Forsyth Tech GED® Test-Takers May Now Be Eligible for Diploma Based on Revised, Lower Passing Scores
GED Testing Service (GEDTS) announced this week revisions to its high school equivalency test that will lower its minimum passing score. The changes come in response to feedback the Testing Service has received since the revised GED Test was first released two years ago. The changes will be retroactive to January 1, 2014.
North Carolina will join 32 states in recognizing these changes immediately, resulting in the awarding of 760 new high school equivalency diplomas to test-takers across the state. GEDTS has sent out emails to these individuals and is currently compiling statistics for each of the colleges. Other states may require additional approval or rule changes to implement the recommended revisions.
GEDTS is lowering the GED passing score by five points, from 150 per test module to 145, to bring GED holders more in line with typical high school graduates. Additionally, GED is recalibrating its performance levels to the following tiered scale:
* Performance Level 1: Below Passing (100-144)
* Performance Level 2: Pass/High School Equivalency (145-164)
* Performance Level 3: GED College Ready (165-174)
* Performance Level 4: GED College Ready + Credit (175-200)
Those who test at Performance Level 4 may be eligible for up to 10 semester hours of college credit as recommended by the American Council on Education (ACE®) College Credit Recommendation Service. The eligibility of the college credit is at the discretion of the local institution. More information on ACE® is available at http://www.acenet.edu/Pages/default.aspx.
“We are working with our GED state representative to ensure students and programs get the necessary information to implement this new change,” said Dr. Lisa Chapman, Senior Vice President for Programs in the NC Community College System.
North Carolina’s 58 community colleges have the option of offering three high school equivalency tests: GED®, HiSET®, and TASC.
The changes the GEDTS is implementing come in response to the concerns about the new test introduced in 2014, which was more expensive, solely computer-based and much more difficult. Pass rates plummeted in many states following the introduction of the 2014 test.
Those interested in learning more about high school equivalency testing opportunities at Forsyth Tech can visit http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/college-and-career-readiness/high-school-equivalency or contact Julie Summers at 336.734.7758 or [email protected].
Additional information on the GED Testing Service changes is available at www.GEDtestingservice.com/score-changes.
About Forsyth Tech
Forsyth Tech provides students with flexible educational pathways to a competitive workforce for the community and global economy. The college offers associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in more than 200 programs of study, including programs that promote personal and professional development through non-credit courses and seminars, as well as customized training for business and industry. Forsyth Tech is the fifth largest community college in North Carolina and serves more than 35,000 students with approximately 1,500 full and part-time faculty and staff.
