Adult Basic Education GED student Brushard Farmer, left, consults with instructor Todd Pernell at East Mississippi Community College’s West Point campus. The passing score for the test has been lowered, meaning more students will be receiving their GED diplomas.

    Earning a GED just got easier. The company that administers GED testing for many states has lowered the score it takes to pass each subject area from 150 to 145.

    Officials with GED Testing Service announced the changes Tuesday, explaining that data shows students who took the GED test were being held to a higher academic standard than their counterparts in high school.

    Mississippi has adopted the lower test score effective immediately, according to an email to community college educators by Sandy Crist, state director for Adult Education & High School Equivalency, Mississippi Community College Board.

    Officials with GED Testing Service also recommend that states grant a GED to students who have taken the test since Jan. 1, 2014, and scored at least 145 in each subject area.

    “What this means for Mississippi: We will be issuing an additional 637 High School Equivalency Diplomas – grandfathering those students in from January 1, 2014,” Crist wrote in the email.

    At East Mississippi Community College, Adult Basic Education Director Jim Bearden said his staff was scrambling to identify students who have passed all or portions of the test under the new guidelines. Bearden said his office has already identified eight students who have taken the test and now qualify to receive their diploma. There may be more.

    On the GED test, students must earn a passing score of 145 in each of the following areas: Reasoning through Language Arts; Mathematical Reasoning; Science; and Social Studies. Students who earned a 145 or greater in any of the four test areas will not need to retake that portion of the test, Bearden said.

    “The pressing need right now is to get the word out so people who have passed part of the test will not be rescheduling to take that part again,” Bearden said. “We want students who have taken the test to review their account, so they don’t pay to retake a portion of the test if they do not need to do so.

    “I’ve got a list of 37 or 38 people who have passed parts of the test who do not know that they passed. Some are current students and some are former students. All of my staff are trying to call them to let them know.”

    Nationwide, GED Testing Service officials estimate more than 25,000 adults will be eligible to receive their GED diploma under the new guidelines, and more than 100,000 now have a passing score in one or more GED test subject areas.

    Students who received a passing score under the new guidelines can expect to see their updated scores and information on their MyGED account on March 1. Students who have moved should update their address on their account. Bearden said the lower score requirement will make it easier for those who have struggled with the test.

    “There are a lot of people who took the practice test and could not quite get over the hump, scoring a 147 or a 148,” Bearden said. “We want to encourage students who have been holding off, thinking they weren’t quite ready, to renew preparations to take the test now that the passing score has been lowered.”

    At East Central Community College in Decatur, Ryan Clarke, the director of Adult Basic Education and GED Testing, said the news is a much-needed change.  

    “This shows the work that GED graduates put in to earn their diplomas,” he said. “Hopefully this will motivate people to sign up for Adult Basic Education classes and take the test. Those who are now receiving  their diplomas suddenly have access to college and more jobs.”

    Clarke said the college added 15 new graduates to its list of GED graduates, and has been contacted by a couple of students who were ecstatic to find out they had passed.  

    “We also have roughly 75 students who had not passed their test, but are now much closer to completing,” he said. “We plan on contacting these students to make sure they are aware of the changes and encourage them to come finish up.”

    “This is life-changing,” said Jennifer Whitlock, the director of adult education at Meridian Community College, where several students were added to the GED graduation list this week.

    “Our students know if they get their GED, it can mean something different — it will open up so many doors,” she said.

    Whitlock said one student was being considered for a job, but didn’t pass the test, and was discouraged. Under the new scoring system, he passed the test, placing him back in the running for the job.

    Whitlock said the GED testing service will email students about the change, but those needing assistance can call MCC at 601-484-8796 or stop by the office.