MA Announces Decision to Implement New GED Test - HiSET

MA Announces Decision to Implement New GED Test - HiSET
QCC Staff Lends Expertise to State Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Worcester, MA – January 6, 2013 – QCC is pleased to announce the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) decision on January 2 that it has selected Educational Testing Service (ETS) as the provider of a new high school equivalency exam.   The new test replaces the General Education Development (GED) assessment, defunct as of December 31, 2013; the first-ever GED test was released in 1942. 

The new test, called HiSET is similar to the outgoing GED test in that it covers the same curriculum areas: Math, Writing, Science, Social Studies and Reading.  Laura Tino - As of December 31, 2013, there is no more GED test in Massachusetts.  The GED has been replaced by a new test, the HiSET (High School Equivalency Test).  Test centers across the state are preparing to provide the HiSET. 

There is no testing in the state at this time, but the Testing Office at QCC is keeping a list of names, phone numbers, and emails of people who request test information.  We will contact these people as soon as procedures are in place for registration, scheduling, and testing.

Please forward all inquiries regarding testing to ltino [at] qcc.mass.edu, 508-854-4407, room 58A. 

QCC’s GED Testing Office administers approximately 500 individual tests per year and has one of the highest pass rates in the state.  (National pass rates in 2012 were reported at 68%. QCC’s pass rate for 2013 is 72%.) Colleen Doherty, Dean of Career and Academic Advisement says, “QCC is proud to be able to consistently achieve high pass rates as well as provide valuable expertise on the equivalency exam at the State level. Laura Tino, QCC’s Director of Testing sits on the State GED Advisory Committee and has been actively involved in making recommendations to the State Commissioner of DESE, among other duties, for several years.

ETS was selected out of three providers under consideration – ETS, Pearson and McGraw Hill. Ms. Tino says, “Important factors that led to the final decision included cost per student, the quality of the test and its ability to more accurately reveal college and career readiness. The new test is also aligned better to the Common Core Curriculum in MA high schools.” 

Ms. Tino is glad that the state has made a decision regarding the selection of the test and says, “Stay tuned for more information on the implementation.  DESE will begin the roll-out over the next several months and QCC is positioned to offer the new test as soon as DESE provides clearance.”