people seeking a high school equivalency diploma live below the poverty line.(Photo: Brett Le Blanc / The Gainesville Sun/Landov)

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How Many People Take the GED? - More than 700,000 people took the GED test in 2012. Of the people who reported their ethnicities in 2012, 16.7 percent were Latino, 22.7 percent were African-Americans and 52.1 percent were whites. The average test taker is about 26 and many people seeking a high school equivalency diploma live below the poverty line.(Photo: Brett Le Blanc / The Gainesville Sun/Landov)

How Many Americans Lack a High School Education? - Nationally, about 40 million American adults lack a high school education. More than a third of African-American students do not graduate from high school on time with a regular high school diploma.(Photo: Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal)  

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How Many Americans Lack a High School Education? - Nationally, about 40 million American adults lack a high school education. More than a third of African-American students do not graduate from high school on time with a regular high school diploma.(Photo: Stan Carroll/The Commercial Appeal)  

College Preparation Is Mandatory - The new revamped GED Ready exam is geared toward helping test takers get equipped for college and the workforce. Only 4 percent of African-American high school graduates interested in college are college-ready across a range of subjects.(Photo: Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel/MCT/Landov)

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College Preparation Is Mandatory - The new revamped GED Ready exam is geared toward helping test takers get equipped for college and the workforce. Only 4 percent of African-American high school graduates interested in college are college-ready across a range of subjects.(Photo: Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel/MCT/Landov)

Photo By Photo: Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel/MCT/Landov

Best Graduations Songs for the Class of 2014 - Graduation time is upon us and it's that time of year where many people are achieving major accomplishments after years of hard work. Take a look at a few motivational songs the class of 2014 will likely embrace as they strut across the stage and receive those hard earned diplomas. —Michael Harris (IceBlueVA)(Photo: Commercial Appeal /Landov)

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Will a Harder GED Be Harder to Pass? - While the new exam still focuses on the five core subjects, the new test will also focus more on measuring higher-level critical thinking and problem solving skills. The new exam will also come with a free-retake program to encourage test takers to pass the exam. (Photo: Jim Weber/Commercial Appeal /Landov)

Photo By Photo: Commercial Appeal /Landov

Where Can I Learn More About the New GED? - There are more that 2,800 GED test taking centers across the globe. To get a list of centers in your area, visit GED Testing Service website here.(Photo: Joe Songer/Birmingham News /Landov)

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Where Can I Learn More About the New GED? - There are more that 2,800 GED test taking centers across the globe. To get a list of centers in your area, visit GED Testing Service website here.(Photo: Joe Songer/Birmingham News /Landov)