Students reminded to complete GED before change to test in January

The Iowa Department of Education has announced that a replacement for the General Education Development (GED) assessment instrument, called HiSET and designed by the Educational Testing Service, will be implemented statewide beginning January 2, 2014.

The current GED test format will expire December 31, and Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) encourages all students who have started the GED process to complete their tests in reading, writing, science, social studies and math before the expiration date. To allow enough time for study, test-taking and processing, students must enroll in the NICC program by Thanksgiving and must complete all five tests by December 13 to avoid starting over with the new test next year.

NICC currently offers fast-paced academies in Dubuque, Dyersville and Cresco for students who want to study, take the GED tests and earn the credential in a shorter timeframe. The academies are a month long - either 12 days at four hours each or 16 days at three hours each, depending on the site location. The academies focus only on skills students need to improve on, either math or reading/writing. NICC will introduce similar academies that prepare students for the HiSET testing instrument starting in February 2014.

The changes being introduced in January are part of Iowa’s shift to the High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) format and the new assessment, the HiSET, is 100% computer based. Students who take their test in the new format will be required to register online and have basic computer skills, according to Sharon Speckhard, NICC Adult Education and Literacy director. NICC offers community members tutoring, study areas, practice testing and test administration throughout the year.

“Students need enough keyboard knowledge to complete the test, including the required essay portion. Although some students may still take the paper version of the test because of specific accommodations requirements, most students will be taking everything on computer,” Speckhard said.

“We have seen an increase in students re-enrolling in our GED program who have some tests completed already,” Speckhard added. “However, new students must enroll before Thanksgiving in order to earn their GED; after that, students will be required to wait until January to start the new HiSET format tests.”

Iowa is one of seven states that will change to HiSET in 2014, and the new test format does offer additional benefits to students, including a lower cost. The HiSET costs include test and diploma fees and a savings from the current test’s total cost. Students will also not be charged for two re-tests per subject occurring within a 12-month period.

For more information on the current GED program and new HSED format at NICC, visit www.nicc.edu/admissions or call 888-642-2338, ext. 105.