The Top 5 Changes to the GED Test for 2014 (By Bill Walker) Are you curious about the new GED test scheduled for release in 2014? The first, and biggest, change is the switch to Constructed Item Response. The new test will have both short answer and extended item response writing exercises on all four subtests, with longer extended item response items appearing on the literacy and social studies subtests. The second, and perhaps most visible change, is that the test will be administered only on computer; there will be no option for paper-based testing. It will be necessary for GED candidates to be familiar with keyboarding skills in order to keystroke their responses. Further, candidates should have practice opportunities in their GED preparatory programs to experience computer-based testing. Third, the new GED Test will be aligned with the Common Core Standards in an attempt to focus on knowledge and skills most strongly correlated with success in career and college. The Common Core Standards are being implemented throughout K-12 across the nation. The fourth change is the new item types the test will feature. All generations of the GED Test— including the current version—have featured multiple choice questions. The 2014 GED test will add several new item types: • Fill in the blank • Drag-and-drop • Hot spot • Cloze • Multiple select • Short answer • Extended item response Because of these new items types, candidates’ use of test-taking strategies will be minimized and a more in-depth demonstration of skills and competencies will be required. Thus, the effectiveness of prep classes that teach “test-wiseness” may have a diminished impact on a candidate’s ability to pass the GED. And finally, the change that might be most difficult for candidates to prepare for is that prior knowledge will be required. The current GED Test does not ask candidates to possess prior knowledge in order to complete and pass the test. However, the new test will require that candidates use prior knowledge in order to successfully complete the test. This means that the GED Test is no longer “just a reading comprehension test.” Candidates will have to possess background information in a variety of content areas, for example, social studies and science, in order to pass. These changes are significant, and will require teachers to update their competencies and skills in order to effectively instruct GED candidates. All teachers should actively seek out opportunities for professional development so they can help their students meet the heightened demands of the 2014 test.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:27:26 +0000
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