GED Preparation

(Please note that in January 2014, the GED® examination will change, and any tester who has not fully passed the entire test will have to start from scratch. This means that the remainder of 2012 and all of 2013 are the last opportunity that many individuals have to complete the GED® before new testing standards take effect. For more information about the upcoming changes, please see "Upcoming Changes to the GED®" below.)  

We know that attaining a GED® is important to you and would like to help you reach your goals as quickly as possible. Below is information that will help guide and inform you, but we are always happy to help you if you still have questions. 

What kind of GED® preparation assistance is available to me through the St. Philip’s College Academy of Professional and Personal Enrichment? 

• GED® Online preparation (for more information, visit http://www.alamo.edu/spc/online-ged-prep/ 
• Online GED preparation is also available through our partnership with ed2go (for more information, visit http://www.ed2go.com/spcappe)
• Face-to-face classes which provide a strong focus on mathematics and writing, the two most difficult sections for students to pass
• These classes meet for a total of 48 hours
• All subjects are addressed, but the strongest focus is on math and writing
• Cost of these classes is $105, which includes five months of free 24 hour/ 7 day access to our Online GED Preparation 

How can I take a free GED® practice test to see how ready I am for the official examination?  

Free practice testing is available through the Testing Center. For more information, please download the GED® Testing flyer: GED Testing Policies and Schedule 

Is there anything I should do BEFORE taking my free GED practice test?  

Most definitely! You should never go in “cold” (that is, you should spend some time reviewing before you go in for the actual practice test). Many students who review in advance find that they are more confident of their skills and knowledge and also find that their scores are higher than they’d anticipated. 

Are there any websites where I can review before taking the practice test?  

 We typically recommend the following free websites: 

     www.gedforfree.com 

     www.testprepreview.com (use the self-assessment modules) 

     www.4tests.com 

     http://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/ 

 Do you have some sort of checklist I can use to make sure I’m doing everything I need to do in order to succeed in attaining my GED®?  

Glad you asked!  Here’s a checklist we include on our GED® flyers: 

• Prepare for the practice test by visiting  a free preparation website or using a good GED preparation book 
• Take your practice test and receive a detailed assessment 
• Register for classes, if you need them 
• STUDY!  
• PRACTICE! 
• Take and pass the official GED® test 
• Enroll in college classes! 

Upcoming Changes to the GED® Test  

The GED® test will change dramatically in January 2014.  That may seem like a date far in the future, but we all experience personal and professional challenges that make the time seem to fly. Before we know it, January 2014 will be here, and those changes that seemed so distant will be a reality.

 The most important factor you need to consider is that the test will change in ways that make it more challenging and effective than ever. 

The new test will focus more on exploring your academic and workforce skills. Here are some of the ways in which the test will change:

    1.    The test will take place completely on a computer.

1. You will no longer be able to test using a booklet version of the examination
2. The test will require you to have basic computer skills along with an understanding of how to use a mouse and keyboard
3. You will need to understand how to scroll through passages, open new windows of text, and otherwise work with different items that come up on your computer monitor screen;

2. Instead of five sections, you will now be testing in only four areas

1. Literacy (which includes elements of both reading and writing areas)
2. Social studies
3. Science
4. Mathematics;

3. The new test will require that you have “prior knowledge” of the subject areas

1. The social studies and science areas of the old test were primarily reading comprehension tests, and you did not necessarily need to know much about social studies or science
2. The new test will address these subjects in a way that requires that you show you do have solid understanding and  knowledge of social studies and science topics;

4. The mathematics test will cover more types of operations and processes, including higher level math which was not typically included in the old test; and

5. You will no longer have only multiple choice answers in some sections.

1. Many questions will require that you type a short answer in response to a more complex question
2. You may be asked to analyze what you’ve read, to compare and/or contrast different viewpoints, or to  otherwise show that you can think critically about the material or passage you’ve read
3. You will be asked to respond at length and in writing (by typing up your answer) in order to show that you can think critically and respond using standard English conventions.

Hopefully, you can see that the changes are meant to evaluate how workforce- and college-ready you are. This is a positive change, but it also means that you will have to be even more academically prepared in order to pass the test. You will also have to be skilled at working with a computer, keyboard, and mouse in order to make good use of the time you are given for testing.