In West Virginia, TASC Replaces GED in 2014

West Virginia has joined the list of states that will offer an alternative to the GED exam beginning in 2014.  

The 6,000 annual high school equivalency test takers in West Virginia will now take the

 Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), which assesses English language arts (including reading and writing), math, science, and social studies, and which will be offered in pencil and paper and on the computer.

For a more detailed comparison for each test and which state is offering which test, please visit the New Reader’s Press website, http://www.newreaderspress.com/2014test.aspx.

New Jersey to offer three high school equivalency exams: GED, TASC, and HiSET.

CORRECTION:

It was brought to our attention that the pricing as reported in the news article on the New Jersey test and re-reported in our blog was incorrect. The correct information is: the pricing for the 2014 GED test, as announced in May 2012, is $80 for all the program services and $40 added for testing center compensation, which is $120, not $195. 

On December 4, the New Jersey state board of education decided that it would offer three options for the high school equivalency exam beginning in 2014.

Since the new version of the GED, which will be offered only on the computer, was going to cost about $195 per test-taker, state officials researched alternative options. New Jersey will offer the GED (published by Pearson), the TASC (published by ETS), and the HiSET (published by CTB/McGraw Hill) at its 32 testing centers throughout the state. All tests will only cost $112.

For a more in-depth comparison between the different exams, see this chart on the New Readers Press website: http://www.newreaderspress.com/HSEcomparison.aspx.

To check which states offer which exam, see a table here. 

Wyoming Approves TASC and HiSET as Statewide Alternatives to GED in 2014

The Wyoming Community College Commission announced its decision last week that adults seeking a high school certificate in Wyoming will have three test choices in 2014: the GED, the Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC), and the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET).

Wyoming joins Nevada in offering three test options for a high school equivalency certificate, along with a handful of other states that are offering something other than the GED beginning in 2014.

Each of Wyoming’s 27 primary testing centers will decide for themselves which of the authorized tests they will offer starting in 2014.

A state-by-state comparison for the test each state has approved so far can be found here. A side-by-side comparison of each of the three tests is available on our website at http://www.newreaderspress.com/HSEcomparison.aspx.

Nevada to accept 3 tests for Certificate of High School Equivalency

The Nevada Board of Education decided on October 4, that the state would offer two additional options for high school equivalency exams beginning next year.

In addition to the revised GED that will be available starting in January 2014, students can consider the HiSET exam or the TASC exam.

Facing a steep cost increase and many challenges for implementing the new GED exam (only four of Nevada’s 20 public GED test centers are equipped to administer the new computerized version of the exam,) the state decided to accept two alternative tests.

The GED will cost $95 for Nevadans, and includes two free retakes. It will only be offered as a computerized version except for at correctional centers.

The HiSET will cost $65 and allows for two free retakes as well. There is both a paper and a computerized version.

The TASC will cost $65 for Nevadans and allows for two free retakes. There is both a paper and a computerized version.

For further comparison information among the different tests, please visit our website at http://www.newreaderspress.com/HSEcomparison.aspx.

To see which test your state will offer in 2014, look at this chart.

High School Equivalency Exams Comparison

Still wondering what the differences are between the high school equivalency exams, starting with the new GED test in January 2012?

Check out this chart developed by New Readers Press and ProLiteracy for a side-by-side comparison of the GED, HiSET, and TASC exams.

The chart lists the subject areas, the scoring methods, and the costs, along with specifying the publisher and access methods for all three exams.

If you are unsure which exam your state offers, you can reference this list for more information.

Maine opts for HiSET test

Starting January 2014, Maine will offer the High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) instead of the GED as a high school equivalency test.

As part of the redesign of the GED, all GED test-takers must take it electronically. Currently Maine offers the GED by pen-and-paper and higher education officials in Maine feared the state would not be able to convert its 76 testing sites in time for the changeover.

Although it is free for individual test-takers in Maine since the state covers the cost of high school equivalency tests, the new GED would have cost the state $80 per test set, which includes the exams for the five different sections of the GED.

The HiSET costs Maine $50 per test set and includes two free retests. It is available electronically or through traditional pen-and-paper tests.

Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire and Tennessee have also dropped the GED in favor of the HiSET test.

For more information on the tests available in each state, refer to our high school assessment chart.