General Educational Development and its Special Needs for Students

Description

The General Educational Development (GED) tests are a set of four topic tests that, when passed, certify that the test taker possesses high school-level academic skills in the United States or Canada. It, like HiSET, is an alternative to the US high school diploma. The test is currently referred to as "GED" on the GED Testing Service website.

The American Council on Education (ACE) was commissioned by the United States Armed Forces Institute in November 1942 to produce a battery of tests to assess high school academic ability. These assessments provided a mechanism for military people and veterans who had enlisted before finishing high school to demonstrate their expertise. Returning soldiers and sailors who passed these tests received the academic qualifications they needed to find civilian occupations and pursue post-secondary study or training.

In 1988, ACE redesigned the GED tests for the third time. The addition of a writing sample, or essay, was the most notable alteration to the series. More focus was placed on socially important themes and problem-solving abilities in the new assessments. According to surveys of test-takers, more students (65%) said they took the test with the idea of continuing their education after high school rather than seeking better work (30%).

Eligibility

Regulations governing GED eligibility differ from state to state. Students must be at least 16 years old and not enrolled in high school to be eligible for the programme, according to GED Testing Service rules. Many states, however, demand that the candidate be 17 years old and a resident of the state. A letter of parental consent and a letter of consent from the student's school district are required in some places that allow pupils under the age of 17 to take the test require citation. Students in South Africa and Namibia must be at least 17 years old to participate in the programme.

Cost

The cost of taking the GED test varies based on the state. Currently, charges can range from $45 in Maryland to free in New York, but the average rate is $120 for all four tests or $30 for each of the four subject tests. There is an additional price for testing online, which is usually $6 per test. Each test costs $80 outside of the United States at the moment.

Students with special needs

People with disabilities who need to take the GED test may be eligible for reasonable testing accommodations.

The candidate should obtain the following form from the Testing Center if a trained professional has documented the disability:

"Request for Testing Accommodations-Physical/Chronic Health Disability" form for physical and chronic-health disabilities (such as blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, and mobility impairment).

Request for Testing Accommodations-Learning and Other Cognitive Disabilities" form for learning or cognitive disabilities (such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, receptive aphasia, and written-language disorder).

"Request for Testing Accommodations-Emotional/Mental health" form for emotional or mental-health disorders (such as bipolar illness, Tourette's syndrome, and schizophrenia). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (inattentive, hyperactive–impulsive, or combined): fill out the "Request for Testing Accommodations-Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder" form.

The candidate submits the completed application to the GED testing center. Each request is given careful consideration. If accommodations are accepted, the local GED testing examiner will administer the test with the necessary accommodations, which will be supplied at no additional cost requires citation. Some examples of accommodations include, but are not limited to citation needed.

• Tests on audio cassettes

• Tests in Braille or big print

• Technologies that improve vision

• Video equipment is used.

• Using an abacus or a talking calculator

• The use of a sign language interpreter is recommended.

• Using a scribe (someone who records the test-responses) taker's

• Extra time for testing

Passing the GED examinations

Individual tests in the GED battery can provide scores ranging from 100 to 200. A 200 on a standardized test places a student in the top 1% of graduating high school seniors. ACE recommends a minimum passing score for each sub-test (currently 145) and for the entire test (currently 580-i.e., an average of 145 per test across all four sub-tests). Although most GED-issuing jurisdictions (for the most part, state Boards of Education) adopt these minimal qualifications as their own, a jurisdiction may choose to set higher standards for credential issuance if it so desires.

GED certification alone (i.e., without further post-secondary education or training) does not provide traditional high school graduates with the same labor market options.

While GED test graduates earn more than dropouts but less than high school graduates, economist James Heckman has discovered that discrepancy is mostly attributable to disparities in the qualities and backgrounds of GED test graduates. He finds no indication that the GED exam certification increases an individual's economic possibilities over those of other dropouts when other factors are controlled. Some argue that GED holders face a certain level of stigma that hinders their capacity to get work or pursue higher education.