Welcome to GED COMPASS.

The GED COMPASS is a website designed to help people who are interested in getting a GED to find clear and accurate information about the steps you need to take to pass the GED test. On this website you can:

• Learn about what is on the GED test
• Learn about the Official Practice Test and find a place to take one
• Find a GED preparation program
• Find programs to learn English or Career and Technical Education
• Watch videos of others in your same situation
• Fill out a GED application
• Reserve a seat to take the GED test

What is the GED Testing Initiative?

The GED Testing Initiative is a public/private partnership that trys to improve the New York City GED testing system. This includes how the tests are given, test-taker readiness, and public awareness and support. Through the Literacy Assistance Center, new tools are being developed, including a GED Compass web portal to  make surethat GED test takers know where to enroll in GED prep programs, prepare for the test and secure a GED test seat.

This website was developed for people interested in learning about how to get a GED in New York City. There are many ways to reach this goal and this website will help you find the path that is right for you. In New York City, finding a place to take the GED was difficult. Finding information about what you need to do to prepare for the test was hard to find. The Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) partnered with the New York Community Trust to take a close look at the existing system and see how it could be improved. The result was a report written by literacy expert, Jacqueline Cook, called Our Chance for Change: A Four Year Initiative for GED Testing in New York. You can see the full report here.

The report includes several recommendations. In order to respond to them the GED Testing Initiative was created. The goal of the GTI is to support a system that provides access to GED Testing, literacy programs and career pathways so that New Yorkers can easily:

• Enter a literacy program to improve basic skills
• Enter a literacy program that provides students with rigorous instruction
• Enter a literacy program where students can receive the support services they need to obtain their goals
• Enter a program that provides a pathway to employment, further job training, college or to act as a role model (might want to change to and feeling the personal satisfaction of becoming a role model).