By JANELL HUNTER

Staff Writer

MARTINS FERRY — The General Equivalency Exam is an important tool for those who have not yet earned their high school diploma to advance their careers or go on to college. Many resources are available for those who want to earn their GED in Ohio and West Virginia, including practice exams and practice centers.

To earn a GED in West Virginia, one must take the Test Assessing Secondary Completion exam. The exam is used to measure high school equivalency and was “developed to allow adults a ‘second opportunity’ to prove acquisition of contemporary high school skills and life skills,” the West Virginia Department of Education states.

According to the website, the issuance of the state of West Virginia High School Equivalency Diploma provides those who have not completed high school the opportunity to “demonstrate academic skills at a high level of competency.”

The TASC exam has five content areas: Language Arts — Writing, Social Studies, Science, Language Arts — Reading, and Mathematics. TASC practice questions can be found at PBS LiteracyLink at litlink.ket.org.

A list of testing centers can be found on the WVDE website at wvde.state.us/ tasc/test-locations.html.

Requirements for test-takers are to be at least 16 years of age and to have current valid photo identification. West Virginia does not have a residency requirement, but the diploma will be issued as a state of West Virginia High School Equivalency Diploma.

To register for the test, test-takers must choose an Official Adult Basic Education Center, and before registering must pass the TASC Readiness Assessment at an Adult Education Center or at the Option Pathway School. Locations are available on the WVDE website.

In Ohio, Gov. John Kasich signed a bill into law in June of 2016 that allows GED candidates to choose from three different assessment options — GED, HiSET and TASC.

Requirements for candidates are to be at least 16 years of age and officially withdrawn from high school. A test-taker who is 16 or 17 years of age must submit a consent form signed by either a parent, guardian or court official.

The cost of the computer-based tests in the state of Ohio is $40 for first-time test-takers, and $120 each successive time. The actual cost of the test is $120, but first time test-takers will receive a voucher worth up to $80 to go toward the $120 application fee. According to the ODE website, the vouchers will expire on June 30.

In order to register, those interested must go to www.ged.com and create an account, and then contact a Career-Technical Planning District for career and educational guidance before scheduling the exam.

According to the ODE website, those who obtain their GED through Ohio computer-based testing can use the GED to “apply for jobs and promotions, to pursue a college degree or to reach your own personal goal.”

Practice centers and preparation materials are also available for GED candidates.

“GED preparation materials are available in most public libraries, in many bookstores, in adult education centers (free classes) or on the internet by searching “GED,” the ODE website states.

A list of available testing centers and practice centers can be found at education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/Ohio-Options-for-Adult-Diploma/GED/GED-Testing-Centers.