Students considering taking the General Education Diploma were today reminded of upcoming changes to the curriculum.The new, more difficult format goes into effect in the New Year — the first time it has changed in more than a decade.“The January 24 GED series is a grade level progression of common core standards,” said Adult Education School executive director Donna Daniels. “When students transition into this new curriculum they’re going to be tested at a higher level.”The last exam under the current curriculum will be held in December.It’s the last chance for students with only one subject to pass, or those who may only be “one or two points away from achieving their diploma”.Anyone who doesn’t pass in December will have to take the entire course again.“Unfortunately, people don’t have the money to continue their studies,” Ms Daniels said. “So I think some people who would’ve have come out to try to finish off, feel that they don’t have the money to do so.“But they are going to miss the opportunity and they’re going to lose a lot more.“We’re sending a shout out to say ‘hey if you don’t do this by December that’s your last opportunity.”The new curriculum will replace the old pencil and paper exam with a computer-based test.“For those who are less IT savvy they need to know the functions required for them to be able to navigate the new test on the computer,” said Ms Daniels.How long it will take for a student to pass the test depends on their level of entry.“Some can do it in a term, which is three months. Some of them may do it in two terms, some may need two years, some may need longer than two years,” she added.“It depends where they are academically, what their strengths are, what are the areas that need to be developed.“The important thing to remember is that many of the students coming to AES, traditional education didn’t work for them.“So trying to navigate, whether it’s through private school, home school or government school, didn’t work. An alternative pathway was needed.“That’s not to say that the students who find their way here don’t have brilliance; so many of them do but their academic abilities were untapped.“They needed more individualised, more personalised instruction to meet their needs.”The Bermuda College is the official testing centre for the programme.Ms Daniels noted: “They can’t go on the internet and do their GED like a lot of people think they can do now.“A lot of the places that offer GED certificates online are not accredited. In Bermuda the students are going to have to do the test at the Bermuda College.”A new assessment test in January will also help pinpoint when a student is ready to sit the exam, she said.“In the past you only got numbers in terms of GED-converted scores. Now you’re going to find out a greater depth of what they know and what they don’t know and whether they’re college or work ready.“You’re going to get more information on the transcript — which I think is excellent.”