Randolph Community College Now Offering Open GED Testing; GED Tests to Change in 2014

Randolph Community College’s College and Career Readiness Division has begun offering Open General Educational Development (GED) Testing, according to Ashley Moody, director for Adult Basic Education/Adult High School, in an effort to allow as many people as possible to complete their GEDs before testing guidelines and prices change statewide at the end of 2013.
           
The Open Testing eliminates the requirement for students to enroll in classes or take pre-tests, said Moody. Those options are still available for students who need to take the traditional route to earning their GED (commonly known as the high school equivalency exam). RCC offers GED classes at various times during the day and evening in Asheboro, Archdale, and in outlying communities such as Ramseur, Randleman, and Liberty.
           
Computer-based GED Testing is expected to be implemented in community colleges statewide by January 2014; some community colleges are already offering the computer tests. In addition, the testing fee will rise from the current $35 for a complete battery of paper-based tests, including any re-testing, to $120 for the complete battery of computer-based tests, which does not include any re-testing. The re-testing fee after Jan. 1, 2014, will be $30 per re-test.
           
The current 2002 GED test series is comprised of five content areas: social studies, science, mathematics, reading, and writing. The 2014 GED test series will be comprised of four content areas: literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies. The 2014 GED test series will only be available on computer; no paper-based testing will be available.
           
Moody said the 2014 GED test series is aligned with Common Core State Standards, so scores from the 2002 series of GED tests are not transferable to the 2014 assessment. So students who have passed some, but not all, of the current GED tests will have to start all over; the fee that students paid for the original GED test is also not transferable.
           
GED Testing is offered at the Asheboro Campus and the Archdale Center at various times during the day and evening. RCC is also adding some testing on Saturdays to allow for easier access for students.
           
To sign up for GED Testing, students should call 336-633-0106 in Asheboro or 336-862-7980 in Archdale. For more information on the GED program, contact Aimee Corning at 336-633-0148 or e-mail ascorning@randolph.edu.