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Big Changes to High School Equivalency Exams: What You Need
to Know
Special to The Truth
In today’s job market,
having an edge is crucial. The right credentials can mean
the difference between living paycheck-to-paycheck and
having a meaningful career. More than ever, a high school
diploma or equivalency credential is essential to landing
the job or career you want. In fact, approximately three out
of four U.S. jobs required at least a high school diploma or
equivalent in 2012, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor
statistics.
So if you didn’t earn your
diploma the first time, taking a high school equivalency
exam is the best way to open up new opportunities now, as
well as to lay a foundation for meeting future educational
and professional goals.
Before getting started,
get the facts: the General Educational Development (GED)
test has undergone dramatic changes over the past two years.
In addition to becoming more expensive this year, it’s
shifted to a more rigorous, computer-only format. This has
led CTB/McGraw-Hill, the testing division of McGraw-Hill
Education, to develop TASC, the Test Assessing Secondary
Completion, a new Common Core-aligned high school
equivalency exam that’s available in both paper-and-pencil
and computer-based formats.
This is great news for the
40 million U.S. adults currently lacking a high school
diploma or equivalency. If you’re among them, here are five
things you need to know in 2014:
• Selection: Investigate
which equivalency test is offered by your state or district.
Some states have chosen one test as its sole exam, while
others allow test takers to choose. Testing centers will
decide which authorized tests they’ll offer. Potential test
takers can check their department of education’s website for
a listing of centers.
• Pricing: For some, high
school equivalency testing is a financial hurdle. The cost
for taking the GED is now $120, while TASC will cost $52
with two free retests. Some states subsidize some or all of
the expense, while others add an administrative fee. Find
out what subsidies you’re eligible for before registering.
• Accessibility: The TASC
test and other high school equivalency exam alternatives are
available as a paper-and-pencil exam as well as online,
providing added flexibility.
• Test Design: Be aware of
the test design and areas of study that a high school
equivalency test will address. The TASC test, aligned to
Common Core State Standards, offers English, Spanish, large
print, Braille and audio versions, and will assess English
language arts, math, science and social studies.
• Registration and
Preparation: Register and study well in advance. Visit your
education department’s website to locate the nearest TASC
testing facility. Register on the center’s website or
in-person. Some testing centers also offer prep courses, so
take advantage of these.
The TASC test offers a
wide assortment of test preparation materials, including a
study companion, practice tests and sample questions.
In today’s competitive job
market, there’s no reason to give yourself an unnecessary
handicap. Earning a high school equivalency is the first
step toward expanding professional opportunities and
increasing earning potential. Register now for the TASC
test, the new high school equivalency exam, at your nearest
testing center.
Courtesy StatePoint
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