Time is running out for anyone who started taking the GED sometime in the past decade but has not completed it; the current version of the GED test will expire at the end of 2013 and the new 2014 GED test will begin on January 2, 2014.
If you’ve taken the GED but have not passed all five parts, you have until December 31 to get it done, otherwise you’ll need to start all over again in 2014 to receive your high school credential.
The current test has a cost of $150 ($30 per content area) and the new 2014 GED will be $120 because it will only have four parts, each one still costing $30. So if you haven’t started, waiting for the new test will save you some cash.
However, if you already passed two, three or four of the current 5 GED sections, it makes a lot of money-sense to finish the GED now since none of the money you’ve already paid for the parts you passed can count toward the cost of the 2014 test.
2014 GED specifications
-Four content areas:
- Reasoning Through Language Arts (RLA) (150 minutes)
- Mathematical Reasoning (90 minutes)
- Science (90 minutes)
- Social Studies (90 minutes)
-English and Spanish
-3 opportunities to test per year, per content area
-Seven different item types:
- Extended response
- Drag-and-drop
- Drop-down
- Fill-in-the-blank
- Hot spot
- Multiple choice
- Short answer
-Delivered on computer (not online)
-Paper testing only available as an accommodation
For more information on registering and preparing for the 2014 GED, visit the MyGED website.
The GED test, which is accepted by virtually all U.S. colleges and employers, has opened doors to better jobs and college programs for more than 18 million graduates since 1942. Last year 12,987 Washingtonians passed the GED test. Here are other Washington GED facts as reported in the 2012 Annual Statistical Report on the GED Test: