People who did not earn their high school diplomas have only four and a half months to take and pass the General Educational Development exam before the new tougher and in some cases, more expensive version kicks in on Jan. 2.

Those who have started but not completed and passed the current exam by Dec. 31 will have to start over anew when the new test debuts.Candidates can take the current five-part exam, which measure proficiency in math, science, Social Studies and reading, on paper. In January, the new four-part exam will be only be administered only by computer.Also, the new version of the GED exam is the first to measure readiness for college-level learning, and is designed to align with the Common Core state standard curriculum, which is expected to debut this fall.The original GED was designed in 1942 as a high school diploma equivalent for those who, due to military service or the need to drop out to support their families, could not finish high school. Over time, the tests have evolved as the country shifted from an industrial to a technology-based economy. The test was last updated in 2002.Decades ago, a high school diploma was enough to lift people out of poverty by being a ticket to a better job. Now, a college degree has become that ticket. The new tests reflect that realty.The tests are developed and overseen by GED Testing Service, a for-profit corporation owned by the American Council on Education, and Pearson, an educational materials and services company.The latest changes, "to make it more rigorous and a better indicator of high school equivalency and college and career readiness," said state Department of Education spokesman Tim Eller, were set in motion in 2009 by the American Council on Education."The 2014 GED program will be based on what adult learners have identified through focus groups and research as being important. New offerings will include: a more flexible, test-taker-friendly computer-based testing system; online registration and scheduling available 24/7; same-day score results; an online support system to help adults weigh their options for careers and college and provide them the tools and resources to work toward their goals; score reports that incorporate a personalized study plan with correlation to test preparation curriculum; and an analytics system that provides on-demand reports and information for educators and state policymakers," Armando Diaz, spokesman for GED Testing Service, wrote in an Aug. 5 press release.Local testing centers include the Carbon Career and Technical Institute, Jim Thorpe, which administers the test through Lehigh Carbon Community College, Schnecksville. Those who pass the GED test in Pennsylvania are awarded a Commonwealth Secondary School Diploma.CONCERNS"There's going to be a change, and there's always a challenge with change," said Mary Kovalchick, Director of Literacy and Job Training at Lehigh Carbon Community College.The new test, she said, involves "higher-order critical thinking skills and more analysis."To prepare, "We'll be switching our curriculum in the fall," Kovalchick said. "We'll be working with the state and GED Testing Service to offer the 2014 computer-based testing."However, there are concerns about the higher cost of the new tests, that they must be done on computers.Kovalchick encourages those who plan to take the new exam to hone their keyboarding skills."Some peoples' computer skills may be below where they need to be for them to be comfortable and timely on the new GED test," she said.That's a valid concern. The 2014 GED exam will take about seven hours and 15 minutes. The time is broken down to 150 minutes (including a 10-minute break) for language arts; 90 minutes for math; and 90 minutes each for science and Social Studies.To prepare, Kovalchick said, "there will be practice tests available. Everybody should have the chance to sit down and do a practice test." Also, she recommends taking GED classes, and practicing composing essays on a computer."Use keyboarding software to practice and to get your typing up to where it needs to be," she said.Cost is another concern.Currently, each testing center sets its own fee for the tests. The fees range from $50 to $125, Eller said. When the new version is rolled out, the fee will be standardized at $120."Individual test agencies raise funds for this purpose," Eller said.TAKING THE TESTCandidates for the GED exam in Pennsylvania qualify if they are 18 years or older old and haven't graduated from high school; are not enrolled in any public, private, accredited or licensed secondary school to take the exam, an applicant must provide identification.The test can also be taken by people who are at least 16 years old, but those applicants must also provide written verification for their school superintendents or principals that they have withdrawn from school. They must also provide one of the following: a letter from an employer stating that a GED certificate is required to obtain or keep a job; a letter from a college or other post-secondary school stating that a GED is required for enrollment; a letter from a branch of military service stating that a GED certificate is required for enlistment; a letter from the director of a state institution in which the applicant is a resident, patient or inmate.Kovalchick urges those considering taking the exam to attend GED preparation classes, which are also offered at Carbon Career and Technical Institute.The old five-part exam was broken down like this: One hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) is allotted to take the Language Arts, Writing Part I test; 45 minutes is allotted for the Language Arts, Writing Part II (essay); one hour and 10 minutes (70 minutes) for the Social Studies test; one hour and 20 minutes (80 minutes) for the science test; one hour and five minutes (65 minutes) for the language arts, reading test; and 45 minutes each for math part I and math part II tests.The new exam has four components, and breaks down this way: One and one-half hours (150 minutes, including a 10 minute break) is allotted for the Reasoning through Language Arts test; one and one-half hours (90 minutes) each are allotted for the math, science and Social Studies tests.To find a testing center, access

www.gedtestingservice.com.