MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY TESTING OFFICE (HSETO)

HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCE APPLICATION FOR PAPER BASED TESTING

INFORMATION A Certificate of High School Equivalence is available to non-high school graduates who are residents of Missouri who pass the Missouri high school equivalence assessment. Most colleges accept the certificate as meeting the entrance requirement, and many employers require the certificate as a prerequisite to employment or promotion. The Missouri High School Equivalency Certificate consists of five (5) tests that measure educational achievement. The five test subject areas are: Writing, Social Studies, Science, Reading and Mathematics. A certificate may be awarded with a minimum combined score of 2250 with each test score at 410 or above. Scoring the minimum 410 on each test does not combine for a score of 2250. If the GED test is not passed by January 1, 2014; test scores WILL NOT transfer to the new 2014 GED. ELIGIBILITY To be eligible to earn a Missouri High School Equivalency Certificate, a person must be a resident of Missouri (with a Missouri mailing address), have valid, unexpired identification (see second page) and meet one (1) of the following requirements: 1. Be eighteen (18) years of age or older; 2. Be seventeen (17) years of age and have withdrawn from school; 3. Sixteen (16) year-olds must have successfully completed sixteen (16) units of credit toward high school graduation and have written permission from the superintendent or principal of the school last attended; or 4. If home-schooled, be sixteen (16) years of age and have met the requirements of Section 167.031, RSMo, for course instruction and have written permission of the parent or legal guardian indicating compliance. DIRECTIONS 1. Complete application 2. Make an online payment of $21 at www.ged.mo.gov or enclose $20 money order or cashiers check made payable to TREASURER, STATE OF MISSOURI. PERSONAL CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. a. Attach any required documentation if you are sixteen (16) years old: include letter from school indicating sixteen (16) units of credit or homeschooling letter (see Eligibility above) 3. Mail first page of this application and support documentation to: GED/HSETO, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, PO Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102 QUESTIONS: GED/HSETO office 573-751-3504 FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE. PERSONAL CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Application and fee do not transfer to new GED test in 2014. Once you have applied to take the test you will receive a letter with further instructions on how to schedule at a testing center.
PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT IN INK

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: DATE OF BIRTH: LAST NAME: FIRST NAME: MIDDLE NAME: GENDER: MALE FEMALE

MAIDEN NAME (IF APPLICABLE): ADDRESS: CITY: PHONE: EMAIL:

APPLICANT SIGNATURE:

STATE: MO

ZIP CODE:

IF PAYING ONLINE, ENTER CONFIRMATION NUMBER HERE:

DATE:

MO 500-2943

(Rev 10-12)

ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR ELIGIBILITY LETTER 1. Complete any requests for ACCOMMODATIONS. a. Requests for accommodations for ADD; Mental Health issues; physical or learning disabilities should be submitted to your testing center. Accommodation forms are available at www.ged.mo.gov 2. Go to an adult education and literacy (AEL) center near you (first time testers only). AEL sites available at www.ael.mo.gov a. Complete the demographic form. b. View the video to familiarize yourself with the calculator and alternate format gridding. c. Take a practice test to familiarize yourself with the test format and content. 3. Contact a testing site to make an appointment to take the test. You will need the following: a. A twenty dollar ($20) test administration fee (cash or money order only). b. A completed demographic and candidate responsibility form(s). c. Valid, unexpired identification: Missouri Drivers License, Missouri Non-Drivers License, current U.S. passport, or U.S. Military ID You may test three (3) times in a calendar year. AN ADDITIONAL TEST ADMINISTRATION FEE OF $20.00 (cash or money order) must be paid to the testing center. Check with the center regarding this information. Personal checks are not accepted. SCORE REQUIREMENTS A minimum standard score of 2250, with no score below 410, is necessary to qualify for the certificate. Scoring the minimum 410 on each test does not total 2250 and will not qualify as passing. If GED test is not completed by 2014, test scores WILL NOT transfer to the new GED test in 2014. WHAT DO THE TESTS MEASURE? The Missouri High School Equivalency consists of five tests that measure achievement in subject areas associated with a high school program of study. The five tests, and their relative content emphasis, are: I. II. III. IV. V. Language Arts, Writing: Organization (15%); Sentence Structure (30%); Usage (30%); Mechanics (25%) Part II: Essay (direct writing exercise) Questions and an essay. Time allowed for testing: 120 min. Social Studies: National History (25%); World History (15%); Economics (20%); Civics and Government (25%); Geography (15%) Time allowed for testing: 70 min. Science: Life Science (45%); Earth and Space Science (20%); Physical Science (Chemistry & Physics) (35%) Time allowed for testing: 80 min. Language Arts, Reading: Literary Texts (poetry, drama, prose )(75%); Nonfiction Prose (25%) Time allowed for testing: 65 min. Mathematics: Number Operations and Number Sense (25%); Measurement and Geometry (25%); Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability (25%); Algebra, Functions and Patterns (25%) Time allowed for testing: 90 min.

EXAMINATION Upon application and submission of the required fee, the candidate will receive a letter of eligibility and an official list of Missouri testing centers from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The candidate is responsible to make an appointment to take the test at the center of his or her choice. Testing days will vary with each center: some centers test over a period of days, other complete all the tests in one (1) day. Most testing centers require the $20 fee at time of scheduling. To be admitted to the testing session, the examinee must provide valid photo identification (Missouri drivers license, nondrivers license, current U.S. passport, or U.S. military ID), a candidate responsibility form, and demographic form (for firsttime test takers). Test scores that meet the eligibility requirements are accepted from other states when reported directly to the state office by: (1) Official GED Testing Centers; (2) the Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES); (3) the Veterans Administration hospitals and centers; and (4) the GED Testing Service. RE-EXAMINATION APPLICATION AND FEE REQUIRED EACH TIME TESTS ARE TAKEN. Re-examinations use the best valid score in each subject area to determine eligibility for the certificate. Tests may only be taken three (3) times in a calendar year.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to Department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Office of the General Counsel, Coordinator Civil Rights Compliance (Title VI/Title IX/504/ADA/Age Act), 6th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-526-4757 or TTY 800-735-2966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.

MO 500-2943

(Rev 10-12)