Is It Dumbing Down The GED?

Too many people were not passing the new GED test so what is the solution?  Lower the passing score.

Sound like a good idea to you?

The Detroit Free Press is reporting that after the GED test had a big revamp the number of people not passing the exam increased as well as the number or people choosing not to take it.

Now the passing grade will be decreased from 150 to 145, but it is up to the states to decide if they want to decrease the passing score.

Michigan lawmakers has not yet decided if we are going to adopt the lower standards.

Michigan's Workforce Development Agency spokesperson was quoted in the article stating:

It will be a positive move that helps hundreds of people move forward

Is it really a “positive move” to lower standards?  I would consider that a negative move.

Did the overall truly make it harder to pass as compared to what a student who receives a high school diploma the old fashion way would be required to know?  If so maybe a lowering of standards is necessary.

The change would affect approximately 700 Michigan residents who took the exam as far back as January 1, 2014.  This is due to the fact that if Michigan adopts the lower passing scores the change would be retroactive to that date.

Did you know that in order to receive the GED diploma, the test takes must pass tests in four subjects:

1. reasoning through language arts,
2. mathematical reasoning,
3. science and
4. social studies.

A scoring idea that is being considered that I like is the addition of scoring levels, they are as follows:

• A score of 165 to 174 will indicate the test-taker is college-ready, and GED officials hope that will mean colleges will allow them to skip having to take placement exams.
• A score of 175 and above, officials say, should qualify students for up to 10 college credits, though that will be up to individual higher education institutions to decide.

In Michigan 2,468 people earned their GED diploma in 2015, that number dropped to 1,472 in 2014.  Now let’s compare that to 2013 when 13,651 earned their GED, now that is a huge decrease.

Obviously the question is should we lower the standards or not?

Is the revamped test too hard to pass when compared to what students who earn their high school diploma the old fashion way must learn and show their competency via testing?

If the test is not demanding that the test takers know more than students who earn their degree the old fashion way then why should we lower the passing score?

Let’s talk about this today on The Live with Renk show, which airs Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to noon, to let me know your thoughts at (269) 441-9595.

Or please feel free to start a discussion and write your thoughts in the comment section.