Test preparation is determined by skill levels

As an adult education instructor, one of the first questions I am asked by most learners is, “How long do you think it will take me to get my GED®?” My response to that question is always that the time is different for each individual based on the skill level of the individual in each of the four subject areas of the test. Upon assessment, some learners may find that they are GED® test ready when they walk through our doors, and others discover they have identifiable gaps in their learning and must spend some time preparing for the test. The length of that preparation time can vary from a matter of weeks to months or even years.

The instructional strategies of our adult education teachers are individualized and targeted to meet the needs of our students. With the proper instruction and development of skills, learners can fill those gaps with the knowledge needed to be successful on the test.

Every student has the opportunity to take each of the GED® subject tests three times within a calendar year (from January 1 to December 31) with no specified wait time between tests. The good news is that after a student takes a GED® subject test three times, that student is allowed to retest in that subject after a 60-day waiting period.

You may wonder, “Why 60 days?” The GED® Testing Service (GEDTS) requires a 60-day waiting period between test administrations after the first three attempts for two important reasons.  First, because they have only three operational forms per content area each year, the fourth and subsequent administrations will necessarily involve the students retesting on a test form that has already been seen by them. To ensure fairness and equity in the testing program, GEDTS wants to minimize any advantage that a student might have in retaking test items that are familiar to them. Their research, conducted over many decades, has shown that any familiarity with test items is minimized for the vast majority of students through having them wait 60 days between administrations.

Second, ensuring a 60-day wait between administrations provides students with the time they need to review the score reports from their previous attempts and either to master content that they were unsure of or to learn new content that can help them to pass the test. Having shorter times between administrations can encourage students to just retest without taking the time for the study they need to improve their skills. These two factors behind the 60-day waiting period help to keep the testing program fair for all candidates and to ensure that students always focus on skills improvement.

Martin Kehe, Vice President of Assessment Services for GEDTS notes, “It is important to mention that, for students’ last exam still needing to be passed, there is some flexibility in the 60-day waiting period. If students have important job- or school-related deadlines, GED® Testing Service may consider a one-time waiver of the 60-day period. Each request for waiver of the 60-day wait period is individually reviewed based on the particular situation and may require approval of the jurisdictional GED® Administrator. This approach helps to ensure a balance between the timing needs of the student and the equity of the testing program.”

For information about GED® preparation classes or GED® testing in your community, contact Southwest Regional Adult Education at 866-581-9935. Register for a free class, and take a free assessment of your test readiness.

GED® is a registered trademark of the American Council on Education. Used under license.