Good evening everyone. I've had an interesting question come up lately from an instructor. "How do I know when to test my students?"

They were asking in relation to the GED first of all. I got to thinking about it, got to asking other ppl in my department and learned, a lot of people have very different ideas. According to a memo from the state level - we're told it's "ok" , "recommended" or desired to give a student the Practice Test if they have scored at least the 9.0 level on the TABE. The implication is a student takes the placement test, is assigned to a class and simply because his/her TABE Scores are at the 9.0 level - they are then "ready" to take the GED Practice Test. Granted, there is a clause that says "if the student doesn't pass the practice test, they're to be referred back to the classroom for additional work/practice."

There are no other "guidelines" at the state level regarding when or how to give a practice test in terms of the GED. The way I'm told it's supposed to work is if they score at 9.0 or above on say the TABE Reading area, they're to be given the Practice Test for SS, SCI and Reading. If they're not at the 9.0 level then of course it's recommended that they do some kind of class work to show that they can or cannot or have or have not learned what they are lacking in.

I was curious as to how other instructors or test administrators etc,  determine the criteria for administering the GED Practice Test?  Does anyone have written policies or guidelines in place within their program to help instructors determine if a student is ready or not? 

Also, how ready for post secondary education is a student that only has a TABE of 9.0 and maybe average to slightly above average GED Scores (say b/w 450-500 or even lower 410-470) ?   

I thought the goal was to help students attain academic success - if all they are ever given is a "test" do they really know success and do they really  "learn"?   How "equivalent" is the GED at that point - to the education a student would have attained in a classroom environment?  

Does anyone else equate TABE levels with readiness to pass the GED Practice Test or the GED itself?

I know there are a lot of questions but the feedback will be appreciated.

Regards

Katrina Hinson





We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are
pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are
different colors...but they all have to learn to live in
the same box.