MTC offers one-time incentive to GED test takers

Moultrie Technical College will offer a chance to defray the $95 test fee for General Educational Development test takers in Tift and Turner counties.

In a special incentive to end the FY2009 program year, test takers who are not already enrolled in the adult education programs can take a Test of Adult Basic Education and a Work Ready assessment to qualify for the special offer. Test takers who score high enough to pass the GED Tests will qualify for a fee scholarship drawing to defray the $95 test fee.

“The GED Tests measure high school-level skills and knowledge and offer adults a powerful second chance at attending college or pursuing a career,” says Liz Carson Keith, MTC executive director of adult education.

The tests are designed to measure the core academic knowledge and skills (reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies) of graduating high school seniors. The test battery is updated periodically to ensure that it reflects the knowledge and skills currently expected of high school graduates.

Since the GED Testing Service will be introducing a new version of the test in January 2012, examinees who have passed part of the 2002 series should complete their tests as soon as possible. Scores earned on the current 2002 series or previous test series will not be combined with those earned on the new 2012 Series GED Test.

By Dec. 31, 2011, examinees must have taken and earned minimum scores on all five content area assessments of Language Arts/Reading, Language Arts/Writing, Social Studies, Science and Mathematics and earned the minimum total score on the 2002 series, or they will need to take the entire 2012 Series test battery.

In Georgia, a minimum score is 410 on a single test, but the five test scores must total 2250 in order to receive a credential.

“We are starting early encouraging people needing testing to get this done,” says Keith.

“When the series changed in 2002, so many people who needed to finish their tests were caught short and were not able to be accommodated. We don’t want this to happen to people again.”

Test takers who take the TABE and Work Ready assessments prior to GED testing are at an advantage, according to Keith. TABE will assess skills and give the test takers information on what areas they need to improve on.

The Work Ready assessment diagnoses work place skills and can provide the examinees with a powerful tool to improve their employment opportunities. Certificates are issued by the State of Georgia and can be included in a work portfolio presented to potential employers.

To accommodate test takers, extra GED testing sessions will be held. Call Peggy Bennett at (229) 391-2600 for dates and times and registration procedures.