States Drop GED

States Drop GED - States drop the GED since the cost of the test is doubling to $120 or more. New York, Montana, and New Hampshire already announced a new alternative to the GED. California, Tennessee, and New Jersey are looking for an alternative test in addition to the GED. Massachusetts, Maine, Indiana, Iowa, and several more states are looking for an alternative exam that can replace the GED. “Missouri has requested bids from test makers and plans to make a decision this month,” reported the Associated Press via Yahoo! News on April 14, 2013.


In all, 40 states and the District of Columbia are either dropping the GED or are considering adding alternative tests to the GED.

Until now, the GED has been the monopoly test for students and adults to achieve a high school equivalency.

In January, the GED Testing Service is not only increasing the price for the GED but also introducing a new version of the GED. The new GED version would no longer be offered in a pencil and paper format but only as a computerized version.

GED developers argue that the new version of the GED is necessary because “nearly all states are adopting tougher math and reading standards to ensure students are prepared for college and careers.”

In addition to the “sticker shock” about the GED price increase in January from $60 to $120, many states are concerned about GED test takers who are less familiar with computers.

For anyone having already passed parts of the current GED, the missing sections have to be retaken before Dec. 31, 2013. “If not, their scores will expire and they'll have to begin again under the new program Jan. 1.”

Source: http://www.examiner.com/article/states-drop-ged-missing-ged-sections-need-to-be-retaken-before-end-of-year