Practice test also free at Adult Learning Center
Hunter Burdette was focused while sitting in front of a computer screen at the Gilmer Adult Learning Center last week. He’s studying to take the GED (General Education Development) test.
“I left high school when I was 16 due to a lot of personal reasons,” said Burdette, 23, when asked why he was pursuing a GED diploma. His goal is to further his education after that, although he hasn’t decided yet whether to take college classes or attend a technical school.
His timing is good. Recently, the Technical College System of Georgia announced that through a grant furnished by the HOPE scholarship program, those who meet requirements can take the five sections of the GED test for free — saving a total of $200.
Jim Paukert, director of the Adult Learning Center in Gilmer County, where many a local student has prepared for the GED exam, spoke about the grant that is administered by the TCSG.
“When I first saw it (the news release), I thought people were already going to have to be in the technical college system to apply, but that’s not true — anybody can apply, but there are requirements,” he said. “The main requirement is if they have passed a GED practice test in the subject in which they’re planning to test. They go to the official GED testing (web)site and take the practice test, which most of our students do anyway.”
Students must apply for the grant themselves on the GED website, and take a practice test that costs $6 in the subject area they plan to test. However, students at the learning center can take a practice test there for free, and they’ve been developed with a GED testing service consultant.
“So it is completely in line with the GED testing service’s practice test,” said Paukert. “Sometimes we’re so confident they’re going to pass the test we don’t (require they take a practice test). But for a student to qualify for the grant money, they have to do the official practice test and show that they’re ready and likely to pass the test.”
He added that if the student doesn’t have the $6 for a practice test, the center can help out with that. After the practice test is completed, the website will tell students one of three things: if they’re ready to pass the real test, that they may pass it or if they’re not ready and need to study more. The four subject areas — with practice tests for each — are Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Social Studies and Science. Students also normally take the real test in individual sessions. Without the grant, each test section costs $40 to take.
‘More serious’ about GED
“I’m assuming you’re going to have to have an almost ‘ready to pass’ (on the practice test) to apply for the grant,” he believes. “Most of our students, when we think that they’re ready, that’s when they take the practice test and that’s the result they get. Because we don’t (suggest they) do the official test until we’ve done our own practice test.”
Paukert said in the last year, people who are more serious about getting their GED are coming through the doors, now that COVID seems to be less of a factor. It allows his wife, ALC teacher GED mentor Dita Paukert, to work in a “one-on-one” basis with students.
“They can work on their own at home,” he added of students, “but we don’t want them just working at home because they flounder. The ones who are capable of doing it on their own never need us in the first place. So when they do come in here, (Dita) can zero in on what they’re struggling with, and it helps keep them on track. It’s more labor-intensive for her, but it’s more effective for our students.”
Paukert explained the point of the grant is to “make sure that financial challenges are not a reason” for not attaining the GED.
“We’ve always taken that position here too,” he echoed. “If we’ve had a student who was ready, we’ve always found a way to help a student pay for the GED test, if that’s the only thing between that student and getting his or her GED. So this is just one more resource.”
How to get GED help
﹣ Where? Gilmer ALC, 30 Southside Church St., Ellijay
﹣ When? Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (but sometimes earlier or later according to student-made appointments)
﹣ Contact 706-276-1110
www.tcsg.edu/adult-education/hsetest4free