Just 68 percent of General Educational Development (GED) test-takers passed the high school equivalency exam in 2006 — the lowest pass rate since a more rigorous exam was introduced five years ago, a recent analysis by the American Council on Education (ACE) indicates. Specifically, the analysis shows that the pass rate is low because some testing service programs are not investing enough in student preparation.

ACE’s analysis indicates that candidate preparation and testing program policies drive GED pass and completion rates. Centers that prescreen and prepare students for the test do better than centers that allow students to take the test without formal instruction.

Data collected from more than 3,200 official GED Testing Service (GEDTS) centers revealed that in 2006, more than 714,000 people worldwide took some portion of the GED test battery measuring the candidates’ skill in writing, reading, social studies, science and mathematics. GEDTS, a program of ACE, reported that only 68 percent of candidates passed the GED Tests, 4 percent less than in 2005.

The 2006 pass rate is the lowest since ACE released a more rigorous test series in 2002 that more accurately reflects the level of knowledge a typical high school graduate is expected to have. However, researchers at GEDTS say that the small decline was “statistically insignificant.”

GED Testing Service programs vary state to state. States follow a basic set of criteria as it relates to candidate eligibility and test regulations, however states are allowed to set additional requirements for candidates. For instance, some GED testing centers prescreen candidates by requiring them to pass the official GED practice test and others require candidates to complete adult education classes before taking the GED. As a result, policies undoubtedly affect testing program outcomes and pass rates, researchers say.

“When jurisdictions invest in an individual’s preparation for the GED Tests, there’s a strong likelihood that they will realize a positive return,” says Sylvia Robinson, executive director of the GED Testing Service.