overview of the 2014 GED test
Why a New GED Test?
The 2014 GED® Test was developed by GED Testing Services at the request of colleges and employers. These agencies feel that new GED® graduates must be able to work in teams to solve and analyze problems and use critical thinking to find solutions. The new tests are taken on a computer in an Official Testing Center. Students will need basic computer and word processing skills to navigate through the exam and answer the test questions. Exams include short answer responses and extended responses that require reading comprehension, reasoning, and critical thinking skills.
Although the new tests are taken on a computer, students must go to an an approved GED testing center to take each exam. The San Mateo Adult School is an approved center. The video Five Top Changes to the GED Test summarizes the skills students will need to succeed on the 2014 GED exams.
GED® Subject Area Content Tests
The 2014 GED® test is a four-subject high school equivalency exam. Each content area is a separate test and each must be taken in an approved testing site.
GED-Reasoning Through Language Arts - 155 minutes
GED-Mathematical Reasoning - 155 minutes
GED-Science - 95 minutes
GED-Social Studies - 95 minutes.
Age Requirements
Generally, students must be 18 or older to take GED preparation courses and the official GED exams. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Please see Age Requirements on our Orientation Prerequisites page.
What is GED Ready™?
GED Ready™ practice tests were developed by the GED Testing Service to simulate the GED testing environment. The scores from these tests are used to predict if a student is ready to take the actual GED® tests, or if the student could benefit from preparation courses that present the material and skills needed to pass the actual GED exams.While the GED Ready™ practice tests cover the same content area, they take less time to complete than the actual GED® exams.
The following lists the amount of time allocated to take each GED Ready™ test:
GED Ready Reasoning Through Language Arts - 95 minutes
GED Ready Mathematical Reasoning - 60 minutes
GED Ready Science - 47 minutes
GED Ready Social Studies - 60 minutes
Where Can I Take GED Ready™ tests and the 2014 GED® Tests?
While the GED Ready™ practice tests may be taken from your home or office, the actual 2014 GED® Tests must be taken at an official GED testing site. Each testing site is required to demonstrate a high level of security and accuracy when administering each exam. The San Mateo Adult School is qualified as an Official Testing Site, but the school does not qualify as a site that can administer GED® Tests to students with Special Needs or Accommodations .
GED.com Account
All students who take GED Ready™practice tests and 2014 GED® subject tests must have a GED.com account. To learn how to create a GED.com account, see Creating a GED.com account.
How Can I Study for the GED Tests?
The Adult School offers courses in the four content areas on the actual GED exams. In addition, the Adult School offers Pre-GED courses for students who are not ready to tackle the rigorous curriculum required to pass the 2014 GED tests. Students may also purchase Kaplan's the New GED Test book with strategies, practice tests and review questions. The book can be purchased from the Adult School or on Amazon.com.
What will I receive if I pass the GED Tests?
Adult students who pass all four GED® tests will receive a diploma from the state in which a student lives. If a student takes all four GED tests at San Mateo Adult School, a student will receive a GED Certificate from our school.
Test Characteristics
The new test requires more critical thinking skills, more in-depth reading comprehension, and more analytical or comparative summaries of literature about history, science, or current events. Mathematical questions are also more difficult and over 1/2 of the Mathematical Reasoning test assessed with algebraic problem solving. Along with your classmates, you will learn how to problem solve and express the reasons for your solutions. The test will include technology-enhanced interactive items like drag and drop information into graphic organizers. Items requiring test takers to write a response will prompt evidence-based writing, where test-takers analyze and refer to given text(s), rather than give an opinion or personal perspective. Extended responses need to be organized effectively, but do not need to follow the 5- paragraph essay model. All tests will be computer scored, including constructed response items. This will hopefully result in rapid test results. Detailed feedback about a student's strengths and ares in need of development are also promised along with test scores. (Some of the previous information is from a study of the new 2014 GED test analyzed by Minneapolis Adult Education.)
All courses are now taught in a classroom setting and regular attendance is required. We have morning and evening classes. Please see the Classes page for course schedules. (Course offerings may vary by semester.)
Test Scores
Test Takers will receive test results directly from GED Testing Service.
a. You will receive email with a link that will direct you to your GED.com account test scores page, or
b. You may sign onto GED.com and find your scores under the "My Scores" tab.
Informational Videos about the new GED Tests
Take a moment to watch this short video that explains how the 2014 test differs from the 2002 test.
Updated: 11/14/14
The 2014 GED® Test was developed by GED Testing Services at the request of colleges and employers. These agencies feel that new GED® graduates must be able to work in teams to solve and analyze problems and use critical thinking to find solutions. The new tests are taken on a computer in an Official Testing Center. Students will need basic computer and word processing skills to navigate through the exam and answer the test questions. Exams include short answer responses and extended responses that require reading comprehension, reasoning, and critical thinking skills.
Although the new tests are taken on a computer, students must go to an an approved GED testing center to take each exam. The San Mateo Adult School is an approved center. The video Five Top Changes to the GED Test summarizes the skills students will need to succeed on the 2014 GED exams.
GED® Subject Area Content Tests
The 2014 GED® test is a four-subject high school equivalency exam. Each content area is a separate test and each must be taken in an approved testing site.
GED-Reasoning Through Language Arts - 155 minutes
GED-Mathematical Reasoning - 155 minutes
GED-Science - 95 minutes
GED-Social Studies - 95 minutes.
Age Requirements
Generally, students must be 18 or older to take GED preparation courses and the official GED exams. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Please see Age Requirements on our Orientation Prerequisites page.
What is GED Ready™?
GED Ready™ practice tests were developed by the GED Testing Service to simulate the GED testing environment. The scores from these tests are used to predict if a student is ready to take the actual GED® tests, or if the student could benefit from preparation courses that present the material and skills needed to pass the actual GED exams.While the GED Ready™ practice tests cover the same content area, they take less time to complete than the actual GED® exams.
The following lists the amount of time allocated to take each GED Ready™ test:
GED Ready Reasoning Through Language Arts - 95 minutes
GED Ready Mathematical Reasoning - 60 minutes
GED Ready Science - 47 minutes
GED Ready Social Studies - 60 minutes
Where Can I Take GED Ready™ tests and the 2014 GED® Tests?
While the GED Ready™ practice tests may be taken from your home or office, the actual 2014 GED® Tests must be taken at an official GED testing site. Each testing site is required to demonstrate a high level of security and accuracy when administering each exam. The San Mateo Adult School is qualified as an Official Testing Site, but the school does not qualify as a site that can administer GED® Tests to students with Special Needs or Accommodations .
GED.com Account
All students who take GED Ready™practice tests and 2014 GED® subject tests must have a GED.com account. To learn how to create a GED.com account, see Creating a GED.com account.
How Can I Study for the GED Tests?
The Adult School offers courses in the four content areas on the actual GED exams. In addition, the Adult School offers Pre-GED courses for students who are not ready to tackle the rigorous curriculum required to pass the 2014 GED tests. Students may also purchase Kaplan's the New GED Test book with strategies, practice tests and review questions. The book can be purchased from the Adult School or on Amazon.com.
What will I receive if I pass the GED Tests?
Adult students who pass all four GED® tests will receive a diploma from the state in which a student lives. If a student takes all four GED tests at San Mateo Adult School, a student will receive a GED Certificate from our school.
Test Characteristics
The new test requires more critical thinking skills, more in-depth reading comprehension, and more analytical or comparative summaries of literature about history, science, or current events. Mathematical questions are also more difficult and over 1/2 of the Mathematical Reasoning test assessed with algebraic problem solving. Along with your classmates, you will learn how to problem solve and express the reasons for your solutions. The test will include technology-enhanced interactive items like drag and drop information into graphic organizers. Items requiring test takers to write a response will prompt evidence-based writing, where test-takers analyze and refer to given text(s), rather than give an opinion or personal perspective. Extended responses need to be organized effectively, but do not need to follow the 5- paragraph essay model. All tests will be computer scored, including constructed response items. This will hopefully result in rapid test results. Detailed feedback about a student's strengths and ares in need of development are also promised along with test scores. (Some of the previous information is from a study of the new 2014 GED test analyzed by Minneapolis Adult Education.)
All courses are now taught in a classroom setting and regular attendance is required. We have morning and evening classes. Please see the Classes page for course schedules. (Course offerings may vary by semester.)
Test Scores
Test Takers will receive test results directly from GED Testing Service.
a. You will receive email with a link that will direct you to your GED.com account test scores page, or
b. You may sign onto GED.com and find your scores under the "My Scores" tab.
Informational Videos about the new GED Tests
Take a moment to watch this short video that explains how the 2014 test differs from the 2002 test.
Updated: 11/14/14