Fortunately, there is still time for people to take the current GED test, but many test locations will stop providing tests to new people in September to make room for those who need to retest one or more sections. Currently, test takers who failed one or more sections will only have to take the sections they failed, but once the new tests roll out, it will invalidate even the scores for the sections passed.
Many local opportunities for test takers to give the GED test a shot will vanish in January when the new GED test becomes available. Locations in Knox, North Judson and Rochester currently provide the test, but soon students will no longer be able to take a paper and pencil test; all students will have to take a computer-based test. Unfortunately, only a relatively small number of test centers currently have plans to offer the computer based test and only at Ivy Tech campuses, 12 of which are available throughout the state.
While the GED test currently costs between $50 and $70, the new test will cost significantly more; the current set price is $120. Starke County residents still have the option to take the test for free, thanks to a Starke County Community Foundation grant that currently pays for students who come to the Starke Adult Learning Center to prepare for their test.
The contents of the test will also change. The current test, with five sections, will be replaced with a four-section test that combines the two language arts sections, and the essay format will also be modified to ask students to write a short research essay.
Students who wish to take the paper and pencil test can still prepare locally at the Starke County Adult Learning Centers in Knox and North Judson. Call (574) 772-6882 ext. 3 for the center Knox or (574) 896-2841 for North Judson.
