Monday, May 12, 2014

New High School Equivalency Test Now Available

The New Jersey State Department of Education (NJDOE) privatized the high school equivalency exam and has changed the testing requirements for a state issued high school diploma, formerly known as the “GED.” The testing is now called the HSE which stands for High School Equivalency. The change was initiated to meet the new High School Core Curriculum Standards.

The HSE-Test Assessment Secondary Education or TASC is administered at the Atlantic County One Stop Career Center and the Cape May County Technical School and assesses five subject areas including Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. Examinees must receive a minimum score of 500 in all five sections to be issued a New Jersey High School Diploma by the NJDOE.

The cost for the initial exam is $92.00, which includes two subject re-tests at $10.00 each. Subsequent re-tests will cost $20.40 per subject.

“Due to the significant costs and comprehensive subject content, test takers are encouraged to study prior to registering for the exam,” stated Rhonda Lowery, Executive Director of the Atlantic Cape May WIB.

Test takers may prepare for the test, at no cost, by visiting their local One Stop Career Centers located in Hammonton, Pleasantville and Wildwood or at the Cape May County Technical School in Cape May Court House.

According to NJDOE, New Jersey residents who took the GED prior to December 31, 2013 and did not successfully pass one or all sections of the exam forfeit their scores and must take the new exam. Please be aware of fraudulent websites offering home-based online testing for a fee. Testing must be administered at an approved testing site.

Pre-registration is required before a test date is issued. In Atlantic County registration for the TASC is held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, beginning June 5, at 9:00 a.m. on the 2nd Floor of the Atlantic County One Stop Career Center located at 2 South Main Street, Pleasantville, NJ 08232. Visit www.learntrainwork.com for more information about Atlantic County HSE activities. In Cape May County, in-person registration is held one week prior to the requested test dates. Visit www.capemaytech.com for pre-registration dates.

For more information, in Atlantic County call (609) 485-0153 and in Cape May County call (609) 465-2161.

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