Skip to content
SIClogobluehighres-white
  • Falcon Portal
  • Technical Support
  • Give to SIC
  • Request Information
  • Apply Now
  • About SIC
    • ABOUT SIC

      • About SIC
      • Academic Calendar
      • SIC Viewbook
      • Directory
      • Mission Statement
      • Office of Institutional Research
      • President’s Welcome
      • Connect With SIC
    • BOARD OF TRUSTEES

      • Board of Trustees
      • Board Election Information
      • Board Minutes Archive
      • Board Policies
      • Contact the Board Chair
      • Public Notice
    • FACTS & HISTORY

      • Facts and History
      • Financial Information
      • History
      • Legends and Lore
      • Southeastern Fast Facts
    • Maps & Directions

      • Maps & Directions
      • Extension Sites
      • Parking
      • District Map
  • Admissions
    • Admissions

      • Admissions
      • Student ID Card
      • Parents Information
      • FERPA
      • Placement Testing
      • Recruiter Request
      • Future Students
      • High School Students
      • Why SIC?
  • Academics
    • Academics

      • Academic Calendar
      • Programs by Department
      • Program Curriculum Guides
      • Transfer Curriculum
      • University Partners
      • Adult Basic Education
      • Community Education
      • Online Learning
      • Online Student Complaint Procedures
    • Programs by Department

      • Applied Technology
      • Career and Technical Education
      • Humanities, Social Sciences, and Fine Arts
      • Math, Science, & Technology
      • Nursing and Allied Health
      • Workforce and Community Education
      • View All Programs by Department
      • Online Courses and Programs
  • Financial Aid
        • Financial Aid

          • Financial Aid
          • Cost of Attendance
          • Tuition & Payment
          • Student Loans
          • Student Worker Job Postings
        • Scholarships & Grants

          • Scholarships and Grants
          • Grants
          • SIC Scholarships
          • Fresh Start Scholarship
          • Foundation Scholarships
          • Outside Scholarships
        • Veteran Services

          • Veteran Services
          • Veteran Admissions
          • Federal Veteran Benefits
          • Illinois Veterans Benefits
          • Scholarships & Financial Aid
          • Resources
          • Tuition Assistance
        • Resources

          • Forms
          • Policies
          • Net Price Calculator
          • FAQ
          • Myths About Financial Aid
          • Don’t Get Scammed
  • Student Services
    • Student Services

      • Student Services
      • Academic Advising
      • Bookstore
      • Career Services
      • Disability Services
        • ADA Compliance
      • Fitness Center
      • Food Services
      • Illinois Worknet Center
      • Promotions and Discounts
      • Public Transportation
      • Records and Transcripts
      • Graduation
      • Recruiter Request
      • Voter Registration
      • Technology Services
      • Title III
    • Student Success Center

      • Student Success Center
      • Perkins Services
      • Testing
      • Tutoring
    • TRiO Student Support Services

      • TRIO Student Support Services
      • What Is TRIO?
      • Program Eligibility
      • Program Services
      • Staff
      • Trio Events and Calendar
      • Student Resources
      • TRIO Director’s Page
    • Technology Services

      • Technology Services
      • Student Account Setup
      • Student Name Changes
      • Email Sync
      • Technology Policies
      • Office 365
      • O365 Account Transfer
      • Online Learning
      • Open Access Labs
      • Printing Services
      • Wireless Access
  • Campus Life
    • Athletics

      • Baseball
      • Men’s Basketball
      • Bowling Team
      • Golf
      • Women’s Softball
      • Volleyball
    • Competitive Teams

      • Archery Team
      • Clay Breakers
      • Faction of Gamers
      • Forensic Falcons
      • Model Illinois Government (MIG)
      • Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society)
    • Clubs & Organizations

      • Brothers and Sisters in Christ
      • Circle K (Kiwanis) Club
      • SIC Community Chorus
      • Computer Organization
      • SIC Concert Choir
      • Diesel Technology Club
      • Math and Science Club
      • Nursing Club
      • Phi Theta Kappa (Honor Society)
      • StrategIC
      • Student Government
      • Theta Sigma Phi
      • Welding Organization
  • Community & Alumni
    • Community & Alumni

      • Community & Alumni
      • Alumni & Friends Association
      • Distinguished Alumni
      • Community Education
      • Ella Elizabeth Hise Museum of Regional Art
      • Mary Jo Oldham Center for Child Study
      • Small Business Development Center
      • Visual and Performance Art
    • SIC Foundation

      • SIC Foundation
      • Giving Levels
      • Giving Opportunities
      • Foundation Board
      • Donor Bill of Rights
      • Strategic Plan 2017-2022
      • Privacy Policy
      • FAQ
      • Alumni & Friends Association
      • Distinguished Alumni
      • Contact Us
      • Community & Alumni
    • Give to SIC

      • Give to SIC
      • Giving Opportunities
        • Amazon Smile
        • A Gift of Life Insurance
        • A Bequest
        • Charitable Gift Annuity
        • Charitable Remainder Trust
        • Establish an Endowment
        • Estate & Planned Giving
        • Gift Acceptance Policy
        • Gift in Kind
        • Matching Gift
        • Memorial & Tribute Gift
        • Real Estate
        • Retirement Assets
      • FAQ
      • Give Now – Online Donation
      • Community & Alumni
  • Falcon Portal
  • Give to SIC
  • Technical Support
Apply Now
Request Info

SITE SEARCH

SIC>News>Get Your GED Before the Test Changes

All News

Alumni
Archery
Athletics
Basketball
Blogs
Bowling Team
Clubs & Competitive Teams
Columns
Community Education
Esports - Falcons FoG
Events
Forensic Falcons
General
Hise Museum
Honors and Awards
MIG
Programs
SIC Foundation
Softball
Visual & Performing Arts
WISBDC

Get Your GED Before the Test Changes

April 26, 2013

“The urgency of obtaining your GED has never been as important as it is right now,” said Marsha Humphrey, coordinator of the Adult Basic Education/GED department at Southeastern Illinois College.  According to Humphrey, and the Illinois Community College Board, major changes will occur to the GED exam starting in January of 2014. 

The test currently is a collective battery of five different sections:  language arts, which includes writing an essay, reading, math, science, and social studies.  In Illinois, passing the US and Illinois constitution tests are also required.  All sections are completed in pencil/paper form.  In January of 2014 the test will completely change as the state turns over the testing process to GEDTesting Service, a company owned by Pearson publishing.  The test will be computer-based requiring new test takers to have strong background knowledge of computers and the skills necessary to use them successfully. 

The test will also change to four sections:  literacy (which includes reading and writing), math, science, and social studies.  The constitution requirement will remain the same.  The questions will focus on the common core standards adopted by public schools in the majority of the United States.  The questions will also focus on strong background knowledge of content utilizing analytical thinking skills as opposed to the mainly contextualized questions of the past. 

Furthermore, the pencil/paper tests cannot be combined with the computer-based tests.  “In the past, you could pass one section at a time and not take the entire test.  So someone may only need to pass the math section right now.  If they do not do that before January of 2014, they will be required to start over and take all the sections again,” according to Humphrey.

“Bottom line, if you want your GED, you should try to get it now before the test changes,” Humphrey states. 

Humphrey expects the test content to be more difficult than in the past, as well as more expensive.   The previous price of $50 for the entire battery will be going up to $120. 

Many sources concur that obtaining the GED is a step in the right direction as far as unemployment and potential gaining power are concerned.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Projections, the unemployment rate in 2012 for a person with a two-year Associate’s degree was 6.2 percent, whereas the rate for a person with less than a high school diploma was 12.4 percent.  The median weekly earnings for  a person with less than a high school diploma was $471, but was $785 a week for the Associate’s degree.  The more education a person has, according to these statistics, the unemployment rate drops and the median weekly earnings increase. (www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm)

There is still time to obtain a GED before the changes take effect.  SIC offers test preparation classes and materials completely free of charge throughout the year and throughout the southern Illinois region.  The next classes begin May 6 on Monday-Thursday mornings at both the SIC Carmi campus and main campus in Harrisburg.  Classes will begin in Gallatin, Hardin, and Pope Counties as well as Norris City and Harrisburg libraries on September 3.  There will also be several testing opportunities between now and the end of the year. 

To take a GED test preparation class, contact Marsha Humphrey at SIC at 618-252-5400, ext. 2641.  To register for the GED test, contact Donna Hearn at SIC’s testing services at 618-252-5400, ext. 3213.

###

 

Posts navigation

PREVIOUS
NEXT

START YOUR COLLEGE JOURNEY AT SIC

Apply Now
Play Video

Tour Southeastern Illinois College

Check out our 2021 SIC Virtual Tour to get the inside look at all that Southeastern Illinois College has to offer. Want to see it all in person? Contact us today to visit our campus.

Visit SIC
SIClogobluehighres-white
  • 3575 College Rd.
    Harrisburg, IL  62946

  • info@sic.edu

  • 618.252.5400 / 866.338.2742

  • Maps & Directions

  • Accountability
  • Catalog
  • Consumer Information
  • Emergency/Security
  • Mission Statement
  • Library Resources
  • Accreditation
  • Academic Calendar
  • Course Schedule
  • Bookstore
  • Employment
  • Directory
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Supporting Our Veterans
Property Sale Graphic

Succeed. Inspire. Connect.

Apply Now
Request Information
Jan 30, 2023 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Freddie's Food Pantry Reopens for Spring Semester
Feb 2, 2023 | 7:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Men's Basketball vs. West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Feb 3, 2023 | 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Meet the Team: SIC Falcons Softball Dinner Fundraiser
View All Events

© 2023 Southeastern Illinois College  |  Privacy Statement  |  Accreditation