NEW GED® TEST, FREE PREP CLASSES IN GRENADA

Our article was also printed on page 2 of the March 11th issue of the Grenada Star newspaper.

Grenada, MS – March 4, 2014. There are many adults in our community who need their high school equivalency credential, whether to go to college or to keep their current job or to be eligible for a promotion or get their first job interview or to obtain one of the many other benefits the credential provides. For over 70 years, succeeding on the GED® test has offered a second chance for those who didn’t graduate from high school. Over 97% of colleges and employers across the United States accept it. According to the GED Testing Service (GEDTS), “People with a high school credential earn $568,000 more in a lifetime than people without a high school credential.”

Free Classes

Beneficially for our community, free classes to help local adults succeed are available at the Grenada Adult Education Center, located at 423 South Line Street. The best opportunity is to reserve a slot in the morning classes, which meet four mornings a week (Mondays through Thursdays) in eight week sessions. Because Tuesday/Thursday evening classes only meet six hours a week, student progress is slower but that option is available to adults who work during the mornings.

Registration Set

New student registration for the next morning class session will be at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 17th. Evening classes will register at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18th. Call 227-6101 for more information or to reserve a seat in the classes. (The Center will be closed March 10th-14th for spring break week.)

Prep Important

In answer to the question, “Should I study?” the GEDTS website emphasizes: “Preparation is an essential part of any important examination. According to research, those who study are more likely to pass. You probably have gained some knowledge and skills throughout life experience, reading, and informal training, but remember that the GED® test is a rigorous four part test that takes more than seven and a half hours to complete. Regardless of your ability, you'll be more certain to perform your best on the tests if you know what to expect before the testing day arrives.”

Testing Time Added to the GED® Math Test

That statement hasn’t yet been updated to the revised GED® 2014 math test timing that will encourage 2014 series GED® candidates. State Administrators and testing sites received a memo from GEDTS on Feb. 20th announcing that the Mathematical Reasoning part of the 2014 GED® test has been extended. GEDTS said, “One of the many benefits of the 2014 GED®  program and computer-based testing is our ability to access much more data and more quickly than ever before. This enables us to better analyze information including how long test-takers spend on each question, and, when needed, adjust parts of the program to more quickly respond to test-taker needs. Based on our analysis of the first six weeks of testing, it has become clear that many test-takers require additional time on one subject test—Mathematical Reasoning. In order to ensure test-takers can fully demonstrate their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, we are adding time to the Mathematical Reasoning test. As of Friday, February 21, 2014, the standard time allowance on the GED® test - Mathematical Reasoning will be increased by 25 minutes for a total time of 115 minutes...The complete GED® test battery is now 8.25 hours long.”

Retake Discount

Also, this year the GED Testing Service is offering up to two discounted retakes ($10 each) on each test module that is not passed the first time it is taken to encourage test takers to complete their credential. When scheduled for the first time, the four test modules (Math, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies) cost $30 each; $120 to take the entire four-part test battery for the first time. Each module (and its retakes) can be taken one at a time.

Watch for Scams

GED candidates need to remember to protect themselves from fraud. There are many scams on the internet offering to give the GED® test online. Please be aware that while candidates now register and make payment to take the test online at ged.com, all test delivery is in person in a computer lab at a Pearson VUE Authorized GED Testing Center (PVTC). There is not, nor has there ever been, a legitimate “online” GED® test. Candidates must also have a valid government-issued photo ID.

Test Delivery Sites

While many former 2002 test series sites are working with Pearson VUE to get set up and be added, there are currently five (5) Pearson VUE Authorized GED Test Centers in North Mississippi (and 13 statewide) offering the 2014 test series. The North Mississippi sites are: Grenada (Grenada Adult Education Center); Oxford (WIN Job Center); Kosciusko (Holmes Community College-Kosciusko Center); Senatobia (Northwest Mississippi Community College); and Beldon (Itawamba Community College). In Grenada, testing is usually held two mornings each month and slots fill quickly as they are scheduled online by regional test takers. Testing dates become open online about a month prior to testing. The next available testing dates will be in mid-April and should be open for scheduling soon. 

Test Delivery Expansion Plans

Thanks to a 2013-14 Dollar General Literacy Foundation grant, the Grenada Adult Education Center will soon be adding four more test delivery workstations to our PVTC lab, bringing the total to six test delivery stations. The Grenada School District’s support has been essential to continue to offer free classes and local GED® testing opportunities to local adults at the Grenada Adult Education Center. Local support is essential to offer free adult literacy services and GED® testing opportunities.